EPPP Passing Score 2026: What Scaled 500 Means and How Many Questions You Need
The EPPP passing score recommended by ASPPB is a scaled score of 500 for independent practice and 450 for supervised practice, on a scale that runs from 200 to 800. A scaled 500 works out to roughly 70% of the 175 scored questions on Part 1, or about 122–123 correct, but the exact raw number changes from form to form because ASPPB equates every form for difficulty.
500 scaled (independent practice) · 450 scaled (supervised practice) · scale 200–800.
That is roughly 70% of 175 scored items on the EPPP (Part 1-Knowledge). There is no fixed raw cut: an easier form needs more correct answers, a harder form needs fewer. Your licensing board, not ASPPB, makes the final pass/fail call.
The rest of this guide explains where those numbers come from, why nobody can give you an exact "number right" to hit, what you actually see on your score report, and how to use practice scores without fooling yourself.
How EPPP Scoring Works
225 questions, 175 that count
Part 1 of the EPPP has 225 multiple-choice items. According to ASPPB's September 2026 EPPP Candidate Handbook, 175 are scored and 50 are unscored pretest items that ASPPB is trying out for future forms. The pretest items are mixed in and not labelled, so treat every question as if it counts, and don't let one strange item rattle you. It may not count at all.
Raw score to scaled score
Your raw score is simply the number of scored items you answered correctly. ASPPB then converts that raw score to a scaled score between 200 and 800. The handbook describes this as an arithmetic conversion that makes scores on different forms mean the same thing, so a 500 on one form represents the same level of knowledge as a 500 on another.
No penalty for guessing
Because the score is the number of correct answers, a wrong answer costs you nothing more than a blank. Answer every item, including any you flagged and ran out of time to revisit. A blank is a guaranteed miss; a guess on a three- or four-option item is not.
Equating, explained with an easier form and a harder form
ASPPB assembles several forms of the exam, and no two are exactly equal in difficulty. Equating adjusts for that. The handbook puts it plainly: if your form is easier than the form on which the passing score was set, you need more correct answers to reach 500; if it's harder, you need fewer. You aren't rewarded for drawing an easy form or penalised for drawing a hard one.
That's why you'll see figures like "122", "123" or "about 70%" quoted online. The 70% figure is a commonly cited approximation from prep providers, not an official ASPPB number, and it describes a typical form. The fixed thing is the scaled 500. Through equating, ASPPB says that 500 matches the criterion-referenced standard set in its standard-setting study, the level it adopted as the recommended minimum for independent practice.
| Term | What it means | Is it fixed? |
|---|---|---|
| Raw score | Number of the 175 scored items you got right | No: the raw number needed varies by form |
| Scaled score | Raw score converted to the 200–800 scale, equated across forms | Yes: 500 means the same on every form |
| Pretest items | 50 unscored items being trialled | Never count toward your score |
| Wrong answers | Scored the same as blanks | No guessing penalty |
500 vs 450: How Licensing Boards Use the EPPP Passing Score
ASPPB recommends passing scores. It does not license anyone. Each state, provincial or territorial board sets its own standard and decides whether your score meets it. Here is what the handbook says about how boards currently use the two numbers:
| Scaled 500 | Scaled 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| ASPPB recommends it for | Independent practice as a psychologist | Supervised practice |
| How boards use it | All licensing authorities currently accept 500 for independent practice on Part 1 | Some variation among boards |
| Score report detail | Below 500 triggers automatic domain feedback | A 450–499 score still gets domain feedback |
| What you should do | Treat 500 as your target | Ask your board if it applies to you |
EPPP passing score by state
If you searched "EPPP passing score by state," the honest answer is short. For independent licensure on Part 1, every board currently accepts ASPPB's recommended 500, so the number is the same wherever you apply. Where boards differ is the supervised-practice standard and the rules around it, such as which credentials or roles a 450 can support. We are not publishing a state-by-state list, because those rules change and a stale table could cost you a licence timeline. Check your own board's rules, and its exam page, before you plan around anything other than 500.
What Your EPPP Score Report Shows
The EPPP doesn't make you wait weeks. Here is what happens after you finish, per the September 2026 handbook:
- At the test center: unofficial scoreYou get an unofficial score immediately. ASPPB says this is the only notification you'll receive from it, so keep the printout.
- If you scored below 500: domain feedbackYour report automatically includes performance feedback by content domain, shown as a bar graph. There's no fee for it.
- In Clarus: your score and your boardThe score is transferred into Clarus, where you and the licensing authority you selected at registration can see it. Clarus replaced Certemy on September 29, 2026.
- Your board decidesThe board determines whether the score meets its passing standard and when you are formally licensed. The score itself won't change except in rare cases, such as an exam irregularity.
- Applying elsewhere: score transferYour score goes only to the board you chose when registering. For any other jurisdiction, you order an Official Score Transfer through ASPPB's Score Transfer Service, which also includes a check of ASPPB's Disciplinary Data System. The test-center report can't be used for transfers.
One more detail worth knowing: neither ASPPB nor the Pearson VUE helpline will give out score information over the phone, so don't plan on calling for it.
See where you stand: take the free 10-question EPPP quick start →What Score to Aim For in Practice
Here's the uncomfortable truth about practice percentages: no practice test can tell you your scaled EPPP score. Only ASPPB's forms are equated to its scale. A percentage on any other question bank, including ours, reflects that bank's difficulty and how familiar you are with its questions. Use practice scores as a trend line, not a prediction.
With that caveat, a few principles hold up:
- Roughly 70% on a full, timed, realistic exam is the minimum signal, not the goal. Because the cut moves by form and exam days vary, you want a margin above it before you book.
- Count only first attempts. Re-seeing questions you've already reviewed inflates percentages fast. Your score on fresh questions is the one that matters.
- Watch your weakest domains. In ASPPB's 2025 doctoral program report, first-time candidates from accredited programs averaged their lowest percent correct in Research Methods and Statistics (64.84%) and Growth and Lifespan Development (66.20%), and their highest in Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues (78.15%). The total is what passes you, so a weak domain drags everything down.
- Simulate the real thing. That means 225 items in 4 hours 15 minutes, with no scheduled breaks and the clock running if you step out.
FlashGenius Premium's full-length exam simulation shows an estimated practice score compared against a roughly 70% threshold. It's an estimate, labelled as one, designed to show whether you're trending toward the passing range across all eight content areas. It isn't an ASPPB scaled score. ASPPB's own sample exams (SEPPPO online, $30; SEPPP at a test center, $82.50) report percent correct only, and ASPPB says they aren't recommended for pinpointing which areas need more study.
| Your timed, first-attempt practice score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Consistently above about 75% | Likely a comfortable margin above the typical cut. Keep reviewing weak domains and don't let your skills go stale. |
| Around 70% | Near the typical cut, with little room for a harder-feeling form or a bad day. Close the gaps before you book. |
| Below about 65% | Probably not ready yet. Rebuild the weakest content areas first. |
These bands are our study guidance, not ASPPB standards. They assume realistic, timed practice on questions you haven't seen before.
What Happens If You Don't Pass the EPPP
A score below your board's standard means retaking that part of the exam. The ASPPB handbook sets out the framework:
- Board rules come first. Some boards set waiting periods, maximum attempts or extra requirements. You request a retake through your board (where required) or in your Clarus account.
- ASPPB's hard cap: no more than four attempts at either part in any 12-month period, whatever your board allows.
- Recommended gap: ASPPB suggests waiting about 90 days after your last test date so you have time to prepare.
- Cost: each Part 1 sitting is $600 plus a $91.88 Pearson VUE fee ($691.88), and fees are non-refundable.
You're not alone if it happens. In ASPPB's 2025 report covering 2020–2024, 75.07% of first-time Part 1 takers from APA/CPA-accredited programs reached 500, which means about one in four did not. Our EPPP pass rate guide breaks those numbers down further.
A short plan for clearing 500
- Take a timed baseline across all eight domains, starting with the free EPPP practice exam hub.
- Target your two weakest domains first. Try the free Research Methods and Statistics and Growth and Lifespan Development sample questions, where candidates average lowest.
- Don't coast on the heavy domains: Assessment and Diagnosis and Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues carry 16% each.
- Read the explanation for every miss, including why each distractor is wrong.
- Do at least one full 225-item, 4-hour-15-minute simulation before you book.
- Keep the EPPP cheat sheet for final-week review, and build your weeks with our EPPP study plan.
For the full exam picture, covering format, fees, registration in Clarus and test day, see the EPPP exam guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the passing score for the EPPP?
ASPPB recommends a scaled score of 500 for independent practice and 450 for supervised practice, on a 200 to 800 scale. All licensing boards currently accept 500 for independent practice on Part 1, while standards for supervised practice vary. Your licensing board makes the final pass or fail decision.
How many questions do you need to get right to pass the EPPP?
There is no fixed number. A scaled 500 is commonly estimated at roughly 70 percent of the 175 scored questions, or about 122 to 123 correct, but the raw number changes by form because of equating. An easier form needs more correct answers and a harder form needs fewer.
Is the EPPP passing score the same in every state?
For independent practice, yes in practice: ASPPB reports that all licensing authorities currently accept its recommended score of 500 on Part 1. Boards vary on the passing score for supervised practice, so check your own board's rules.
Do you find out your EPPP score right away?
Yes. You receive an unofficial scaled score at the test center as soon as you finish. The score is then transferred into Clarus for you and your licensing board, and the board decides whether it meets its passing standard.
Is there a penalty for guessing on the EPPP?
No. Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly, so a wrong answer counts the same as a blank. Answer every question before time runs out.
What practice test score means you are ready for the EPPP?
No practice test can predict your scaled score exactly, because only ASPPB forms are equated to its scale. As a rule of thumb, aim to score comfortably above roughly 70 percent on timed, full-length practice with questions you have not seen before, and look for the trend to hold across all eight content areas.
How soon can you retake the EPPP if you fail?
It depends on your licensing board, which may set waiting periods or attempt limits. ASPPB allows no more than four attempts at either part in any 12-month period and recommends waiting about 90 days between attempts. If you score below 500, your score report includes free domain-level feedback to guide your study.
The Bottom Line
The EPPP passing score that matters for almost every candidate is a scaled 500. That's roughly 70% of the 175 scored items, with the exact raw number moving by form so that the standard stays the same. Answer everything, prepare across all eight domains, confirm your board's rules, and build a real margin in timed practice before you book.
Start with the free EPPP practice exam →Sources: ASPPB EPPP Candidate Handbook, September 2026 (exam format, scaled scores and passing scores, equating, score reports, score transfer, retakes, fees); ASPPB 2025 Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program (first-time pass rates and average percent correct by content area, 2020–2024); ASPPB EPPP overview. The "roughly 70%" raw-score equivalent is a common approximation, not an ASPPB-published cut, and varies by form.
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 and board rules change, so verify current details with ASPPB and your licensing board.