I've been trying to get my NPS certification for almost a year now and honestly I was starting to think it just wasn't going to happen. Failed the first attempt in October with a 68 — needed a 75 — then failed again in February with a 71. Both times I felt like I understood the material but something was off with how I was studying.
What changed for me was switching from just reading the handbook to actually drilling questions under timed conditions. I found a good NPS practice test online and started doing full 150-question sets twice a week. That simulation pressure made a huge difference. I also stopped skimming the study guide and started taking notes by hand on the sections I kept getting wrong — mostly resource management and law enforcement protocols.
Passed last week with an 82. If you're stuck, I'd really focus on the operational planning and visitor services sections — those showed up way more than I expected. Happy to share more specific exam tips if anyone's prepping right now.