NCLEX Pass Rates by Country: 2024 Data from NCSBN
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: NCSBN 2024 Annual Statistics · Public domain data
In 2024, 42,954 internationally educated nurses took the NCLEX-RN for the first time. The overall first-time pass rate was 53.81%, compared to 91.16% for US-educated nurses. Philippines nurses (28,112 takers) passed at 51.7%. Indian nurses passed at 40.5% — the lowest of any large cohort. Kenyan nurses had the highest pass rate among internationally educated nurses at 69.1%.
First-Time Pass Rate by Country
The thin vertical marker on each bar shows the US-educated baseline (91.2%). Color: green ≥65%, amber 50–64%, red <50%.
Full Data Table
| Country of Education | First-Time Takers (2024) | Pass Rate | vs. US Baseline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | 800 | 69.1% | -22.1 pts |
| Nepal | 700 | 61.6% | -29.6 pts |
| South Korea | 400 | 57.9% | -33.3 pts |
| Philippines | 28,112 | 51.7% | -39.5 pts |
| Nigeria | 1,100 | 48.5% | -42.7 pts |
| Ghana | 350 | 47.2% | -44.0 pts |
| India | 2,100 | 40.5% | -50.7 pts |
| All Internationally Educated | 42,954 | 53.81% | -37.3 pts |
| US-Educated (baseline) | 155,028 | 91.16% | — |
Source: NCSBN 2024 Annual Statistics. Taker counts for smaller countries are approximate from published totals. Data is public domain. All rights reserved by NCSBN for original analysis.
Why Is the Pass Rate Gap So Large?
The 39-point gap between Philippine nurses (51.7%) and US-educated nurses (91.2%) is often misunderstood. It does not reflect clinical competence — Philippine RNs are fully trained, competent nurses. The gap reflects differences in how nursing education prepares students for the NCLEX format specifically, not for nursing practice generally.
Three factors drive the gap:
- 1. NGN format change (April 2023): The Next Generation NCLEX introduced new question types (Clinical Judgment Measurement Model items) that require different preparation than traditional NCLEX. Prep materials designed for the old format are outdated.
- 2. Test-taking strategy differences: NCLEX uses computer adaptive testing — question difficulty adjusts based on your answers. Understanding this strategy is separate from clinical knowledge.
- 3. Study material access: High-quality NGN-specific prep materials (Kaplan, UWorld) have historically been more accessible to US-based students.
The gap narrows significantly with targeted NGN preparation. Philippine nurses who pass on the first try overwhelmingly report using dedicated NCLEX prep courses.
Filipino nurses pass at 51.7%. Be in the passing half.
Kaplan NCLEX-RN is built specifically for the NGN format, with content validated to the current NCLEX-RN test plan. Thousands of Philippine nurses have used it to improve their odds.
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