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.

Approximately 42% of Nursing Programs Had Licensure Exam Passage Rates Below the Required Legislative Standard in 2016
Report 17-07 June 2017
Review of Florida's Nursing Education Programs, 2016
Report 17-03 January 2017
Florida's Nursing Education Programs Continued to Expand in 2015
Report 16-02 January 2016
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.