NBE Practice Test

The National Board of Echocardiography runs several certification exams, including the ASCeXAM, the Advanced PTEeXAM, the Basic PTEeXAM and the CCEeXAM. This page gives candidates free practice sets sorted by topic, worked explanations of sample questions, a study plan, and the fees, dates and rules the board has published.

NBE Exam at a Glance

What changed for NBE in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility (ASCeXAM) changed to Proof of right to practice medicine (valid license or ACGME letter of good standing) (previously Proof of right to practice medicine (license or ACGME letter of good standing)).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Validity changed to Maintained annually via MOCE (previously Maintained annually via MOCE (formerly 10 years)).^[4]

What the NBE is and how it works

According to National Board of Echocardiography, “The exam contains 200 questions: 180 scored and 20 unscored.”^[1]

The National Board of Echocardiography (NBE) sets and administers these certification exams. They are delivered at Pearson VUE test centers or through OnVUE online proctoring. The ASCeXAM handbook states that NBE now offers Pearson OnVUE for all exams.

Fees and dates published by the NBE:

• ASCeXAM: $1,295. Exam date July 15, 2027. Registration ends at 11:59 PM EST on May 13, 2027.
• Advanced PTEeXAM: $1,295. Exam date July 22, 2027. Registration deadline May 13, 2027.
• Basic PTEeXAM: $1,095. Offered every other year, with the next sitting in July 2028.
• CCEeXAM: $1,295. Exam date January 26, 2027. Registration deadline December 22, 2026.

The ASCeXAM contains 200 questions: 180 scored and 20 unscored. The Basic PTEeXAM has 150 questions in 5 blocks of 30. The ASCeXAM passing score is based on a minimum level of knowledge set by the NBE, so candidates are not scored against one another. Results are emailed within 12 weeks of the exam.

ASCeXAM candidates must provide proof of the right to practice medicine, such as a valid license or an ACGME letter of good standing. For a partial refund (the fee minus $200), the ASCeXAM handbook requires a written request to examination@echoboards.org before June 10, 2027. It states there are no deferrals. Eligibility rules for the other exams and any retake rules are not covered here, so check the official handbook for your exam. Certification is maintained annually through MOCE, which replaced the earlier static recertification exams.

Worked examples: how to reason through NBE 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: In a child with Ebstein anomaly, which echocardiographic finding defines the severity of tricuspid valve displacement?

1. The degree of tricuspid regurgitation severity
2. The apical displacement of the septal tricuspid leaflet hinge point relative to the mitral valve insertion
3. The size of the right ventricular outflow tract
4. The presence of an atrial septal defect

Answer: B. The apical displacement of the septal tricuspid leaflet hinge point relative to the mitral valve insertion

Explanation:

The correct answer is the apical displacement of the septal tricuspid leaflet hinge point relative to the mitral valve insertion. Ebstein anomaly is defined by where the leaflet attaches, so the measurement has to describe that attachment point, and it is best seen in an apical view.

Tricuspid regurgitation severity is wrong because it is a consequence that varies from patient to patient and does not define how far the valve is displaced. Right ventricular outflow tract size is wrong because it describes a different structure and says nothing about leaflet position. An atrial septal defect is wrong because it often coexists with Ebstein anomaly but is an associated finding, not a measure of displacement.

Rule to remember: when a question asks what defines the severity of a displacement, choose the finding that measures the position of the structure itself, not a downstream effect or a companion lesion.

Example 2

Question: Which risk management approach is MOST effective for NBE professionals when evaluating potential workplace hazards?

1. Reactive analysis after incidents occur
2. Proactive hazard identification and assessment
3. Relying solely on historical accident data
4. Delegating all safety decisions to management

Answer: B. Proactive hazard identification and assessment

Explanation:

The correct answer is proactive hazard identification and assessment. Looking for hazards before anyone is harmed lets you remove or reduce a risk while it is still only a risk.

Reactive analysis after incidents occur is wrong because it starts only once harm has happened, so it cannot prevent the first event. Relying solely on historical accident data is wrong because past records miss new equipment, new procedures and hazards that have not yet caused an incident. Delegating all safety decisions to management is wrong because safety depends on the people doing the work, who see the hazards first and share responsibility for reporting and controlling them.

Rule to remember: in risk management questions, the best answer is usually the one that acts early and involves the people closest to the work. Options with words like solely or all are often too absolute to be right.

Example 3

Question: Which artifact is most commonly encountered when imaging the ascending aorta with TEE due to the interposition of the trachea?

1. Side lobe artifact
2. Mirror image artifact
3. Reverberation artifact
4. Blind spot artifact

Answer: D. Blind spot artifact

Explanation:

The correct answer is the blind spot artifact. In transesophageal imaging the probe sits in the esophagus, and the air-filled trachea and left main bronchus lie between the probe and part of the ascending aorta. Air blocks ultrasound, so that segment cannot be seen properly.

Side lobe artifact is wrong because it comes from off-axis beam energy and can appear in many places, not just where the airway intervenes. Mirror image artifact is wrong because it duplicates a structure across a strong reflector. Reverberation artifact is wrong because it comes from repeated echoes bouncing between strong parallel reflectors.

Rule to remember: name the artifact by its cause. If a structure is missing because air or bone sits in the beam path, think blind spot or shadowing. If something is duplicated or repeated, think mirror image or reverberation.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material for your exam. Read the handbook for the ASCeXAM, or the FAQ page for the exam you are sitting, and write down the exam date, the registration deadline and the question format. Work backward from the exam date to set your study schedule.

Then use the practice sets to find weak areas before you study them in depth:

• Take a short set on each topic, such as Transthoracic Echocardiography, Transesophageal Echocardiography, Stress Echocardiography and Pediatric Echocardiography.
• Add Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology and Clinical Procedures and Techniques to cover the foundations.
• Use Safety and Infection Control, Patient Assessment and Care Planning and Documentation and Legal Standards for the practice-management side.

After each set, read every explanation, including those for questions you got right, and write the rule behind each miss in your own words. Return to your weakest topics in your textbooks or lab, then retake those sets. When you feel ready, use the full practice test to practise sustained focus. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so treat them as practice, not a prediction of your result.

Sources & last verified

1. National Board of Echocardiography — number of questions, passing score, retake policy, delivery (official source). “The exam contains 200 questions: 180 scored and 20 unscored.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
2. National Board of Echocardiography — number of questions, score release, testing window (official source). “150 total items” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
3. National Board of Echocardiography — exam fee, registration deadline, next exam date (official source). “1,295 USD” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
4. National Board of Echocardiography — validity (official source). “replacing the NBE’s previous static ten-year recertification examinations (ReASCE, RePTE, and ReBasic PTE).” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
5. National Board of Echocardiography — next exam date (official source). “ASCeXAM Exam date Thursday, July 15, 2027” Verified Oct 25, 2026.

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