CHN Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

What "70" Actually Means on the CHN Exam

The Certified Hemodialysis Nurse (CHN) credential is awarded by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing & Technology (BONENT). The passing standard is a scaled score of 70 on a 1-100 scale. That single sentence causes more confusion than any other detail about this exam, because most candidates read "70" and immediately translate it to "I need to answer 70% of questions correctly."

That translation is not supported by anything BONENT has verified. A scaled score is a converted number. The raw count of correct answers is mapped onto a reporting scale so that results remain comparable across different versions of the exam. Depending on the difficulty of the specific form you sit, the number of raw correct answers that converts to a scaled 70 can shift. The 70 is the fixed target; the raw score behind it is not published.

Why scaled scoring protects candidates

Scaled scoring exists so that a candidate who happens to receive a slightly harder set of questions is not penalized relative to one who receives an easier set. For you, the practical implication is simple: you cannot "game" the cutoff by calculating how many questions you can afford to miss. The better use of your time is to eliminate weak areas, particularly in the heavily weighted dialysis content. For a candid look at difficulty, see How Hard Is the CHN Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.

Format, Timing, and Closed-Book Rules

Understanding the container the score lives in helps you pace yourself and avoid avoidable surprises on test day.

Three hours for 150 questions works out to roughly 72 seconds per item if you used every minute on the questions alone. That is comfortable for recall-based items and tight for multi-step scenario items, so build the habit of moving on from a question that is consuming too much time and returning to it if the clock allows.

The closed-book, no-calculator reality

Under the linked handbook, personal calculators and reference devices are not permitted. That matters for a dialysis exam, where calculation-flavored thinking (fluid removal targets, treatment parameters, dosing relationships) is part of clinical reasoning. You should practice working through that kind of reasoning by hand rather than depending on a device. Note also that CBT is not a verified at-home route, so plan for a proctored testing environment rather than your living room.

Where the Points Live: Domain Weights

The four official domains from the exam outline PDF total 100%. The distribution is extremely lopsided, and that lopsidedness is the single most useful fact for anyone trying to reach a scaled 70.

Dialysis and Related Issues accounts for nearly three-quarters of the exam. Even a strong performance in the other three domains combined cannot rescue a weak showing here, because those three together represent only 25.5% of the content. For a deeper content walkthrough, read CHN Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.

What BONENT Does Not Publish

Responsible preparation includes knowing where the public record stops. Several details that candidates often ask about are simply not disclosed:

• Pass rate: BONENT does not publicly disclose it. Any figure you see quoted elsewhere should be treated with suspicion unless it cites a primary source. Our own analysis lives in CHN Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
• Scored vs. unscored questions: The split is undisclosed, so you cannot know how many of your 150 items actually count.
• Raw-to-scaled conversion: The raw number of correct answers equivalent to a scaled 70 is not published.
• Exam outline date: The current detailed outline is undated, and the linked general handbook was revised in January 2021, with its fee information superseded by the current BONENT webpage. A 2026 renewal booklet exists, but it is a renewal document, not evidence that the exam content was updated.

Getting to the Exam: Eligibility and Fees

You cannot reach the scoring question without first clearing eligibility. The standard route is:

• An eligible RN license plus one year of nephrology experience, or
• An LPN/LVN license plus two years of nephrology experience,
• Active work in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) care, and
• Two signed references.

An approved corresponding nurse-training pathway also exists, but it requires BONENT confirmation plus documentation, so contact BONENT before assuming you qualify through that route. The full breakdown is in CHN Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

Fee mechanics

BONENT does not publish separate member and non-member price tiers. An optional USD 100 expedite fee is also available. Authorization and application deadlines apply, so check timing against CHN Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling before you commit to a target date. For the full financial picture, including maintenance, see CHN Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

Building a Score Around the Four Domains

Because the passing standard is a single scaled score across the whole exam rather than a per-domain minimum that has been publicly described, your job is to maximize total correct answers where the questions are densest. That means over-investing in Domain 2 without neglecting the rest.

The topic bullets above are illustrative of the kinds of content these domains cover; always confirm the precise task list against the official outline PDF, which remains the authoritative source. Our CHN Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt goes further into content depth, and the CHN Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is useful for last-week review.

A Domain-Weighted Study Sequence

BONENT does not publish a mandatory total of preparation hours, so there is no verified number to hit. Instead, let the domain weights set your sequence. The example below allocates the most calendar time to Domain 2 and front-loads it, so you have time to revisit it.

Adjust the length to your experience. A nurse working daily in a dialysis unit may compress the early weeks; someone newer to ESRD care may extend them. To practice under realistic conditions, use the CHN practice test site for timed question sets that mirror the multiple-choice format.

After You Pass: Validity and Renewal

Once you reach the scaled 70, the credential is valid for four years. Standard renewal requires 40 contact hours, including at least 30 nephrology hours, or a qualifying examination or once-in-lifetime waiver route. Maintenance costs USD 65 annually or USD 240 prepaid for four years.

Whether the credential justifies the effort and expense depends on your career goals. Our analyses in Is the CHN Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and CHN Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis cover the return side of the equation. If you want to try questions before committing to a test date, you can start with a free practice session.

Frequently Asked Questions