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

Approximately 42% of Nursing Programs Had Licensure Exam Passage Rates Below the Required Legislative Standard in 2015

Report 16-05, July 2016




Report Summary

  • Approximately 42% 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 2015. This is an increase from 36% in 2014. Most of the nursing programs performing below the required passage rate were created since 2009 and are unaccredited.
  • The licensure exam passage rates in 2015 for Florida students who graduated from nursing programs varied by program type. Florida's practical nursing and bachelor's degree graduates performed slightly higher than their counterparts nationally. Graduates from associate's degree programs performed significantly 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. Associate programs accounted for 63% of 128 programs that were below the legislative standard in 2015. As of June 2016, the Board of Nursing placed 14 of the programs with low licensure exam passage rates on probation and terminated 11 of the programs.


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. Florida's Nursing Education Programs Continued to Expand in 2015
    Report 16-02 January 2016
  4. Over One-Third of Nursing Programs Had Licensure Exam Passage Rates Below the Required Legislative Standard in 2014
    Report 15-07 July 2015
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, Florida nursing education programs, HB 1209, Ch. 2009-168, Florida Board of Nursing, Florida nursing education approval process, nursing education, nursing shortage, licensed practical nurse, associate degree in nursing, bachelor of science in nursing, LPN