Licensure and Certification Pass Rates
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Liberty University tracks student achievement on state and national licensing exams for specific degree programs. These exams serve as critical benchmarks for evaluating the effectiveness of academic instruction and the preparedness of graduates to enter their professional fields. By monitoring exam pass rates, the university is able to assess program quality, identify areas for improvement, and provide targeted support to students.
College of Osteopathic Medicine
College of Osteopathic Medicine – COMLEX USA National Exam (Levels 1, 2CE, 3)
Students enrolled in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) program take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing (COMLEX) USA National Exam (Levels 1, 2CE, 3) administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medicine Examiners (NBOME) at various times throughout their studies.
COMLEX Level 1 First Time Exam Passage Rates Academic Years 2019-20 through 2023-24
COMLEX Level 1 First Time Exam Passage Rates for Academic Years 19-20 to 23-24 shows the percentage of Liberty students passed/attempted. COMLEX Level 1 is taken at the end of the second year for the student doctor.
| Year | National Passage Rate | LUCOM Passage Rate | Goal | LU Count Passed/Count Attempted | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 94.3% | 91.8% | 98% | 123/134 | ||
| 2020-21 | 93.7% | 92.7% | 98% | 139/150 | ||
| 2021-22 | 92.2% | 96.5% | 98% | 139/144 | ||
| 2022-23 | 93.1% | 92.2% | 98% | 142/154 | ||
| 2023-24 | 93.1% | 96.7% | 98% | 145/150 | ||
| Sources: https://www.nbome.org/assessments/comlex-usa/examination-performance-data/ https://www.liberty.edu/lucom/academics/comlex-results/ |
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COMLEX Level 2CE First Time Exam Passage Rates Academic Years 2019-20 through 2023-24
COMLEX Level 2CE First Time Exam Passage Rates Academic Years 2020 – 2024 shows the percentage of Liberty students passed/attempted. COMLEX Level 2 CE (Cognitive Exam) is taken after the third year.
| Year | National Passage Rate | LUCOM Passage Rate | Goal | LU Count Passed/Count Attempted | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 96.8% | 97.2% | 98% | 138/142 | ||
| 2020-21 | 96.5% | 97.7% | 98% | 128/131 | ||
| 2021-22 | 95.1% | 94.9% | 98% | 149/157 | ||
| 2022-23 | 94.5% | 93.1% | 98% | 134/144 | ||
| 2023-24 | 92.5% | 93.6% | 98% | 147/157 | ||
| Sources: https://www.nbome.org/assessments/comlex-usa/examination-performance-data/ https://www.liberty.edu/lucom/academics/comlex-results/ |
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COMLEX Level 3 First Time Exam Passage Rates Academic Years 2020 through 2024
COMLEX Level 3 First Time Exam Passage Rates Academic Years 2020 – 2024 shows the percentage of Liberty students passed/attempted. COMLEX Level 3 is taken after graduation.
| Year | National Passage Rate | LUCOM Passage Rate | Goal | LU Count Passed/Count Attempted | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 97.0% | 90.8% | 98% | 119/131 | ||
| 2021 | 97.1% | 94.7% | 98% | 126/133 | ||
| 2022 | 96.3% | 96.6% | 98% | 144/149 | ||
| 2023 | 94.7% | 94.6% | 98% | 140/148 | ||
| 2024 | 96.8% | 97.8% | 98% | 133/136 | ||
| Sources: https://www.nbome.org/assessments/comlex-usa/examination-performance-data/ https://www.liberty.edu/lucom/academics/comlex-results/ |
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School of Health Sciences
School of Health Sciences – American College of Sports Medicine Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) Certification
Students graduating from the B.S. Exercise Science program take the Exercise Physiologist Certification, administered by the American College of Sports Medicine.
ACSM-EP Exam Pass Rates AY 2019-20 through 2023-24
ACSM-EP Exam Pass Rates AY 2019-20 through 2023-24 shows the percentage of Liberty student attempts scoring at or above the national average and the University threshold.
| Year | Threshold – National Pass Rate | Pass Rate Finding | Goal – Above National Pass Rate | LU Count Passed/Count Attempted | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 70% | 100% | 70% | 62/62 | ||
| 2020-21 | 70% | 95% | 70% | 63/66 | ||
| 2021-22 | 66% | 93% | 66% | 50/54 | ||
| 2022-23 | 67% | 94% | 67% | 77/82 | ||
| 2023-24 | 70% | 98% | 70% | 58/59 | ||
| Source: Individual Student official score sheets from ACSM. Historical ACSM-EP Exam Data 2019-2024.xlsx contains the collated data from individual documents. | ||||||
School of Health Sciences – National Strength & Conditioning Association – Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS) Exam
Students graduating from B.S. Exercise Science program may, but are not required, to take the Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist exam administered by the National Strength & Conditioning Association. The exam is required for students taking STRG 486 Strength & Conditioning Specialist Workshop & Certification.
NSCA-CSCS Exam Pass Rates AY 2019-20 through 2023-24
NSCA-CSCS exam pass rates AY 2019-2020 through 2023-2024 shows the percentage of Liberty student attempts scoring at or above the national average and the University threshold.
| Year | Threshold – National Pass Rate | Finding | Goal – Above National Pass Rate | LU Count Passed/Count Attempted | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 56% | 54% | 56% | 19/35 | ||
| 2020-21 | 57% | 23% | 57% | 7/31 | ||
| 2021-22 | 38% | 31% | 38% | 11/36 | ||
| 2022-23 | 38% | 29% | 38% | 12/41 | ||
| 2023-24 | 39% | 43% | 39% | 23/54 | ||
| Source: Individual Student official score sheets from NSCA. Historical NSCA CSCS Exam Data 2019-2024.xlsx contains the collated data from those individual documents. | ||||||
School of Health Sciences – Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) Certification Exam
Students graduating from the M.S. Athletic Trainer program who wish to pursue a career in athletic training take the Athletic Trainers Exam, administered by the Board of Certification (BOC) for the Athletic Trainer.
Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers Exam Pass Rates 2020 through 2024
Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers Exam Pass Rates 2020-2024 shows the percentage of Liberty student attempts scoring at or above the national average and the University threshold.
| Year | Threshold | First-Time Pass Rate | 3-year Aggregate | Aspirational Goal | National First-Time Pass Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 70% | 88% | 82% | 85% | 61.6% | |
| 2021-22 | 70% | 100% | 80% | 100% | 77.2% | |
| 2022-23 | 70% | 88% | 91% | 100% | 74.1% | |
| 2023-24 | 70% | 100% | 94% | 100% | 68.7% | |
| Source: Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers https://bocatc.org/about/#at-exam-reports-archive 2020-2024 BOC Results at: https://7f6907b2.flowpaper.com/BOC202324AnnualExamReport/#page=3 |
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School of Health Sciences – National Board for Respiratory Care Therapist Multiple Choice Exam
Students graduating from the residential B.S. Respiratory Therapy program take the Therapist Multiple Choice (TMC) Exam, administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
Therapist Multiple Choice Exam Pass Rates 2021 through 2024
Therapist Multiple Choice Exam Pass Rates 2021-2024 shows the pass rates within six months of graduation that are reported by the NBRC to the program (percentages can be updated until a year is no longer part of the rolling three-year average).
| Cohort Graduation Year | Graduates | Graduates Tested | Passed High Cut Score | % Passed*** | Finding (Prior 3-year Average) | Threshold | Goal |
| 2021 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 42.9% | N/A | 60 | 90 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 66.7% | **43% | 60 | 90 |
| 2023 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 71.4% | *53.8% | 60 | 90 |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 55.6% | 60.0% | 60 | 90 |
| *2-year average, **prior year score (no averages at this time) *** % Passed = calculation based on the number of graduates against the passed high cut |
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| Source: National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) www.nbrc.org | |||||||
School of Law
School of Law – American Bar Association
Students graduating from the School of Law’s residential Juris Doctor (J.D.) program take the Bar Exam, administered by each state’s Board of Bar Examiners. Each state determines the qualifications necessary to practice law in its jurisdiction.
Ultimate Bar Exam Passage Rates for Reporting Years 2020 through 2025
The American Bar Association (ABA) defines the Ultimate Bar Passage Rates (UBP) the percentage of law school graduates who pass the bar exam within two years of graduation, regardless of how many attempts it takes.
| Graduation Year | Reporting Year | School of Law Passage Rates | Comparison Passage Rates | LU Count Passed/Count Attempted | ||
| Threshold | Liberty Law UBP | Goal | National UBP | |||
| 2017 | 2020 | 85% | 93.3% | 95% | 89.5% | 56/60 |
| 2018 | 2021 | 85% | 97.6% | 95% | 90.0% | 41/42 |
| 2019 | 2022 | 85% | 98.0% | 95% | 91.2% | 50/51 |
| 2020 | 2023 | 85% | 96.3% | 95% | 91.5% | 52/54 |
| 2021 | 2024 | 85% | 96.9% | 95% | 90.4% | 62/64 |
| 2022 | 2025 | 85% | 88.5% | 95% | 90.4% | 54/61 |
| Results are based on the American Bar Association annual chart explaining the bar passage rate for ABA-approved law schools. Percentages have been rounded in this table. | ||||||
| Source: American Bar Association Section of Legal Education – Bar Passage Report (2020-2022) https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/statistics/?login |
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| Source: American Bar Association Section of Legal Education – Bar Passage Report Archives (2017-2019) https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/statistics/statistics-archives/ |
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School of Nursing
School of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner Certification Exams
Students completing the Doctor of Nursing Practice: Family Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Post-BSN and Post-MSN), and the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate programs must complete a national certification examination to apply for Advanced Practice Nursing Licensure in most of the United States. The two certification boards providing exams are the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).
Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exams 2020 through 2024
| Year | Threshold | Goal | LUSON AANP Passage Rates | National AANP Passage Rates | LUSON ANCC Passage Rates | National ANCC Passage Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | 88% | N/A | 100% | 84% | 92.86% | 84.53% |
| 2022 | 88% | 92% | 80% | 74% | 100% | 86% |
| 2023 | 88% | 92% | 71% | 73% | 91.67% | 85% |
| 2024 | 88% | 92% | 100% | 83% | 100% | 83% |
| Source: American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) *above pass rates only include student scores for those who were willing to have their scores reported to Liberty University |
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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification Exams 2020 through 2025
| Year | Threshold | Goal | LUSON AANP Passage Rates | National AANP Passage Rates | LUSON ANCC Passage Rates | National ANCC Passage Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | 88% | N/A | N/A | N/A | 94.57% | 84% |
| 2022 | 88% | 92% | N/A | N/A | 94.57% | 91% |
| 2023 | 88% | 92% | N/A | N/A | 91.38% | 90% |
| 2024 | 88% | 92% | 92% | 82% | 88.24% | 83% |
| Source: American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) **above pass rates only include student scores for those who were willing to have their scores reported to Liberty University |
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School of Nursing – National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)
Students completing the residential Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Pre-Licensure program must take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) after completing their program of study and prior to job placement as a Registered Nurse.
State Exam Passage Rates, Traditional and Accelerated Baccalaureate Programs 2020 through 2024
School of Nursing State Exam Passage Rates, Traditional and Accelerated Baccalaureate Programs, 2020 to 2024 provides a comparison of the Liberty University School of Nursing (LUSON) undergraduate traditional baccalaureate and accelerated baccalaureate programs against National and Virginia State passage rates for the past five years.
| Year | Threshold | Liberty Nursing Program Graduates NCLEX-RN Exam |
Virginia NCLEX-RN Passage Rate | National NCLEX-RN Passage Rate | ||
| Traditional BSN Program | Accelerated BSN Program | Goal | ||||
| 2020 | 92% | 96.0% | N/A | 95% | 91.1% | 90.29% |
| 2021 | 92% | 94.7% | N/A | 95% | 85.9% | 86.06% |
| 2022 | 92% | 92.6% | N/A | 95% | 80.87% | 82.32% |
| 2023 | 92% | 96.91% | 100% | 95% | 86.78% | 90.17% |
| 2024 | 92% | 97.91% | 100% | 95% | 88% | 91.92% |
| Sources: Virginia Department of Health Professional Board of Nursing, dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing & National Council of State Boards of Nursing, www.ncsbn.org | ||||||