Less than 40 percent of the more than 200 prospective NFL agents who took the most recent NFLPA certification test passed the exam, the lowest percentage ever.
Historically, about 70 percent of the test takers pass the exam, which includes questions on the NFL collective-bargaining agreement. Passing the test is a requirement to become an agent representing players in contract talks with clubs.
Of the 204 test takers June 23-24 in Washington, D.C., only 79 passed, a success rate of 38.7 percent. Test takers received their results last month.
The union did not make substantive changes to the 60-question, multiple-choice test, which is administered over three hours after a day and a half of lectures. It did raise the bar for passing, said Mark Levin, NFLPA director of salary cap and agent administration.
“Based on a mandate from our player leadership, standards for passing the test were raised to ensure that those who passed have a strong working knowledge of the CBA and other issues affecting player representation,” he said. He would not reveal the score now required to pass or how much it was raised.
Applicants must pay $2,500 and undergo a background check before taking the test. If they fail, they don’t get their money back but are given another chance to take the exam.
