- The Published 75% Criterion Explained
- Exam Format: 50 Questions, Two Hours
- What ETA Does Not Publish
- The Seven Domains That Carry Your Score
- Why the Written Exam Is Only Half the Credential
- Test-Day Rules That Protect Your Score
- Fees, the Free Retake, and Rollover Confusion
- Scheduling Prep Around the Domains
- After You Pass: Validity and Maintenance
- Source Notes and Known Inconsistencies
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Passive Intermodulation Testing (PIM) written exam has 50 questions, two hours, and a published 75% passing criterion.
- ETA publishes the criterion as a percentage; don't trust any site that converts it into a fixed number of correct answers.
- The exam fee is USD $130, and one free retake is available within one year of your first sitting.
- Passing theory alone isn't enough: an ETA-approved hands-on course and practical verification are also required.
The Published 75% Criterion Explained
If you're searching for the passing score on the Passive Intermodulation Testing (PIM) certification from ETA International, the answer is short: the written theory examination carries a published 75% passing criterion. That is the number ETA states, and it is the number you should plan around.
What matters just as much is what that number does and does not tell you. A percentage criterion describes the proportion of the exam you need to answer correctly. It is not a statement about how many people pass, how difficult the questions are, or how the exam is scaled. Candidates regularly conflate these ideas, and a good deal of low-quality exam-prep content encourages the confusion. For the difficulty side of the question, see our breakdown in How Hard Is the PIM Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Exam Format: 50 Questions, Two Hours
The written portion of the PIM certification consists of 50 questions to be completed in two hours. That works out to a comfortable pace of roughly two and a half minutes per question on average, which is generous for most items but can tighten if you stall on interpretation-style questions that require working through a scenario.
ETA Certification Administrators deliver the theory test onsite, either through Trapeza online testing or paper-and-pencil. ETA's general FAQ also describes a remotely proctored theory option through Exam Room.AI. Two cautions apply here:
- The remote option is a general ETA policy, not a PIM-specific remote-testing handbook that we were able to retrieve, so confirm availability for your own sitting with ETA before you plan around it.
- Remote theory testing does not replace the required hands-on attendance at an ETA-approved school.
We also won't describe the question types on this exam in detail, because ETA's materials we reviewed do not specify them for PIM, and importing another ETA exam's question-style specification would be inaccurate. What you can do is prepare for the content, which the official competencies document lays out clearly (see the domain section below).
What ETA Does Not Publish
A candidate-focused article about passing scores has to be honest about the gaps. Here is what the official sources do not establish:
| Question | What the sources support |
|---|---|
| Passing criterion | Published as 75% for the written exam |
| Exact number of correct answers required | Not published; avoid any site that states one as fact |
| Domain weighting | Competencies are unweighted; no per-domain percentages are published |
| Official cohort pass rate | None verified; the 75% is a requirement, not a rate |
| Commercial provider "success rates" | Not ETA data; treat as marketing, not evidence |
| A "2025 update" claimed by sellers | Not an issuer-verified revision |
That last row deserves emphasis. Some commercial sellers advertise a 2025-updated exam. ETA's linked competencies document carries a 2013 copyright and nothing we located confirms a revised blueprint. Likewise, the public catalogue description for IEC 62037-1:2025 does not establish a new ETA exam blueprint. If you want the data discussion in full, read PIM Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
The Seven Domains That Carry Your Score
Because ETA does not publish domain weights, you cannot optimize by studying only the "heavy" areas. The official competencies document lists seven numbered headings, and your 75% has to be earned across all of them. Here they are, with what each means for your preparation:
Domain 1: PASSIVE INTERMODULATION - PIM
The foundational definition of the phenomenon: what passive intermodulation is and why it degrades RF systems.
- Be able to explain the concept in your own words, not just recite a definition
- Know how it differs conceptually from intermodulation in active components
Domain 2: PIM - TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
The technical background behind the effect and the test approach.
- Understand the relationship between test signals and the distortion products they create
- Know the vocabulary, since the competency document includes a Terms and Acronyms appendix as supporting scope
Domain 3: PIM SOURCES
Where passive intermodulation originates in a real RF installation.
- Be prepared to reason about which physical conditions in connectors, cabling, and hardware can generate PIM
- Practice identifying likely causes from a described scenario
Domain 4: PIM TESTING
How testing is performed and what proper practice looks like.
- This is where your hands-on course experience and your theory study should reinforce each other
- Know the sequence and purpose of test steps, not just the names of equipment
Domain 5: RF SAFETY OVERVIEW
Safety practices when working around RF energy and sites.
- Note the naming: the detailed competency document uses "RF SAFETY OVERVIEW," while the undated fact sheet says "PIM Safety Overview." The competency document controls
- Safety questions are often the most straightforward points on the exam; don't leave them on the table
Domain 6: PIM RESULTS INTERPRETATION
Reading test outcomes and deciding what they mean.
- Expect to apply judgment rather than recall
- Practice reading a described result and deciding on the correct conclusion or next step
Domain 7: DOCUMENTING PIM TESTS
Recording test conditions and results properly.
- Know what a complete test record contains and why documentation matters for accountability
For a deeper walk through each area, see PIM Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 7 Content Areas. Note that the Terms and Acronyms appendix is supporting scope, not an eighth numbered domain, so don't expect it to be tested as a standalone section; rather, treat it as vocabulary you need throughout.
Why the Written Exam Is Only Half the Credential
A 75% on the theory exam is necessary but not sufficient. The PIM credential is a vendor-neutral, stand-alone certification that also requires an ETA-approved hands-on training course and practical verification. The charges and duration of that training are separate from the $130 written exam fee, and the two-hour figure applies only to the written exam, not to the practical component or the course.
The stand-alone pathway also means you do not need the Associate Certified Electronics Technician (CETa) or another basic electronics certification first. If you're mapping out eligibility, our guide to PIM Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify covers this in more detail, and PIM Training explains how the hands-on course fits in.
Key Takeaway
Think of certification as two gates: the written exam at 75%, and the hands-on course with practical verification. Clearing the first does not complete the second. Plan your timeline, budget, and training provider around both from the start.
Test-Day Rules That Protect Your Score
Rules violations cost more than missed questions, so know the logistics. ETA's general testing FAQ sets these expectations:
- Photo ID is required.
- Phones are prohibited in the testing environment.
- Scratch paper is permitted, but you must surrender it afterward.
- Non-programmable or scientific calculators are allowed; programmable calculators may require a reset or battery removal.
One detail trips up candidates who've researched other ETA credentials: the FAQ permits the Common Formulas Sheet for specifically named other credentials, but it does not establish permission to use that sheet on the PIM exam. Don't assume it's allowed. Confirm with your test administrator before exam day, and be prepared to work without it.
Fees, the Free Retake, and Rollover Confusion
The written exam fee is USD $130. If you don't reach the 75% criterion, ETA offers one free retake within one year of your first sitting. That is a meaningful safety net, but it also creates a tempting bad habit: treating the first attempt as a practice run. Use the retake as insurance, not strategy. Your first sitting is the one that costs you nothing extra to get right.
Separately, current Anritsu PIM holders have a $130 rollover pathway. That is a different route and is not the selected examination discussed here, so if you don't hold that credential, ignore it. For the full financial picture including training, see PIM Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Written exam fee | USD $130 |
| Questions / time | 50 questions in two hours |
| Passing criterion | 75% (published) |
| Retake | One free retake within one year of first sitting |
| Hands-on course and practical | Required; charges and duration separate from exam fee |
| Prerequisite certification | None required on the stand-alone pathway |
Scheduling Prep Around the Domains
Because the exam is unweighted and spans seven areas, a sensible plan sequences the domains so concepts build on each other. Here's one way to lay out a short preparation window, tied to the actual competencies rather than generic habits:
Foundations: Domains 1 and 2
- Master the definition and technology background first; everything else depends on them
- Build a working vocabulary from the Terms and Acronyms appendix
Causes and Testing: Domains 3 and 4
- Pair this study with your hands-on course so the physical practice anchors the theory
- Work scenario questions on likely PIM sources
Safety, Interpretation, Documentation: Domains 5, 6, 7
- Lock in the safety material; it is among the most learnable points
- Spend extra time on interpretation, since it demands judgment
Full-Length Timed Practice
- Simulate 50 questions in two hours and review every miss by domain
- Target comfortably above 75% before booking your sitting
For a fuller approach, our PIM Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt goes deeper, and the PIM Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is useful for last-pass review. When you're ready to test yourself under realistic conditions, take a timed run on our PIM practice test site.
After You Pass: Validity and Maintenance
The certification carries a four-year term with maintenance. Under ETA's Maintenance with Hands-On category, you need six relevant continuing education hours per year (24 across the four years), employer verification, a maintenance form, and a $25 annual fee, totaling $100 over the cycle. On-the-job training is subject to employer verification and ETA evaluation.
Be careful not to substitute requirements from other categories. The general non-hands-on 40-hour requirement and LAS-specific exceptions do not apply to the hands-on maintenance route described here. If you're weighing whether the credential justifies the ongoing commitment, read Is the PIM Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 alongside PIM Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and PIM Jobs.
Source Notes and Known Inconsistencies
This article relies on ETA International's own materials: the communications certification page, the three-page PIM competencies document (copyright 2013), the undated one-page fact sheet, the maintenance page, the FAQ, and the certification pathway page. A few quirks are worth knowing so they don't confuse your own research:
- Competency document versus fact sheet: The fact sheet summarizes eight bullets, including Key Terms and Acronyms, and uses "PIM Safety Overview." The detailed competency document uses "RF SAFETY OVERVIEW" and lists seven numbered headings. The detailed document controls.
- PDF metadata: The competency PDF's metadata contains an unrelated legacy title, but all three visible pages identify PIM, so the visible content governs.
- Standards reference: ETA's page and fact sheet cite IEC 60237, whereas IEC's passive-intermodulation series is IEC 62037. We've retained this inconsistency rather than presenting the ETA reference as independently verified.
- Verification: Facts here were checked as of October 14, 2026. Always confirm current fees and policies directly with ETA before registering.
For background on the terminology itself, see What Is PIM Certification? and What Is PIM?.
Frequently Asked Questions
ETA publishes a 75% passing criterion for the written theory exam of 50 questions in two hours. ETA states it as a percentage, so avoid any source that presents a fixed count of required correct answers as official.
No. The 75% is the score you must achieve; a pass rate would describe the share of candidates who succeed. No official ETA cohort pass rate has been verified, and commercial success claims are not ETA data.
ETA offers one free retake within one year of your first sitting. The exam fee itself is USD $130. Review your weakest domains before rebooking rather than simply resitting.
No. You also need an ETA-approved hands-on training course and practical verification. Their cost and duration are separate from the written exam fee, and remote theory testing does not replace the hands-on requirement.
ETA's general FAQ permits non-programmable or scientific calculators and scratch paper (which you must surrender). It does not establish that the Common Formulas Sheet is allowed on the PIM exam, so confirm with your administrator beforehand.