NAESA-QEI Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

What "Passing" Actually Means on the QEI Exam

When candidates search for the exact passing score on the NAESA International Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) Certification Examination, they're usually hoping for a single magic percentage they can chase. The honest answer is more practical: NAESA International administers this exam as an online, open-book test of 160 multiple-choice code questions, plus 6 additional demographic questions that don't count toward your result. You're given 8 hours of total examination time, which includes a required 30-minute break built into the schedule.

That structure matters more than any single number, because it tells you how the test is actually won: not through memorization tricks, but through fast, accurate lookups across nine separate reference documents while the clock runs. If you want the full breakdown of how those hours get used, the complete difficulty guide walks through pacing in more detail.

Why NAESA Doesn't Publish a Cut Score

NAESA International does not publish a specific numeric passing percentage for this exam publicly. Rather than guessing at a figure or importing a number from an unrelated credential, it's more useful to focus on what you can actually control: full command of the required references, comfort with the software setup, and disciplined time management across all 160 scored items.

This is also where confusion creeps in online. Multiple credentials share the "QEI" abbreviation, and some third-party sites blend details from different certifying bodies. If you're researching this exam specifically through NAESA International and the ASME QEI-1 qualification standard, be cautious about study material that cites pass rates or scoring thresholds without sourcing them - our NAESA-QEI pass rate breakdown sticks to what's actually documented rather than repeating unverified numbers.

The 2026 Reference Library That Drives Every Question

For U.S. examinations administered after March 1, 2026, NAESA International requires candidates to work from a defined set of references. Every one of the 160 scored questions is built against these documents:

• ASME A17.1-2022 / CSA B44-22 (use the codebook itself, not the explanatory handbook)
• ASME A17.2-2023
• ASME A17.3-2023
• ASME A18.1-2020
• ASME QEI-1-2024
• ANSI/ASSE A10.4-2016
• NFPA 70-2023
• Elevator Industry Field Employees Safety Handbook 2025
• ASME A17.6-2022

Codebooks are purchased separately from your exam registration, so budget time to acquire and index each one well before your scheduled date. NAESA has also announced reference changes coming in March 2027 - keep that update in a separate study track entirely, since studying next-cycle editions alongside the current 2026 references is a fast way to answer questions with the wrong edition's language.

Codebook Categories You Must Master

NAESA International doesn't structure this exam around named, weighted "domains" the way some certification programs do - codebook study categories are useful for organizing your prep, but they are not official exam domains. Still, breaking your study time around each reference document is the most practical way to prepare, since that's literally how the question pool is generated. For a fuller category-by-category walkthrough, see the exam domains guide.

Question Format and the 6 Demographic Items

Every question on the scored portion is multiple-choice, drawing directly from the nine references above. The 6 demographic questions are separate from those 160 - they collect background information about you as a candidate and are not part of your result, so don't spend disproportionate time second-guessing them.

Because this is an online exam, you'll need a suitable laptop with internet access and the required examination software installed in advance. One detail candidates frequently miss: electronic codebooks must be accessed on a separate device, since other programs are blocked on the actual testing computer. Plan your desk setup - testing laptop on one side, reference device on the other - long before exam day, not the morning of.

If you're arranging your own approved testing location rather than a NAESA-run site, you'll also need to designate two eligible proctors who are not your direct supervisor, friends, or family. Get this squared away early - proctor eligibility issues discovered close to your exam date can force a reschedule.

Registration, Fees, and Retake Mechanics

Before you can schedule anything, you must document your required education and elevator experience and receive NAESA approval - this isn't optional paperwork, it's a gate. The full checklist of what NAESA looks for is covered in our NAESA-QEI requirements guide.

Codebooks are not included in any of these fees and must be purchased separately. For a full cost picture including renewal, see the certification cost breakdown.

Once you're certified, renewal happens annually, tied to a June 30 or December 31 expiration date shown on your credential. Renewal requires 1.0 approved CEU - equivalent to 10 continuing-education hours - a completed Maintenance of Qualifications survey, and a fee of $200 for members or $250 for nonmembers. Our one-page cheat sheet keeps these renewal numbers alongside the exam-day facts so you're not hunting for them later.

A Codebook-First Study Timeline

Rather than a generic weekly template, sequence your prep around the reference documents in the order they'll matter most on exam day - heaviest reference first, lighter references toward the end so they stay fresh.

For structured lesson-by-lesson pacing beyond this timeline, the full study guide goes deeper into sequencing and review cycles. And when you're ready to test your lookup speed under real time pressure, our practice platform on the main QEI practice test site is built specifically around this exam's reference set rather than generic elevator-industry trivia.

Who actually uses this credential day-to-day? QEI-certified inspectors typically work for third-party inspection agencies, jurisdictions, and insurance-affiliated inspection groups that need code-compliant elevator inspections performed by a qualified person. If you're weighing whether the credential fits your career path, the ROI analysis and salary guide both dig into that question further, and current QEI job trends covers where demand is coming from.

Frequently Asked Questions