Phlebotomy (CPT) guide · updated 2026-09-29

What is the passing score for the NHA CPT exam?

You pass the NHA CPT exam with a scaled score of 390 or higher on a scale that tops out at 500. NHA sets that cut score with a panel of experts and converts raw scores to the scale, so there is no fixed percentage of correct answers that guarantees a pass.

The number: 390

NHA states that the scaled passing score is 390 out of 500, and the same 390 applies to every NHA exam, including the CPT. Your result is reported on this scale rather than as a raw count of correct answers.

The CPT cut score came out of a standard-setting study. A panel of subject matter experts rated each item by whether a minimally qualified phlebotomist would answer it correctly (a modified Angoff method), and the resulting raw cut score was converted to 390 on the scale.

Why there is no fixed percentage

Every candidate gets a different set of questions drawn from the same test plan, and some forms are slightly harder than others. Scaling puts every form on the same yardstick so that 390 means the same level of skill no matter which form you saw.

That is why you will see guesses online like "you need about 70%". NHA does not publish a percentage, and any single number is only an estimate. A safer target in practice is to score comfortably above 75% on full-length mocks before you book, so a harder form does not push you under the line.

How many people pass

NHA publishes annual pass rates. For exams given in 2022, the most recent report we could open directly, the CPT pass rate was 77.31% across 47,313 exams. Roughly one in four candidates did not pass on that attempt.

Year	CPT exams given	Passed
2022	47,313	77.31%

What your score report shows

Online and test-center candidates see a pass or fail result soon after finishing. The score report also breaks results down by domain, which is the most useful part if you need to retake: it shows which of the five domains pulled you down.

Use the same domain view when you practice. If Processing or Special Collections is dragging, those are only 14 and 12 items, but they are often the ones people skip in study, and a few points there can decide a close result.

If you do not pass

You can reapply after 30 days. You get three attempts, and after a third unsuccessful attempt you must wait 12 months. Each attempt is paid in full. See our page on eligibility, fees and retakes for the details.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage do I need on the NHA CPT?

NHA does not publish one. It reports a scaled score, and 390 out of 500 passes. Raw-score equivalents vary slightly between exam forms.

Is 390 the passing score for all NHA exams?

Yes. NHA states that the scaled passing score for all its examinations is 390/500.

Do pretest questions count toward the 390?

No. Only the 100 scored items count toward your scaled score.

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Sources: NHA pass rates for examinations administered in 2022 · NHA CPT national standard setting study, executive summary · NHA Help Center: how to view certification exam results · NHA: What to do if you did not pass your exam. Independent study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Healthcareer Association.

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