Mississippi College PA, nursing students achieve 100-percent PANCE, NCLEX marks

MC physician assistant and nursing students achieved perfect pass rates in their respective certifying and licensure exams.

Precision, careful judgment and attention to detail are important standards for a successful healthcare career. Senior students in Mississippi College’s Physician Assistant and School of Nursing programs continue to demonstrate these qualities.

This spring, every MCPA student who took the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) passed on their first attempt, and every nursing student who took the National Licensure Examination (NCLEX) passed within the first year.

This is the fourth consecutive year MC’s PA students turned in a perfect performance, and the second consecutive class of nursing students to accomplish the feat. The 100-percent pass rates well exceed the national average for both exams.

“The continued success of our physician assistant and nursing graduates on both the PANCE and the NCLEX is a clear reflection of the academic excellence, intentional preparation, and mission-centered focus that define Mississippi College,” said MC Provost and Executive Vice President Michael J. Highfield. “Achieving 100-percent pass rates on the first attempt for the PANCE and within the first year for the NCLEX speaks not only to the discipline and commitment of our students, but also to the strength of our faculty, curriculum, and culture of support.

“We are preparing graduates who are ready to think critically, serve compassionately, and lead with confidence in today’s healthcare environment.”

Upon graduating from the MC PA Program, PA students must sit for the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants board-certifying exam, which will allow them to apply for licensure within their chosen state to practice. Success on the PANCE is a strong indicator of good performance on this final test.

“As program director, I’m very proud of what our faculty and students have achieved,” said Steve Martin, department chair and professor emeritus. “As a PA program, we strive to be the very best in training competent, caring and compassionate clinicians.”

Martin said the national average for first-time PANCE takers is 91 percent.

Rachelle Dye, MC associate professor of medical science, said passing the PANCE represents an important transition point from student to practicing clinician.

“Success on the PANCE reflects not only the hard work and commitment of the students, but also the strength of the education, preparation and support they received throughout the program,” Dye said.

The NCLEX is a comprehensive, standardized test given to all graduates of a state-approved nursing program. Because the NCLEX is a national exam and Mississippi belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, nurses who pass it are licensed to practice in 41 different states, including Mississippi.

Taylor Martin, MC instructor of nursing, said the NCLEX represents a significant milestone for nursing students.

“It’s the final step to becoming a registered nurse,” said Martin, department chair of the undergraduate nursing program in the MC School of Nursing. “They can’t actually practice until they pass that exam. It represents everything they’ve worked toward: being able to think critically, make sound clinical decisions and provide safe patient care.”

To pass the NCLEX, Martin said students must demonstrate clinical judgment and work through complex scenarios similar to what they will encounter in their professional practice.

“We’re incredibly proud that both our December 2024 and May 2025 graduates achieved a 100-percent pass rate within one year of graduation,” she said. “That’s a reflection of their hard work and of the systems we have in place to support them.

“NCLEX pass rates indicate whether a program is truly preparing its students for the profession. At MC, we’re intentional about that preparation, but we prioritize relationships. We know our students, we support them, and we’re invested in their success.”

For more information about the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at MC, visit mc.edu/academics/departments/pa/. For more information about the School of Nursing at MC, visit nursing.mc.edu/.