Taking / Retaking the Exam

Everything you need to know about the testing experience, retake policies, and useful test-taking tips.

The Testing Experience

The NPCP certification exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions and is offered worldwide in two formats: at a computer-based testing center or online with virtual proctoring from the comfort of your home or office.

In both formats, candidates are allowed 3 hours and must have the appropriate space, privacy, and readiness to complete the exam successfully.

For a more detailed description of the exam experience and requirements, please refer to the Candidate Handbook .

Retaking the Exam & Rationale

If you do not achieve a passing score on the NCPT examination, you may retake the exam after a 15-day waiting period.

Candidates are allowed up to three exam attempts. If a passing score is not achieved after the third attempt, a 12-month waiting period is required before taking the exam again. This approach helps protect the security of the examination by limiting repeated exposure to exam content, while also encouraging candidates to strengthen their knowledge and preparation before retesting. In this way, the policy balances fair access to retesting with the need to maintain the reliability and integrity of the examination.

Test-Taking Tips

• First and foremost, relax.
• Do not overanalyze.
• Read all the answer choices carefully.
• Eliminate the obviously incorrect answers.
• Answer all questions. There is no penalty for guessing.
• Choose the best answer from among the most probable correct answers.
• Pay close attention to terms such as BEST, MOST, and LEAST.
• Answer the easy questions first and return to the more challenging ones later if needed.

Structure of a Multiple-Choice Question

A multiple-choice question consists of a question (stem) and four potential answers (responses).

The question may appear as a direct question, an incomplete statement requiring the correct ending, or in other formats using terms such as BEST, MOST, EXCEPT, and NOT. Regardless of the format, there is only one correct answer. In multiple-choice exams, it is common for two answers to seem correct. It is important to remember that the best answer is the right answer.