- What the Published Numbers Say
- Why the 2026 Tally Is Not a Final Rate
- Cut Scores and the Scored-Question Math
- Who Actually Sits the Exam
- Where the Points Are Won: Domain Weights
- Format, Fees, and Proctoring Mechanics
- Retake Rules and What a Miss Really Costs
- A Domain-Weighted Prep Sequence
- How to Use Pass-Rate Data Wisely
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Published counts show 80.63% passing in 2025 (129 of 160 candidates).
- The currently posted 2026 tally is 69.23% (54 of 78), a partial count, not a final annual rate.
- Cut scores are 75% on forms A, C and D, and 79% on form B.
- Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment plus Education & Resources make up 56% of the exam.
What the Published Numbers Say
If you are weighing whether to sit the Certified Breast Health Clinical Navigator exam from the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC), the pass-rate question comes up fast. The honest answer is that the data is thin, partial, and easy to over-interpret. This article walks through exactly what has been published, what it does and does not tell you, and how to turn it into a sensible preparation plan.
Here are the two figures that can be derived from NCBC's published pass counts:
| Year | Passed / Tested | Pass Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 129 / 160 | 80.63% | Full-year published counts |
| 2026 (currently posted) | 54 / 78 | 69.23% | Partial tally, not a final annual figure |
Notice what is missing: neither figure is labeled as a first-attempt rate. The counts as published do not separate first-time candidates from retakers, so you cannot read either percentage as "your odds on a first try." For a broader look at how hard the credential feels in practice, see How Hard Is the BHCN Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Why the 2026 Tally Is Not a Final Rate
The 69.23% figure looks like a sharp drop from 80.63%. Before you draw conclusions, consider what a mid-year tally can and cannot show.
Small samples swing wildly
The 2026 count covers 78 candidates, roughly half the volume of the 2025 total. With a pool that size, a handful of additional passes or failures moves the percentage noticeably. A difference of a few candidates in either direction would shift the rate by several points. That is normal statistical behavior for small counts, not necessarily evidence that the exam changed.
Partial-year mix effects
A posted tally reflects whoever has tested so far. If testing is uneven across the year, or if a particular cohort (for example, candidates retaking after a first miss) is overrepresented early, the partial rate can differ from the eventual full-year rate in either direction. Because NCBC does not publish a breakdown by attempt number in the counts referenced here, there is no way to adjust for this.
For the latest on how these figures are maintained and refreshed, bookmark BHCN Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows as the living reference page.
Cut Scores and the Scored-Question Math
The exam contains 125 multiple-choice questions, but only 100 are scored. The other 25 are unscored items, typically used to evaluate questions for future forms. You will not know which is which, so every question deserves full effort.
The passing standard depends on the form you receive:
- Forms A, C and D: 75% cut score
- Form B: 79% cut score
Applied to 100 scored questions, that is a pass line of 75 correct answers on three of the forms and 79 on form B. The different thresholds exist because forms vary slightly in difficulty, and the cut score adjusts to keep the standard comparable. Practically, you cannot choose your form, so prepare to clear the higher bar rather than banking on the lower one. A deeper dive into scoring lives in BHCN Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Aim to be consistently scoring above 80% on realistic practice questions before you test. That buffer covers the form-B threshold and the natural variation of a three-hour exam day.
Who Actually Sits the Exam
Pass rates are shaped by who is in the candidate pool, and the BHCN pool is self-selecting. You cannot simply sign up; NCBC sets entry requirements that filter for experienced clinicians:
- A valid RN license, or licensure as a medical imager/radiologic technologist
- 1,500 navigation hours within the past two years
- Eight relevant education hours, up to four of which may come from tumor boards
That means nearly every candidate already works in breast health navigation or an adjacent role. Candidates arrive with real patient-facing experience, which probably supports the generally favorable pass counts. It also means the exam leans on applied, practice-based knowledge rather than abstract recall. If you are still confirming your eligibility, review BHCN Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
The credential is open only in the United States, which further narrows the pool to navigators working within US breast centers, imaging facilities, hospital systems, and oncology programs. Employers in those settings are the primary audience for the credential; see BHCN Jobs for how it appears in hiring.
Where the Points Are Won: Domain Weights
The pass rate matters less than where your own score will come from. The exam outline (effective 2022, with the currently linked description being V2 from a July 2023 upload) distributes questions across five domains. Two of them dominate.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Domain 1: Breast Health/Breast Cancer | 15% |
| Domain 2: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment | 28% |
| Domain 3: Care Coordination | 19% |
| Domain 4: Education & Resources | 28% |
| Domain 5: Communication | 10% |
Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment and Education & Resources are each 28%, jointly 56% of the exam. A candidate who is strong in just those two areas has a majority of the scored content working in their favor, while a candidate who neglects them is gambling against the odds.
Domain 2: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (28%)
This is the clinical backbone of the exam and one of the two heaviest domains. Expect scenario-style questions that test whether you understand the pathway a patient follows from an abnormal finding through diagnosis and into treatment.
- Screening modalities and how findings move patients to the next step
- The diagnostic workup sequence and who is involved at each stage
- Treatment categories and how they fit together in a patient's plan
- Where navigation intervenes to prevent delays or lost follow-up
Domain 4: Education & Resources (28%)
Equal in weight to Domain 2 but often under-studied because it feels "softer." Do not make that mistake. This domain tests whether you can match patients to the right information and services.
- Patient education principles and appropriate use of materials
- Community, financial, and support resources and when to refer
- Addressing barriers to care that affect completion of screening and treatment
- Supporting patients in understanding their diagnosis and options
Domain 3: Care Coordination (19%)
The third-largest domain and the one most tied to the day-to-day navigator role: tracking patients, coordinating among providers, and keeping the care plan moving.
- Tracking and follow-up systems
- Interdisciplinary communication and handoffs
- Role of tumor boards and multidisciplinary review
Domain 1 (15%) covers foundational breast health and breast cancer knowledge, and Domain 5 (10%) covers communication. Smaller weights do not mean skippable: with a pass line of 75 to 79 correct out of 100 scored questions, you cannot afford to write off any domain. For the full breakdown, see BHCN Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Format, Fees, and Proctoring Mechanics
Logistics do not change the pass rate, but they affect your testing-day experience, which can affect performance. Here is what the published facts establish:
- Fee: $295 for the exam
- Length: 125 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours (100 scored, 25 unscored)
- Delivery: paper/pencil or live remote proctored
- Rules: unauthorized aids are prohibited; no calculator entitlement has been verified, so do not plan on one
- Geography: US-only
A publicly linked 2023 policy names Examity for remote proctoring, though the current vendor branding is unconfirmed. If you plan to test remotely, confirm the current proctoring vendor and technical requirements directly with NCBC before exam day rather than relying on older documentation. A full cost walkthrough, including renewal, is in BHCN Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and timing details are in BHCN Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Retake Rules and What a Miss Really Costs
Given that a meaningful share of candidates do not pass, the retake policy matters. NCBC requires a minimum of six months between attempts, and allows one no-additional-fee retake within 12 months. In practical terms:
- A first miss does not forfeit your fee if you retest within the window.
- The six-month minimum gap forces a real study reset rather than a quick re-sit.
- Missing the 12-month window means paying again.
Because the waiting period is long, your best strategy is to treat the first attempt as the one that counts. Use the interval after a miss to rebuild weak domains with intention, not just to reread the same notes.
A Domain-Weighted Prep Sequence
Rather than a generic schedule, sequence your preparation around the domain weights. The heaviest domains get the earliest and most repeated attention; the smaller ones fill in around them.
Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (28%)
- Build the patient pathway from screening through treatment
- Work practice scenarios on abnormal-finding follow-up
Education & Resources (28%)
- Map resources to barriers to care
- Practice matching patient needs to education and referral options
Care Coordination (19%)
- Review tracking, handoffs, and tumor board roles
Breast Health/Breast Cancer (15%) and Communication (10%)
- Close foundational gaps and review communication scenarios
- Finish with full-length timed practice sets, aiming well above the cut score
For a complete preparation framework, including resource selection, see BHCN Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and for last-pass review, use the BHCN Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts. You can also drill realistic questions on the BHCN practice test site to find out which domains need the most work.
How to Use Pass-Rate Data Wisely
The published numbers are most useful as a reality check, not a forecast. A few ways to apply them:
- Respect the exam: an 80.63% year and a 69.23% partial tally both tell you that failing is a real possibility, even for experienced navigators.
- Do not over-read the 2026 dip: with 78 candidates posted so far, the figure is provisional. Revisit it once a full-year count is available.
- Anchor on the cut score, not the pass rate: your target is 75 to 79 correct scored answers, regardless of what the cohort average is.
- Weigh the credential on its own merits: pass rates say nothing about career value. For that, see Is the BHCN Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and BHCN Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.
If you want to confirm you are testing for the right credential and understand the fundamentals, start with What Is BHCN Certification?. Once you are ready to benchmark yourself against exam-style questions, take a timed set on the main practice test site and compare your results against the 75% and 79% thresholds.
Frequently Asked Questions
The currently posted 2026 tally is 54 passes out of 78 candidates, or 69.23%. This is a partial count, not a final annual figure, and it is not a first-attempt rate. The 2025 published counts were 129 of 160, or 80.63%.
No. The published counts do not separate first-time test-takers from retakers, so the percentages should not be read as the odds of passing on a first try.
The cut score is 75% on forms A, C and D, and 79% on form B. Only 100 of the 125 questions are scored, so that translates to roughly 75 or 79 correct scored answers.
Yes. There must be at least six months between attempts, and one retake is available at no additional fee if taken within 12 months. After that window, you would need to pay the exam fee again.
Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment and Education & Resources are each 28% of the exam, together 56%. Care Coordination is 19%, Breast Health/Breast Cancer is 15%, and Communication is 10%. Prioritize the two largest domains first, but do not neglect the others.