- What This Cheat Sheet Covers (and What It Doesn't)
- Exam Format Snapshot
- The Version Conflict You Need to Know About
- Five Domains, Weighted
- Domain-by-Domain Must-Know Notes
- Fees, Deadlines and Retake Rules
- Certification and Renewal Facts
- Exam-Day Rules at a Glance
- Sequencing Your Review Around the Weights
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The advertised exam has 95 questions (85 scored, 10 unscored), a 2-hour limit, and a USD 125 nonrefundable fee per attempt.
- Perform the Test (28%) and Evaluate the Test Site (24%) together make up just over half of the blueprint.
- No fixed passing percentage is published; the threshold reflects expert judgments of competent performance.
- A replacement exam is announced for mid-2026 with different counts and timing, so confirm your version with NRPP.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers (and What It Doesn't)
This page condenses the facts that matter most for the Radon Measurement Field Technician credential issued through the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP). It is a reference sheet, not a full curriculum. If you want the deeper walkthrough, pair it with the RMFT Study Guide, and for domain-level detail see the complete guide to all five content areas.
One scope note up front: this credential is the field technician level. It is distinct from the NRPP Measurement Professional (RMP) and from other radon credentials, and it is not a substitute for a state license. State acceptance has to be checked separately with your state radon program. If you're still orienting yourself on the basics, the explainer What Is RMFT Certification? covers the fundamentals.
This sheet was reviewed against NRPP's published materials on October 14, 2026. Requirements and exam details can change, so treat NRPP's live pages as the final authority.
Exam Format Snapshot
The registration page currently advertises the following format, effective October 1, 2024:
| Item | Advertised Detail |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 95 |
| Scored questions | 85 |
| Unscored trial items | 10 (not identified to the candidate) |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Exam fee | USD 125 per attempt, nonrefundable |
| Delivery | Live remote proctoring through Certiverse |
| Passing standard | Criterion-referenced; no fixed percentage published |
On passing: NRPP uses criterion-referenced scoring based on expert judgments of what competent performance looks like, and the Candidate Handbook allows the threshold to reflect the difficulty of the exam form you receive. That means there is no single percentage to memorize. Our explainer on the RMFT passing score goes deeper, and the pass rate article explains why no pass-rate figure should be assumed.
The Version Conflict You Need to Know About
Here is the single most important caveat on this cheat sheet. In a December 5, 2025 announcement on measurement certifications, IEA/NRPP described an approved replacement exam and requirements structure targeted for mid-2026, with no firm implementation date. The announced changes include:
- 65 total items: 60 scored and 5 pilot items
- A 90-minute time limit
- An eight-hour initial course completed before exam registration
- Two hours of device-specific training
- Revised renewal eligibility allowing up to two Category II credits
- Added chain-of-custody content
Meanwhile, the live registration and certification pages still advertise the older exam and requirements described throughout this sheet. No replacement domain list or weights have been verified, so do not assume the five-domain weights below carry over to the new form, and do not assume a sixth domain exists.
For scheduling specifics, see RMFT exam dates, deadlines and scheduling.
Five Domains, Weighted
The five domains below come from the NRPP Candidate Handbook (document 3-007-4 V7, revised May 4, 2023, Appendix A). They are official weighted exam objectives, not chapter headings from a training course, so a course may organize the same material differently.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Domain 3: Perform the Test | 28% |
| Domain 2: Evaluate the Test Site | 24% |
| Domain 5: Operate in an Ethical/Professional Manner | 18% |
| Domain 1: Communicate with the Client | 16% |
| Domain 4: Keep Records | 14% |
Perform the Test and Evaluate the Test Site together account for 52% of the blueprint. But don't ignore the smaller domains: Keep Records at 14% is the lowest weight, yet it is often where careful candidates pick up easy points.
Domain-by-Domain Must-Know Notes
Domain 3: Perform the Test (28%)
The heaviest domain covers what the technician physically does: deploying and retrieving measurement devices in line with protocol.
- Device placement and deployment steps, and why placement location matters
- Retrieval procedures and handling of devices after exposure
- Recognizing and documenting conditions that affect a test
- The role of the supplied reference materials, including MAH-2023 and MS-QA-2023
Domain 2: Evaluate the Test Site (24%)
Before any device goes down, the technician must assess whether the site and conditions are appropriate.
- Identifying suitable and unsuitable placement areas within a building
- Spotting conditions that could compromise a measurement
- Understanding what is and isn't the technician's call versus the supervising professional's
Domain 5: Operate in an Ethical/Professional Manner (18%)
At 18%, this domain is larger than many candidates expect. It ties directly to the signed Code of Ethics and the supervisory structure of the credential.
- Working within the limits of the RMFT role under an NRPP Measurement Professional's supervision
- Honest reporting and avoiding conflicts of interest
- Reporting supervisor changes within seven business days (policy effective September 1, 2025)
Domain 1: Communicate with the Client (16%)
Technicians are often the client's main in-person contact during a test.
- Explaining test conditions and what the client must do to keep a test valid
- Answering questions appropriately without overstepping into interpretation reserved for the professional
- Clear, accurate communication about timing and next steps
Domain 4: Keep Records (14%)
The smallest domain, but the exam's emphasis on defensible documentation makes it highly testable.
- What must be recorded at deployment and retrieval
- Accuracy and completeness of field documentation
- Why records support QA/QC oversight within the company
Note that Domain 1's table appears on a different PDF page of the handbook than Domains 2 through 5 (page 26 versus page 16), so if you read the handbook yourself, make sure you find both tables. For a fuller breakdown of every topic area, see the RMFT exam domains guide.
Key Takeaway
Because the announced replacement exam adds chain-of-custody content, strengthen your understanding of documentation and handling continuity now. It reinforces Domain 4 under the current exam and prepares you if the newer form reaches you.
Fees, Deadlines and Retake Rules
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Exam fee | USD 125 per attempt, nonrefundable |
| Initial certification fee | USD 250, separate from exam and training |
| Renewal fee | USD 250, separate from exam and training |
| Scheduling window | Schedule and complete the exam within 30 days of purchase |
| Cancellation | Cancelling within 24 hours of the appointment requires repurchase |
| Retake spacing | 30 days between attempts |
| Retake cap | No more than four attempts in 12 months |
The practical lesson: buy the exam only when you're ready to sit it within 30 days, and don't treat a late reschedule as free. For a full accounting that adds training costs on top of these fees, see the RMFT certification cost breakdown.
Certification and Renewal Facts
Initial Requirements
Passing the exam is only one piece. The published initial requirements include:
- An approved minimum 12-hour measurement course completed within two years
- An examination result no older than one year
- A signed Code of Ethics
- A photograph
- A Statement of Professional Responsibility from the supervising NRPP Measurement Professional
Note the two clocks: the course must fall within a two-year window and the exam result must be no more than a year old when you apply. Don't let either lapse. The full eligibility picture is in RMFT requirements: eligibility and prerequisites.
The Supervision Model
RMFTs deploy and retrieve devices under the supervision and QA/QC oversight of an NRPP Measurement Professional within the same company. That structure is why supervisor changes must be reported within seven business days, and why Domain 5 questions often probe the boundaries of the role.
Renewal
- Two-year renewal cycle
- 8 Category I continuing education hours
- A mandatory four-hour standards overview included within those hours
- USD 250 renewal fee
Under the announced replacement structure, renewal eligibility is expected to allow up to two Category II credits, but verify that with NRPP before relying on it.
Exam-Day Rules at a Glance
- ID: Government-issued photo ID is required.
- Room scan: You'll be asked to show your testing space to the live remote proctor.
- Break: One authorized bathroom break of no more than five minutes is permitted.
- Platform: Delivery is through Certiverse with live remote proctoring.
The full conduct rules are published in NRPP's exam security and conduct requirements document, which supersedes older delivery details in the handbook. Since you can't bring your own notes, practice navigating reference documents quickly. Knowing where an answer lives is faster than hunting for it under a two-hour clock. For a sense of how demanding this feels, read how hard the RMFT exam is.
Sequencing Your Review Around the Weights
You don't need a generic study system here. Just let the blueprint set the order. A reasonable four-week sequence for a candidate who has already finished the required measurement course:
Perform the Test (28%)
- Walk through deployment and retrieval end to end
- Practice locating relevant sections in the supplied reference documents
Evaluate the Test Site (24%)
- Work scenario questions about placement and site conditions
- Connect site evaluation to what could invalidate a test
Ethics and Client Communication (18% + 16%)
- Review the Code of Ethics and the limits of the supervised role
- Rehearse what a technician may and may not tell a client
Keep Records (14%) and Full Review
- Review documentation and chain-of-custody-style continuity
- Take timed practice sets and revisit weak domains
Scenario-style practice is the best match for a field-technician exam, so use the RMFT practice tests to drill applied questions rather than memorizing isolated facts. When you're ready for broader strategy, the RMFT Study Guide lays out a fuller plan, and you can pressure-test yourself on the main practice test site before paying the nonrefundable exam fee.
Once certified, wondering where this leads? See RMFT jobs for who hires technicians, the salary guide for earnings context, and whether the certification is worth it for the bigger picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
The currently advertised format has 95 questions: 85 scored and 10 unscored trial items that aren't identified. You get 2 hours. An announced replacement is expected to use 65 items (60 scored, 5 pilot) and 90 minutes, but confirm with NRPP which version applies to you.
No fixed percentage is published. Passing is criterion-referenced, based on expert judgments of competent performance, and the threshold can reflect the difficulty of the exam form. Aim for solid command of all five domains rather than a target score.
Perform the Test is largest at 28%, followed by Evaluate the Test Site at 24%. Ethical/professional conduct is 18%, client communication is 16%, and record keeping is 14%.
No. Personal reference materials, paper and calculators are prohibited. The exam platform provides MAH-2023, MS-QA-2023, a calculator and formulas. You'll also need government-issued photo ID and must complete a room scan.
Retakes require 30 days between attempts, with no more than four attempts in 12 months, and each attempt costs USD 125. Cancelling within 24 hours of your appointment requires repurchasing the exam, and the exam must be scheduled and completed within 30 days of purchase.
No. The credential is not presented as a substitute for a state license, and state acceptance varies. Check with your state radon program separately.