What Does an Exam Score Really Tell You in 2026? 

Rethinking Certification, Competence, and Professional Standards
An exam score is a measuring tool, nothing more and nothing less. It provides insight into how well an individual understands the subject matter at a specific moment in time. In the world of backflow prevention tester certification, that understanding directly affects public health protection. 

For this discussion, let’s set aside the practical (hands-on) portion of certification and focus on the written or fundamentals exam, which is still the backbone of most tester certification programs in 2026. 

Multiple-Choice Exams: What the Numbers Really Mean
Most backflow tester exams rely heavily on multiple-choice questions. Statistically speaking, a person who knows nothing about the material and answers randomly can still score around 40–42 percent. 

That’s an important baseline. 

Anything above that reflects some level of comprehension, even if it’s passive learning gained simply by sitting in a classroom. 

Preparation Still Matters a Lot
During most certification courses, students are encouraged to review class notes, manuals, and reference materials outside of class hours. Unsurprisingly, those who put in the extra effort almost always perform better. 

Now consider a familiar scenario: 

“My boss told me to be here. I don’t really want to do this. Crawl spaces, spiders, getting wet — not my thing.” 

That individual has listened to lectures all week but didn’t open the book once at night. A reasonable prediction? 

A score in the 60–65 range — a reflection of short-term retention, not mastery. 

The Infamous 69: The Worst Possible Score?
If 70 is the passing score, then 69 may be the most painful result of all. 

How does someone explain that? 

• “I’m not a good test taker.” 
• “I just missed it.” 

But if someone knows they struggle with written exams, that’s not an excuse — it’s a signal. It’s a reason to prepare more thoroughly next time. And yes, that person will likely be back to take the test again. 

The Low 70s: Achievement or Warning Sign?
Scores in the low 70s create a gray area. 

For some, this represents a genuine accomplishment: 

• Someone new to the backflow prevention field 
• A career-changer entering the industry 
• A first-time tester learning unfamiliar material 

That achievement should be acknowledged and respected. 

But there is another category — the individual who does just enough to pass today, with little intention of retaining or applying the knowledge tomorrow. Over time, key concepts fade: 

• Device vs. assembly 
• Backpressure vs. backsiphonage 
• Application limitations 

Eventually, that person says they’re going out to “test backflows.” 
Really? You don’t test backflows. You test backflow prevention assemblies. 

Words — and understanding — matter. 

The Difference Between a 72 and an 85
Instructors and industry veterans consistently observe a difference between those who score in the low 70s and those who score in the mid-80s or higher. 

That difference is depth of understanding. 

For example, when a customer asks: 

“Why does an atmospheric vacuum breaker need to be installed 6 inches above the highest outlet, but a pressure vacuum breaker requires 12 inches?” 

• The “72” answer: “Because that’s what the code says.” 
• The “85” answer: An explanation rooted in hydraulics, device design, and performance limitations. 

Both answers may satisfy the moment, but only one reflects true professional competence. 

“My Card Looks the Same.”  Does the Score Matter?
A student once remarked: 

“It doesn’t really matter that I got a 72. My certification card looks just like the person who got a 95.” 

That statement deserves serious reflection. 

The individual who scored a 95 likely: 

1. Paid close attention during class 
2. Studied consistently outside of class 
3. Reviewed reference materials critically 
4. Cared about understanding, not just passing 

Those are the people who become: 

• Industry resources 
• Proctors 
• Instructors 
• Trusted experts 

They raise the bar for everyone. 

What Best Serves the Public?
When public health is at stake, we must ask an uncomfortable question: 

Is the public best served by professionals who scrape by on minimum requirements or by those who continually build knowledge, skill, and understanding? 

Certification should never be viewed as the finish line. It is the starting point of professional responsibility. 

Those who commit to learning, improvement, and accuracy don’t just pass exams — they protect water systems, earn trust, and strengthen the industry. 

And, yes, those professionals probably made it to the end of this article. 

Sean Cleary

Sean Cleary serves as Vice President of Industry Programs and Operations for the IAPMO Backflow Prevention Institute, advancing education and technical training in cross-connection control and backflow prevention. The IAPMO Backflow Prevention Institute helps to ensure that the professionals responsible for protecting drinking water are properly trained and certified. A licensed master plumber with more than four decades of experience, Sean has worked in all phases of the plumbing and mechanical industries, with deep expertise in cross-connection control systems. He is a Past President of the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) and served for more than a decade as Chairman of the ASSE Cross-Connection Control Technical Committee. A graduate of the United Association Instructor Training Program, Sean has dedicated much of his career to strengthening professional competency, standards alignment, and technical excellence across the industry. Under Sean’s leadership, the IAPMO Backflow Prevention Institute prepares plumbers, pipe fitters, irrigation techs, sprinkler fitters, HVAC techs, plumbing engineers, inspectors, facility managers to earn and maintain ASSE and other industry certifications through comprehensive training and continuing education offered across the United States and internationally. Sean co-authored the IAPMO Backflow Reference Manual and has contributed to numerous technical publications. Through his work with IAPMO, ASSE, the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), and state plumbing inspector organizations, Sean helps ensure that certified professionals are equipped to prevent contamination and safeguard the drinking water systems communities rely on every day.