- What "Pass Rate" Means for a Three-Part Certification
- The Published Numbers, Component by Component
- How to Read These Figures Without Overreaching
- Why the Didactic Tends to Be the Bottleneck
- The 500 Scaled Score Is Not a Percentage
- Where the Didactic Points Live
- What the CBPS and Case Review Figures Reflect
- Using the Domain Weights to Plan Your Preparation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The cumulative Didactic rate for the 2025 residency class through Spring 2025 is 54% (211/394), not a 2026 rate.
- Cumulative CBPS pass rate for that same class is 89% (353/398); Case Review for the 2023 class is 79% (19/24).
- Each Part I component needs a scaled score of 500 on a 200-800 scale, not 62.5% correct.
- Surgical Procedures/Techniques carries the largest Didactic target weight at 25%; use that to prioritize study time.
What "Pass Rate" Means for a Three-Part Certification
Searching for the Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery (RRA) pass rate usually produces a single question: "What percent of people pass?" The honest answer is that the pathway has several separate gates, and each one has its own published figure. The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) certifies RRA through Part I, which includes the RRA Didactic and the NEW RRA CBPS, followed by Part II, the RRA Case Review. A single blended "RRA pass rate" would hide the fact that these components test very different skills.
This article walks through what ABFAS actually publishes, what those numbers do and do not tell you, and how to turn the exam's structure into a practical plan. If you want broader context first, our explainers on what RRA certification is and the overall difficulty of the RRA exam pair well with this data-focused piece.
The Published Numbers, Component by Component
ABFAS reports cumulative pass rates by residency class for each component. The three figures available for RRA are summarized below.
| Component | Cohort reported | Cumulative pass rate | Passed / Tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| RRA Didactic | 2025 residency class | 54% | 211 / 394 |
| NEW RRA CBPS | 2025 residency class | 89% | 353 / 398 |
| RRA Case Review | 2023 residency class | 79% | 19 / 24 |
Notice that the three rows describe different residency classes and different stages of the pathway. You cannot multiply them together to estimate an overall chance of certification, and you cannot compare them as if they were three results from the same group of people. The Case Review figure in particular rests on only 24 candidates, so a single additional pass or fail would move the percentage noticeably.
How to Read These Figures Without Overreaching
Several cautions apply before you draw conclusions from the table above.
- Cumulative, not first attempt. A cumulative rate can include candidates who tested more than once. It does not tell you the odds of passing on your first sitting.
- Not a 2026 rate. The figures run through Spring 2025. No verified 2026 pass rate is available, and any site quoting one should be treated skeptically.
- Cohort-specific. Each figure is tied to a residency class. Cohorts differ in size and in how far along the pathway they are.
- Small denominators matter. The Case Review number is based on 24 candidates; the Part I numbers are based on roughly 400 each.
For readers weighing the investment, the ROI analysis for RRA certification and the pricing breakdown put these pass rates in the context of what each attempt costs.
Why the Didactic Tends to Be the Bottleneck
The Didactic is the component with the lowest published cumulative pass rate, and its structure explains much of the reason. It is delivered at Pearson VUE test centers as 80 computer-adaptive multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes. Some items may be unscored field-test questions, though no fixed scored/unscored split is assigned, so you cannot safely identify which questions count.
Computer-adaptive delivery changes behavior
Because the exam is adaptive, completed items cannot be revisited. That removes a common test-taking safety net: you cannot skip a hard question, finish the rest, and return. Every response is final the moment you move on. Candidates who rely on flagging and backtracking in other exams need to retrain that habit well before test day.
The testing room is closed-book
Part I requires two valid matching IDs and prohibits books or study materials in the testing room. Whatever you need must be in your head, which favors integrated understanding of indications, technique, and complication management over last-minute lookup-style memorization.
Breadth across five weighted topics
The Didactic is built from five weighted topics, each with an allowable range around its target. A weak area cannot be hidden behind strength elsewhere as easily as the ranges might suggest, because every topic contributes a meaningful slice of the exam.
The 500 Scaled Score Is Not a Percentage
One of the most common misconceptions about RRA exam results is that passing means answering a fixed percentage of questions correctly. It does not. Each Part I component requires a scaled score of 500 on a 200-800 scale. This is explicitly not 62.5% correct, even though 500 sits 62.5% of the way up the scale's numeric range.
Key Takeaway
Do not convert 500/800 into a raw-percentage target. Scaled scoring accounts for item difficulty, so the number of questions you need correct is not fixed in advance. Aim for broad mastery rather than a magic percentage. Our RRA passing score guide covers the scaling in more detail.
This also explains why anecdotes of the form "I only needed to get X right" are unreliable. With adaptive delivery and unscored field-test items mixed in, there is no single raw-score threshold you can count on.
Where the Didactic Points Live
Domains 1 through 5 are the RRA Didactic topics, each with an official target weight and an allowable range. Knowing these lets you read the 54% cumulative pass rate as a signal about where to invest preparation hours.
| Didactic Topic | Target weight | Allowable range |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Studies/Medical Imaging | 15% | 10-20% |
| Surgical Principles | 20% | 15-25% |
| Surgical Procedures/Techniques | 25% | 20-30% |
| Procedural Perioperative Management | 20% | 15-25% |
| Complications | 20% | 15-25% |
Surgical Procedures/Techniques (25% target)
The largest slice of the Didactic. Expect questions that probe technique selection, sequencing, fixation choices, and the reasoning behind them for reconstructive rearfoot and ankle problems.
- Know indications and contraindications for each major reconstructive approach
- Understand intraoperative decision points, not just the steps
- Be able to connect technique choice to expected complications
Surgical Principles and Complications (20% each)
These two topics together approach the weight of the largest topic and they reinforce each other. A candidate who understands principles of fixation, soft tissue handling, and biomechanics will find complication questions far more tractable.
- Principles underpin procedure selection and troubleshooting
- Complication questions reward recognizing early warning signs and the appropriate response
Procedural Perioperative Management (20%) and Imaging (15%)
Perioperative management covers preparation, intraoperative management, and postoperative care. Imaging questions test interpretation and selection of studies in the context of a surgical plan.
- Link imaging findings to operative planning
- Review perioperative risk assessment and postoperative protocols
For a full walkthrough of how these topics relate to the other classifications, see the complete guide to RRA exam domains.
What the CBPS and Case Review Figures Reflect
The NEW RRA CBPS
The NEW RRA CBPS is a separate Part I component: 12 clinical simulations at 15 minutes each, 180 minutes total. Its cumulative pass rate of 89% for the 2025 residency class is considerably higher than the Didactic figure. That difference should not be read as "the CBPS is easy." It tests a different skill: working through a patient scenario rather than recognizing a best answer from options.
Domains 6 through 9 are the CBPS Case Management Areas, each with an official range: Physical Examination (20-40%), Diagnostic procedures/labs/imaging (15-35%), Diagnosis (10-30%), and Treatment (15-35%). Domains 10 through 19 are overlapping, unweighted CBPS Content Areas such as Complications/Revision, Congenital disorders (pediatrics and adult), Deformities, Perioperative management, Neoplastic disorders, Neurovascular disorders, Trauma, Wound/Infection, and Metabolic, rheumatologic, and inflammatory disorders.
The RRA Case Review
Part II is different in kind. The RRA Case Review evaluates eight selected surgical cases through PLS, and candidates do not attend a timed examination sitting. The 79% cumulative figure (19/24) for the 2023 residency class reflects a documentation-and-judgment assessment rather than a test-center exam. For 2027, at least 30 logged cases must contain an RRA-eligible procedure, including eight selectable RRA core-procedure cases from unique patients. ABFAS advises logging all required post-residency surgeon-of-record cases, not just the minimum. Review the eligibility rules in our RRA requirements guide and the calendar details in the exam dates article.
Using the Domain Weights to Plan Your Preparation
The pass-rate data suggests that the Didactic deserves the most deliberate preparation. One way to apply the weights is to sequence your study so the heaviest topics get the most time while the others are still covered thoroughly. This is a sample of how a candidate might lay out the Didactic content; adjust it to your own timeline and weak spots.
Surgical Principles and Imaging
- Build the foundation that the procedure and complication topics depend on
- Practice linking imaging findings to operative plans
Surgical Procedures/Techniques
- Give the 25% target topic the most hours
- Study indications, technique, and fixation reasoning together
Perioperative Management and Complications
- Review perioperative protocols and risk assessment
- Connect each technique to its characteristic complications and management
Integrated adaptive practice
- Take practice questions without going back to earlier items, mirroring the CAT format
- Revisit whichever topic produced the most misses
Because you cannot revisit completed items on the real exam, practice under that constraint. Our RRA practice test lets you rehearse committing to answers, and the RRA study guide and one-page cheat sheet help consolidate the high-yield facts. Note that official ABFAS practice material is login-gated, and paid or gated questions were not retrieved for this article.
Key Takeaway
The published numbers do not tell you your odds, but they do tell you where to be careful: the Didactic is where the cumulative pass rate is lowest, and its adaptive, no-backtracking format rewards practice under realistic conditions. Start with the largest weighted topic and keep every topic above competence.
Cost and timing context
Each attempt carries real expense, which is part of why the pass-rate picture matters. Fees include a $225 nonrefundable application (once per examination calendar year), $475 for the RRA Didactic, $475 for the NEW RRA CBPS, and $550 for the RRA Case Review. Prerequisite Foot examinations and their fees are additional. Certification is normally required within seven years of qualification, with pre-2014 residency exceptions, so repeated attempts also consume time. See the cost breakdown for the full picture, and visit the main practice site to start building exam-day familiarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
ABFAS publishes cumulative rates by component through Spring 2025: 54% (211/394) for the 2025-residency-class RRA Didactic, 89% (353/398) for that class's CBPS, and 79% (19/24) for the 2023-residency-class RRA Case Review. There is no single blended figure.
No. The published figures are historical cumulative numbers through Spring 2025 and are not first-attempt or 2026 rates. Be wary of any source claiming a specific 2026 percentage without citing ABFAS.
No. Each Part I component requires a scaled score of 500 on a 200-800 scale. Because of scaling, adaptive delivery, and possible unscored field-test items, there is no fixed raw-percentage threshold.
The two components test different things and report different cohorts, so the comparison is imperfect. The Didactic is 80 adaptive multiple-choice questions with no revisiting and no reference materials, while the CBPS is 12 clinical simulations. The published data shows the Didactic with the lower cumulative rate.
Surgical Procedures/Techniques has the largest official target weight at 25% (range 20-30%). The other four topics sit at 15-20% targets, so none can be neglected. Learn more in our domains guide and the pass rate overview.