CNA
Offered by State nurse aide registries (NNAAP via Credentia in many states)
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) / nurse aide competency is licensed or listed by each U.S. state, not by a single national board. Many states use the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP), developed from NCSBN job analysis work and administered by Credentia. Other states use their own written and skills vendors.
EXAM AT A GLANCE
Testing time
30
minutes
Sections
7
Passing score
Pass both parts
Cost
$100–$200
Your CNA Community
Connect with other people preparing for the CNA.
What the exam covers
Role of the nurse aide
Basic nursing skills
Personal care skills
Mental health and social service needs
Care of cognitively impaired residents
Basic restorative services
Resident rights
About the CNA license
Where NNAAP is used, you must pass both a written (or oral) exam and a skills evaluation to be placed on the state nurse aide registry. Always follow your state's candidate handbook — fees, attempt limits, and skills lists vary.
Who it’s for
Graduates of state-approved nurse aide training programs seeking registry listing to work as a CNA.
- Format
- NNAAP written: 70 multiple-choice items (10 pretest); or oral: 60 multiple-choice + 10 reading items. Skills: five randomly selected tasks in 30 minutes, always including hand hygiene and one measurement skill
- Testing time
- Written/oral: 2 hours.
- Delivery
- Written/oral online or at a test center; skills evaluation at a test center (NNAAP states via Credentia)
- Passing score
- Skills require completing all five tasks, including every critical element step
- Cost
- Set by your state registry and testing vendor (often roughly $100–$200 combined; confirm in your handbook)
- Validity
- Registry listing is maintained per your state's renewal and work requirements
- Prerequisites
- Completion of a state-approved nurse aide training program (and any state-specific documentation)
Official exam page· Details verified September 2026
Exam details can change. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam policies with the certification provider before registering.
How to prepare
01
Download your state's current candidate handbook — it is the only official skills list and fee schedule that counts.
02
Memorize critical element steps for every skill, especially handwashing and measurement (BP, pulse, respirations, output, weight).
03
Practice the written outline: infection control, safety, resident rights, and reporting.
04
Time a full skills run in 30 minutes with a partner calling out five random skills.
05
Schedule written and skills on the rules your state requires (some states require both the same day at a center).
Related resources
FAQ
Is the CNA exam the same in every state?
No. Many states use NNAAP (Credentia). Others use Prometric, Headmaster, or a state-specific exam. Use the handbook for the state where you will be listed.
What is the hardest part of the CNA exam?
For most candidates it is the skills evaluation. Missing a critical element (for example, not washing hands when required) fails that skill even if the rest of the steps were fine.
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