CET Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

The Number: 75% on 150 Questions

The passing score for the EKG Technician Online National Certification (CET) is 75%. The credential is administered by American Allied Health (AAH), which calls it the Certified EKG Technician (CET). The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and you have 120 minutes to complete them in a single sitting.

That is the whole scoring rule as AAH publishes it: one threshold, applied to the whole exam. There is no separate sub-score you must hit in each content area, based on the public information available. A candidate who is strong in one area can offset weakness in another, as long as the overall result clears 75%.

What 75% Means in Question Terms

Turning a percentage into a question count makes the target concrete. AAH does not publish a "raw score" conversion or describe any scaling, so the straightforward reading is a simple proportion of the 150 questions:

Because 75% of 150 is 112.5, you cannot get half a question right, so aim for at least 113 correct answers. Treat this arithmetic as a planning guide, not an official AAH statement: the organization states the percentage, and the question-count translation is simply math applied to it. Also note that AAH does not say whether every question counts equally toward the score, so do not build a strategy around skipping "unimportant" items.

The time math matters as much as the score math. At roughly 48 seconds per question, you have no room for long deliberation on any single item. Many true/false and short multiple-choice items can be answered faster than that, which banks time for rhythm-strip and scenario questions that take longer. For a broader sense of how demanding this feels in practice, see How Hard Is the CET Exam?

How the AAH Exam Is Delivered

The CET is delivered through AAH's secure online Computer-Based Testing portal. You can sit for it from a personal device or at an AAH-affiliated testing site. Two format details shape how you should think about the passing score:

• Mixed question types. Multiple-choice and true/false items appear together. True/false questions give you a 50% guess rate, which tempts some candidates to rush them. Read each statement for absolute words ("always," "never") that make an otherwise reasonable statement false.
• One sitting. The 120 minutes run continuously. Plan your pacing before you begin, because you cannot pause and return another day.
• Immediate results. You find out whether you reached 75% as soon as you finish, so there is no anxious waiting period.

Before any of this, you must qualify. AAH accepts four eligibility routes: completion of a related course or training program, one year of field experience, relevant military training, or previous certification through another agency. You submit approved documentation for AAH review, though an affiliated testing partner's registration or eligibility code can replace document submission. The details are covered in CET Requirements.

Where Your Points Come From

The 75% threshold is applied to the exam as a whole, so understanding where the questions come from tells you where your points will be won or lost. AAH's preparation materials organize the content into six areas:

1. Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology
2. EKG Technology and Terminology
3. Law, Ethics, Professionalism, and Safety Procedures
4. EKG Procedures, Operations, and Troubleshooting
5. Overview of EKG Analysis and Interpretation
6. Common Cardiovascular Diseases

A word of caution on weights. For 2026, AAH has publicly confirmed exactly two percentages: EKG Technology and Terminology at 20% and Overview of EKG Analysis and Interpretation at 15%. Together those account for roughly a third of the exam by weight. The remaining four areas have no verified current percentage in the public information, so do not trust any article, forum post, or older study guide that assigns firm numbers to them. Older figures from earlier editions of the guide should not be carried forward.

For a domain-by-domain walkthrough, including what each of the six areas covers, read CET Exam Domains: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.

The February 2026 Content Update

AAH published a notice titled "2026 Exam Updates!" on September 26, 2025, with changes effective February 3, 2026. If you are studying from an older guide, this matters because the content you are tested on has been adjusted. The notice makes two kinds of changes:

• Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology additions: systemic and pulmonary circulation, the cardiac conduction system, respiratory rate, apnea, and dyspnea.
• Analysis and Interpretation addition: descriptors of EKG findings.

Note that AAH's complete current topical study guide is available through your account after registration, and it is the best source for the current scope. A self-built plan based only on outdated outlines risks gaps. For a full preparation approach, see the CET Study Guide.

Retakes, Fees, and Result Timing

Registration costs USD 105. That fee includes a topical study guide, unlimited practice tests, and one free first retake with no mandatory waiting period. This changes how you should think about the 75% requirement: a first attempt that falls short is not a financial penalty, and you do not have to sit out a cooling-off period before trying again.

Additional retake attempts beyond that free first retake require a fee. AAH's current public FAQ does not state the amount, so confirm it directly with AAH before assuming a figure. An optional Premium Study Guide is also available for USD 39. For the full financial picture, see CET Certification Cost.

The practical lesson: because practice tests are unlimited and included, use them as your score predictor. If you are consistently landing well above 75% on varied practice material, you are in a good position. If you are hovering near the line, the free retake is a safety net, but a stronger first attempt saves you time. You can also try the full-length practice questions on the main practice test site to gauge where you stand.

Building a Score Plan Around the Domains

Rather than a generic schedule, organize your preparation around where the points are. This is the only study-method section in this article, and it is tied directly to the exam's structure.

Why this order? Terminology comes first because it supports everything else and carries the largest confirmed weight. Interpretation comes late because it draws on anatomy, terminology, and disease knowledge together. A quick reference to the essentials is in the CET Cheat Sheet, useful for the final review days.

After You Pass: Validity and Renewal

Passing is not the end of the score story. The certification is valid for one year. To renew, you need at least five CE credits earned during that year and payment of USD 32 in membership renewal dues. AAH CE courses or documented external CE can satisfy the credit requirement. Plan for this from day one so your credential does not lapse.

If you are weighing whether the credential is worth the ongoing commitment, the ROI analysis and the CET jobs overview show what the credential opens up. Earnings context is in the CET Salary Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions