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100+ Free NRPP RMS Practice Questions

Pass your NRPP Radon Mitigation Specialist (RMS) Exam exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NRPP RMS Exam

165

Questions (150 scored + 15 pretest)

NRPP exam specifications

3 hours

Time Limit

NRPP / Certiverse

25%

Exam weight on system design

NRPP RMS content outline

$175

Exam Fee (+$275 certification)

NRPP fee schedule

40 hours

Required prerequisite training (16-hr measurement + 24-hr mitigation)

NRPP certification requirements

2 years

Certification cycle

NRPP

4 pCi/L

EPA action level for mitigation

U.S. EPA

The NRPP RMS exam is the national certification test for radon mitigation system designers in the United States, administered by the National Radon Proficiency Program (AARST). It runs 165 multiple-choice questions (150 scored, 15 unscored) in 3 hours via Certiverse live online proctoring, with the ANSI/AARST SGM-SF-2023 and MAH-2023 standards accessible inside the exam. Content follows the official blueprint: mitigation system design is the largest domain at 25% (sub-slab and sub-membrane depressurization, drainage and sump systems, fan and pipe sizing, new construction), followed by troubleshooting and corrective actions at 17%, post-installation validation at 12%, mitigation quality assurance at 12%, radon science communication at 9%, ethics at 9%, pre-mitigation measurement evaluation at 8%, and worker health and safety at 8%. The pass point is criterion-referenced rather than a fixed percentage. Candidates must complete a 16-hour measurement course and a 24-hour mitigation course first; the exam costs $175 with a $275 initial certification fee on a two-year cycle. The current question pool reflects the 165-question format introduced October 1, 2024.

Sample NRPP RMS Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NRPP RMS exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A client asks where the radon in their home actually comes from. Radon-222 is produced directly by the radioactive decay of which radionuclide?
A.Uranium-235
B.Polonium-218
C.Radium-226
D.Thorium-232
Explanation: Radon-222 is the immediate decay product of radium-226, which occurs in the uranium-238 decay chain found in most soils and rock.
2What is the approximate half-life of radon-222, the property that allows it to migrate from soil into a building before decaying?
A.About 3.8 days
B.About 38 days
C.About 3.8 hours
D.About 1,600 years
Explanation: Radon-222 has a half-life of approximately 3.8 days, long enough for the gas to travel through soil pores and enter a structure, yet short enough that decay products accumulate quickly indoors.
3When explaining the health risk of radon to a homeowner, which statement most accurately describes the primary mechanism of harm?
A.Radon gas chemically irritates lung tissue, causing asthma and chronic bronchitis
B.Radon dissolves into the bloodstream and damages bone marrow, causing leukemia
C.Radon gas emits gamma radiation that penetrates the whole body from outside the home
D.Short-lived radon decay products attach to airborne particles, lodge in the lung, and irradiate tissue with alpha particles
Explanation: The lung-cancer risk comes mainly from inhaled short-lived decay products (polonium-218, lead-214, bismuth-214, polonium-214) that deposit in the respiratory tract and deliver alpha radiation to bronchial cells.
4A homeowner's confirmed indoor radon result is being compared against federal guidance. What is the U.S. EPA action level at or above which mitigation is recommended?
A.2.0 pCi/L
B.4.0 pCi/L
C.8.0 pCi/L
D.0.4 pCi/L
Explanation: EPA recommends fixing a home when the radon level is 4.0 pCi/L or higher, and suggests homeowners consider mitigation for results between 2 and 4 pCi/L.
5A relocation company requires radon results reported in SI units. A measured concentration of 4.0 pCi/L is approximately equal to which value?
A.4 Bq/m3
B.148 Bq/m3
C.37 Bq/m3
D.400 Bq/m3
Explanation: 1 pCi/L equals 37 Bq/m3, so 4.0 pCi/L x 37 = 148 Bq/m3. For context, the WHO reference level of 100 Bq/m3 is about 2.7 pCi/L.
6Which mechanism is the dominant driver of radon entry into most houses with elevated indoor concentrations?
A.Diffusion of radon through intact poured concrete
B.Off-gassing of radon from building materials such as drywall
C.Radon dissolved in municipal water supplies released at fixtures
D.Pressure-driven (advective) flow of soil gas through foundation openings caused by lower indoor air pressure
Explanation: Stack effect, wind, and appliance-induced depressurization make the lower portions of a house slightly negative relative to the soil, drawing radon-laden soil gas in through cracks, joints, sumps, and other openings; this advective entry dominates in nearly all problem homes.
7Which two radon decay products deliver the majority of the alpha radiation dose to lung tissue?
A.Polonium-218 and polonium-214
B.Lead-214 and bismuth-214
C.Lead-210 and lead-206
D.Radium-226 and radon-222
Explanation: Polonium-218 and polonium-214 are the alpha emitters among radon's short-lived progeny, and their alpha decays within the bronchial epithelium account for most of the lung dose.
8A client who smokes asks if radon is really a concern for them. What is the most accurate risk message?
A.Smoking and radon affect different parts of the lung, so the risks are independent and small
B.Smokers are at lower risk from radon because tobacco smoke particles block radon progeny deposition
C.Smoking and radon act synergistically, so a smoker's radon-related lung cancer risk is many times higher than a never-smoker's at the same radon level
D.Radon risk only applies to never-smokers; smokers should focus exclusively on quitting
Explanation: EPA risk estimates show a synergistic (greater-than-additive) interaction: at 4 pCi/L lifetime exposure, about 62 of 1,000 smokers versus about 7 of 1,000 never-smokers are estimated to develop lung cancer.
9Assuming a typical indoor equilibrium ratio of 50 percent, one Working Level (WL) of radon decay products corresponds to approximately what radon gas concentration?
A.200 pCi/L
B.100 pCi/L
C.4 pCi/L
D.37 pCi/L
Explanation: One WL equals 100 pCi/L of radon at 100 percent equilibrium; at the commonly assumed 50 percent equilibrium ratio, about 200 pCi/L of radon gas is needed to produce 1 WL of decay products.
10Under ANSI/AARST MAH-2023, closed-building conditions for a short-term radon test lasting less than four days must begin how long before the test starts?
A.No advance closure is required; closing the house when the test begins is sufficient
B.24 hours before the test begins
C.12 hours before the test begins
D.72 hours before the test begins
Explanation: MAH-2023 requires closed-building conditions to be established at least 12 hours before starting any short-term measurement of less than four days and maintained throughout the test.

About the NRPP RMS Exam

The NRPP Radon Mitigation Specialist (RMS) exam certifies professionals who evaluate radon measurements and design, install, and verify radon reduction systems in homes. The exam contains 165 multiple-choice questions (150 scored plus 15 unscored pretest items) delivered in 3 hours through Certiverse with live remote proctoring. Candidates have in-platform access to the two governing standards, ANSI/AARST SGM-SF-2023 and MAH-2023, and must first complete a 16-hour measurement course and a 24-hour mitigation exam-prep course from an approved provider. Certification runs on a two-year cycle with continuing education, and many state radon licensing programs accept or require the credential.

Questions

165 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

Criterion-referenced pass point established by psychometric study; 150 scored items worth 1 point each

Exam Fee

$175 exam fee plus $275 initial certification fee (National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP), a program of AARST - Indoor Environments Association; delivered via Certiverse live online proctoring)

NRPP RMS Exam Content Outline

9%

Radon Science & Client Communication

Radium-226 decay to radon-222 in the uranium-238 chain, the 3.8-day half-life, alpha-emitting progeny (polonium-218/214) and lung cancer mechanism, EPA 4 pCi/L action level and 2-4 pCi/L consideration range, 37 Bq/m3 per pCi/L conversion, smoking synergy, stack-effect-driven soil-gas entry, and Working Level concepts

8%

Pre-Mitigation Measurement Evaluation

ANSI/AARST MAH-2023 protocols: 12-hour pre-test closed-building conditions for short tests, 46-hour minimum valid sampling for the nominal 48-hour test, device placement (20 inches above floor, 3 feet from exterior doors/windows), lowest occupiable level, real estate paired-test averaging, and seasonal variability

25%

Mitigation System Design

Active sub-slab depressurization, sub-membrane systems with sealed overlapped seams, drain-tile and sealed-sump suction, block-wall depressurization, suction pits and pressure field extension diagnostics, high-suction vs high-flow fan selection, pipe sizing and condensate slope, SGM-SF-2023 fan placement (attic/garage/outdoors, never interior or below occupiable space), discharge at/above eave and 10 feet from openings, labels, u-tube manometers, NFPA 70 wiring, and RRNC passive-stack activation

12%

Post-Installation Validation

Post-mitigation testing no sooner than 24 hours after continuous operation and within 30 days, closed-building short-term protocol with the system running, remote test-hole micromanometer and smoke verification, fan-curve performance checks, combustion appliance backdraft assessment, baseline manometer documentation, and the client OM&M package

17%

Troubleshooting & Corrective Actions

Diagnosing manometer readings (zero = fan failure, elevated vacuum = blockage from ice/water/debris), condensate gurgling and freeze-ups, exhaust re-entrainment near windows, bearing-worn fan replacement, dead pressure-field zones across footings requiring added suction points, renovation-created entry routes, return-duct leakage interactions, and ASD-induced backdrafting fixes

8%

Worker Health & Safety

OSHA ionizing radiation limits for radon (29 CFR 1910.1096, about 100 pCi/L over a 40-hour week), respirable crystalline silica controls for slab drilling (29 CFR 1926.1153, wet methods/HEPA extraction), crawlspace hazard assessment and PPE, time-distance-ventilation exposure control, ladder 4:1 setup, and electrical de-energization and verification

21%

Quality Assurance & Professional Ethics

SGM-SF-2023 conformance checklists, instrument calibration schedules, photo and job-file documentation, corrective-action records, state licensure verification, NRPP two-year credential maintenance, RMS vs RMI scope, conflict-of-interest disclosure for self-testing, accurate credential claims (no EPA certification exists), confidentiality, honest guarantees, and falsification penalties

How to Pass the NRPP RMS Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Criterion-referenced pass point established by psychometric study; 150 scored items worth 1 point each
  • Exam length: 165 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam fee: $175 exam fee plus $275 initial certification fee

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NRPP RMS Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize the SGM-SF-2023 discharge rules cold: termination at or above the roof eave, at least 10 feet above grade, and at least 10 feet from any building opening less than 2 feet below the discharge point
2Know the fan placement logic, not just the list - fans go in attics, garages not beneath conditioned space, or outdoors because everything downstream of the fan is positively pressurized with concentrated soil gas
3Drill the post-mitigation testing window: no sooner than 24 hours after the system starts continuous operation and within 30 days of installation, under closed-building conditions for at least 48 hours
4Practice manometer diagnosis scenarios: a zero reading means the fan is off or disconnected, while a vacuum far above baseline means a blockage such as ice, condensate in a sag, or a collapsed suction pit
5Learn MAH-2023 numbers that feed mitigation decisions: 12-hour pre-test closure for short tests, 46-hour minimum valid sampling, device placement 20 inches above the floor and 3 feet from exterior doors and windows
6During the exam, use the in-platform SGM-SF-2023 and MAH-2023 documents for low-frequency details, but only after you can answer the high-weight design and troubleshooting items from memory - 165 questions in 3 hours leaves about 65 seconds each

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the NRPP Radon Mitigation Specialist exam?

Since October 1, 2024 the RMS exam has 165 multiple-choice questions: 150 scored items worth 1 point each plus 15 unscored pretest items. Candidates get 3 hours to complete the exam through Certiverse with live remote proctoring.

What standards is the RMS exam based on?

The exam is built on ANSI/AARST SGM-SF-2023 (Soil Gas Mitigation Standards for Existing Homes) and ANSI/AARST MAH-2023 (radon measurement protocol for homes). Both standards are accessible within the exam platform during the test, so knowing how to navigate them quickly is a major advantage.

What are the prerequisites for taking the RMS exam?

NRPP requires completion of a 16-hour Radon Measurement Professional initial training course plus a 24-hour Radon Mitigation Specialist exam-prep course, both from NRPP-approved training providers, before certification.

How much does the NRPP RMS exam and certification cost?

The exam fee is $175, and the exam must be scheduled and completed within 30 days of purchase. Initial certification costs an additional $275, and the credential renews on a two-year cycle with continuing education.

What score do I need to pass the RMS exam?

NRPP uses a criterion-referenced passing point set through psychometric study rather than a fixed percentage. You see a pass/fail notification at completion, with official results emailed within about 48-72 business hours.

What happens if I fail the RMS exam?

A 30-day waiting period applies between attempts, each retake requires purchasing a new exam, and candidates may not exceed 4 attempts within 12 months.

What content areas carry the most weight on the exam?

Designing mitigation systems is the heaviest domain at about 25%, covering sub-slab and sub-membrane depressurization, drainage systems, fan and piping sizing, and new construction. Troubleshooting and corrective actions follow at about 17%, then post-installation validation and mitigation QA at about 12% each.