A new study shows some troubling news for aspiring nurses in Florida.
The Florida Center for Nursing found that, in 2024, Florida had the county’s lowest passing rate on the exam needed to obtain a nursing license.
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is required for those wishing to become nurses in the U.S.
The exam uses real-world scenarios to estimate a nurse’s capacity to think critically and make proper conclusions about a patient’s diagnosis.
Only about 84.9% of first-time takers in the state passed the test, which is below the national average of 91.1%, according to the study.
Florida test takers have scored below the national average for over 10 years, but the final grades and the national averages decreased even more last year.
The two main reasons for the low rates were the short time allowed between test retakes and the high number of test takers.
Florida was the state with the most test takers in 2024, with over 16,000 residents trying for a license.
The state also increased participation with 8.03% more test takers in 2024 as compared to 2023.