The Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) has awarded a Certificate of Excellence to North Central Kansas Technical College (NCK Tech) in recognition of the Nursing program National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rate for the 2013 testing year. KSBN confers the award to the state nursing programs which exceed the national pass rate for first time test takers. The Registered Nurse (ADN) and Practical Nurse (PN) programs at NCK Tech each received the honor. The ADN candidates achieved a 94.74% pass rate, the Beloit campus PN candidates achieved a 100% pass rate and the Hays campus PN candidates achieved a 96.67% pass rate. The first time pass rate for both programs exceeded state and national averages. The NCLEX examination measures the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level nurse and is the capstone of nursing program studies. The NCK Tech nursing programs are acknowledged by state and national agencies — the Beloit campus PN program is approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing; the Hays campus ADN and PN programs are approved by the Kansas Board of Nursing and the ADN program is accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Both programs also achieved the KSBN Certificate of Excellence for the 2012 testing year. Sandy Gottschalk is the Nursing Program Department Chair of the NCK Tech Hays campus, which offers both RN and PN programs. Additional Nursing faculty on the Hays campus are: Michele Unrein, Robin Hertel, Karen Kisner, Patricia Drees, Amy George, Beryl Dinges and Chandra Case. Patti Scott is the Nursing program Department Chair of the NCK Tech Beloit campus, which offers the PN program. Additional Nursing faculty on the Beloit campus are: Annette Saint, Nicki Kasl, Christine Budke, and Rebecca Pellant.