The National Asthma Educator Certification Board (NAECB) offers the NAECB Exam 2026, an examination that determines if individuals have the skills and knowledge to teach and educate individuals with asthma.
Those who pass the exam are eligible to receive recognition as certified asthma educators (AE-C). This includes licensed or credentialed professionals such as physicians, physician assistants, nurses, respiratory therapists, pulmonary function technologists, pharmacists, social workers, health educators and occupational therapists.
The exam has a 67.4% national pass rate, and there are now 3,264 people who hold an AE-C certificate, according to the NAECB. Across the country, there are more than 170 testing locations, many of which are located in tax preparation firms.
Possess a United States license or certificate in one of the following that is current, active, and unrestricted: Doctor (MD, DO).
Prior to submitting an application for the exam, you must have completed a minimum of 1,000 hours of direct patient education, counseling, or service coordination.
An asthma educator is a specialist in teaching those who have the condition—as well as their families—how to manage it and lessen the negative effects it has on their quality of life.
Symptoms that make kids less attentive. Other students and staff are disturbed and distracted when an asthma attack occurs. Asthmatic students occasionally have reduced self-esteem. The amount of time missed in class and absenteeism can have an impact on students’ academic progress.
The average annual salary for an asthma educator in the United States as of February 13, 2026 is $62,168. That comes out to about $29.89 an hour, in case you need a quick pay calculator.
The NAECB has 175 questions and costs $350[1] (National Board for Respiratory Care, verified Oct 29, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 175 multiple-choice questions (150 scored, 25 pretest)[1] | National Board for Respiratory Care · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $350 for new applicants[1] | National Board for Respiratory Care · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Retake fee | $250 for reapplicants[1] | National Board for Respiratory Care · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Retake policy | 2 attempts, then a 180-day wait[2] | National Board for Respiratory Care · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Validity | 5 years[3] | National Board for Respiratory Care · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Renewal | Every 5 years: complete assessments/CE, or retake and pass the AE-C exam[3] | National Board for Respiratory Care · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Delivery | Computer-based at 300+ assessment centers, Monday–Saturday[1] | National Board for Respiratory Care · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Score release | Score report emailed after the exam (contact PSI if not received within 24 hours)[3] | National Board for Respiratory Care · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | No application deadlines[1] | National Board for Respiratory Care · Oct 29, 2026 |
| Testing window | 90 calendar days after application acceptance[2] | National Board for Respiratory Care · Oct 29, 2026 |
According to National Board for Respiratory Care, “The AE-C Examination contains 175 multiple-choice items (150 scored and 25 pretest).”[1]
The content areas below are copied from the official NAECB content outline published by National Board for Respiratory Care. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| ASSESSMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH ASTHMA AND FAMILY[4] | NAECB Patient Assessment Practise taking a history, recognising symptoms and triggers, and interpreting spirometry results to judge how well asthma is controlled. |
| ASTHMA MANAGEMENT[4] | NAECB Medication Management Practise matching controller and reliever medications to situations, checking inhaler technique, and writing or reviewing a self-management plan. |
| ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES[4] | NAECB Asthma Education Practise how education programs are planned, how patient teaching is documented and evaluated, and how care is coordinated with other providers. |
| THE ASTHMA CONDITION[4] | NAECB Allergy & Asthma Practise the pathophysiology of asthma, common triggers including allergens and exercise, and how asthma differs from other chronic lung disease. |
Prepare for the NAECB Exam exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
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.
Question: What is the recommended breath-hold duration after inhaling from a metered-dose inhaler?
Answer: B. 5–10 seconds
Explanation:
The correct answer is 5–10 seconds. Holding your breath after a puff gives the medication time to settle onto the airway surfaces rather than being breathed straight back out.
Why the others are wrong: 2–3 seconds is too short, so a large share of the dose can leave with the exhaled breath. 15–20 seconds asks for more than most patients can manage, especially children or people who are short of breath, and it adds no clear benefit. Saying no breath-hold is needed ignores the reason the step exists.
Rule to remember: coach a comfortable, steady hold after every puff, and watch the patient do it rather than only asking whether they do.
Question: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) symptoms typically occur:
Answer: B. 5–10 minutes after stopping strenuous exercise
Explanation:
The correct answer is 5–10 minutes after stopping strenuous exercise. Breathing hard dries and cools the airways, and the bronchoconstriction typically follows once the activity ends.
Why the others are wrong: symptoms that start right at the beginning of exercise and resolve during activity describe a different pattern, not the classic delayed response. Limiting EIB to severe persistent asthma is incorrect, because it can occur in people whose asthma is otherwise mild or well controlled. Cold weather makes it worse, but it is not the only setting where it happens.
Rule to remember: ask about symptoms after exercise, not only during it.
Question: Which breathing technique taught in pulmonary rehabilitation helps reduce dynamic hyperinflation during exertion?
Answer: B. Pursed-lip breathing
Explanation:
The correct answer is pursed-lip breathing. Breathing out slowly through pursed lips creates a small amount of back pressure that keeps the airways open longer, so less air is trapped and the chest does not inflate further with each breath during exertion.
Why the others are wrong: apical breathing uses the upper chest, is inefficient and tends to increase effort. Paradoxical breathing is an abnormal movement pattern, not something taught as a technique. Diaphragmatic suppression is not a recognised rehabilitation method, and it would work against efficient breathing.
Rule to remember: techniques that slow the outbreath help patients with air trapping.
Start with the NBRC exam page and the current candidate handbook. Read the list of content areas and note which ones you could teach to a patient without notes and which you could not. That list is your plan.
Take a short set from each content area to find your baseline, using the practice test for a mixed run. Then spend most of your time on the weakest areas. For the condition itself, use Allergy and Asthma and Signs and Symptoms. For management, work through Medication Management, Inhaler Technique and Self-Management Plans. For assessment, use Spirometry and Patient Assessment.
After each wrong answer, read the explanation, then write the rule in your own words. Return to the same topic a few days later and see whether the rule holds. Because the testing window runs for 90 calendar days after your application is accepted, apply only when you are close to ready, and finish with a full mixed session under quiet, timed conditions.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Validates your knowledge and skills objectively | Study materials can be expensive |
| Increases job market competitiveness | Exam anxiety can affect performance |
| Provides structured learning goals | Requires dedicated preparation time |
| Networking opportunities with other certified professionals | Retake fees apply if you don't pass |
Try these questions from our free NAECB Exam practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to initiating allergen immunotherapy?
Answer: B. Severe or uncontrolled asthma (FEV1 < 70% predicted)
Severe or uncontrolled asthma with FEV1 below 70% predicted is an absolute contraindication because systemic reactions carry higher risk of fatal bronchospasm.
Which indoor plant characteristic is relevant to asthma management?
Answer: B. Overwatered plants can promote mold growth in soil, worsening asthma
Overwatered houseplant soil is a common site of mold growth, which can release spores and worsen asthma symptoms.
Which skin test technique is the standard first-line method for diagnosing IgE-mediated allergic sensitization?
Answer: C. Percutaneous (prick) test
The percutaneous (prick/puncture) test is the standard first-line method for detecting IgE-mediated sensitization due to its safety, speed, and reliability.
In the NAECB exam context, which breathing pattern disorder is characterized by inspiratory stridor and a flattened inspiratory limb on flow-volume loop, often misdiagnosed as asthma?
Answer: A. Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM)
Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM), also called vocal cord dysfunction, causes inspiratory stridor and a characteristic flattened inspiratory limb, frequently mimicking asthma.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.