EPPP Pass Rate 2026: First-Time Results and Where Candidates Struggle
The most recent national EPPP pass rate is 75.07%: of 17,748 first-time takers from APA- or CPA-accredited doctoral programs who sat the EPPP (Part 1-Knowledge) between 2020 and 2024, about three in four scored 500 or higher. For first-time takers from nonaccredited or other doctoral programs, the pass rate was 44.85% (2,274 candidates). Both figures come from ASPPB's 2025 report on exam scores by doctoral program.
Period: January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2024. "Pass" means a scaled score of 500 or higher. Source: ASPPB, 2025 Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program.
The headline number is only half the story. The same report breaks down how candidates scored in each of the eight content areas, and it shows clearly where people lose points. This guide covers what the pass rates mean, where candidates struggle, how to find your own program's numbers, and how to use all of it in your study plan.
What the EPPP Pass Rate Numbers Actually Mean
The figures are easy to misread, so here is what they include and what they leave out.
- First-time takers only. Repeat attempts aren't counted, so the rate across all attempts is lower than 75%.
- Part 1-Knowledge only. The report doesn't cover the EPPP (Part 2-Skills).
- "Pass" means 500. ASPPB counts a scaled score of 500 or more as a pass, which is its recommended standard for independent practice. Your licensing board makes the official pass/fail decision.
- Five years pooled. The 2025 edition (the 26th) combines all first-time attempts from 2020 through 2024. It doesn't give a separate rate for each year.
- Program is self-reported. Candidates name their own doctoral program when they apply, and ASPPB groups the results by that answer.
The pass rate has slipped a little
ASPPB says the average first-time pass rate for accredited-program candidates has been above 80% in most years it has measured. Over the past five years, though, it saw a drop of roughly 5% in the first-time pass rate. It suggests the COVID-19 pandemic "may have influenced doctoral training and student learning." That's why the 2020–2024 figure (75.07%) sits below the long-run norm.
| Group (first-time takers, 2020–2024) | Candidates | Pass rate | Roughly… |
|---|---|---|---|
| All APA/CPA-accredited doctoral programs | 17,748 | 75.07% | 3 in 4 pass |
| Nonaccredited or other doctoral programs | 2,274 | 44.85% | fewer than 1 in 2 pass |
| Accredited programs, historical norm (ASPPB) | — | >80% | "in most sample years" |
How many people fail the EPPP?
The flip side of the national data is that about one in four first-time takers from accredited programs (roughly 4,400 people over five years) and more than half from nonaccredited programs didn't reach 500. Once repeat takers are counted, the share of failed attempts goes up. In the California Board of Psychology's 2024 Monthly EPPP Examination Statistics, 37.61% of all 1,779 candidates tested passed, compared with 60.43% of the 748 first-timers. That covers one state's candidates rather than the national pool, but it shows how much a retake can cost you.
Where Candidates Struggle: Percent Correct by Content Area
This is the most useful part of ASPPB's report for planning your study, and few people look at it. For each of the eight Part 1 content areas, it shows the average percent of items candidates answered correctly. The chart lists the domains from lowest to highest for accredited-program candidates.
EPPP average percent correct by content area
First-time takers, Jan 2020 – Dec 2024 · ASPPB 2025 doctoral report
What the domain data tells you
- Research Methods & Statistics is the weakest area for both groups (64.84% and 51.68%), and it also has the widest gap between them at about 13 points. It's only 7% of the exam, but for many candidates it's the area furthest from daily clinical work.
- Growth & Lifespan Development is second-lowest (66.20%). It makes up 12% of the exam and covers everything from infancy through late adulthood, so there's a lot to cover.
- Assessment & Diagnosis costs the most points. At 68.57% it isn't the lowest, but it carries 16% of the exam (about 28 of the 175 scored items), so a small weakness here loses more points than the same weakness in a smaller domain.
- Ethics is the highest-scoring area (78.15%), but it's also 16% of the exam. Candidates who skip it because they feel confident are giving up points they could easily have kept.
- Accredited-program candidates averaged below roughly 70% in four of eight domains. A typical candidate is close to the line in several areas, so balanced preparation matters more than perfecting your best domain.
EPPP Pass Rate by Program: How to Look Up Yours
The report lists program-level results, and they vary widely, from under 20% to 100%. To find your program:
- Open ASPPB's 2025 doctoral report (PDF) and go to Table 4, which begins on page 14.
- Programs are listed by jurisdiction (state or province abbreviation, such as AB or AZ), then by school and department.
- Find your program type. The same department can list separate rows, for example clinical PhD, counseling PsyD or school PhD.
- Read across: NUM (number of first-time takers), PASSRATE, then percent correct in each of the eight content areas.
- An asterisk means four or fewer takers. ASPPB hides the count and pass rate for these programs to protect candidates' privacy.
The most useful thing in your program's row is its domain profile. If your program's Research Methods or Lifespan score is noticeably below the 64.84% and 66.20% accredited averages, plan extra time for that domain.
Check where you stand: take the free 10-question EPPP quick start →Is the EPPP Hard?
Yes, it's hard, but most well-prepared candidates pass. Three-quarters of first-time takers from accredited programs pass. The exam is still demanding for several reasons:
- It's broad. There are 175 scored items (plus 50 unscored pretest items) across eight content areas and 71 knowledge statements. Most of that material is outside any one clinical specialty.
- It's long. You get 4 hours 15 minutes for 225 items, with no scheduled breaks. If you take a break, the clock keeps running.
- The bar is meaningful. A scaled 500 corresponds to roughly 70% correct, though the exact number varies by form. The domain averages above show that typical candidates are near that line in several areas.
- It tests application, not just recall. Each question has three or four options and a single best answer. ASPPB says the exam assesses both your knowledge and your ability to apply it.
For the scoring details, see our EPPP passing score guide. For format and logistics, see the EPPP exam guide.
What to Do If You Don't Pass
Not passing on your first attempt is common, and it isn't the end of the road. Per ASPPB's September 2026 EPPP Candidate Handbook:
- You get domain feedback automatically. If you score below 500, your score report at the test center includes a bar graph of your performance by domain, at no extra cost. Keep it.
- Your board approves the retake. Retake rules vary by jurisdiction, and some boards set waiting periods, limits on attempts or extra requirements. Once approved, your board assigns a new Authorization to Test in Clarus.
- ASPPB sets an attempt limit. No matter what your board allows, you can't take either part more than four times in any 12-month period.
- ASPPB recommends waiting about 90 days between attempts so you have time to prepare.
- Each attempt costs the full fee again: $600 to ASPPB plus a $91.88 Pearson VUE sitting fee.
Compare your feedback graph with the national domain averages above. Domains where you were well below the accredited average are where the next 90 days of study will help most.
How to Use the Pass-Rate Data to Plan Your Study
Instead of reading every domain equally, give each one time based on its exam weight and on how well candidates typically score. A simple order to work in:
| Priority | Domain (weight · accredited avg) | Why | Free sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assessment & Diagnosis (16% · 68.57%) | Heavy weight, below ~70% | Try it |
| 2 | Growth & Lifespan Development (12% · 66.20%) | Second-lowest average | Try it |
| 3 | Research Methods & Statistics (7% · 64.84%) | Lowest average, widest gap | Try it |
| 4 | Social & Cultural Bases (11% · 68.92%) | Below ~70% | Try it |
| 5 | Treatment, Intervention, Prevention & Supervision (15% · 71.83%) | Heavy weight, near the line | Try it |
| 6 | Ethical, Legal & Professional Issues (16% · 78.15%) | Highest scores, but keep these points | Try it |
| 7 | Cognitive-Affective Bases (13% · 72.13%) | Steady review | Try it |
| 8 | Biological Bases of Behavior (10% · 72.32%) | Steady review | Try it |
This order is a starting point based on national averages. Your own practice results should change it.
A short action checklist
- Take a short diagnostic across all eight domains before you build a schedule.
- Look up your program's row in Table 4 and note any domain well below the accredited average.
- Give extra study blocks to Assessment & Diagnosis, Lifespan and Research Methods. Keep Ethics in weekly review.
- Do timed, mixed-domain practice so your scores reflect test-day conditions.
- Book the exam once your practice scores are consistently and comfortably above roughly 70% in every domain, not just on average.
For a week-by-week version, see our EPPP study plan. For quick review, use the EPPP cheat sheet. To compare prep options, read best EPPP study materials. FlashGenius Premium adds a 600+ question bank mapped to all eight content areas, timed 225-question simulations and domain analytics (see current pricing). It covers Part 1 only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EPPP pass rate?
According to ASPPB's 2025 report, 75.07% of 17,748 first-time takers from APA- or CPA-accredited doctoral programs passed the EPPP (Part 1-Knowledge) between January 2020 and December 2024, meaning they scored 500 or higher. The first-time pass rate for candidates from nonaccredited or other doctoral programs was 44.85% (2,274 candidates).
How many people pass the EPPP the first time?
About three in four first-time takers from accredited programs pass (75.07% for 2020 to 2024). ASPPB notes this rate exceeded 80% in most earlier years and fell roughly 5% over the past five years, a drop that may be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among first-time takers from nonaccredited programs, fewer than half pass.
How many people fail the EPPP?
About one in four first-time takers from accredited programs did not reach a scaled 500 between 2020 and 2024, along with more than half of first-time takers from nonaccredited programs. Rates are lower once repeat attempts are included. In California's 2024 board data, 37.61% of all candidates tested passed, compared with 60.43% of first-time takers.
Is the EPPP hard?
Yes, it is demanding, but most well-prepared candidates pass. It has 175 scored items across eight broad content areas, runs 4 hours 15 minutes with no scheduled breaks, and passing requires roughly 70% correct, depending on the form. Even candidates from accredited programs averaged under 70% in Research Methods, Lifespan Development, Assessment and Social and Cultural Bases.
Which EPPP domain do candidates score lowest on?
Research Methods and Statistics. Accredited-program candidates averaged 64.84% correct there and nonaccredited candidates averaged 51.68%. Growth and Lifespan Development was second-lowest at 66.20%. Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues was highest at 78.15%.
Where can I find my doctoral program's EPPP pass rate?
In Table 4 of ASPPB's 2025 Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program, which lists programs by state or province, school and department. Each row shows the number of first-time takers, the pass rate and percent correct by content area. Programs with four or fewer takers do not show a count or pass rate.
How many times can you take the EPPP?
It depends on your licensing board, since retake rules vary by jurisdiction. ASPPB's limit is no more than four attempts at either part in any 12-month period, and it recommends waiting about 90 days between attempts. Each attempt requires board approval and the full exam and test center fees.
The Bottom Line
The current EPPP pass rate for first-time takers from accredited programs is 75.07%, down from a historical norm above 80%. Candidates from nonaccredited programs pass at 44.85%. The domain data shows that candidates most often lose points in Research Methods, Lifespan Development and Assessment & Diagnosis. If you plan your study around those areas and check your progress with timed practice, you'll be in a much better position on your first attempt.
Start the free EPPP practice exam →Sources: ASPPB, 2025 Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program (first-time takers, Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2024); ASPPB EPPP Candidate Handbook (September 2026) (format, scoring, retakes, fees); ASPPB EPPP exam topics; California Board of Psychology, 2024 Monthly EPPP Examination Statistics.
FlashGenius is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ASPPB. EPPP is a registered trademark of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. Exam policies, fees and board rules change and vary by jurisdiction. Verify current details with ASPPB and your licensing board.