Graduates of Wayne Community College’s Allied Health programs have achieved academic success and are now fully qualified to enter their career fields.
WCC’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and Dental Hygiene 2025 graduating classes achieved a 100% pass rate on the exams required for their licensure. The pass rates are counted by each student’s first attempt at taking the tests.
A total of 29 ADN graduates successfully passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The test is managed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
Students must answer a minimum of 85 questions on the NCLEX. The test includes real-world case studies and questions that determine the nurses’ ability to think critically and make the right decisions.
The national passing average for the NCLEX-RN is 81%. Nursing programs in North Carolina are required to keep their NCLEX pass rates at 90% or higher of the national average each year. The last time WCC’s ADN class achieved a 100% pass rate was in 2020.
“A 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate is the result of the dedicated WCC nursing faculty who inspire, mentor, and challenge students to excel, combined with the unwavering commitment and hard work of our students who strive every day to turn knowledge into compassionate, safe practice,” said WCC Nursing Department Chair Michelle Garon.
WCC’s Dental Hygiene class of 20 graduates passed a clinical board exam, a national board exam, the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), and a law exam for the state they will practice dental hygiene in.
The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments, the Western Regional Examining Board, and the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies, Inc. (CDCA-WREB-CITA) administer the clinical American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) exam as a single testing agency.
For the clinical exam, students had to effectively demonstrate hands-on techniques involving calculus removal and periodontal probing on a mannequin.
The National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, administered by the American Dental Association, requires students to pass a 350-question test including 200 discipline-based questions and a 150-question component on 12–15 case patients.
The OSCE measures diagnosis, treatment planning, and related clinical judgment skills.
Last year, WCC’s Dental Hygiene class achieved a 100% pass rate as well. “The class of 2025 had some big shoes to fill after last year’s standout success, and they rose to the challenge,” said WCC Dental Department Chair Susan Smith. “With pressure high and expectations even higher, they showed incredible determination and grit during board exam season.”
After the tests are completed, the candidates must apply for state licensure to practice dental hygiene. This includes fingerprinting, background checks, and a law exam, which tests the students’ understanding of dental law and allowable functions. They become licensed by the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners.
“We are incredibly proud of how hard these students worked and how they supported one another throughout the process,” said Smith.
WCC’s ADN and Dental Hygiene programs include classroom, laboratory, and clinical components for students to gain knowledge and skills necessary to provide care in their respective fields.
Learn more about the College’s ADN and Dental Hygiene programs on our website.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.