RPhS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

What 650 Actually Means

The Registered Phlebology Sonographer credential, issued by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), uses a passing score of 650 on a scale of 0 to 900. That single sentence answers the headline question, but it hides the detail that trips up most candidates: 650 is a scaled score, and it does not translate to "you need 72% correct" (650 divided by 900) or any other raw percentage.

If you are searching for the exact number of questions you must answer correctly out of 150 scored items, CCI does not publish one, and any figure you see on a forum is a guess. What you can plan around is the structure of the exam, the weighting of its five domains, and the quality of your preparation in the areas that carry the most points.

For a wider look at what the credential covers and who it is meant for, see What Is RPhS Certification? and the eligibility rundown in RPhS Requirements 2026.

How a 0-900 Scaled Score Works

Scaled scoring exists so that candidates who sit different versions of an exam are held to the same standard. Two forms of the test can differ slightly in difficulty. Rather than punish someone who drew the harder form, the score is converted onto a common scale, and the pass line (650 here) represents the same level of competence on every form.

What this means for you in practice

• No fixed raw cut. The number of correct answers that converts to 650 can shift between forms.
• Unscored items do not hurt you. Twenty of the 170 questions are unscored pretest items, and they are mixed in without labels. You cannot tell which are which, so answer every item as though it counts.
• No penalty for guessing. Because you cannot identify unscored items and a blank earns nothing, always select an answer before you move on.
• Weighting still matters. The domain percentages describe how much of the exam each content area occupies, so strength in the larger areas protects your score more than polish in the smaller ones.

The practical takeaway is to stop trying to reverse-engineer a raw cut score and start building depth where the exam is heaviest. If you want a candid view of how demanding that is, read How Hard Is the RPhS Exam?

Exam Format Behind the Score

Understanding the test format makes the 650 target concrete. The RPhS is delivered at Pearson VUE test centers and is closed-book.

Note the pacing math: 170 minutes for 170 questions gives you roughly one minute per item on average. Some items, such as image hot spots, will take longer, while straightforward recall items go faster. You can mark items, review them, and revisit them within the time you have left, so a sensible approach is to answer what you know, mark the uncertain ones, and use remaining time for review rather than stalling early.

Question types you should drill

CCI's current question-type guidance lists four formats, and your practice should include all of them:

• Single-best-answer multiple choice, where several options may look plausible and you choose the most correct.
• Multiple response, where you select more than one correct option.
• Image hot spots, where you click the correct region of an image, which is especially relevant for a sonography credential.
• Drag-and-place items, where you position elements into the correct arrangement.

Candidates who only practice standard four-option multiple choice often lose points on the interactive formats simply because they are unfamiliar. Build that familiarity early with the RPhS practice test.

Which Domain Weights Apply to Your Test Date

This is the most time-sensitive part of the 2026 landscape. CCI publishes two Examination Matrices and Task Lists with the same five domain headings but different approximate weights. Which one applies depends on when you test, so use this as your version selector.

A quirk worth knowing: the current matrix's published weights (9/27/36/9/20) add up to 101%, even though the issuer's total row says 100%. Treat these as approximate guides to emphasis rather than exact question counts.

Remember also that these are exam duty and task domains, meaning examination objectives. They are not a chapter-by-chapter curriculum, so use them to decide where to spend hours, not as a table of contents for a textbook. The full breakdown lives in RPhS Exam Domains 2026.

Where Your Points Come From

Because the passing standard is scaled and not published as a raw number, your safest strategy is proportional coverage with extra depth in the heavy domains. Here is how each of the five areas contributes.

Together, Diagnostic Testing and Patient Diagnosis make up roughly two-thirds of the exam, which is why they should dominate your schedule. A deeper content walk-through is in the RPhS Study Guide, and a compact recap is in the RPhS Cheat Sheet.

Reading the 75% Pass Rate Correctly

CCI publishes a 75% first-time RPhS pass rate for 2025. That is a useful signal that the exam is passable with solid preparation, but be careful about what it does and does not tell you.

• It is a 2025 first-time figure, not a 2026 rate and not an all-attempt rate.
• It reflects a candidate pool that has already cleared the eligibility requirements, meaning people with documented venous-ultrasound experience or physician-level credentials.
• It says nothing about the raw percentage needed, because scoring is scaled.

Candidates are not a random sample of the public. They are experienced professionals who still did not all pass on the first try, which argues against walking in unprepared. For more on interpreting these numbers, see RPhS Pass Rate 2026.

A Domain-Ordered Preparation Timeline

Generic study advice matters less than ordering your effort around the exam's weights. A reasonable eight-week plan front-loads the heavy domains and saves lighter ones for reinforcement. Adjust the length to your experience and your test window.

Finish with timed runs so the one-minute-per-question pace feels natural. If you are weighing the investment of all this effort, Is the RPhS Certification Worth It? and the RPhS Salary Guide offer context, and RPhS Jobs covers where the credential is put to use.

Fees, Retakes, and the Testing Windows

The examination fee is USD 365, which includes a USD 100 non-refundable application-processing component. A retake is not a simple rebook: it requires a new application and a new examination fee, so a failed attempt is a real financial and scheduling cost. Itemized pricing is in RPhS Certification Cost 2026.

Retake timing is shaped by two things. CCI has a general 45-day minimum interval between attempts, but with testing now confined to February and August windows, your practical wait can be considerably longer than 45 days. Plan around the actual window calendar, not just the minimum.

Eligibility itself is route-based, combining a high-school diploma or GED with one documented pathway, such as an active RVS/RVT with venous-ultrasound employment, a relevant degree plus experience, or physician and physician-associate or nurse-practitioner routes with study counts and verification. Several routes require 36 relevant CEUs in the preceding four years, but that requirement is not universal across every pathway. Verify your route in RPhS Requirements 2026 and with CCI before paying.

After You Pass: Renewal Basics

Passing starts a clock. The initial certification period runs 9-12 months, and the first renewal costs USD 165 with Code of Ethics compliance and no CEUs due. After that, three-year renewal requires USD 165, ethics compliance, and 36 CEUs, including at least 30 that are cardiovascular-related, with any remainder meeting CCI's medical-related CE policy. Passing a CCI examination at the full fee can serve as an alternative way to satisfy the triennial CE requirement, but it is not a waiver of other renewal obligations.

For background on the credential's identity and scope, start with What Is RPhS? and What Does RPhS Stand For?, and for preparation resources see RPhS Training.

Frequently Asked Questions