- The NCE has 100 scored items on the baseline form, with 105 minutes to complete it.
- Domains 1-3 (patient assessment, hearing testing, prescribing instruments) each carry 25% - 75% of the exam.
- Exam fee is $225 (US/Canada) or $250 international, charged again on every retake.
- A notarized Affidavit of Eligibility and two years of dispensing experience (or diploma pathway) are required before certification.
Credential Snapshot
Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences (BC-HIS) is issued by the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS) upon successful completion of the National Competency Exam (NCE). This page is built as a one-screen reference - pull it up the night before your test date and confirm you have every number right. For deeper explanations behind each fact, see the full BC-HIS Study Guide 2026 or start from the basics in What Is BC-HIS?.
Registration & Fee Mechanics
The NCE is delivered at Kryterion test centers, and scheduling runs through Webassessor. There is no requirement to belong to the International Hearing Society (IHS) - membership is not a prerequisite for sitting the exam.
- Exam fee: $225 USD for United States and Canadian candidates; $250 USD for international candidates.
- Retake fee: The full exam fee applies again on every retake attempt - there is no discounted resit rate.
- Membership: Not required to register or test.
- Scheduling system: Webassessor, tied to Kryterion-administered test centers.
For a complete pricing walkthrough covering renewal costs alongside the exam fee, see BC-HIS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Exam Format at a Glance
The baseline NCE form contains 100 scored questions administered in 105 minutes. Some candidates receive a 115-question form instead - that version embeds 15 unscored items alongside the 100 scored ones and grants 120 minutes. The handbook also permits up to 30 additional beta items on certain forms, with time adjusted accordingly. Your registration confirmation will state which form and time limit you've been assigned, so check it rather than assuming.
| Form Type | Scored Items | Unscored/Beta Items | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline form | 100 | 0 | 105 minutes |
| 115-question form | 100 | 15 unscored | 120 minutes |
| Beta-item form | 100 | Up to 30 beta items | Adjusted per handbook |
All items are computer delivered and clinical in nature. You'll see two question styles: single-answer multiple choice and select-all-that-apply. There is no partial credit on the multiple-response items - you either select every correct option and nothing else, or the item is marked incorrect. Testing is closed book and in person; personal calculators are not permitted, and you must bring two acceptable forms of ID plus your authorization code to the test center.
Key Takeaway
Because select-all-that-apply items award zero partial credit, practice flagging every plausible option before submitting - a single missed distractor turns a correct answer into a wrong one.
Domain Breakdown
The NCE is built around five content domains, and three of them are weighted identically - a structural quirk worth memorizing on its own.
Domain 1: Assess Patient Presenting Problem and Needs (25%)
Covers case history, chief complaint intake, and identifying the functional and communicative needs driving a patient's visit.
- Recognizing red-flag symptoms requiring medical referral
- Structuring an effective intake interview
Domain 2: Test and Analyze Patient Hearing (25%)
Covers audiometric testing procedures, interpretation of results, and matching findings to candidacy decisions.
- Pure-tone and speech audiometry interpretation
- Distinguishing conductive, sensorineural, and mixed patterns
Domain 3: Prescribe and Analyze Hearing Instruments (25%)
Covers selecting appropriate instrument types and technology based on test results and patient lifestyle.
- Matching gain/output targets to audiometric configuration
- Instrument style selection rationale
Domain 4: Fit, Adjust, Program and Service Hearing Instruments and Equipment (15%)
Covers verification, real-world programming adjustments, and ongoing device service.
- Real-ear measurement basics
- Troubleshooting feedback and fit issues
Domain 5: Counseling and Rehabilitation (10%)
Covers patient education, expectation management, and aural rehabilitation strategies.
- Communication strategies training
- Adjustment counseling for new users
Notice that Domains 1 through 3 jointly make up 75% of scored content. That means the bulk of your review time should go toward patient assessment, hearing testing, and instrument prescription rather than splitting attention evenly across all five areas. For a full walk-through of each domain's subtopics, read BC-HIS Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Eligibility Rules
Before you can register, you need to satisfy one of two paths and submit supporting documentation.
- Standard path: A current dispensing license or registration where your jurisdiction requires one, plus two years of full-time hearing-instrument dispensing experience within the preceding five years.
- Diploma path: Completion of an approved two-year hearing-instrument-sciences diploma program.
- Affidavit: A notarized Affidavit of Eligibility must accompany your application regardless of which path you use.
- Board Eligible status: Candidates with at least 15 months of qualifying dispensing experience may sit the exam as Board Eligible, but certification isn't awarded until the full two-year requirement is met.
For every document, deadline, and edge case, see the dedicated BC-HIS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify guide.
Scoring, Results & Retakes
The NCE uses a modified Angoff criterion-referenced passing standard, meaning the passing score is set by expert judgment about item difficulty rather than a fixed percentage - and scores are adjusted for the difficulty of the specific form you receive. There's no universal "get X out of 100 right" number that applies to every candidate. For a fuller explanation of how the standard is set, see BC-HIS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
- Results delivery: Pass/fail outcomes are emailed after you complete the exam.
- Feedback for retakers: Unsuccessful candidates receive domain-level performance information to guide restudy.
- First failed attempt: Triggers a 30-day waiting period before you may retest.
- Subsequent failed attempts: Trigger a six-month waiting period.
- Retake cost: Full exam fee each time - no reduced rate.
Certification Maintenance
Passing the NCE isn't the end of the obligation - BC-HIS status requires ongoing upkeep.
- Revalidation: Annual, alongside maintaining current licensure where your jurisdiction requires it.
- Continuing education: 24 approved CE credits every three years; all 24 may be completed online, and credits do not carry over into the next cycle.
- Annual fee: $299 for United States and international certificants, or $215 USD for Canadian certificants, due June 30 each year.
Budget for this recurring cost the same way you budget for the exam fee itself - it's part of the real lifetime cost of holding the credential, covered in more detail in the certification cost breakdown.
Final-Week Prep Sequence
In the last stretch before test day, sequence your review around domain weight rather than reviewing everything equally. This is the one place a generic study technique earns its spot on a BC-HIS-specific cheat sheet: short, spaced review blocks work best when they're mapped to the exam's actual point distribution.
Domain 1 & Domain 2 recall drills
- Rapid-fire case-history and audiogram interpretation flashcards
- Review referral red-flags checklist
Domain 3 instrument logic
- Practice matching gain targets to configurations
- Review style-selection decision trees
Domain 4 & Domain 5 review
- Real-ear measurement troubleshooting scenarios
- Counseling script run-throughs
Logistics check
- Confirm Webassessor appointment, form type, and time limit
- Pack two acceptable IDs and authorization code
If you want the extended version of this sequencing logic with weekly milestones stretching back further, the BC-HIS Study Guide lays out a longer runway. And once you're ready to test recall under timed, closed-book conditions, run full-length simulations on our practice test platform before your scheduled date.
Who This Credential Signals To
Employers hiring for hearing-instrument dispensing roles - audiology practices, hearing-aid retail chains, and independent dispensing offices - treat BC-HIS as a portable signal of competency across all five domains, not just clinical testing skill. If you're weighing whether the credential translates into better job prospects or pay, the BC-HIS Salary Guide 2026 and ROI analysis unpack that question with the actual figures available. Browsing current openings is also a fast way to see how job postings reference the credential - see BC-HIS Jobs for examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Testing is closed book and in person at Kryterion test centers, and personal calculators are not permitted during the exam.
No. IHS membership is not required to register for or sit the National Competency Exam.
Three domains - Assess Patient Presenting Problem and Needs, Test and Analyze Patient Hearing, and Prescribe and Analyze Hearing Instruments - are each weighted 25%, together accounting for 75% of scored content.
A first failed attempt triggers a 30-day waiting period before retesting. Any subsequent failed attempt triggers a six-month waiting period, and the full exam fee applies again each time.
Not immediately. Candidates with at least 15 months of qualifying dispensing experience may test as Board Eligible, but they must complete the full two-year experience requirement before certification is granted.
Keep this page bookmarked alongside your practice sessions on the main practice test site - a quick re-read of the fee, format, and domain numbers right before test day is often the difference between confident recall and last-minute doubt.