The latest NCLEX Statisticsshow that the decline in internationally-educated nurses taking the NCLEX examinationhas abated. Through the third quarter of2015, 16,685 firsttime internationally-educated nurses have taken the NCLEX. That is up slightly from 2014 when 15,207 firsttime internationally-educated nurses had taken the NCLEX through the thirdquarter.
The pass rates offirst time NCLEX internationally-educated nurses are rising slightly too. In 2014 28.8% of first time internationally-educatednurses passed the exam. In 2015, thathas risen to 31.5%. All told, about4,500 first time internationally-educated nurses are annually taking andpassing the exam. Another 2,000-2,500 orso repeat test takers are also annually passing the exam. Together, almost 7,000 internationally-educatednurses are annually taking and passing the exam.
These numbers are considerablylower than the peak years of last decade. In 2006, 20,907 internationally educated RNs passed the NCLEXexam. In 2007, the volume jumped; 22,827 internationally educated nurses passedthe NCLEX exam. With the onset of retrogression, 2008 saw a slight decline;18,905 internationally educated RNs passed the exam.