Understanding Your Certification Exam Score

Your examination score is based on the total number of questions you answered correctly. All questions are weighted equally. After administration, analyses are conducted to ensure that all questions meet standards for statistical and psychometric validity. The examination is not graded on a curve.

A candidate’s raw score (the total number of questions answered correctly) is transformed into a scaled score for reporting purposes. This transformation is necessary because multiple forms (versions) of each exam are administered. Candidates are held to the same passing standard regardless of which form they take; therefore, scaled scores are reported instead of raw scores to provide a direct comparison of performance across forms and administrations. Scaled scores range from 200 to 500, with 410 designated as the passing score.

All examination forms are constructed using the same test blueprint (detailed content outline). Although every attempt is made to ensure that the difficulty level of the various forms is as equivalent as possible, slight variance may occur due to the inclusion of new questions that have never before been tested. In order to account for any variation among the forms, a statistical process known as equating is applied, which ensures that candidates are not advantaged or disadvantaged by taking one form of the examination over another. Through equating, the passing scaled score on the examination will reflect the same level of content mastery regardless of the form administered.

The passing scaled score for the examination has been set to 410. The corresponding number of questions that need to be answered correctly to obtain a scaled score of 410 may vary slightly across different forms depending on the difficulty of each examination.

The percentage of questions a candidate needs to answer correctly is based on the difficulty of the form of the examination taken. Although every effort is made to create forms of an examination that are equivalent in difficulty, some differences may exist after final scoring. Therefore, because the percentage of correct answers required to pass the examination may vary among forms, a specific passing percentage is not available to candidates.

No. Because multiple examination forms are used within and across administrations, the raw score on an examination form is meaningless until it is transformed to a scaled score.

The passing score is established through a process called standard setting. During the standard setting process, a panel of practicing NETA certified technicians determines the level of knowledge a candidate must demonstrate in order to pass the examination. The standard established is based on a criterion-referenced model and represents a specific standard of performance required. All candidates that meet this absolute standard will pass the examination.

Because multiple forms of the examination are used, “how close” a scaled score is to passing may vary slightly across forms. NETA will not provide the exact number of questions a candidate answered correctly on a given examination form.

The overall pass rate for any of the NETA certifying examinations varies across testing periods depending upon how candidates perform compared with the absolute passing standard for the particular examination. An absolute passing standard allows the pass rate to range anywhere from 0% to 100%, as each candidate’s performance is judged independently of the performance of other candidates. The examination is not graded on a curve.

Yes. The examination is scored in exactly the same way for all candidates, regardless of whether they are a first-time or repeat test taker. All candidates must attain a Total Scaled Score of 410 or higher to pass the examination.

Content area information provides candidates with a sense of their areas of strength and weakness. For those who fail the examination, content area information can provide guidance regarding areas in which remediation is needed.

Your Total Scaled Score is not and cannot be calculated from the content area information provided on your score report. Content areas contain varying numbers of questions, so an average of your content area scores is not the same as your Total Scaled Score. Your Total Scaled Score is based solely on the number of questions you answered correctly across the entire examination.

Once you pass the exam you are certified! We do not disclose the passing score as a definitive value or percentage, we just provide you information that you have passed. However, we do provide feedback to candidates if they were unsuccessful in their certification attempt, as they can use the feedback to focus on the areas that need improvement.

Certificates and cards are sent to your NETA Accredited Representative at your NETA Accredited Company within four to six weeks after examination results are made available. If you are not certain who to contact at your NETA Accredited Company, please contact the Member Services Department at the NETA office (neta@netaworld.org or (888)300-6382). NETA staff can direct you to the appropriate individual at your company.

Yes. Your NETA Accredited Company can make this request on your behalf. Inquiries should be directed to your NETA Accredited Representative or NETA Technician Representative. If you are not certain who to contact at your NETA Accredited Company, please contact the Member Services Department at the NETA office (neta@netaworld.org or (888)300-6382). NETA staff can direct you to the appropriate individual at your company.

No. This information is not published nor made public. It is up to each individual accredited company to make this data available (should they choose to do so).

The effective date of certification is your examination date, pending verification of eligibility requirements and examination results.

Yes. Examination results will be reported to a candidate’s NETA Accredited Representative and Technician Representative.

NETA offers four 60-day examination windows during the calendar year; in January, April, July, and October. Candidates who sit for an examination but do not pass are eligible to retest a minimum of 60 days later, as long as all eligibility requirements are satisfied and a new verification of eligibility form is submitted by the candidate’s NETA Accredited Company.