- Why There Is No Published CHN Pass Rate
- What the Scaled Score of 70 Does and Doesn't Tell You
- Who Actually Sits the Exam: The Filter Before the Test
- Where Candidates Are Most Likely to Lose Points
- Exam Format and Registration Mechanics That Affect Outcomes
- Readiness Signals That Beat Any Pass-Rate Statistic
- A Domain-Weighted Sequencing Plan
- After You Pass: Validity and Renewal
- Frequently Asked Questions
- BONENT does not publicly disclose a Certified Hemodialysis Nurse pass rate, so any specific percentage you see online is unverified.
- The passing standard is a scaled score of 70 on a 1-100 scale, not a verified 70% raw score.
- Dialysis and Related Issues carries 74.5% of the exam, so it drives your outcome more than any other domain.
- The exam has 150 multiple-choice questions over 3 hours, closed book, with no personal calculators or reference devices.
Why There Is No Published CHN Pass Rate
If you searched for the Certified Hemodialysis Nurse pass rate hoping for a clean percentage, here is the direct answer: the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing & Technology (BONENT) does not publicly disclose one. No official figure appears in the candidate materials, and the program does not publish annual first-time or repeat-taker pass statistics that we can verify.
That matters because pass-rate numbers for niche credentials circulate freely on forums and social media, and they are almost always unsourced. Some are borrowed from entirely different certifications that happen to share the "CHN" acronym. We do not repeat those numbers here. This article instead covers what the available data supports: the scoring standard, the structure of the exam, the candidate pool, and the factors that realistically separate people who pass from people who do not.
If you want a fuller picture of difficulty without relying on a statistic, our guide on how hard the CHN exam is breaks down the content and question style, and the companion piece on the CHN passing score goes deeper on the scoring standard.
What the Scaled Score of 70 Does and Doesn't Tell You
The CHN passing standard is a scaled score of 70 on a 1-100 scale. This is where many candidates, and many articles, go wrong. A scaled score is not the same as getting 70% of questions right.
Why scaled scoring changes the math
Scaled scoring converts your raw performance onto a common reporting scale. The point of this process is fairness across different exam forms: if one version of the exam happens to be slightly harder, the conversion accounts for that so a score of 70 represents the same level of competence regardless of which form you sat. Because of this, you cannot work backward from "70" to a specific number of correct answers out of 150. BONENT does not publish that conversion, and it likely varies by form.
The scored versus unscored question question
The exam contains 150 multiple-choice questions, but the split between scored and unscored items is not disclosed. Many certification programs include unscored pretest items to evaluate future questions. You cannot tell which items those are, so the only sound strategy is to treat every question as if it counts. Do not spend mental energy trying to guess which items are "trial" questions.
| Common Assumption | What Is Actually Verified |
|---|---|
| "You need 70% correct to pass" | Passing is a scaled score of 70 on a 1-100 scale; raw-score conversion is not published |
| "All 150 questions count" | The scored/unscored split is undisclosed, so assume all items count |
| "The pass rate is about X%" | BONENT does not publicly disclose a pass rate |
| "Every domain is weighted equally" | Four domains with very different weights; Dialysis and Related Issues is 74.5% |
Who Actually Sits the Exam: The Filter Before the Test
One reason raw pass rates can mislead is that they reflect the candidate pool as much as the exam's difficulty. The Certified Hemodialysis Nurse exam is not open to anyone who wants to try it. Candidates must clear an eligibility screen first, which means the people sitting for the test are already working in dialysis.
The standard eligibility routes
- RN route: an eligible RN license plus one year of nephrology experience.
- LPN/LVN route: an LPN/LVN license plus two years of nephrology experience.
- Experience requirements: active work in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) care, plus two signed references.
- Training pathway: an approved corresponding nurse-training pathway also exists, but it requires BONENT confirmation and supporting documentation.
Because candidates have real chairside experience before they apply, the pool is self-selected toward people who already handle dialysis daily. That tends to favor passing, but it also means the exam is calibrated for working nurses, not newcomers. The questions assume you know how a treatment actually runs, not just what a textbook says. For the full breakdown of who qualifies, see our guide to CHN requirements and eligibility.
Where Candidates Are Most Likely to Lose Points
Since there is no pass-rate data to analyze, the exam blueprint is the most reliable guide to where your points come from. The four official domains total 100%, and the distribution is heavily lopsided.
| Domain | Weight | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1: Supervision/Management | 10% | Smaller slice, but unfamiliar to staff nurses who don't supervise |
| Domain 2: Dialysis and Related Issues | 74.5% | The core of the exam; outcome depends mostly on this domain |
| Domain 3: Professional Development | 5.5% | Smallest domain; easy to underestimate |
| Domain 4: Environmental Control | 10% | Technical content outside many nurses' daily routine |
A note on naming: the official PDF labels Domain 1 as "Supervision/Management," while BONENT's website overview describes it as "Supervision/Administration." These refer to the same area, so don't be thrown if you see both terms in different materials. Our complete guide to all four CHN exam domains covers each in detail.
Domain 2: Dialysis and Related Issues (74.5%)
This domain is the exam. With nearly three-quarters of the weight, a weak performance here is very difficult to offset elsewhere. Expect clinically grounded questions on the treatment itself and the patient's response to it.
- Hemodialysis treatment delivery, prescription elements, and dialyzer and circuit considerations
- Vascular access assessment, care, and complications
- Intradialytic complications and appropriate nursing responses
- Anticoagulation, fluid management, and adequacy concepts
- Patient assessment, laboratory values, and medication considerations in ESRD
Domain 4: Environmental Control (10%)
This is the domain where experienced nurses are most often surprised, because water and facility topics are frequently handled by technical staff rather than chairside nurses.
- Water treatment concepts and why water quality matters to dialysis patients
- Infection prevention and control in the dialysis environment
- Safe handling and monitoring practices tied to the treatment setting
Domains 1 and 3: Supervision/Management and Professional Development (15% combined)
Together these account for 15% of the exam. They reward candidates who understand staffing, quality, regulation, and the nurse's professional role beyond bedside care.
- Delegation, supervision, and unit-level management responsibilities
- Quality improvement and regulatory awareness
- Education, ethics, and professional growth
Because Domain 2 dominates, a CHN study guide worth following should put the bulk of its hours there, while still giving the smaller domains enough attention that you aren't giving away easy points.
Exam Format and Registration Mechanics That Affect Outcomes
Logistical mistakes cost candidates attempts and money, which matters when no pass-rate data exists to reassure you. Here is what the verified details say.
Format at a glance
- Questions: 150 multiple-choice items.
- Time: 3 hours.
- Delivery: computer-based testing through a linked SMT/IQT network, or paper examinations under approved onsite proctoring.
- Rules: closed book; no personal calculators or reference devices under the linked handbook.
- Accommodations: available for candidates who need them.
Computer-based testing is not a verified at-home route, so plan on testing at an approved location rather than from your kitchen table. Authorization and application deadlines apply, so scheduling is not something to leave to the last minute. Our CHN exam dates and scheduling guide walks through the windows and deadlines.
Fees
| Candidate Type | Paper | Computer-Based (CBT) |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. | USD 235 | USD 255 |
| International | USD 260 | USD 255 |
No separate member and non-member fee tiers are published, and an optional USD 100 expedite fee is available if you need faster processing. Fees are set by BONENT's current webpage; the linked general handbook was revised in January 2021 and its fee figures are superseded, so always confirm against the live page before you pay. For the full financial picture, including renewal, see our CHN certification cost breakdown.
Readiness Signals That Beat Any Pass-Rate Statistic
A pass rate, even if one existed, would describe a crowd. What you need is evidence about you. These are practical signals you can measure before you pay the exam fee.
Check yourself against the weighted blueprint
- Can you explain the reasoning behind Domain 2 topics, not just recite the steps? Scenario-style questions reward reasoning.
- Can you handle Environmental Control questions without relying on a technician to answer them?
- Do you understand supervisory scenarios even if you do not currently hold a charge or management role?
- When you miss a practice question, can you identify whether the gap was knowledge, misreading, or time pressure?
Use practice questions as a diagnostic, not a prediction
Because the true passing standard is a scaled score rather than a raw percentage, a practice-test percentage cannot tell you with certainty whether you would pass. What practice questions can do is reveal which domain is dragging you down. Run timed sets on our CHN practice test, track results by domain, and look for patterns rather than fixating on a single overall number.
Key Takeaway
Treat practice scores as a map of your weak domains, not a pass/fail forecast. Since 70 is a scaled score with an unpublished raw conversion, the goal is consistent strength across the blueprint, with Domain 2 as the non-negotiable priority.
A Domain-Weighted Sequencing Plan
No universal mandatory prep-hour total has been verified for this credential, so build your schedule around the blueprint and your own starting point rather than a magic number of hours. The one place a schedule helps is in deciding what to study when, based on weight and unfamiliarity.
Gap-finding and Domain 4
- Take a diagnostic set to see which domains are weakest.
- Start Environmental Control early, since it is often the least familiar to chairside nurses.
Domain 2 deep work
- Spend the largest block of time on Dialysis and Related Issues.
- Cover access, complications, adequacy, anticoagulation, and lab interpretation with scenario practice.
Domains 1 and 3
- Review supervision, management, quality, and professional development content.
- These are small by weight, so keep sessions efficient.
Timed, closed-book simulation
- Run a full-length timed session with no references to mirror test conditions.
- Revisit only the domains where errors cluster.
Adjust the length to your own experience. A nurse who supervises and manages water systems will compress some of this; someone newer to those areas may extend it. For a condensed reference as the exam approaches, our CHN cheat sheet pulls together high-yield facts in one place.
After You Pass: Validity and Renewal
Understanding what comes after the exam also puts the pass-rate question in context, because the credential is meant to be maintained, not earned once and forgotten.
- Validity: the certification is valid for four years.
- Standard renewal: 40 contact hours, including at least 30 nephrology hours, or a qualifying examination route or once-in-lifetime waiver route.
- Maintenance fees: USD 65 annually, or USD 240 prepaid for four years.
Whether the investment pays off depends on your career goals and employer. Our analyses of whether the CHN certification is worth it and the CHN salary guide look at the career side of the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
BONENT does not publicly disclose a pass rate for the Certified Hemodialysis Nurse exam. Any specific percentage you encounter without a BONENT citation should be treated as unverified, especially since other credentials share the "CHN" acronym.
No. The passing standard is a scaled score of 70 on a 1-100 scale. It is not a verified 70% raw score, and the conversion from raw performance to scaled score is not published.
Dialysis and Related Issues, which makes up 74.5% of the exam. The other three domains are Supervision/Management (10%), Environmental Control (10%), and Professional Development (5.5%).
The exam has 150 multiple-choice questions and a 3-hour time limit. It is closed book, and personal calculators and reference devices are not permitted under the linked handbook.
The standard routes are an eligible RN license with one year of nephrology experience, or an LPN/LVN license with two years, along with active ESRD work and two signed references. An approved corresponding nurse-training pathway also exists with BONENT confirmation and documentation.
The bottom line: without a published pass rate, the smartest move is to prepare against what is actually verified. Weight your effort toward Dialysis and Related Issues, close the gaps in the less familiar domains, and use timed practice to confirm you are ready before you sit for the exam. When you are ready to test yourself, start with our free CHN practice questions.