Nursing in Arizona

Arizona’s first time NCLEX pass rates have usually run above the U.S. average, often by about 2 to 8 points. The advantage was especially clear in 2012 (about 94% vs 90% nationally) and again in 2014 (about 90% vs 82%). Arizona’s weaker relative years were more about narrowing of the gap than falling behind: in 2016 and 2017 the state stayed close to national results, and even in 2022 Arizona remained several points higher (about 85% vs 80%), despite being one of the state’s lowest years in this series.

Over time, Arizona shows a high baseline with periodic dips rather than a long, steady slide. After strong results in 2018 to 2020 (about 92% to 93%), pass rates dropped in 2021 and 2022 (about 87% then 85%) while the number tested rose sharply, then rebounded in 2023 and 2024 (about 90% then 94%). That recent recovery suggests volatility tied to cohort and training conditions, not a persistently weak statewide profile.

Context from board and NCSBN discussions commonly points to factors not visible in these totals: expansions in enrollment and new program growth can strain clinical placements and faculty capacity, and state reviews often highlight large performance differences between programs, with a small number of underperforming schools pulling down the statewide rate when volumes rise. NCSBN also documented pandemic era clinical disruption and readiness gaps that affected 2021 to 2022 outcomes in many states. For prospective students in Arizona, the data support confidence in the state’s overall outcomes, but they also imply that program choice matters because statewide strength can coexist with program level variability.

Arizona’s first-time NCLEX pass rates have been consistently higher than the national average across 2010 to 2024, usually by about 5 to 12 points. The gap was especially large in the early 2010s, for example 2012 (about 96.7% AZ vs 84.3% national) and it remained favorable even in weaker years like 2022 (about 89.0% vs 79.9%). There is no year in this series where Arizona falls below the national benchmark, which suggests the state’s outcomes are not merely tracking national swings.

Over time, Arizona shows a high-performing but somewhat variable pattern rather than a steady climb. After a dip from the mid-90s down to the high-80s by 2015, rates rebounded into the low-to-mid 90s through 2020. The most recent five years show a temporary trough aligned with national softness in 2021 to 2022 (about 90.0% and 89.0%), followed by a strong recovery in 2023 to 2024 (about 94.7% then 93.8%), indicating the state is not “stuck” low but does experience cyclical drops.

Beyond the numbers, NCSBN and state board discussions have repeatedly tied year-to-year NCLEX movement to changes in the exam and in candidate readiness, including shifts in the passing standard and the 2023 transition to Next Generation NCLEX, which altered item style and required different preparation. Boards also commonly report that outcomes can swing when cohorts include more repeat testers or when program growth strains clinical placements and experienced faculty, factors not visible in the dataset. For prospective students in Arizona, the data supports confidence in statewide performance, but it also means program-level quality and support matter, especially during exam-transition periods when weaker preparation can show up quickly.