HERS Practice Test

This page is for people working toward HERS Rater certification through RESNET, and especially for anyone preparing for the RESNET National Rater Test. That test is online and open book, with 55 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours to finish and a passing threshold of 40 out of 55. Below you will find free practice sets sorted by the official content areas, worked explanations for sample questions, a study plan and answers to common questions.

HERS Exam at a Glance

What changed for HERS in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery (RESNET National Rater Test) changed to Online, open book, administered by a RESNET-accredited Rater Training Provider (previously Online, open book, via RESNET-accredited Rater Training Provider).^[1]

What the HERS is and how it works

According to RESNET, “The RESNET® National Rater Test is an on-line 55 question multiple-choice test.”^[1]

RESNET sets the standards for Home Energy Rating System (HERS) ratings and certifies HERS Raters. To become a Rater, you complete Rater Training, pass the required RESNET exams and complete 5 probationary ratings. RESNET states that all of the required exams and the probationary ratings must be completed within 15 months.

A RESNET-accredited Rater Training Provider gives the RESNET National Rater Test. It is an online, open-book test with 55 multiple-choice questions. You have 2 hours. To pass, you need 40 out of 55 questions right. The testing fee is $125.00, and you get your results as soon as you finish. The other required tests RESNET lists have their own passing scores: the RESNET Rater Simulation Practical Test (73%) and the RESNET Combustion Appliance Simulation Test (85%).

Once certified, you keep the credential by completing 18 hours of RESNET-approved professional development every 3 years. Retake rules, scheduling and any extra provider costs are handled by your training provider and RESNET, so confirm them there. A state, utility program or builder program may also add its own requirements, so check with the program you plan to work under. For current details, use the official RESNET pages for HERS Raters at resnet.us.

HERS content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official HERS content outline published by RESNET, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through HERS questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which input parameter has the greatest single influence on modeled heating energy consumption in a cold climate home?

1. Window solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)
2. Envelope air leakage (ACH50)
3. Wall assembly R-value
4. Heating system efficiency (AFUE)

Answer: B. Envelope air leakage (ACH50)

Explanation:

B is correct. In a cold climate, a large share of the heating load comes from outside air leaking into the house. Envelope air leakage measured as ACH50 captures that directly. Infiltration losses grow with the indoor-outdoor temperature difference, which stays large all winter. So leakage usually changes modeled heating energy more than any other input listed here.

A is wrong because SHGC mostly affects solar gain and cooling loads, not winter heat loss. C is wrong because walls are only part of the envelope, and leakage often outweighs their R-value. D is wrong because AFUE changes how efficiently the load is met, not how large the load is.

Rule to remember: separate the inputs that set the load (leakage, insulation, windows) from the inputs that set how efficiently equipment meets it.

Example 2

Question: A rater enters a furnace with AFUE of 0.96 into HERS software. What does the remaining 4% represent?

1. Energy lost to flue gases and jacket losses
2. Energy used by the blower motor
3. Standby pilot light consumption
4. Duct distribution losses

Answer: A. Energy lost to flue gases and jacket losses

Explanation:

A is correct. AFUE is a seasonal rating of how much of the fuel energy a furnace turns into useful heat. With an AFUE of 0.96, the remaining 4% leaves the furnace without heating the home. Most of it goes out with the hot flue gases, and some is lost from the cabinet jacket.

B is wrong because blower motor electricity is tracked separately from the fuel-based AFUE figure. C is wrong because high-efficiency furnaces like this use electronic ignition, and pilot use is not what the remainder stands for. D is wrong because duct losses happen after heat leaves the furnace. Rating software models distribution losses separately.

Rule to remember: AFUE stops at the furnace cabinet. Anything that happens in the ducts or in electric parts is counted somewhere else.

Example 3

Question: What is the primary reason HERS raters must depressurize ducts to a specific pressure (typically 25 Pa) during a duct leakage test?

1. To replicate worst-case wind conditions
2. To standardize results so tests from different homes and raters are comparable
3. To maximize airflow through the ducts
4. To satisfy fire code requirements

Answer: B. To standardize results so tests from different homes and raters are comparable

Explanation:

B is correct. How much air leaks from a duct depends on the pressure across the duct walls. A leakage number means little unless everyone tests at the same pressure. A set reference pressure, typically 25 Pa, gives a standard test condition. Results from different homes, raters and days can then be compared with each other and checked against program limits.

A is wrong because 25 Pa is a reference pressure chosen for consistency, not a model of worst-case wind. C is wrong because the goal is to measure leakage at a known pressure, not to push as much air as possible. D is wrong because duct leakage testing checks energy performance, not fire code compliance.

Rule to remember: diagnostic results can only be compared when they are taken at a stated reference pressure, so always record the pressure with the reading.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the material from your RESNET-accredited Rater Training Provider and the RESNET standards you will rely on. The National Rater Test is open book, so part of preparing is knowing where things are in those references, not memorizing them.

1. Take a mixed set such as HERS Index and Ratings to see which content areas feel weak.
2. Work through the sets matched to each content area in the table above, weakest areas before strongest. After each set, read every explanation, including for questions you got right, and note the concept or standard section behind each answer.
3. As you go, add tabs or a short index to your reference materials so you can find tables and definitions quickly.
4. Practise field topics with HERS Blower Door & Duct Testing and HERS Combustion Safety. These also help with the simulation tests.
5. Close to test day, do timed mixed practice. The real test gives you 2 hours for 55 questions, so keep a steady pace and look things up only when you need to.
6. Confirm scheduling, the $125.00 fee and retake rules with your provider.

Sources & last verified

1. RESNET — number of questions, time limit, passing score, exam fee (official source). “The RESNET® National Rater Test is an on-line 55 question multiple-choice test.” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
2. RESNET — passing score, renewal, eligibility (official source). “the RESNET Combustion Appliance Simulation Test (passing score 85%)” Verified Oct 25, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.