Data · Sourced from licensing boards & industry bodies
Trade Certification Exam Pass Rates 2026
First-attempt pass rates for 30+ trade certification exams — electrician, CDL hazmat, EPA 608, NCCCO crane, NREMT EMT, real estate, CWI, and more. Data sourced from FMCSA, NCCCO, NREMT, AWS, state licensing boards, and industry certification bodies.
Note: Many licensing bodies do not publish official pass rate statistics. Where official data is unavailable, estimates are derived from industry surveys, candidate forums, and prep provider data. Ranges reflect variation by state and exam version.
~40%
Fail their trade exam on the first attempt
50–72%
First-attempt pass rate range across trades
300+
Practice questions linked to higher pass rates
36
Trades covered by VoltExam practice questions
Journeyman Electrician (NEC)
HighPass rate
~60–70%
Questions
80–100 (varies by state)
Passing score
70–75%
Cert body
State electrical boards
CDL Hazmat Endorsement
MediumPass rate
~72%
Questions
30
Passing score
80% (24/30)
Cert body
FMCSA / State DMV
EPA 608 (HVAC)
MediumPass rate
~68%
Questions
25 per section (100 core + type)
Passing score
70%
Cert body
EPA / Approved Test Providers
NCCCO Crane Operator (Core + Specialty)
Very HighPass rate
~56%
Questions
100 (core) + 60 (specialty)
Passing score
Scaled score 70+
Cert body
NCCCO
NREMT EMT-Basic
HighPass rate
~69%
Questions
70–120 (CAT adaptive)
Passing score
Passing standard (logit scale)
Cert body
NREMT
Real Estate License (Salesperson)
HighPass rate
~56–63%
Questions
100–150 (varies by state)
Passing score
70–75% (varies by state)
Cert body
State real estate commissions
AWS CWI (Certified Welding Inspector)
Very HighPass rate
~50%
Questions
150 (Part A) + open book (Part B) + practical (Part C)
Passing score
72% per part
Cert body
American Welding Society (AWS)
OSHA 30-Hour Construction
LowPass rate
>95% (completion-based)
Questions
Final exam per provider (varies)
Passing score
70% (provider dependent)
Cert body
OSHA Authorized Providers
FAA Part 107 (Drone / Remote Pilot)
MediumPass rate
~72%
Questions
60
Passing score
70% (42/60)
Cert body
FAA
OSHA Forklift Certification
LowPass rate
>90% (employer-trained)
Questions
Written + practical (employer)
Passing score
70–80% (employer dependent)
Cert body
OSHA / Employer-based
ASE A-Series (Automotive Mechanic)
HighPass rate
~65% (A1–A8 average)
Questions
40–60 per test
Passing score
Scaled score (varies by test)
Cert body
ASE
Journeyman Plumber License
HighPass rate
~60–70%
Questions
70–100 (varies by state)
Passing score
70–75%
Cert body
State plumbing boards
NICET Fire Alarm Level I
HighPass rate
~65%
Questions
60–80
Passing score
70%
Cert body
NICET
PHTA CPO (Certified Pool Operator)
MediumPass rate
~80%
Questions
75
Passing score
75%
Cert body
Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA)
Water Treatment Operator (Class I/II)
HighPass rate
~62%
Questions
50–100 (varies by level/state)
Passing score
70%
Cert body
State environmental agencies
NHA CPT Phlebotomy
MediumPass rate
~72%
Questions
100 (80 scored + 20 pilot)
Passing score
390/500 scaled score
Cert body
National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
HSPA CRCST (Sterile Processing)
HighPass rate
~60%
Questions
150
Passing score
70%
Cert body
HSPA
Security Guard License Exam
LowPass rate
~75–85%
Questions
50–100 (varies by state)
Passing score
70–75%
Cert body
State licensing bureaus
Notary Public Commission Exam
LowPass rate
~80–90% (where exam is required)
Questions
30–50 (varies by state)
Passing score
70–80%
Cert body
Secretary of State (by state)
EPA RRP Lead Renovator Certification
LowPass rate
~85% (course-completion exam)
Questions
25–40 per provider
Passing score
70%
Cert body
EPA / Accredited Training Providers
Backflow Prevention Tester
HighPass rate
~65%
Questions
50–75 (varies by certifying body)
Passing score
70–75%
Cert body
AWWA / State/local water utilities
Pesticide Applicator License
MediumPass rate
~70%
Questions
50–100 (varies by state/category)
Passing score
70%
Cert body
State departments of agriculture
NMLS SAFE Act (MLO License)
HighPass rate
~55%
Questions
125 (115 scored + 10 pilot)
Passing score
75% (86/115)
Cert body
NMLS / CSBS
Property & Casualty Insurance License
HighPass rate
~55–65%
Questions
150 (varies by state)
Passing score
70%
Cert body
State insurance departments
PMP (Project Management Professional)
Very HighPass rate
~60%
Questions
180
Passing score
Above target (scaled)
Cert body
PMI
PHR (Professional in Human Resources)
Very HighPass rate
~56%
Questions
175 (150 scored + 25 pretest)
Passing score
500/700 scaled score
Cert body
HRCI
MBLEx (Massage Therapy)
HighPass rate
~62%
Questions
100
Passing score
Scaled (recommended score 75%)
Cert body
FSMTB
Cosmetology State Board
MediumPass rate
~68%
Questions
100 (written) + practical
Passing score
70–75%
Cert body
State cosmetology boards
NCCCO Elevator Mechanic License
HighPass rate
~58%
Questions
80–100 (varies by state)
Passing score
70%
Cert body
State elevator inspection divisions
Frequently Asked Questions About Trade Exam Pass Rates
What trade certification exam has the lowest pass rate?
The AWS CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) exam has one of the lowest first-attempt pass rates at approximately 50%, followed by the NCCCO Crane Operator exam at around 56% and the PMP and PHR certifications at 56–60%. These exams require 3–6+ months of dedicated study.
What is the pass rate for the journeyman electrician exam?
The journeyman electrician exam has an estimated first-attempt pass rate of 60–70%, depending on the state. Most states use 80–100 question exams with a 70–75% passing threshold. Candidates who use structured practice question tools pass at significantly higher rates.
How hard is the CDL hazmat endorsement test?
The CDL hazmat endorsement test has an estimated first-attempt pass rate of approximately 72%. The exam consists of 30 questions and requires an 80% score (24 correct) to pass. The test covers DOT hazmat regulations, placarding, shipping papers, emergency response, and loading/unloading rules.
What is the NCCCO crane operator exam pass rate?
The NCCCO crane operator exam has an estimated first-attempt pass rate of approximately 56%, making it one of the more difficult trade certifications. The Core Written exam is 100 questions, and candidates must also pass a specialty exam (another 60 questions) for their crane type (mobile, tower, overhead, etc.).
What is the NREMT EMT pass rate?
According to NREMT annual reports, the first-attempt pass rate for the NREMT EMT-Basic (EMT-B) exam is approximately 69%. The NREMT uses a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) format, delivering between 70 and 120 questions depending on performance.
How hard is the real estate license exam?
Real estate salesperson license exams have first-attempt pass rates ranging from 56–63%, depending on the state. California and New York tend to be harder, with lower pass rates. Most states administer 100–150 question exams with a 70–75% passing threshold.
How can I improve my chances of passing a trade certification exam on the first try?
Research consistently shows that practice questions are the most effective study method for trade certification exams. Candidates who complete 300+ practice questions with full explanations pass at significantly higher rates. Focusing on weak topic areas using concept-based question banks, rather than re-reading study materials, produces the largest score gains in the shortest time.
Data Sources
Pass rate data is sourced from official licensing bodies where published. Where official statistics are not released, estimates reflect industry surveys, training provider data, and aggregated candidate reports. All figures are approximations and may vary by state, exam version, and candidate preparation level.
- NASCLA / state boards
- FMCSA CDL Testing Data
- EPA Section 608 Program
- NCCCO Published Statistics
- NREMT Annual Report 2024
- State real estate commission data
- AWS CWI Certification Data
- OSHA Training Institute
- FAA Airmen Testing Data
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178
- ASE Testing Data
- IAPMO / state boards
- NICET Certification Program
- PHTA CPO Program
- AWWA / State water boards
- NHA Candidate Handbook
- HSPA CRCST Program
- State licensing bureau data
- National Notary Association
- EPA RRP Program
- AWWA / USC Foundation
- EPA / State Ag Departments
- NMLS Resource Center
- State insurance department data
- PMI Certification Data
- GBCI Candidate Handbook
- HRCI Pass Rate Data
- FSMTB MBLEx Data
- NIC / State cosmetology boards
- NEIEP / State elevator boards
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