Licensure and Certification Examinations
Mercer's professional schools and programs monitor test scores and pass rates on licensure and certification examinations as measures of student achievement. Some programs are required to publish pass rates and certification information as a part of their specialized accreditation, and you can find links to that programmatic information below.
College of Health Professions – Athletic Training Program (MAT)
Board of Certification for Athletic Trainer (BOC) (2021)
Threshold: Meet CAATE Standard 7 first-time pass rate (3 year aggregate 70%)
Goal: 80% Pass Rate
Actual First-Time: 83% (2 year aggregate)
College of Health Professions – Clinical Psychology Program (PsyD)
Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) (2019)
Threshold: Meet national average for PsyD programs (85%)
Goal: Exceed national average (+85%)
Actual: 100%
2020 data are not yet available because not all graduates have taken the examination.The EPPP cannot be taken until the graduate has accrued at least 2,000 clinical hours.
College of Health Professions – Physical Therapy Program (DPT)
National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) (2021)
Threshold: Meet national NPTE first time pass rate (89.3%)
Goal: 100% Pass Rate
Actual First-Time: 100%
Published Class Statistics and Outcomes
College of Health Professions – Physician Assistant Program (MMSc)
Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) (2021)
Threshold: 93% first-time pass rate
Goal: 100% Pass Rate
Actual: 99%
Published Class Statistics and Outcomes
College of Pharmacy – Doctor of Pharmacy Program (PharmD)
North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) (2021)
Threshold: Meet National Pass Rate (83.7%)
Goal: Exceed National Pass Rate (+83.7%)
Actual: 82.3%
Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE) (2021)
Threshold: Meet National Pass Rate (78.3%)
Goal: Exceed National Pass Rate (+78.3%)
Actual: 77.9%
College of Professional Advancement – Counseling Programs (MS)
National Counselor Examination (NCE) (2020-2021)
Threshold: Meet the NCE National Mean Score (107.46)
Goal: Exceed National Mean Score (+107.46)
Actual: 116.78
Overall MU Pass Rate: 88% (National pass rate: 81%)
Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) (Fall 2021)
Threshold: Meet the CPCE National Mean Score (78.68)
Goal: Exceed National Mean Score by 5 points (83.68)
Actual Mean: 84.36
Overall MU Pass Rate: 100%
Georgia Baptist College of Nursing – Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing Programs (BSN, MSN)
National Council Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX – RN) (2021)
Threshold: 80% Pass Rate
Goal: Meet or exceed annual national percentage of first-time US educated baccalaureate degree programs (86.07 %; December 2021)
Actual NCLEX – RN (Baccalaureate): 88.15% (December 2021)
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) National Exam (2020)
Threshold: 80% Pass Rate
Goal: 90% Pass Rate
Actual AANP: 89.5%
2021 cohort data available in February 2023
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Exam (2020)
Threshold: 80% Pass Rate
Goal: 90% Pass Rate
Actual ANCC-AGACNP (Master's): 94%
2021 cohort data available in April 2023
School of Engineering – Bachelor of Science in Engineering Program (BSE)
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination (2021)
Threshold: Meet National Pass Rate
FE Civil (62%)
FE Electrical and Computer (73%)
FE Environmental (70%)
FE Industrial and Systems (62%)
FE Mechanical (71%)
FE General (63%)
Goal: Exceed National Pass Rate
Actual FE Civil: 83%
Actual FE Electrical and Computer: 0%
Actual FE Environmental: 67%
Actual FE Industrial and Systems: no exam takers
Actual FE Mechanical: 61.5%
Actual FE General: no exam takers
School of Law - Juris Doctor Program (JD)
Georgia Bar Examination (July 2021)
Threshold: Exceed ABA-required 75% Two-year Pass Rate on All Bar Exams
Goal: Exceed State Pass Rate for ABA Approved Law Schools for First-Time Test Takers (+86.2%)
Actual: 78.0% (first-time takers in Georgia)
School of Medicine – Doctor of Medicine Program (MD)
U.S. Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) Step Exams (2020-2021)
Threshold: 90%
Goal: Meet or Exceed National Pass Rate (Step 1: 97%; Step 2 CK: 99%)
Actual Step 1 Basic Knowledge: 93%
Actual Step 2 Clinical Knowledge: 98%
Data sources include the NBME Step 1 Performance Summary for 2020 and the NBME Step 2 Clinical Knowledge Performance Summary for 2020-2021. Pass rates document performance on board exams administered during the COVID pandemic.
School of Medicine – Marriage & Family Therapy Program (MFT)
Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Board (AMFTRB) Examination in Marital and Family Therapy (2019-2020)
Threshold: 70% Pass Rate
Goal: 90% Pass Rate
Actual: 100%
The Regulatory Board only reports pass rate information to state licensing boards, so institutions currently do not receive official licensure test results on their graduates but must rely on their own follow-up with their former students.
Tift College of Education – Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Arts in Teaching Programs (BSEd, MAT)
Georgia Assessment for Certification of Educators – Content Exams (GACE) (2020-2021)
Threshold: 80%
Goal: Meet or Exceed State Pass Rate (100%)
Actual: 100%
