CET Practical Exam Passing Score Change
Effective March 26, 2026
Following a thorough psychometric review and stakeholder consultation, AAERT will adjust the CET Practical Exam passing score from 98% to 95%, effective for exams taken on or after March 26, 2026.
This update ensures the exam remains rigorous and equitable while aligning with current industry benchmarks. The CET credential continues to represent the highest standards of professional excellence in the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the passing score being changed?
AAERT is committed to maintaining a certification program that reflects the real demands of the profession, evolves as the field evolves, and is shaped by ongoing dialogue with practitioners and educators. Periodic review ensures that certification standards remain accurate and defensible as the profession and exam evolve.
After extensive review, we found that the 98 percent score requirement significantly exceeded that of any comparable industry exam. Rather than safeguarding quality, the score requirement was actually preventing capable transcribers from being able to work in an industry facing a crippling shortage of professionals available to make the legal record.
This change ensures that capable transcribers can effectively apply their skills, while maintaining the high standard of excellence our certification program requires of candidates.
Was input from certificants, candidates, or others considered?
Yes. AAERT consulted with a wide range of stakeholders including current CETs, CET candidates, and organizations that employ CETs prior to making this decision. We heard clearly and repeatedly from both aspiring CET candidates and firms looking to hire CETs that the 98 percent score requirement was not aligned with current industry standards, and was preventing capable transcribers from becoming certified.
Does a lower passing score mean the exam is easier? Does this mean the credential is less valuable or rigorous?
A lower passing score does not mean the exam is less rigorous or the credential less meaningful. The score reflects where the passing standard is set — it does not change what the exam measures or what abilities candidates must demonstrate to pass. CET candidates will still be required to show knowledge across all areas of the exam blueprint and to demonstrate the skills of a capable transcriber. What has changed is our confidence that the previous standard was set higher than the evidence supported and that correcting it better serves both candidates and the profession.
How does this compare to passing scores for similar certifications?
As part of this process, AAERT carefully reviewed all comparable industry certifications. The new CET passing score requirement of 95 percent matches the highest requirement of any base-level transcription or reporting certification in the industry. Holders of the CET credential meet a standard that has been benchmarked against (and matches) the most rigorous comparable certifications in the industry, and that has not changed.
Will people who previously failed, but would have passed under the new score, be given the CET?
Certification exams must be scored and evaluated based on the requirements in place at the time of the exam. This is fundamental to maintaining the validity of the certification program and the high regard that AAERT certifications carry in our industry. Unfortunately, the change to the passing score requirement cannot be applied retroactively.
What happens if I am in the process of earning my CET?
CET Practical Exams taken before March 26 will be scored under the current rules. A score of 98 percent or higher is required to pass.
CET Practical Exams taken on or after March 26 will be scored under the new rules. A score of 95 percent or higher will be required to pass.
If I took my CET Practical Exam before March 26, 2026 and choose to appeal my results, what passing score will apply to my appeal?
If you took your CET Practical Exam before March 26, your exam, including any appeal, will be evaluated under the scoring rules that were in effect at the time the exam was taken.
That means:
- The required passing score remains 98%.
- Filing an appeal does not change the passing standard.
So even if you submit an appeal, you must still meet the 98% accuracy requirement to receive a passing score if your exam was taken before March 26.
What happens if I already have a CET Practical Exam registration to expire before March 26, 2026? Will this prevent me from waiting to test under the new passing score rate?
Candidates whose CET Practical Exam registration is scheduled to expire between March 5, 2026 and March 26, 2026 will be given a 30-day grace period.
All extended registrations will therefore fall within the date range of April 4, 2026 through April 25, 2026, allowing candidates the opportunity to take the exam after the new passing score takes effect on March 26, 2026.
How will those who passed under the old standard be affected? Is this fair to people who worked hard to meet the old standard?
Credentials earned under the previous standard are completely unaffected. Every CET can continue to represent their certification with full confidence.
As for fairness, we understand this question, we respect it, and we considered it carefully in making this decision. The professionals who passed under the previous standard worked hard to demonstrate their competency, and nothing about this change alters that. What it reflects is our determination to ensure that as our industry evolves, the standard is set where the evidence says it should be. That determination is itself a mark of the integrity that makes this credential worth holding.
Will the passing score be reviewed again in the future? Is it possible it could change again?
Passing standards should be reviewed periodically as part of responsible credentialing practice and we will continue to do so. However, a review does not mean a change is imminent or likely. The previous passing standard served the CET well for many years, reflecting the stability and care with which AAERT approaches its credentialing decisions.
Any future review would go through the same rigorous, evidence-based process that guided this one. We do not change what we ask of candidates lightly, and the history of this credential demonstrates that.
Where can I learn more about the credentialing standards and best practices that guide AAERT's certification decisions?AAERT's certification programs are developed and maintained in accordance with established industry standards for professional certification. The About AAERT Certifications page on our website provides more information on the value of our certifications and the foundation for how we design exams, set passing standards, and review our processes over time, ensuring that our decisions are principled, defensible, and consistent with credentialing best practices.