Several academic programs at NSU have specialized accreditations, and graduates of those programs must pass their respective licensure examinations. Programs administer licensure examinations to compare students’ performance to their counterparts across the nation. Also, this is a means to measure students’ readiness to perform their respective duties in their fields of practice.
Norfolk State University students' licensure pass rates exceed the national averages in different disciplines. Professional programs often use licensure exam pass rates as an indicator of student achievement. Targets and threshold scores for each exam are set by the specialized accrediting body or program faculty. Licensure pass rates are reviewed annually and used as needed to drive program improvements.
The School of Education tracks the preparation of program completers through licensure pass rates on teacher education and educational leadership licensure examinations. The School also tracks the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science program completers' performance on the Registered Kinesiotherapist Licensure Examination and the Registration Examination for Dietitians. The College of Science, Engineering, and Technology tracks the licensure pass rates of nursing students on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN). The School of Social Work tracks pass rates on the Association of Social Work Boards Clinical licensure exam.
School of Education
The School of Education tracks candidate performance on teacher licensure examinations. The School's teacher education programs have been approved by the Virginia Department of Education and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The School's achievement target for licensure exams is a 100 percent pass rate for program completers. Program pass rates for the last five years have been 100 percent. In 2022-23, 100 percent of teacher candidates passed the required licensure exams. Pass rates are published on the School's "About" web page.
Teacher Preparation Program Pass Rates by Academic Year
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2018-19
|
2019-20
|
2020-21
|
2021-22
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2022-23
|
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
The School's graduate programs also track performance on the School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA), which is part of the licensure process for principals, superintendents, and school leaders. The School's achievement target for the SLLA is a 100 percent pass rate for program completers. Program completers have met the target for five consecutive years. In 2021-22, 100 percent of program completers passed the SLLA. Pass rates are published on the School's "About" web page.
School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA) Pass Rates by Academic Year
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2018-19
|
2019-20*
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2020-21*
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2021-22
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2022-23
|
|
100%
|
-
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
*No scores for completers due COVID-19
Kinesiotherapy
The School of Education also tracks the licensure pass rates of program completers from the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science who take the Council on Professional Standards for Kinesiotherapy (COPSKT) Examination. The department's achievement threshold for the examination is a 50 percent pass rate for first-time test takers. The program's annual report highlights changes made to enhance student achievement on the licensure exam. The most recent letter from the Council on Professional Standards for Kinesiotherapy (COPSKT) on the University's pass rates is available upon request. Pass rates are published on the School's "About" web page.
Council on Professional Standards for Kinesiotherapy (COPSKT) Examination Pass Rates by Academic Year
2018-19
|
2019-20
|
2020-21
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2021-22
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2022-23
|
|
83%
|
100%
|
80%
|
* |
85.7%
|
*No students to complete the examination
Food Science and Nutrition
The Department of Allied Health offers students the opportunity to pursue a concentration in Food Science and Nutrition. Students in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology who major in Chemistry and students in the College of Liberal Arts who major in Interdisciplinary Studies may pursue a concentration in Food Science and Nutrition. The program prepares students for careers as registered dietitians and tracks program completers' success on the Registration Examination for Dietitians. The program's achievement target for the exam is an 80 percent pass rate for program completers.
Registration Examination for Dietitians Pass Rates
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2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
|
83%
|
100%
|
73%
|
70%
|
68%
|
*
|
100%
|
College of Science, Engineering, and Technology
The Department of Nursing and Allied Health administers the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN), a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the U.S. and Canada. The Department has two unique tracks: the traditional Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) track (face-to-face) and the Online RN-BSN track. The programs have adopted the Virginia Board of Nursing's achievement target for the NCLEX-RN, which requires an 80 percent pass rate. From 2018 to 2022, students in the traditional BSN track have performed very well by exceeding the threshold requirement. In 2022, 85. 7 percent of the students in the traditional BSN track passed the NCLEX-RN, which is 6 percent higher than the Virginia Board of Nursing's achievement threshold. Pass rates for program completers by academic year are provided in the table below.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rates by Academic Year
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2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
|
90%
|
92%
|
88%
|
88%
|
86%
|
Source: Virginia Board of Nursing NCLEX Pass Rates for Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Education Programs
School of Social Work
The School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and provides social work education through its Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) program, Master of Social Work (MSW) program, and doctoral (PhD) social work program. Licensure is not required to practice social work; however, in Virginia graduates of accredited social work programs who want to work in clinical practice agencies must pursue licensure.
Association of Social Work Boards First-Time Pass Rates by Academic Year
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2018
|
2019
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
|
55%
|
51%
|
46%
|
* |
* |
Source: Association of Social Work Boards
*No students to complete the examination