We are now 51 days from the 2026 NFL Agent Exam. Typically, people really start to focus on the test after Memorial Day, when, apparently, things become real. We’re really excited about our coming upgrade to the Inside the League exam prep offering, our new exam application, which will give users an unlimited number of 60-question practice exams. We think it’s the missing link to the exam prep universe, and immeasurably improves our two current practice exam offerings.

We’re rolling it out on Tuesday, when it goes live. In the meantime, you probably have questions. Here’s our attempt to clear up any of them before launch.

So how does it work?: Once you register and pay ($250 plus tax), you can create an unlimited number of practice exams. Each one will have 60 questions that come from our “well” of 200 questions. You might get the same question if you create enough practice exams, but the order will change every time and, for the most part, it will be different questions each time. You can create an exam, then come back to it if you run out of time. Or, if you’re just not feeling that one, you can create a completely new one.

Will there be an answer key?: Of course, and we’ll be able to tell you how many you missed, as our current practice exams do. However, unlike our current practice exams, when you answer a question, you’ll find out immediately if you got it right or wrong. There will also be an answer explanation for each one of course. We’re toying with including video explanations of how to work the problems, as well, but that would be down the line.

What if I read the answer explanation and still don’t understand?: We’re hoping our explanations will be complete and thorough, and will not require any extra explanation. Right now, we don’t have a mechanism for providing extra instruction beyond what’s on the exam application. At some point, we will probably provide links to our videos that further explain the topic relevant to the question, but you will have to have purchased that video to gain access ($50 plus tax for each of our six monthly sessions).

Is there any way to gauge how quickly I’m completing a practice exam?: Yes. We’ve added a clock to each one. As long as you are actively using the exam — you’ve logged into your account and the page is engaged — the clock will run. When you move to another page, it will stop. That way, we hope you’ll get a good sense of how quickly you’re moving through the content. The most common reason for failing the exam is running out of time.

How long is my registration good for?: A year. If you get bad news in July, you’ll have the remaining 12 months after purchase to practice up before the next one rolls around. The end date will be readily available, so it won’t sneak up on you.

The actual exam is made up of questions from five topics. Will the exam application follow these ratios as well?: Yes. Questions will come from the NFLPA memo setting forth the ratio of questions in each of five categories. The categories are CBA (39), Salary information resources (2), NFL Policies and Procedures (9), NFLPA Regulations Concerning Contract Advisors (8) and NFLPA Players Inc. (2). Sixty questions total.

Will the two current practice exams remain available?: Eventually, no. They’ll both be taken down. The exam application will be all we maintain.

Will more questions be added later?: Maybe. We envision having as many as 300 questions in the well at some point. However, for the current exam cycle, we’ll probably stay at 200.

People who subscribe to ITL get a discount on the current practice exams. Will ITL subscribers also get a discount on the exam application?: We’re still figuring that out. Probably, later. For now, we’re going to have test-takers pay the introductory price ($250 plus tax) and that’s all.

If you’re taking the exam, we hope this new application helps you ready yourself for next month in a fair, cost-effective way. Still have questions? DM us at @insidetheleague on Twitter. We’re here to help.

If you’re reading this, the NFL Draft is probably something you find exciting. Well, imagine your excitement if this was the first draft you were actually a part of.

That’s actually the case for dozens of our clients who started off with us last summer in preparation for the NFL agent exam. Given that they’ve gone from wondering what it would be like to represent NFL players to nearing making that a reality, we thought we’d reach out to some of them to get their feelings, in their own words.

Here’s what they told us.

“I think at this point it’s kind of hard to put into words because there is still a lot of uncertainty of what to expect and how the process actually will play out. Certainly a lot of emotions which probably won’t fully be realized until the weekend is over and hopefully all my players have at least (rookie mini-camp) invites. I am also trying to separate the draft which I have watched on television for years and the process I am participating in this weekend because of the likelihood that my players do not get drafted. I took a somewhat conservative approach this cycle as I am co-repping four players but only the lead agent on one. . . although there is a feeling of uncertainty, there is also a feeling of excitement and hope and I am optimistic that all four of my guys will at least get an opportunity.” — Lane Macaluso, Macaluso Law

“Definitely a surreal feeling going from watching the draft as a fan my whole life to now experiencing it as an agent – it’s a completely different perspective. With two prospects who are potential Day 3 picks or priority free agents, I’m locked in on every pick and tracking who the interested teams are taking. The last few months have been a whirlwind, but I feel great going into the weekend. I’ve learned a ton since getting licensed and (Inside the League) has been a huge help along the way.” — Will Scott, A&P Sports

“This being my first draft I have the feelings of nervous excitement and strong confidence… (Inside the League) has directly helped me forge powerful relationships and opportunities that have rapidly advanced my career… I will never forget this draft because I feel like I’m in it!” — James Tortorelli, Reliant Athletic Management

“First draft… excited, nervous, but feeling as prepared as I can be. Honestly, having (Inside the League) and the Stratic team in my corner has been a game-changer. Incredible group of people who have really helped show me the ropes.” — Blaise Rosati, NXT ERA

“Being at my first NFL Draft with a client is honestly surreal. I’ve watched the draft every year for as long as I can remember and used to make mock drafts just for fun, so to now be part of this process on the professional side is both nerve-wracking and incredibly exciting. I’m fortunate to represent a client who has late-round draft potential (Virginia Tech DT Kody Huisman), and the possibility of seeing him hear his name called is a feeling I never imagined I’d experience when I was just watching from home as a fan. What makes this experience so different is that I’m no longer focused only on my favorite team’s picks—I’m watching every selection and every team need to understand how each decision could impact my client’s opportunities. In many ways, it feels like I’m in my own war room, which makes the entire experience even more exciting. I’ve also never been more aware of my phone notifications in my life (haha).” — James Winn, First Winn Sports & Entertainment

“I’m excited every draft as a fan, but it feels particularly special being a part of this process as an agent. The anticipation of your favorite team’s draft selections is nothing compared to when it’s your client’s future on the line. If I hadn’t connected with (Inside the League) and (the ITL) community (the other agents, Stratic, etc.), I probably wouldn’t have a client this draft but, if I did, I know I wouldn’t feel nearly as prepared for the next steps. In short… I feel excited, hopeful, and as prepared as I could be without having been here before.” — Gabriel Opatken, 8180 Sports

“It feels great. I’ve been excited all week and waiting for this day like a kid waiting for the toy store to open. It’s just so rewarding to know that all the work I’ve put in since recruiting and through the pre-draft process culminates to this and having the chance to hear my client’s name called. Days 1 and 2 will still feel the same for me as a fan of the game. But I’m looking forward to Day 3 where that day will matter most for my clients, and I’ll be involved more as an agent and not a fan.” — Alex Nguyen, McRae Sports Group

“Of course, it feels good! Feeling all of the feelings – nerves, excitement, etc. I think with my guys being more on the radar (Friday) and Saturday, it will start to feel more real then. But all of the work it took to get to this point between graduate degree, test prep, passing the test, recruiting, pre-draft, etc., it feels like a dream come true and we’re only getting started.” — Evan Pobuta, Vienna Talent Group

If you’re taking the exam this summer, don’t risk not being able to have these same feelings this time next year. As the most established NFL agent prep program in the business, and the one with the most active NFL agents (by a long shot), we love helping people achieve their dreams. It’s not too late to get going. Start here.

For more thoughts from first-year agents experiencing their first draft, make sure to check out today’s Friday Wrap. Register here.

Tonight, we’ll have our third Zoom session for aspiring NFL agents, covering several key concepts that could be part of July’s exam. With less than 100 days until the test, things are ramping up.

Simultaneously, we’re hearing from agents who are facing their third draft class and, without having signed anyone who made it to an NFL roster so far, they’re facing professional mortality. Basically, they have five months to get someone on a roster, and if next weekend goes poorly for them, they’re in a real bind.

So how does this happen? How do so many talented people — many of them accomplished attorneys, all of them having achieved a postgraduate degree — come into the business every year but find themselves ousted from the business three years later? More generally, why do people hoping to represent NFL players fail? Here are the top reasons.

They can’t pass the exam. In our decade-plus working with aspiring agents, we’ve seen our share of people who failed the test twice. It sounds ridiculous, but it’s not at all uncommon. It’s a very complicated exam, and if you don’t use prep services like ours, that’s doubly true. You’re talking about a 700-page CBA with lots of complicated topics, and the NFLPA does you few favors. It’s open-book, yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park. And given the responsibilities an agent has, the test should be challenging.

They don’t make the right relationships. Every year, there are dozens of people who sit for the exam because they’ve been asked to get certified, either by someone in the league or someone who’s draft-eligible. They then find out, to their surprise, that those players were less serious about signing with the agent than previously believed. Often, the agent doesn’t find this out until October or November, at which point he’s left trying to find someone else to recruit. Make the wrong recruiting decisions and you’ll never make other key contacts (scouts, college GMs, trainers). It’s a vicious cycle.

They trust the wrong people. From the players they sign to the trainers they hire to the draft analysts that solicit them, there are countless people who enter a new agent’s orbit. Some know more about the game than others. When you’re new to an industry, you don’t know where to place your trust, but you’re desperately seeking people worthy of it.

They run out of money. This is the most common one. So many people enter the game thinking their first $2500 (just to take the exam) and second $2500 (for fees and malpractice insurance) are a considerable barrier, but once they get past both, they’re home free. You haven’t even begun to spend money at that point. We’ve discussed this ad nauseam. Here’s one example.

They run out of time. As mentioned earlier, the new agent gets thrown into the fire rather quickly, and Year 1 is over almost before it starts. As an independent agent, if you don’t get a player on a roster in that first year — and only about 20 percent of independent agents pull that off — you now have two years to get it done. Maybe you make a contact here or there in scouting, get a decent referral or two in Years 2 and 3, but neither actually hit. You’ve finally built a network and kinda learned what you need to know . . . just in time for the clock to run out.

Ego, pure and simple. It sounds ridiculous, but there are still people who try to get into the industry because they want to be big shots. They want to have cool jobs that make their friends jealous. You see it all the time in their LinkedIn pages, their Instagram accounts, the pictures in their social media bios. When you enter the business with this kind of attitude, you don’t realize that there’s stuff you don’t know, and it is absolutely crucial to enter this business with humility.