The NBE Sciences section is a 170-question computer-based multiple-choice exam covering four scored domains: Embalming (62 items), Restorative Art (34), Other Preparation of the Deceased (28), and Funeral Service Sciences (26), with 20 unscored pretest questions mixed in. After a short onboarding sequence, you get 170 minutes to answer, and the passing standard is a scaled score of 75. You qualify through an ABFSE-accredited or affiliated program or your state board, apply through The Conference's Candidate Portal, and pay $285 per section.
What the Sciences section covers
Four scored domains set by the content outline effective January 1, 2023: Embalming (62 items), Restorative Art (34), Other Preparation of the Deceased (28), and Funeral Service Sciences (26), plus 20 unscored pretest questions.
Each NBE section contains 170 multiple-choice questions. Twenty of them are unscored pretest items being evaluated for possible use on future exams, so 150 questions count toward your score. Pretest and scored questions appear together in random order, which means you should answer all 170.
The Conference connects questions to its content outline, the ABFSE Curriculum Outline and approved textbook references. Its official Sciences Study Guide contains the detailed content outline. Use that outline to organize revision within the four broad domains below.
One caution: The Conference's candidate FAQ page currently lists slightly different item counts for some domains than the 2026 Candidate Handbook does. Treat the Handbook as the controlling document, and confirm the current breakdown against the content outline in the study guide before you build a study plan.
| Sciences content area (effective January 1, 2023) | Scored items |
|---|---|
| I. Embalming | 62 |
| II. Restorative Art | 34 |
| III. Other Preparation of the Deceased | 28 |
| IV. Funeral Service Sciences | 26 |
| Pretest (unscored) | 20 |
Official sources: 2026 NBE Candidate Handbook — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards — Exam Structure & Content; Application & Eligibility; Exam Fees; Exam Time; Scoring; Study Material; For Candidates — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards — National Board Exam FAQ; Digital Sciences Study Guide — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards — Product description, NBE Sciences Study Guide Volume 13
Eligibility and how to apply
You qualify by graduating from an ABFSE-accredited or affiliated mortuary science program, or by meeting your state's eligibility requirements and having the state board submit them directly to The Conference.
The application steps are: create a Candidate Portal account, take the Exam Security Quiz, submit the NBE-Sciences application, pay the fee, and acknowledge The Conference's policies. You can prove eligibility with official transcripts from your ABFSE-accredited or affiliated program, a verification of graduation sent by the program, or state-board-submitted eligibility. Note that an affiliated program (for example, funeral directing only or embalming only) must be pre-approved by a member board for licensure in your jurisdiction.
You may have only one Arts or Sciences application open at a time, and processing typically takes two to three business days once eligibility is on file. After approval, The Conference releases an Authorization to Test (ATT) to Pearson, and you receive an email with scheduling instructions. You must test within one year of your application date, or the authorization and fee expire; exam eligibility itself is retained for five years.
Official sources: 2026 NBE Candidate Handbook — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards — Exam Structure & Content; Application & Eligibility; Exam Fees; Exam Time; Scoring; Study Material; For Candidates — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards — National Board Exam FAQ
Timing, format, and exam day
A computer-based test at a Pearson Professional Center: three minutes for the Non-Disclosure Agreement, three minutes for the optional results-release choice, seven minutes for the tutorial, then 170 minutes to answer 170 questions.
The onboarding sequence matters because the clock on each step is firm. You must agree to the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), the confidentiality terms presented on screen, within three minutes; declining it or letting the time expire ends the session and forfeits your fee. A basic calculator is built into the testing program, and you may not bring your own.
During the exam you can move freely between questions, change answers, flag items for review, skip questions, and review before ending. You may leave the testing room only for the closest restroom, and the clock keeps running through breaks and security checks, so plan your time accordingly.
Arrive at least 30 minutes early with two forms of identification whose first and last names match your application; middle names are not used in the Pearson system. Late arrivals are treated as no-shows, and the authorization and fee are forfeited.
How scoring and reporting work
The Sciences section is pass/fail against a scaled score of 75. Passing candidates see only 'Pass'; failing candidates receive their scaled score plus a list of objective areas where questions were missed.
Scaled scoring adjusts for difficulty differences between exam forms, so a 75 represents the same standard no matter which form you receive. It is not a percentage and not a fixed number of correct answers. At the test center you get an unofficial pass/fail printout for your own records; the official result goes from The Conference directly to the licensing board you named on your application, within roughly three business days.
You must pass both the Arts and Sciences sections to be considered passing the NBE, and the sections are scored separately. Each passed section earns a wall certificate, which The Conference states is for decorative use only and is not valid for licensure. If you fail, the Performance Feedback Chart listing missed objective areas is your targeting tool for the retake, since each attempt draws a different mix of questions from the same blueprint.
Official sources: 2026 NBE Candidate Handbook — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards — Exam Structure & Content; Application & Eligibility; Exam Fees; Exam Time; Scoring; Study Material; For Candidates — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards — National Board Exam FAQ
Fees, retakes, and deadlines
The Sciences section costs $285. Applications and payments are non-refundable and expire after one year. Retaking a failed section requires a new application and fee, with a 30-day wait before the next attempt.
The first release of results to one licensing board is included in the fee; additional states cost $25 each at application or $50 each if requested later. Rescheduling is free 30 or more days ahead, costs $25 inside 30 days, and is never permitted within 24 hours of the appointment.
After a failed attempt, you must wait 30 days before retaking that section, but you can apply and schedule during that window. If you pass a section, you may not take it again unless a licensing board requires the retake in writing. Missed appointments forfeit the fee; excused absences are rare and require a written request with documentation within 30 days.
Preparing with official materials
Two official options exist: the NBE-Sciences Study Guide ($50), which contains the content outline, sample questions, and a glossary, and an online practice exam ($60 per attempt) of 75 questions in 75 minutes.
The official Sciences Study Guide contains the content outline, sample questions with an answer key, test-taking guidance and glossaries. It helps organize and refresh prior learning; it does not replace your formal education.
The online practice exam is single-use, with 75 questions in 75 minutes and a seven-day authorization from purchase. Buy it when you are ready to use it. Review its content-area feedback to identify topics to revisit.
For each of the four Sciences domains, compare your course notes with the official content outline. Work through unfamiliar concepts using the approved textbook references, then use practice results to target remaining gaps.
- Confirm whether you qualify by ABFSE-accredited/affiliated graduation or through state-board eligibility
- Create the Candidate Portal account and complete the Exam Security Quiz before applying
- Schedule promptly after the ATT arrives; the authorization expires one year from application
- Review the Sciences content outline in the official study guide, then use the practice exam within its 7-day window
- Keep all Pearson and Conference confirmation emails, including any reschedule records
Official sources: 2026 NBE Candidate Handbook — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards — Exam Structure & Content; Application & Eligibility; Exam Fees; Exam Time; Scoring; Study Material; Digital Sciences Study Guide — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards — Product description, NBE Sciences Study Guide Volume 13
Official sources
Verified facts:
- NBE Candidate Handbook download page — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards
- 2026 NBE Candidate Handbook — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards
- For Candidates — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards
- Digital Sciences Study Guide — The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards