How Much Does the NHA CET Exam Cost? Fees, Retakes and Renewal (2026)

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) does not print a dollar figure for the Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam fee on its public CET certification page or in its Candidate Handbook (updated October 5, 2026). The fee appears in the NHA Shop and is charged when you set an exam date in your NHA account, as of November 2026. What NHA does publish: renewal costs $195 every 2 years with 10 continuing education (CE) credits, each additional certification renewed in the same cycle adds $65, and an expired CET costs $391.50 to reinstate ($292.50 renewal plus $99 reinstatement, with 15 CE credits) if it has been expired 30 days to under 1 year. Every retake requires paying the full exam price again after a minimum 30 day wait. Rescheduling is free within 6 months of the original date, provided you act at least 24 hours before a PSI or live remote proctored appointment. Below is each published cost, with where NHA states it.

Where the CET Exam Fee Is Published

The CET certification page on nhanow.com walks candidates through creating an account, submitting eligibility documentation, and choosing an exam date, then states only that an exam fee payment is required at that step. The Candidate Handbook says the same thing in more detail: candidates must pay an examination fee for each exam attempt, and the applicable fee is found by clicking Shop on the NHA home page, choosing the profession, and opening the certification exam listing. No CET exam price was stated on either document as of November 2026, so this guide does not quote one. Confirm the amount in the NHA Shop before you budget, because the number that matters is the one shown at checkout on your test date.

What One Exam Fee Covers

The fee covers one sitting of the CET exam: 100 scored items plus 20 unscored pretest items, with a 2 hour time limit, according to the NHA test plan, which is still the current CET test plan as of November 2026 and is based on a 2017 job analysis. You pass with a scaled score of 390 or higher on NHA’s 200 to 500 scale. The three scored domains are Safety, Compliance, and Coordinated Patient Care (32 items), EKG Acquisition (44 items), and EKG Analysis and Interpretation (24 items). NHA’s CET page lists three delivery options: at your school, at a PSI testing center, or through live remote proctoring. Study materials are sold separately, and the Candidate Handbook states that NHA cannot require you to use NHA study materials or practice exams.

Every Published CET Cost in One Table

The table collects each cost event NHA documents for the CET, current as of November 2026.

Retake and Rescheduling Costs

NHA allows 3 attempts with a minimum 30 day wait between each, and for each retake you must re-register and pay the full examination price. The Candidate Handbook publishes no discounted retake rate. Rescheduling is the other place candidates lose money. For an exam booked through PSI, either at a testing center or by live remote proctoring, you can move the date without repaying as long as the new date falls within 6 months of the original and you act at least 24 hours before the appointment. Miss that window and the fee is forfeited. For an exam booked at your school or employer, the handbook says to reschedule before the exam starts, and approval rests with that site. Plan your first test date so that a 30 day gap before a possible retake still fits your schedule. See also our guides to what happens if you fail the CET exam and what to bring to the CET exam.

CET Renewal Cost: $195 Every 2 Years

NHA’s renewal page lists a $195 renewal fee and 10 CE credits for every two year cycle, as of November 2026. The page applies that standard process to all NHA certifications except the pharmacy technician credential, and it does not name the CET individually, so confirm the amount in your account when you renew. Two hours of CE equals one NHA CE credit, so 10 credits is 20 hours. NHA’s Help Center states that renewal is $195 for people outside NHA One, plus $65 for each additional certification, plus the cost of any CE courses you buy; NHA One members pay less, and the amount is not published on that page. Early renewal carries no penalty, credits can be completed any time before expiration, and excess credits do not carry into the next cycle.

Lapses get expensive quickly. If your CET has been expired less than 30 days, you renew normally with no additional fee. Between 30 days and 1 year, reinstatement costs $391.50 and requires 15 credits instead of 10. After 1 year, reinstatement is no longer allowed and you start over with a new exam registration and the full exam price.

How to Keep Your Total Cost Down

Because every sitting is billed at full price, the cost you can control is how many times you pay it. NHA’s 2025 pass rate report, revised January 9, 2026, shows 23,429 CET exams administered in 2025 with 70.45% passing. That figure counts examinations, not individual candidates, and NHA does not break it out by first attempt. Taken on its own terms, roughly 3 in 10 CET exams did not produce a pass, which is the number to weigh against the cost of a second registration. The 44 item EKG Acquisition domain carries the most scored items, so it deserves the largest share of review time. Renew on time and you avoid the $99 reinstatement charge and the 5 extra CE credits entirely.

Want to see where you stand before you pay for an exam date? Try a free CET practice test to find your weak domains, or start full length CET practice to build timing and confidence before you register.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the NHA CET exam cost?

NHA does not print a CET exam price on its public certification page or in its Candidate Handbook as of November 2026. The fee is listed in the NHA Shop and charged when you schedule your exam date in your NHA account. The CET related amounts NHA does publish are the $195 renewal fee and the $391.50 reinstatement total.

Do you pay again if you fail the CET exam?

Yes. For each retake attempt, NHA requires you to re-register and pay the full examination price, and you must wait at least 30 days between attempts.

How much does CET renewal cost?

$195 every 2 years plus 10 CE credits, where 2 hours of CE equals 1 credit. Each additional NHA certification renewed in the same cycle adds $65 per NHA’s Help Center. An expired certification needs $391.50 and 15 CE credits for reinstatement if it has been expired 30 days to under 1 year.

Can you reschedule the CET exam without losing the fee?

Yes, within 6 months of the original exam date. For PSI test center and live remote proctored appointments you must reschedule at least 24 hours before the scheduled time; otherwise the fee is forfeited and you must repurchase the exam.

Sources

• EKG Certification (CET), nhanow.com
• NHA Certification Renewal & Reinstatement, nhanow.com
• How do I keep my NHA certification current?, knowledge.nhanow.com
• NHA Continuing Education Requirements, knowledge.nhanow.com
• NHA Candidate Handbook, nhanow.com (updated October 5, 2026)
• NHA CET Test Plan, info.nhanow.com
• 2025 Pass Rates for NHA Examinations, nhanow.com

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For educational and exam preparation purposes only. Not a substitute for formal clinical training.