20 CSR 2200-2.180
Licensure Examination Performance
PURPOSE: This rule defines the required examination pass rate for
first-time candidates and its impact on program approval.
(1) The licensure examination performance of first-time
candidates from each professional nursing program shall be no
less than eighty percent (80%) for each calendar year (January 1
through December 31).
(2) First-time candidates shall include only those graduates of
the program who take the licensure examination for the first
time within one (1) year of graduation.
(3) Initial Program Approval—
(A) Upon graduation of the first student cohort and reporting
of the first official NCLEX-RN® program pass rate, as reported
upon completion of the fourth quarter of the respective
calendar year, the board will review current licensure
examination performance of first-time candidates. Pursuant
to 20 CSR 2200-2.180(1) licensure examination performance for
first-time candidates shall be no less than eighty percent (80%)
for each calendar year (January 1 through December 31);
(B) Should the required eighty percent (80%) benchmark not
be attained and significant deficiencies identified, the board
may apply an immediate moratorium on admissions pursuant
to 20 CSR 2200-2.010(7)(A);
(C) The nursing program with a pass rate lower than
eighty percent (80%) shall provide the board with a report
analyzing all aspects of the education program, identifying
areas contributing to the unacceptable pass rate, and plan of
correction to resolve the low pass rate. The plan of correction
is to be submitted to the board by the deadline indicated. The
plan of correction shall include:
1. Mission or philosophy of the nursing program;
2. Program governance as defined in 20 CSR 2200-2.050(5);
3. General faculty resources and workload;
4. Student support services;
5. Program admission, progression, and graduation
policies;
6. Program completion rates for each year of program
operation, as applicable;
7. National Council Licensure Examination for Registered
Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) pass rates for each year of program
operation, as applicable;
8. Job placement rates for each year of program operation,
as applicable;
9. Program satisfaction, to include student, graduate, and
employer data, as applicable;
10. Number of nursing faculty teaching on full-time and
part-time basis, to include part-time clinical faculty;
11. Use of systematic program evaluation data related to
program planning and improvement; and
12. Measures put in place to restore instructional quality
and integrity of the program;
(D) The program administrator shall appear before and
present to the board or members designated by the board a
current analysis of program effectiveness, problems identified,
and plans of correction. The board may accept the plan
of correction and decide to continue initial approval for a
specific period of time determined by the board, may apply a
moratorium on admissions pursuant to 20 CSR 2200-2.010(7)(A),
or may withdraw approval pursuant to section 335.071.3, RSMo;
(E) The program administrator shall appear before and
present to the board or members designated by the board a
current plan of correction, which includes a current analysis of
program effectiveness, resolution of problems identified, and
current status of program outcomes for each year that program
pass rates remain lower than eighty percent (80%). The board
may accept the plan of correction and decide to continue
initial approval for a specific period of time determined by the
board, may apply a moratorium on admissions pursuant to 20
CSR 2200-2.010(7)(A), or may withdraw approval pursuant to
section 335.071.3, RSMo, at any time during the initial approval
period as deemed necessary by the board; and
(F) With an NCLEX-RN® pass rate below eighty percent (80%),
a program shall have at minimum two (2) consecutive calendar
years of NCLEX-RN® pass rates at or above the required eighty
percent (80%) to move to full approval.
(4) Full Program Approval—
(A) The nursing program with a pass rate lower than eighty
percent (80%) shall—
1. First year—Provide the board with a report analyzing
all aspects of the education program, identifying areas
contributing to the unacceptable pass rate, and plan of
correction to resolve low pass rate. The plan of correction shall
be submitted to the board by the deadline indicated. The plan
of correction shall include:
A. Mission or philosophy of the nursing program;
B. Program governance as defined in 20 CSR 22002.050(5);
C. General faculty resources and workload;
D. Student support services;
E. Program admission, progression, and graduation
policies;
F. Program completion rates for the last five (5) years;
G. National
Council
Licensure
Examination
for
Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) pass rates for the last five (5)
years;
H. Job placement rates for the last five (5) years;
I. Program satisfaction, to include student, graduate,
and employer feedback;
J. Number of nursing faculty teaching on full-time
and part-time basis; to include part-time clinical faculty and
faculty on contingent approval;
K. Use of systematic program evaluation data related to
program planning and improvement; and
L. Measures put in place to restore instructional quality
and integrity of the program;
2. Second consecutive year—The program may be placed
on conditional approval status. The program administrator
shall appear before and present to the board or members
designated by the board the current plan of correction, which
includes a current analysis of program effectiveness, problems
identified, and plans of correction; and
3. Side-by-side comparison of first-year and second-year
analyses of program effectiveness shall be included. The plan
of correction shall be submitted to the board by the deadline
indicated; and
(B) The program administrator shall appear before and
present to the board or members designated by the board a
current plan of correction, which includes a current analysis of
program effectiveness, resolution of problems identified, and
current status of program outcomes for each year that program
pass rates remain lower than eighty percent (80%).
(5) Conditional Program Approval.
(A) The nursing program placed on conditional approval
shall remain on conditional approval (as per 20 CSR 22002.010(6)) until it has two (2) consecutive years of pass rates of at
least eighty percent (80%) or until the board removes approval
pursuant to section 335.071.3, RSMo.
(B) The nursing program shall provide a side-by-side
comparison of plans of correction that includes program
analyses for each consecutive year that NCLEX-RN® pass rates
remain below eighty percent (80%). Each year the program
administrator shall appear before and present to the board
or members designated by the board a current analysis
of program effectiveness, problems identified, and plans of
AND INSURANCE
correction. The board may, at any time, apply a moratorium on
student admissions pursuant to 20 CSR 2200-2.010(7)(A).
(C) If, after two (2) years on conditional approval, a nursing
program has not demonstrated consistent measurable progress
toward implementation of the correction plan and NCLEX-RN®
pass rates remain below eighty percent (80%), the board will
withdraw approval pursuant to section 335.071.3, RSMo.
AUTHORITY: section 335.036, RSMo Supp. 2021, and section
335.071, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 200-2.180.
Original rule filed Sept. 1, 1998, effective Feb. 28, 1999. Amended:
Filed Dec. 1, 2000, effective May 30, 2001. Moved to 20 CSR 22002.180, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Rescinded and readopted: Filed
April 17, 2007, effective Dec. 30, 2007. Amended: Filed Jan. 11, 2013,
effective July 30, 2013. Amended: Filed Feb. 5, 2018, effective Aug.
30, 2018. Amended: Filed Feb. 14, 2022, effective Aug. 30, 2022.
*Original authority: 335.036, RSMo 1975, amended 1981, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2007,
2008, 2011, 2018, and 335.071, RSMo 1975, amended 1981, 1999.