NCCAA Scoring and Results Guide for AA Students

What you will practice

• Exam format and scored items
• Pass/fail reporting
• Official result timeline
• Subject-area scores
• National cohort averages
• Score verification and retake planning

What this resource helps you do

• Know what NCCAA publishes and what it does not
• Understand the official score-report components
• Use category feedback to plan the next study block

What happens between submitting the exam and receiving results

NCCAA’s live certification pages explain the format, official report, privacy rules, verification process, and retake eligibility. This guide keeps those pieces in one sequence.

How the exam is built

• The certification exam contains 180 multiple-choice items in two blocks of 90.
• NCCAA identifies 30 items as unscored pretest items used to evaluate future questions.
• NCCAA states that it sets the passing score; its live public pages do not publish a numeric passing-score cutoff.

When results arrive

• Pass/fail results are uploaded to the candidate’s secure NCCAA profile.
• NCCAA lists a typical result timeframe of 7–10 weeks after the examination.
• Candidates who have not received results within 10 weeks are directed to contact NCCAA.

What the report includes

• The official result includes pass/fail status and an overall score.
• The report includes subject-matter-area scores for the candidate.
• National averages are included for cohort comparison.

Privacy and verification

• NCCAA says detailed score data is available to the candidate and educational program, not employers or state medical boards.
• Employers and licensing parties can verify certification status through NCCAA’s public registry.
• A candidate receiving a failing result may request score verification under the current NCCAA process and fee schedule.

If the result is unsuccessful

• Use the subject-area report to rank the weakest domains before restarting mixed practice.
• NCCAA’s live retake page describes a two-year eligibility period beginning with the first attempt and a maximum of six opportunities during that period.
• A missed or incomplete scheduled exam can count as an examination opportunity under the published retake policy.

Turn results into a study plan

• Separate content gaps from pacing, stamina, and question-reading errors.
• Start with the weakest reported domain, then add mixed blocks to maintain breadth.
• Track accuracy by category and review every missed rationale before increasing volume.

NCCAA policies, reporting methods, fees, and retake rules can change. Confirm current requirements in the official Certification Exam Handbook and your secure NCCAA account.

Frequently asked questions