National Nursing Exam: Liu Chien-hsin States Professional Standards Will Not Be Lowered to Address Manpower Issues
Executive Yuan Premier Cho Jung-tai hinted at adjusting the difficulty of the national nursing examination to alleviate the nursing shortage, but Examination Yuan Secretary-General Liu Chien-hsin stated that professional standards would not be lowered to solve the manpower problem. The Examination Yuan and Executive Yuan are currently discussing exam improvements aligned with nurses' core competencies.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 12:42
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 13:01 (18 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 22:17 (9h 15m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, 7th) The outflow of nursing talent and Premier Cho Jung-tai's remarks about supplementing nursing staff through exam adjustments have sparked discussion. Examination Yuan Secretary-General Liu Chien-hsin stated that national examinations would not lower professional standards to meet manpower needs, and all professional and technical license examinations must use professionalism as a threshold. Neither the Executive Yuan nor the Examination Yuan will compromise on this.
May 12th is International Nurses Day. Premier Cho Jung-tai recently attended the 15th Nightingale Award ceremony and pointed out that to supplement nursing talent, the government continues to refine multi-faceted policies, such as increasing the frequency of nursing examinations and improving the structure, quality, and content of exam questions to avoid overly obscure or difficult questions, thereby increasing the pass rate for nurses. He even said, "It's okay to use past exam questions," which sparked discussion.
Cho Jung-tai later further explained that the public had taken his words out of context, causing misunderstanding. He emphasized that the government always respects and appreciates nursing personnel and will continue to refine manpower policies, absolutely not lowering the professional knowledge of nurses.
The Legislative Yuan's Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee reviewed the central government's general budget for the 115th fiscal year for the Examination Yuan and its subordinate agencies.
Several KMT and TPP legislators expressed concern about whether Premier Cho Jung-tai had indeed asked the Examination Yuan twice to lower the difficulty of exam questions. Liu Chien-hsin stated that Cho Jung-tai's statement was a bit too simple, but he believed the original intention was not that; Examination Yuan President Chou Hung-hsien and heads of subordinate ministries had met with Cho Jung-tai twice. The first time was last year when Chou Hung-hsien had just taken office and visited the Executive Yuan to discuss cooperation between the two branches.
Liu Chien-hsin said that another meeting was held recently because Cho Jung-tai was very concerned about the nursing manpower issue and invited the Examination Yuan for discussion. Cho Jung-tai pointed out that the public reflected that exams sometimes are obscure and difficult, even exceeding the scope of nurses' core competencies.
Liu Chien-hsin said that the Examination Yuan explained to Cho Jung-tai that the Ministry of Examination and the Ministry of Health and Welfare have been cooperating on this matter for some time, and have also asked professional nursing associations to assist in reviewing how exam questions can align with the core competencies of newly appointed nurses, and these efforts are ongoing.
TPP Legislator Chen Chao-tzu questioned whether the exam questions were adjusted based on Cho Jung-tai's instructions. Liu Chien-hsin replied, "Of course not." He added that increased communication between the Executive Yuan and the Examination Yuan has been a significant change in recent years.
Liu Chien-hsin emphasized that national examinations would not lower professional standards to meet manpower needs, and all professional and technical license examinations must use professionalism as a threshold. Neither the Executive Yuan nor the Examination Yuan will compromise. He added that Cho Jung-tai's initiative to arrange discussions with the Examination Yuan on medical personnel issues is positive, as the two branches fear lack of communication the most.
KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-chen questioned that there is only a fine line between a request and lobbying. Liu Chien-hsin said this was not lobbying, and more communication is always a good thing. He added that as the competent authority for practice or the employing agency, the Executive Yuan still hopes that the employing agencies will communicate their needs. The Examination Yuan, as an independent decision-making system, will consider the opinions of employing agencies, competent authorities, and various sectors and academia to make the best comprehensive judgment and improve exam quality.
Hsu Yu-chen asked whether the NT$28.21 million added to the Ministry of Examination's budget for improving national nursing examination questions in the 115th fiscal year was related to Cho Jung-tai's alleged two requests. Minister of Examination Liu Meng-chi stated that this plan had been discussed last year and was a plan jointly discussed and finalized by the Ministry of Examination, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Nursing Association.
Regarding the shortage of clerks, police, and civil engineers, Liu Meng-chi said that exams would not be made simpler due to shortages. According to the Public Officials and Professional and Technical Examinations Act, the outline of exam questions needs to be jointly discussed by the competent authority, professional organizations, and the Ministry of Examination. (Edited by Su Chih-tsung) 1150507
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(Central News Agency reporter Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, 7th) The outflow of nursing talent and Premier Cho Jung-tai's remarks about supplementing nursing staff through exam adjustments have sparked discussion. Examination Yuan Secretary-General Liu Chien-hsin stated that national examinations would not lower professional standards to meet manpower needs, and all professional and technical license examinations must use professionalism as a threshold. Neither the Executive Yuan nor the Examination Yuan will compromise on this.
May 12th is International Nurses Day. Premier Cho Jung-tai recently attended the 15th Nightingale Award ceremony and pointed out that to supplement nursing talent, the government continues to refine multi-faceted policies, such as increasing the frequency of nursing examinations and improving the structure, quality, and content of exam questions to avoid overly obscure or difficult questions, thereby increasing the pass rate for nurses. He even said, "It's okay to use past exam questions," which sparked discussion.
Cho Jung-tai later further explained that the public had taken his words out of context, causing misunderstanding. He emphasized that the government always respects and appreciates nursing personnel and will continue to refine manpower policies, absolutely not lowering the professional knowledge of nurses.
The Legislative Yuan's Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee reviewed the central government's general budget for the 115th fiscal year for the Examination Yuan and its subordinate agencies.
Several KMT and TPP legislators expressed concern about whether Premier Cho Jung-tai had indeed asked the Examination Yuan twice to lower the difficulty of exam questions. Liu Chien-hsin stated that Cho Jung-tai's statement was a bit too simple, but he believed the original intention was not that; Examination Yuan President Chou Hung-hsien and heads of subordinate ministries had met with Cho Jung-tai twice. The first time was last year when Chou Hung-hsien had just taken office and visited the Executive Yuan to discuss cooperation between the two branches.
Liu Chien-hsin said that another meeting was held recently because Cho Jung-tai was very concerned about the nursing manpower issue and invited the Examination Yuan for discussion. Cho Jung-tai pointed out that the public reflected that exams sometimes are obscure and difficult, even exceeding the scope of nurses' core competencies.
Liu Chien-hsin said that the Examination Yuan explained to Cho Jung-tai that the Ministry of Examination and the Ministry of Health and Welfare have been cooperating on this matter for some time, and have also asked professional nursing associations to assist in reviewing how exam questions can align with the core competencies of newly appointed nurses, and these efforts are ongoing.
TPP Legislator Chen Chao-tzu questioned whether the exam questions were adjusted based on Cho Jung-tai's instructions. Liu Chien-hsin replied, "Of course not." He added that increased communication between the Executive Yuan and the Examination Yuan has been a significant change in recent years.
Liu Chien-hsin emphasized that national examinations would not lower professional standards to meet manpower needs, and all professional and technical license examinations must use professionalism as a threshold. Neither the Executive Yuan nor the Examination Yuan will compromise. He added that Cho Jung-tai's initiative to arrange discussions with the Examination Yuan on medical personnel issues is positive, as the two branches fear lack of communication the most.
KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-chen questioned that there is only a fine line between a request and lobbying. Liu Chien-hsin said this was not lobbying, and more communication is always a good thing. He added that as the competent authority for practice or the employing agency, the Executive Yuan still hopes that the employing agencies will communicate their needs. The Examination Yuan, as an independent decision-making system, will consider the opinions of employing agencies, competent authorities, and various sectors and academia to make the best comprehensive judgment and improve exam quality.
Hsu Yu-chen asked whether the NT$28.21 million added to the Ministry of Examination's budget for improving national nursing examination questions in the 115th fiscal year was related to Cho Jung-tai's alleged two requests. Minister of Examination Liu Meng-chi stated that this plan had been discussed last year and was a plan jointly discussed and finalized by the Ministry of Examination, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Nursing Association.
Regarding the shortage of clerks, police, and civil engineers, Liu Meng-chi said that exams would not be made simpler due to shortages. According to the Public Officials and Professional and Technical Examinations Act, the outline of exam questions needs to be jointly discussed by the competent authority, professional organizations, and the Ministry of Examination. (Edited by Su Chih-tsung) 1150507
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.