The relationship between educational preparation and performance on nursing certification examinations.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the empirical relationship between level of educational preparation and performance on certification examinations. Data from 12 different examinations administered by ANA in 1985 were available for a total sample of 12,308 RNs. Standardized effect sizes were computed for the following comparisons: baccalaureate vs. prebaccalaureate (associate degree and diploma), master's vs. baccalaureate, and master's vs. prebaccalaureate. Results were cumulated, averaged, and compared using meta-analytic procedures. The major finding was that effect sizes were consistently positive and statistically significant, indicating that nurses with more education generally obtain higher scores than those with less education. The present findings are discussed in the context of the widely known finding that baccalaureate candidates for RN licensure generally score lower than associate degree and diploma-prepared candidates on the RN licensure examination. It is suggested that the disparity in findings is not necessarily anomalous, given that licensure and certification serve very different functions.