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NBRC RTE practice exams: free and official options
Where to find practice tests for the 2027 NBRC Respiratory Therapy Examination: the free official practice exam, the paid official Self-Assessment Exams, and how to use them with a question bank.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| NBRC free RT practice exam | Free | Built with the same software as the real exam, so you see the real interface and question types. Must be finished in one sitting to get results, which are emailed to you.[1][2] |
| NBRC Self-Assessment Examinations (SAEs) | Paid, bought through the NBRC's testing agency (PSI) | The only products with the exam committees' rationale for each best answer. Version 1 was released in July 2026 and version 2 is planned for March 2027. You have 90 days to finish an SAE once you buy it.[1] |
| TidalPrep free tier | Free, no account | 50 original items with a rationale for every choice, 3 clinical-judgment cases, and a 50-item mock scored by outline section. |
| TidalPrep Pro | $14.99/month or $79 once until you pass | 312 items and the full 185-item, 4-hour mock in the 2027 format. |
Two tips from the NBRC page: your card statement for an SAE purchase shows "LXR," and the practice exam and SAEs are copyrighted, so never copy or share their items.[1] Program directors can get a separate Secure SAE for their students.[1]
Practice it now. Start with a free diagnostic: our 50-item mock shows your weak outline sections in about an hour.
Take the free mock
Take the free mock
A smart order to use them
This part is our advice.
- Week 1: take a diagnostic (the NBRC free practice exam or our free mock) to find your weak sections.
- Weeks 2–5: drill those sections with a question bank, and read every rationale.
- Week 5 or 6: take an official SAE under timed conditions to check your readiness against the committees' rationales.
- Final week: one full-length timed run (185 items, 4 hours), then light review.
This sequence is laid out day by day in our free 6-week RTE study plan (PDF).
What the real exam day feels like
- 185 items, 4 hours, multiple choice: 160 scored and 25 unscored pretest items you can't tell apart.[1]
- A virtual calculator is built into the exam software.[3]
- Your score report is emailed. Contact PSI if you don't get it within 24 hours.[3]
Related
Practice it now. Try 50 free practice questions, including 3 full clinical-judgment cases. No account or card needed.
Start free: 50 questions
Start free: 50 questions