What is the Easiest State to Pass the NCLEX? - Nurse Money Talk (2024)

FAQs

What state has the easiest NCLEX requirements? ›

The Bottom Line

While each state has its own requirements, New York, Connecticut, and Montana stand out as the easiest states to apply for NCLEX to obtain a nursing compact license. We highly recommend considering these options if you want to make your journey easier.

Florida has had the lowest NCLEX pass rates in the country since 2017, according to The Tampa Bay Times. The state pass rate sits far below the national average of 79.9 percent, though state trends have mirrored a national decrease in pass rates since the pandemic.

GCU's commitment to equipping students for the NCLEX is revealed in the testing scores. Grand Canyon University's first-time NCLEX pass rate for 2022 was 88.4% at our main campus in Phoenix, while Arizona's state-wide average first-time pass rate in 2022 was 84.79%.

The NCLEX is a standardized exam and is the same type of test for everyone in the country. No state has a “harder” exam than another state.

The NCLEX RN exam is the same regardless of what state you take it in. The exam is downloaded to the testing center every morning. What changes and is “easier” or “harder” is the license for the state. Different states require different continuing education requirements.

The Buckeye State actually takes the cake as the longest state to get licensed in, on average, and with attractive Midwestern cities like Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, many nurses in the surrounding states (and beyond) go through Ohio's long licensure process.

Do nurses have to be licensed in each state? In Washington, D.C. and all 50 states, prospective RNs must apply through their state licensing boards and pass the NCLEX exam.

Best Paying States for Nurses

The state with the highest annual wage is California, which has an average wage of $133,340 per year. Following behind California are Hawaii, with an average salary wage of $113,220, and Oregon at $106,610. The states with the lowest average wage are Alabama, Arkansas and South Dakota.

What state pays the most for RN? ›

Only Hurst Review has a first-attempt pass rate of 98%, the highest of any NCLEX®-preparation provider.

According to the Florida Center for Nursing, Florida had the largest number of test-takers in the country in 2023, but an average of 76% passed the NCLEX-RN and an average of 74% of the test-takers passed the NCLEX-PN. The national passing rate for the NCLEX-RN is about 88% and for the NCLEX-PN, it's about 86%.

Can I take the NCLEX in a different state than I graduated in? Yes. You can take the NCLEX in any state, territory, or district of the U.S., as well as at an international location, regardless of where your graduated nursing program is located.

The Buckeye State actually takes the cake as the longest state to get licensed in, on average, and with attractive Midwestern cities like Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, many nurses in the surrounding states (and beyond) go through Ohio's long licensure process.

New Mexico. New Mexico does not require CGFNS certification.