NHA CET Pass Rate: 70.45% in 2025, Questions & Readiness

NHA reports a 70.45% CET pass rate for calendar year 2025, across 23,429 examinations administered. Its 2025 annual report separately lists 40,366 active CET certifications at December 31, 2025. The examination count and active-credential count measure different things.

What the CET pass rate does and does not tell you

The 70.45% figure is the proportion of administered examinations that ended in a pass. The report does not split this figure into first-time and repeat attempts. It does not show that 70.45% of unique students became certified, or give you that probability of passing your next attempt. Dividing the examination count by active credentials would not produce a pass rate.

The annual table does not measure candidates' study methods, course providers or practical experience. It cannot show why candidates failed or establish that a particular preparation method caused the result. Use it as a dated benchmark while assessing your own gaps through practice and your training requirements.

CET question count and a realistic time budget

The current CET test plan lists 100 scored items plus 20 pretest items in two hours. That means 120 delivered questions and 120 minutes: an average of 60 seconds per delivered question if you use the full session. A calculation based only on the 100 scored questions incorrectly leaves out work you still have to complete.

On a timed practice run, record how far you get before rushing, which questions consume disproportionate time and whether your errors cluster around a particular task. Review the explanation for both your selected option and the closest alternative. Treat practice percentages as feedback on that question set, not a conversion into an NHA scaled score or a promised outcome.

What should CET practice cover?

The current test plan assigns 32 scored items to Safety, Compliance and Coordinated Patient Care; 44 to EKG Acquisition; and 24 to EKG Analysis and Interpretation. These are blueprint counts out of 100 scored items, not a description of the 20 unscored questions.

These are study prompts based on the outline, not clinical instructions or a validated predictor of certification results. Use the detailed task list to label each missed practice question. If you repeatedly misclassify artifact as rhythm, review that distinction before taking another mixed set.

Choose the next step that matches your gap

• Need content practice? Start with the CET exam overview and practice resources, then review unfamiliar items against the official test plan.
• Unsure whether you qualify? Read the NHA EKG Technician certification requirements and the candidate handbook linked from the NHA certification directory. Passing statistics do not establish eligibility.
• Already certified? Use the renewal and reinstatement instructions. The historical pass rate says nothing about your current credential status.

The value of a readiness check is the decision it enables: review a specific topic, improve pacing or resolve an eligibility question. Repeating an annual percentage does not make that decision for you.