NCLEX Outcomes
NCLEX Pass Rates 2026: What Nursing Programs Need to Know
NCLEX pass rates remain the single most visible performance metric for nursing programs. With the transition to Next Generation NCLEX (NGN), programs are under pressure to build clinical judgment skills — not just content knowledge.
National NCLEX Pass Rate Benchmarks
The NCSBN publishes annual NCLEX pass rate data by state, program type, and education level. Understanding where your program stands relative to national benchmarks is the first step toward targeted curriculum improvement.
For NCLEX-RN, the national first-attempt pass rate for US-educated candidates has historically ranged from 85–90%. For NCLEX-PN, rates typically fall between 83–87%. However, with the 2023 introduction of the Next Generation NCLEX, programs saw a temporary dip as students and faculty adapted to the new clinical judgment measurement model (CJMM).
Key Accreditation Threshold
CCNE and ACEN both use NCLEX pass rates as a direct program quality indicator. Programs consistently below the national mean risk increased accreditation scrutiny and must demonstrate a corrective action plan.
NCLEX-RN National Average (US-educated, first attempt)
~87%Stable post-NGN transition
NCLEX-PN National Average (US-educated, first attempt)
~85%Consistent with prior years
Top-quartile program benchmark
92–96%Tied to strong clinical judgment training
CCNE/ACEN minimum benchmark (approximate)
80%+Program review triggered below this
How the Next Generation NCLEX Changed Everything
NGN moved beyond memorization-based multiple choice. It now tests whether students can actually think like a nurse — a fundamental shift that rewards programs investing in clinical judgment training.
Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM)
NGN is built around NCSBN's CJMM, which evaluates six cognitive skills: Recognize Cues, Analyze Cues, Prioritize Hypotheses, Generate Solutions, Take Action, and Evaluate Outcomes. Traditional content-focused curricula often underemphasize these skills.
New Question Types
Extended multiple response, matrix grids, cloze (drop-down), enhanced hot spots, and bow-tie items all require students to demonstrate multi-step clinical reasoning — not just recall facts. Students who haven't practiced under simulated clinical pressure struggle with these formats.
Communication as a Clinical Skill
The Assessment and Recommendation steps in ISBARR directly mirror the 'Prioritize Hypotheses' and 'Generate Solutions' cognitive skills in CJMM. Programs that train structured communication are inadvertently building NGN-ready clinical judgment.
How SimPhone Pro™ Supports Better NCLEX Outcomes
SimPhone Pro™ is not an NCLEX test prep product — it's a clinical communication simulator. But the skills it develops are precisely what NGN tests: the ability to recognize a deteriorating patient, organize a coherent assessment, and communicate a clear recommendation under pressure.
Nursing programs that train ISBARR communication through repeated simulation are building the exact clinical judgment muscles that NGN items measure. Students who have practiced articulating their Assessment and Recommendation dozens of times enter clinical rotations — and the exam — with a significant advantage.
AI-scored ISBARR simulations mapped to CJMM cognitive skills
Objective documentation for accreditation portfolio evidence
Scalable practice without one-on-one faculty time per student
Faculty dashboard showing which students need targeted coaching
The NGN Connection
ISBARR's Assessment component requires students to synthesize vitals, history, and physical findings into a clinical judgment — exactly the "Analyze Cues" and "Prioritize Hypotheses" steps in NCSBN's CJMM. Every ISBARR simulation is, in effect, an NGN clinical judgment exercise.
State-Specific Resources
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