Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Over One-Third of Nursing Programs Had Licensure Exam Passage Rates Below the Required Legislative Standard in 2014

Report 15-07, July 2015




Report Summary

  • In 2014, the licensure exam passage rates for Florida's nursing programs varied by program type. Florida's practical nursing and bachelor's degree graduates performed about the same as their counterparts nationally, while graduates from associate's degree programs performed slightly lower than graduates nationally.
  • Florida law requires approved nursing education programs to have a minimum graduate licensure exam passage rate. If a program's passage rate falls 10 percentage points below the national average for two consecutive calendar years, the program is placed on probation.
  • More than one-third (36%) of Florida nursing education programs that had graduates taking the licensure exam had passage rates that were 10% or more below the national average in 2014. Most of the nursing programs performing below the required passage rate were created since 2009 and are unaccredited.


Related Reports
  1. Approximately 42% of Nursing Programs Had Licensure Exam Passage Rates Below the Required Legislative Standard in 2016
    Report 17-07 June 2017
  2. Review of Florida's Nursing Education Programs, 2016
    Report 17-03 January 2017
  3. Approximately 42% of Nursing Programs Had Licensure Exam Passage Rates Below the Required Legislative Standard in 2015
    Report 16-05 July 2016
  4. Florida's Nursing Education Programs Continued to Expand in 2015
    Report 16-02 January 2016
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
nursing education programs