Licensing Exam Explorer

Pick a profession and state to see official exam specifications — question counts, time limits, passing scores, retake policies, content areas, and recommended prep materials. Data verified from official state licensing boards and testing providers.

Profession

State

Exam specifications sourced from official testing providers and state licensing boards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on most licensing exams?: It varies sharply by profession. The NCLEX-RN is computer-adaptive with 75–145 questions, the NAPLEX has 225 items, most state real-estate exams run 100–140 questions, and CPA exam sections have 62–76 multiple-choice plus simulations. Pick your profession and state above to see the exact question count for your exam.
What is a typical passing score for a professional licensing exam?: Most multiple-choice licensing exams use a scaled passing score of 70–75 or a criterion-referenced cut score set by the testing provider. The NAPLEX, EPPP (psychologist), and many state exams use a 75 scaled score. The NCLEX uses a pass/fail CAT algorithm rather than a percentage. The explorer above shows the official passing standard for each exam when the state has published it.
How many times can I retake a licensing exam if I fail?: Retake policies are state- and exam-specific. Most boards allow unlimited retakes but enforce a waiting period (commonly 14–90 days) and an additional fee. The NCLEX limits candidates to 8 attempts per calendar year. Several states cap lifetime attempts (e.g., Texas real estate — 3 attempts before retaking pre-licensing). The retake policy row in the explorer shows your state's specific rule.
What testing providers administer professional licensing exams?: The most common are Pearson VUE (NCLEX, NAPLEX, real estate in many states), PSI (insurance, cosmetology, many state-specific exams), Prometric (CPA, pharmacy MPJE), and Credentia (CNA). The profession-specific board contracts with a testing provider — the explorer labels each exam with its provider so you know which scheduling portal to use.

Looking for something else? Try the Pre-Licensing Education Finder →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on most licensing exams?

It varies sharply by profession. The NCLEX-RN is computer-adaptive with 75–145 questions, the NAPLEX has 225 items, most state real-estate exams run 100–140 questions, and CPA exam sections have 62–76 multiple-choice plus simulations. Pick your profession and state above to see the exact question count for your exam.

What is a typical passing score for a professional licensing exam?

Most multiple-choice licensing exams use a scaled passing score of 70–75 or a criterion-referenced cut score set by the testing provider. The NAPLEX, EPPP (psychologist), and many state exams use a 75 scaled score. The NCLEX uses a pass/fail CAT algorithm rather than a percentage. The explorer above shows the official passing standard for each exam when the state has published it.

How many times can I retake a licensing exam if I fail?

Retake policies are state- and exam-specific. Most boards allow unlimited retakes but enforce a waiting period (commonly 14–90 days) and an additional fee. The NCLEX limits candidates to 8 attempts per calendar year. Several states cap lifetime attempts (e.g., Texas real estate — 3 attempts before retaking pre-licensing). The retake policy row in the explorer shows your state's specific rule.

What testing providers administer professional licensing exams?

The most common are Pearson VUE (NCLEX, NAPLEX, real estate in many states), PSI (insurance, cosmetology, many state-specific exams), Prometric (CPA, pharmacy MPJE), and Credentia (CNA). The profession-specific board contracts with a testing provider — the explorer labels each exam with its provider so you know which scheduling portal to use.