QEI Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

The Passing Score Question: What Is Actually Published

Almost every candidate searching this topic wants one number: the percentage or scaled score that separates pass from fail on the NAESA Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) exam. Here is the straight answer. In the sources reviewed for this article (NAESA International's QEI Certification page, its Frequently Asked Questions page, and the course and exam flyer for the Hanover, Maryland event in November 2026), no passing-score threshold is stated. Neither is a cohort pass rate. The public review behind this article was completed on October 15, 2026, and the current Inspector Applicant Handbook, dated September 2024, could not be retrieved, so it is possible the handbook says more than the public pages do. Treat that as an open item rather than assuming either way.

That matters because many sites fill this gap with confident-sounding figures such as "you need 70 percent" or "the pass mark is 75." Without a source from the issuer, those numbers are guesses, and they are especially risky for a credential like the QEI, where the exam is built around code citations rather than general knowledge. If you want to see what is and is not known about outcomes, our companion piece on the QEI pass rate covers the same limitation from the cohort side.

What You Are Actually Sitting For

Before debating a cutoff, get the format right, because the format determines what a "good score" would even look like. Based on the NAESA materials reviewed:

Two details deserve a caution. First, the flyer does not resolve whether the 30-minute break falls inside the 8-hour allowance or on top of it, so confirm that with NAESA before exam day rather than assuming. Second, the demographic questions are separate from the 160 code questions, so when you hear "the exam is 160 questions," that refers to the code content only.

If you want a deeper look at how demanding this format is in practice, see How Hard Is the QEI Exam? for a difficulty breakdown.

Why a Missing Number Changes How You Prepare

Without a cutoff, your target is mastery of navigation

On a closed-book exam, a passing score tells you how much you can afford to not know. On an open-book code exam, the question is different: can you find the governing requirement, in the correct edition, quickly and accurately? Your realistic failure mode is not "I never studied this rule." It is "I opened the wrong section," "I read the requirement for a different equipment type," or "I ran short on attention across a long sitting."

Do not budget for misses

Because no cutoff is verified, building a study plan around an assumed pass percentage is a mistake. Plan to be accurate across the board, and use practice questions to find the categories where you are slow or error-prone. A set of practice questions on the main QEI practice test site can help you rehearse the habit of locating and confirming a citation before committing to an answer.

The Nine Reference Titles and How to Weight Your Time

The nine items below are the issuer-required reference titles for examinations after March 1, 2026. They work as preparation topics, not as nine officially weighted exam domains. NAESA has not published percentage allocations, so no single title can be called the highest-weight topic from the sources reviewed. For a walkthrough of how these map to study areas, see QEI Exam Domains: Complete Guide to All 9 Content Areas.

One scope note: NAESA has separately announced reference changes for March 2027. Those are not applied to this 2026 scope, so make sure the editions you buy match the titles above. Canadian candidates have separately listed alternatives, including B355-2019 (R2024), CAN/CSA-Z185:23, and CSA C22.1-2024; if that applies to you, confirm your reference list directly with NAESA.

The Open-Book Trap: Speed, Navigation, and Edition Accuracy

Open-book exams create false confidence. Candidates assume that because they can look things up, preparation matters less. For a code-heavy credential, the opposite is closer to the truth. Several habits separate prepared candidates from struggling ones:

• Tab and index your hardcopy. NAESA recommends hardcopy references. A well-marked A17.1 codebook is faster than scrolling a PDF.
• Use PDFs as a secondary tool. PDF references are permitted on a separate device, which is useful for text search, but your exam laptop cannot run other programs.
• Confirm the edition on every lookup. The reference titles above carry specific years. An answer drawn from the wrong edition is still wrong.
• Read the whole question stem. Code questions often hinge on a qualifier such as equipment type or an existing-versus-new condition.

For a compact view of the facts worth having at your fingertips, the QEI cheat sheet is a useful companion.

Fees, Retakes, and the Cost of a Miss

The practical stakes of not knowing the cutoff are financial as well as professional. According to the NAESA materials reviewed:

Membership is where the sources disagree. The certification page includes membership after passing the initial $500 examination, while the FAQ describes membership as additional. That conflict is unresolved in the public materials, so confirm the current terms with NAESA before you pay. The certification page does explicitly exclude membership from the $400 retake. For a fuller breakdown, see QEI Certification Cost: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

Also keep sequencing straight. NAESA must approve your documented education or training and your elevator experience against ASME QEI-1 and its application requirements before the exam can be scheduled. The optional four-day review course does not replace that eligibility step. The older application routes are not substituted here, so rely on the current handbook and NAESA for the exact eligibility paths, and read QEI Requirements: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify for the overview.

A Reference-Driven Study Sequence

Rather than a generic schedule, organize your weeks around the reference list and the open-book format. This sequence is illustrative, not an official NAESA timeline, and you should compress or stretch it based on your background:

For a longer treatment of preparation, the QEI study guide goes further, and you can run timed drills on the QEI practice test site.

After You Pass: Renewal Obligations

The passing question has a sequel, because the credential must be maintained. NAESA's recertification page describes annual renewal requirements: 10 approved educational hours (1.0 CEU), the online Maintenance of Qualifications survey, and a fee of $200 for members or $250 for nonmembers. Expiration falls on June 30 or December 31. Planning for renewal early keeps a hard-won pass from lapsing. If you are weighing the long-term value of the credential, see Is the QEI Certification Worth It?

Frequently Asked Questions