Last updated: July 25, 2026· Reviewed by Damon Wiseley, RRT-CPFT, B.H.S.c.
Short answer: there is no RTE pass rate yet. The NBRC’s new Respiratory Therapy Examination (RTE) launches in January 2027, so no candidates have taken it and no official pass-rate data exists. The best way to estimate what to expect is to look at the current TMC and CSE pass rates — since the NBRC has stated it intends to hold the same CRT and RRT standards on the new exam. This page explains what those numbers are, what they suggest, and will be updated with real RTE data once it’s released.
Why this page exists now: “RTE pass rate” is a question people are starting to ask before the exam even launches. Rather than guess, this guide gives you the honest picture — no real number yet, but a well-grounded expectation based on the exams the RTE replaces.
New to the exam itself? Start with our complete 2027 RTE exam guide for the full format, scoring, and eligibility details.
Why there’s no RTE pass rate yet
A pass rate is simply the percentage of candidates who pass an exam. You can’t have one until people have actually taken the test. The RTE’s first administrations happen in January 2027, and the NBRC typically publishes annual pass-rate statistics after a testing year is complete. That means the first meaningful RTE pass-rate data won’t circulate until well into 2027, with fuller numbers following in the NBRC’s annual reporting.
So any site claiming to know “the RTE pass rate” today is guessing. What we can do is reason from solid ground: the exams the RTE replaces, and the standards the NBRC says it will carry forward.
The best reference point: current TMC and CSE pass rates
The RTE replaces two exams — the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) exam and the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE). Their recent pass rates are the closest thing we have to a forecast:
| Exam | First-time pass rate | Repeat pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| TMC (Therapist Multiple-Choice) | ~63% | Lower for repeat attempts |
| CSE (Clinical Simulation Exam) | ~69% | ~67% |
A few things worth understanding about these numbers:
- The TMC has two cut scores. A lower cut score earns the CRT credential; a higher cut score qualifies a candidate to move on toward the RRT. So “passing the TMC” can mean different things depending on which standard a candidate reaches.
- The CSE is famously tough. It’s often described as one of the harder allied-health board exams, precisely because it tests clinical judgment under realistic conditions rather than simple recall.
- Repeat candidates often pass at rates close to first-timers. On the CSE, the gap between first-time and repeat pass rates is small — which suggests that preparation and familiarity with the format, more than raw knowledge, drive success.
What this suggests about the RTE pass rate
Here’s the key fact for setting expectations: the NBRC has stated its intent to hold the same CRT and RRT standards on the RTE that apply to the current exams. The exam format is changing — one all-multiple-choice test with clinical-judgment questions woven throughout, instead of a separate simulation exam — but the bar is meant to stay equivalent.
If the standards are held constant, it’s reasonable to expect RTE pass rates in a broadly similar range to today’s TMC and CSE — that is, somewhere in the general neighborhood of the 60s to low-70s percent for first-time candidates, rather than a dramatic swing in either direction. That’s an expectation, not a guarantee: a new format always introduces some uncertainty in the first year or two as candidates and programs adapt.
The honest caveat: first-year data for any new exam can look different from the long-run average, simply because everyone — candidates, schools, and prep providers — is adjusting to the new format at once. Treat early RTE numbers, whenever they appear, as a first data point rather than the final word.
The passing score: how the RTE is scored
The RTE uses two cut scores on a single exam:
- Reach the lower cut score and you earn the CRT credential.
- Reach the higher cut score and you earn the RRT credential.
The NBRC sets these thresholds through a formal cut-score study designed to match the difficulty of the existing CRT and RRT standards. The big practical change from the old system: a CRT-level candidate can no longer skip a clinical-judgment assessment. Because clinical judgment is now built into the one exam, every passing candidate has to demonstrate it. For the full scoring breakdown, see the complete RTE exam guide.
How to give yourself the best odds — whatever the pass rate turns out to be
Pass rates describe the average candidate. Your individual result comes down to preparation, and the RTE rewards a specific kind of prep. Because the exam is built around scenario-based clinical judgment:
- Practice decision-making, not just recall. The questions hand you patient data and ask for the best next action.
- Drill the exam’s actual format. Working scenario-based questions with full rationales is the closest thing to the real test.
- Weight your time toward interventions — the domain that carries the most items.
Prepare for the exam as it’s actually built. Respiratory Cram’s RTE Prep Platform trains the scenario-based clinical judgment the 2027 exam rewards — a full question bank with rationales and readiness exams. Start preparing → respiratorycram.com
Want a full study approach? See our guide on how to study for the RTE exam, and test yourself with free RTE practice questions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RTE exam pass rate?
There isn’t one yet — the RTE launches in January 2027, so no candidates have taken it. Based on current TMC (~63% first-time) and CSE (~69% first-time) pass rates and the NBRC’s intent to hold the same standards, a broadly similar range is expected. This page will be updated with real data when it’s released.
What is the passing score for the RTE?
The RTE uses two cut scores on one exam: a lower cut score earns the CRT, a higher cut score earns the RRT. The NBRC sets these to match the current CRT and RRT standards.
Is the RTE harder to pass than the TMC and CSE?
The NBRC’s stated intent is to hold the same standards, not raise or lower them. The main change is that CRT-level candidates can no longer skip a clinical-judgment assessment.
What is the current NBRC exam pass rate?
Recently, the TMC first-time pass rate is roughly 63% and the CSE first-time pass rate is roughly 69% — the closest reference points until real RTE data exists.
Pass-rate figures cited are approximate, based on recently reported NBRC statistics for the TMC and CSE, and are used here as reference points. No official RTE pass-rate data exists as of publication. This page will be updated when the NBRC releases RTE statistics. For official information, visit nbrc.org.
