(1) The board shall evaluate approved nursing education programs for continued approval by monitoring and analyzing program performance through:

(a) periodic survey visits and reports;

(b) accreditation visits and reports; and

(c) other sources of information regarding achievement of program outcomes, including:

(i) student retention and attrition;

(ii) faculty turnover;

(iii) complaints about the program from students, graduates, or faculty regarding program issues; and

(iv) trend data regarding NCLEX performance.

(2) Continued program approval will be granted upon the board's verification that the program is in substantial compliance with the board's nursing education program rules.

(3) NCLEX pass rates are calculated each calendar year for first-time test takers.

(a) The first year a program's average pass rate is ten percentage points or more below the national average pass rate, the program will be issued a letter of notice from the board.

(b) The second consecutive year a program's average pass rate is ten percentage points or more below the national average pass rate, the program will be placed on conditional approval status by the board per ARM 24.159.640. The program must submit to the board a written plan to improve the pass rate.

(c) The third consecutive year a program's average pass rate is ten percentage points or more below the national average pass rate, the program must submit a self-study report to the board. The board may also perform a site visit.

(d) Compliance with this rule for RN programs having less than 21 students per year and PN programs having less than 15 students per year will be based upon two consecutive years of NCLEX pass rates for first-time test takers.