About Board approved prelicensure nursing programs

Board approved nursing programs, statistics, and first time pass rates on NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN.

Board Approved prelicensure nursing programs and their locations in Massachusetts

For information on the approval status of all Board approved nursing programs, see our table of Approved Registered Nurse & Practical Nurse Programs 2025 (PDF) | (DOCX)

Find an accredited nursing program

The Board of Registration in Nursing approves prelicensure nursing education programs. In order to be eligible for the NCLEX, you must have graduated from a Board approved nursing program.

• Learn about approval vs accreditation
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA)

NCLEX statistics

The following reports provide information about how graduates of Board Approved pre-licensure nursing programs perform on the NCLEX -RN and NCLEX-PN.

Registered Nurse reports

• Percent of First-time RN Licensure Candidates Educated in Massachusetts Regardless of State of Initial Licensure (PDF) | (XLSX)

Practical Nurse reports

• Percent Passing of First-time Practical Nurse Candidates Educated in Massachusetts Regardless of State of Initial Licensure (PDF) | (XLSX)

NCLEX quarterly summary statistics

• 2024 NCLEX Quarterly Summary Statistics Report (PDF) | (XLSX)
• 2024 NCLEX Summary Statistics Report: MA Licensure Candidates Regardless of State Education (PDF) | (XLSX)

Admissions, graduations, & enrollments

The following reports provide information about Board approved pre-licensure nursing program statistics on admissions, graduates, and enrollment numbers.

• Student Data as Reported by Board Approved Nursing Education Programs 6 Year Variance (PDF) | (XLS)
• 2024 Admissions Numbers by Nursing Programs (PDF) | (XLS)