The Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE) is a practice board exam for nurse anesthesia students, run by the NBCRNA. It shows you and your program how ready you are for the National Certification Examination (NCE).
The SEE is voluntary under NBCRNA rules, but many programs require it. Your score does not affect certification, though some programs use it for their own benchmarks.
What the SEE is for
The NBCRNA gives the SEE three goals:
- Show students how they are progressing in their program.
- Show programs how well they prepare students.
- Give students a feel for the NCE testing experience.
The SEE uses specifications similar to the NCE. The NBCRNA notes that doing well on the SEE does not guarantee a pass on the NCE.
SEE format
| Feature | SEE |
|---|---|
| Questions | 240, including 40 unscored pretest questions |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Test type | Computerized adaptive test |
| Question types | Multiple choice, multiple correct response, calculation, hotspot, drag and drop |
| Going back | Not allowed once you answer |
| Content areas | Four, weighted 25% each |
| Where | Pearson test centers |
The four content areas match the NCE outline:
- Basic sciences
- Equipment, instrumentation and technology
- General principles of anesthesia
- Anesthesia for surgical procedures and special populations
From January 2, 2027, the SEE will pilot a new type of drag-and-drop question. In it, each answer must be used at least once, and some can be used more than once.
Who can take it and when
Any student enrolled in an accredited nurse anesthesia program is eligible. Your program administrator registers you, and you cannot take the SEE after your official completion date.
Programs decide the timing. In an NBCRNA survey of program administrators, 92% had students take the SEE in their third year and 73% in their second year. Only 5% used it in the first year.
New limits from January 1, 2026
- You must wait 60 days between SEE attempts.
- Students who enroll in a program from 2026 can take the SEE no more than four times in total.
How much the SEE costs
The SEE fee is $290 per exam in 2026, rising to $295 in 2027. The fee is charged per student, per attempt, and is paid through your program's registration.
Ask your program how the fee is billed. If you miss your appointment or arrive more than 15 minutes late, you need a new registration and a new fee.
Your SEE score report
You get your results at the test center. The report shows a scaled score for the whole test and a scaled score for each of the four content areas.
You do not see the questions you missed. The NBCRNA publishes an interpretive guide each year so you can find your percentile in each area.
What typical scores look like
The NBCRNA reported these mean SEE scores for 2025:
| Group | Mean scaled score |
|---|---|
| Students in years 1 and 2 | 412.6 |
| Students in year 3 and beyond | 434.0 |
| All examinees | 428.2 |
Scores rise as students move through their program, so compare yourself with students at a similar stage.
How SEE scores relate to the NCE
The NBCRNA studied 8,552 exam results from the redesigned SEE, launched in September 2016. Key findings from its 2023 research brief:
- SEE and NCE scores were strongly related (correlation of 0.58).
- Students who passed the NCE on the first try averaged 447.5 on the SEE.
- Students who failed the NCE averaged 409.6.
- If a program wants a cutoff to flag students at risk, the NBCRNA says 429 may be an objective basis.
The NBCRNA does not endorse using SEE benchmarks to decide graduation or progression. Even so, 72% of surveyed programs set a minimum SEE score for graduation, with an average benchmark of 430.
Students seem to find it useful. In 2025, 84.4% of NCE takers agreed the SEE helped them prepare for the certification exam.
How to use the SEE well
- Treat it as a diagnostic. Your four area scores show where to focus.
- Space your attempts. With a 60-day wait and a four-exam limit, plan each attempt with your program.
- Study from the content outline. It is the same outline the NCE uses.
- Practice under time pressure. Four hours for 240 questions is a test of stamina.
Our SRNA recommendations list common review resources. Then read about the NCE exam.
FAQ
Is the SEE required?
The NBCRNA calls it voluntary. Many programs require it as part of their curriculum or graduation requirements.
What is a good SEE score?
It depends on where you are in your program. A score at or above 430 matches the average benchmark programs set, and NCE passers averaged 447.5.
Does the SEE count toward certification?
No. Only the NCE determines initial certification.
How many times can I take the SEE?
Students enrolling from 2026 can take it up to four times, at least 60 days apart.