NCE Reference

NCE pass rate

Short answer

First-time NCE pass rates are commonly reported in the 80–90% range for recent graduates of CACREP programs. Retake rates drop to roughly 50–60%. The cut score is set per form and has historically fallen in the low-to-mid 90s out of 160 scored items.

Pass rate by candidate profile

Candidate	Typical pass rate	Main risk
Recent CACREP graduate	80–90%	Pacing, not content
3+ years post-graduation	~70%	Research and assessment recall
Retake	50–60%	Repeating reading-based study

Rates vary by year, program, and state. Check NBCC's most recent published report for official figures.

Why candidates fail the NCE

Reading instead of answering. Passive review does not build the retrieval speed the exam measures.
Skipping research and assessment. Statistics, reliability, and validity items are predictable free points that candidates avoid studying.
Pacing. 200 items in 3 hours 45 minutes is about 67 seconds each; running out of time costs more points than any content gap.
Answering from practice, not the textbook. The NCE rewards the ethically ideal answer, not what your agency does.

If you failed the NCE

Take the free NCE practice exam to identify which CACREP areas are actually weak, then follow the 8-week plan in NCE exam prep and the NCE study guide. If your state also requires the clinical exam, compare both in NCMHCE vs NCE.

NCE pass rate FAQ

What is the NCE pass rate?

First-time NCE pass rates are commonly reported in the 80–90% range for candidates testing through a CACREP-accredited program near graduation. Retake pass rates are lower, typically 50–60%, and candidates testing years after graduation pass at lower rates than recent graduates.

What score do you need to pass the NCE?

NBCC sets the cut score per exam form using a modified Angoff standard-setting process, so the required raw score shifts slightly between administrations. Historically it has landed in the low-to-mid 90s out of 160 scored items, roughly 57–60%.

Why do people fail the NCE?

The most common causes are studying by reading instead of by practice questions, weak coverage of assessment and research statistics, and pacing problems — 200 items in 3 hours 45 minutes leaves about 67 seconds per question.

How soon can you retake the NCE?

NBCC requires a waiting period between attempts, typically three months, and the full exam fee applies again. Use the wait to work practice questions in your two weakest CACREP areas rather than re-reading the whole review book.

Is the NCE pass rate higher than the NCMHCE?

Generally yes. The NCE is a knowledge and application multiple-choice exam, while the NCMHCE tests sequenced clinical decision-making in case simulations, which more candidates find difficult on a first attempt.

The NCMHCE is the harder one

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See the NCMHCE pass rate