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...
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CNA exam at a glance
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
Duration
Written/oral: 2 hours. Skills: 30 minutes
Delivery
Written/oral online or at a test center; skills evaluation at a test center (NNAAP states via Credentia)
Passing score
Pass both parts. Skills require completing all five tasks, including every critical element step
Exam 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)
About the CNA certification
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.
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.
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.
What the CNA 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
How to study for the CNA
- 1Download your state's current candidate handbook — it is the only official skills list and fee schedule that counts.
- 2Memorize critical element steps for every skill, especially handwashing and measurement (BP, pulse, respirations, output, weight).
- 3Practice the written outline: infection control, safety, resident rights, and reporting.
- 4Time a full skills run in 30 minutes with a partner calling out five random skills.
- 5Schedule written and skills on the rules your state requires (some states require both the same day at a center).
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Build My Free CNA Study PlanCNA — frequently asked questions
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.