2025 NBE Statistics

January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025

National Board Exam – Arts

Accredited Programs

Total TestedPassFailAbsentTotal Number
First Time1702132478%37822%
Repeater63421534%41966%
Combined2336153966%79734%492385

National Board Exam – Sciences

Accredited Programs

Total TestedPassFailAbsentTotal Number
First Time1662117171%49129%
Repeater101324324%77176%
Combined2675141453%126247%952771

Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole percent.

First-Time Administration Average Scores

Arts Exam – 76
Sciences Exam – 75

Average Subsection Scores – Arts Exam

  • Funeral Directing & Arranging – 36.6
  • Funeral Service Marketing/Merchandising – 14.4
  • Funeral Service Counseling – 13.5
  • Legal & Regulatory Compliance – 24.2
  • Cemetery/Crematory/Other Dispositions – 17.9

Average Subsection Scores – Sciences Exam

  • Embalming – 42.7
  • Restorative Art – 23.5
  • Other Preparation of the Deceased – 19.9
  • Funeral Service Sciences – 17.5