By Mariah Taylor

Investigators found students from an illegal nurse-licensing scheme were encouraged to take their national nurse board exam in states that allow unlimited attempts.

In January 2023, 25 people were charged for their alleged participation in running the scheme, which involved the sale of more than 7,600 fake diplomas and transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing and two other now-closed schools. Twenty defendants have been convicted for their roles, mostly through plea deals, and at least four people have been sentenced in connection to the scheme. The trial of three defendants accused of recruiting students to the school began in December.

State officials in Iowa said students were encouraged to apply for licenses in states that do not limit the number of times an individual can take — and fail — the exam. These states were perceived to exercise a lower threshold of scrutiny on applicants.

Roughly 2,800 individuals who obtained diplomas from the schools passed their nursing board exams.