New NCLEX-RN Test Plan and Raised Passing Standard Take Effect on April 1, 2010

In a press release published on its website, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) announced that effective April 1 this year, the NCLEX-RN examination will have a new passing standard and a revised test plan.

After much deliberation, it has been determined by the NCSBN Board of Directors that for entry-level nurses to render safe and effective client care, they should possess a greater level of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

 

Before voting to raise the passing standard of the NCLEX-RN examination, the Board of Directors assembled a nine-person panel of nurses to perform a standard-setting procedure. 

The panel’s findings along with results of surveys conducted on nursing professionals indicated that there is a need to increase the passing standard to -0.16 logits which is 0.05 higher than the current passing standard of -0.21 logits. The current passing standard was implemented in 2007. 

The NCSBN evaluates the passing standard every three years in conjunction with the evaluation of the NCLEX-RN test plan.

A comparative table of the current test plan and the soon to be implemented test plan is posted below for reference:

Click on the table to enlarge figure 

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing is a non-profit organization of the boards of nursing in the United States and four U.S. territories.

Related Links: 

• 2010 NCLEX-RN Detailed Test Plan for Examinees
• 2010 NCLEX-RN Detailed Test Plan for Educators