International TestingCatherine R. Davis, PhD, RN

Director of Global Research and Test Administration

International NCLEX Testing

• To remove potential barriers to nurse licensure

• To facilitate global self-determination in nurse employment

• To establish an international presence

• To establish strategic international relationships

International Test Site Selection Criteria

• Security• Regional Representation• Similarity to U.S. Education• Proximity to U.S. Military Personnel and

Dependents• Business Climate• Intellectual Property and Copyright Laws• Record of Success in High Stakes Testing

NCLEX-RN Examination

• Computer Adaptive Test

• Made Eligible by State Board of Nursing

• Minimum 75 Questions – Maximum 265

• Two Tiered Fee– International sitting fee - $150.00– Test fee - $200.00

2005 International NCLEX-RN Test Centers

• Hong Kong, China

• Seoul, Korea

• London, England

NCLEX International Test Sites

CGFNS International Test Sites

January-March 2005 Candidate Volume & Pass Rates (NCLEX)

Exams Taken Exams Passed Pass Rate

Test Center 1st Time All 1st Time All 1st Time All

Hong Kong 310 351 207 228 66.8% 65.0%

Seoul 210 264 155 196 73.8% 74.2%

London 122 165 71 88 58.2% 53.3%

All International Centers

642 780 433 512 67.5% 65.6%

All Domestic Centers

23,636 31,462 19,593 22,633 82.9% 71.9%

NCLEX-RN Jurisdictions

Jurisdiction Number of Candidates

% of Total Candidates

New York (NYVS)California RN (None)New Mexico (CP or CES)Vermont (CP)Northern Mariana Islands

Pennsylvania (CP, CES)Illinois (CES)Georgia-RN (CP or CES)Texas (CES)Maryland (CES)

280197896128

2113121211

35.925.311.47.83.6

2.71.71.51.51.4

Test Center Candidate Volume by Country of Education for International

Centers (NCLEX-RN)

TEST CENTERHong Kong Seoul London

Rank Country # Country # Country #

1

2

3

4

5

Philippines

India

Thailand

Taiwan

China

293

28

9

8

4

Korea

--

--

--

--

264

--

--

-

--

Philippines

UK

India

Nigeria

SouthAfrica

89

26

17

5

5

All Others 9 0 23Total 351 264 165

CGFNS March 2005 Examination

Top Five Countries of Education• Philippines 4,396• India 3,337• Nigeria 318• People’s Republic of China 126• Kenya 94

Security – First Quarter

• International Centers– 16 incidents/100 examinations

• No potential security incidents, such as cheating

NCSBN Next Steps

• Pearson-Vue plans to open 28 international testing centers in 2006 to administer the GMATS examinations.

• NCSBN plans to open at least two test sites in 2006– New Delhi, India– Sao Paolo, Brazil

Related Issues

• Minimum Data Set

• Research on Transition to Practice

• Additional Time for RN Candidates

• English Language Proficiency Studies

Issues in International Testing

• Computer versus Pencil and Paper

• Exam Translation

• Language Testing– Oral Proficiency Testing– Healthcare Specific Testing