Career & Pay
How do PNA points work and how do you stack them for promotion?
TL;DR — Quick Answer
PNA (Passed Not Advanced) points are bonus points added to your Final Multiple Score for each cycle where you passed the advancement exam but were not selected. They accumulate over multiple cycles and can be the difference between making rate and missing the cutoff. PNA rewards persistence — sailors who keep passing the exam build an increasing advantage each cycle.
What PNA means
PNA stands for Passed Not Advanced. Every time you take the Navy advancement exam and your standard score is at or above the minimum passing score, but your overall FMS falls below the cutoff for selection, you earn PNA credit. The Navy recognizes that sailors who consistently pass the exam deserve credit for their persistence, even when quotas prevent their advancement. PNA points are added to your Final Multiple Score (FMS) in subsequent cycles, incrementally boosting your competitiveness. The more cycles you pass without advancing, the more PNA points you accumulate — up to a cap.
How PNA points are calculated
PNA points come from two sources for each passed-but-not-advanced cycle: (1) **PNA exam points** — a fraction of your standard score from that cycle is banked as PNA credit. The formula takes a percentage of your exam standard score and adds it as a bonus. (2) **PNA evaluation points** — a fraction of your performance mark average from that cycle is also banked. The exact percentages have changed over the years as the Navy adjusts the advancement system, but the principle remains: higher exam scores and better evaluation marks generate more PNA points per cycle. The points from each passed cycle stack on top of each other. So after 3 PNA cycles, you have credit from all three.
The PNA point cap
PNA points are not unlimited. The Navy caps the total PNA contribution to prevent indefinite accumulation from overriding all other factors. Typically, the combined PNA exam and PNA evaluation points are capped after approximately 5 cycles worth of credit. Once you hit the cap, additional PNA cycles do not add more points. This means if you have been passed over 5+ times, PNA alone will not save you — you need to improve your exam score, earn awards, get better evaluations, or earn a degree to push your FMS over the cutoff. The cap also varies by paygrade (E-4, E-5, E-6), with higher paygrades having slightly different PNA weight in the formula.
How to strategically stack PNA points
The most common mistake sailors make with PNA is treating it as passive — "I will just keep taking the exam and eventually PNA will carry me." That rarely works. The correct strategy is to use PNA as a multiplier on top of active improvement. Here is the approach: (1) **Always take the exam** — even if you think you cannot advance this cycle, passing the exam earns PNA credit for next time. Skipping a cycle resets your momentum. (2) **Score as high as possible every cycle** — PNA points are derived from your exam score. A higher score generates more PNA credit per cycle. (3) **Maintain strong eval marks** — PNA evaluation points are derived from your PMA. Strong evals compound your PNA benefit. (4) **Stack additional FMS factors simultaneously** — while PNA accumulates, also earn awards, complete your degree, and earn warfare qualifications. The goal is PNA points PLUS other improvements hitting at the same cycle.
PNA math example
Imagine two E-4s competing for E-5 in the same rating. Sailor A is taking the exam for the first time with a standard score of 62 and strong evals. Sailor B scored a 55 last cycle but was not advanced, so this is the second attempt with PNA credit from cycle one. Sailor B studies harder this cycle and scores a 58. Even though Sailor A scored higher on this cycle's exam, Sailor B's accumulated PNA points from the previous cycle could push the total FMS above Sailor A's. This is why PNA matters — it rewards sailors who consistently show up and perform, even when the quotas do not go their way. Over 3-4 cycles, PNA can contribute several points to the FMS, and advancement cutoffs are often decided by fractions of a point.
When PNA is not enough
In heavily overmanned ratings with advancement rates below 5-10%, PNA accumulation alone is rarely sufficient. If your rating advances only 3% of eligible E-5s to E-6, even maxed-out PNA points may not push you over the cutoff because everyone else in your rating is also stacking PNA. In these situations, the correct move is often to cross-rate into an undermanned rating through C-WAY (Career Waypoints). Moving to a rating with 40-50% advancement means your existing PNA points, exam skills, and strong evals suddenly have a much better chance of pushing you over a lower cutoff. Check which ratings have the best advancement on the advancement dashboard and compare them on the fastest-promoting ratings list.
PNA does not apply to E-7 and above
PNA points are only part of the FMS-based advancement system for E-5 and E-6. (E-4 was removed from the FMS-based system in July 2024 under NAVADMIN 168/23 and is now automatic on time-in-service.) Promotion to Chief Petty Officer (E-7) and above is determined by a selection board that reviews your entire service record. There is no exam and no FMS. The board evaluates sustained superior performance, leadership, community involvement, education, and the strength of your evaluations over your entire career. PNA has no role in the E-7 process. Read more about how the full promotion system works in the Navy promotion guide.
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