ECG Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the ECG exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
ECG exam key facts
- Candidates get two hours to complete the NHA Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam. Source
- To pass the NHA Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam, candidates need a scaled score of 390 or higher on a 200–500 scale. Source
- Candidates who fail the NHA Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam can retake it after 30 days and get three attempts in total; after a third failure they must wait one year before each further attempt. Source
- The NHA Certified EKG Technician (CET) credential is valid for two years from its issue date. Source
📋 ECG Exam Format at a Glance
📚 ECG Topics to Study (28)
✍️ Sample ECG Questions & Answers
1. What is the normal heart rate range for adults at rest?
Normal resting heart rate for adults is 60-100 bpm. Below 60 is bradycardia and above 100 is tachycardia.
2. What ECG pattern is associated with acute pulmonary embolism?
The S1Q3T3 pattern reflects right heart strain from acute PE, though sinus tachycardia is the most common PE ECG finding.
3. What is a common study method for preparing for the ECG certification exam?
ECG certification exams heavily test knowledge of the heart's structure and function, as well as the ability to recognize and differentiate various cardiac rhythms from ECG tracings. Therefore, a common and effective study method involves thoroughly reviewing cardiac anatomy, understanding the electrical conduction system, and practicing the identification of normal and abnormal ECG waveforms and rhythms. This ensures comprehensive preparation for the exam.
4. A Holter monitor is most appropriate for evaluating a patient who experiences palpitations:
A Holter monitor records continuous ECG over 24–48 hours, capturing arrhythmias that occur unpredictably during normal daily activities.
5. What is the refractory period of cardiac cells?
The refractory period is when cardiac cells are unresponsive to new electrical stimuli, preventing tetanic contraction and ensuring the heart has time to fill between beats.
6. What is the difference between depolarization and repolarization?
Depolarization is the process where cardiac cells become electrically activated (less negative), triggering contraction. Repolarization is the recovery process returning cells to their resting state.
🎯 Free ECG Practice Tests
📖 ECG Guides & Articles
What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for ECG
An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length ECG mock exam — 120 questions in 120 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
- A fixed ECG question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
- A printable ECG cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- ECG flashcards built from the same question bank.
- Free ECG practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- nhanow.com — Test delivery, score release, score validity, eligibility, passing score, renewal, retake policy · verified Oct 2026
- info.nhanow.com — Time limit · verified Oct 2026