Isaac Prentice
May 16, 2026
The CNA certification exam is the final step between completing your training and becoming a certified nursing assistant. It’s administered at the state level through testing companies like Prometric and Pearson VUE, and it tests both your knowledge and your hands-on clinical skills.
This guide explains what to expect from both parts of the exam, how to structure your preparation, and the study strategies that help CNA candidates build the knowledge and confidence they need on test day.
The CNA exam consists of two parts: a written or oral knowledge test and a clinical skills evaluation. Most states use Prometric or Pearson VUE as their testing vendor. The written section typically covers 60–80 multiple choice questions on nursing assistant knowledge and patient care. The clinical skills section requires demonstrating 5 randomly selected skills from a standardized list. Effective preparation includes online practice tests, active skills review, and using structured study tools to reinforce core content areas.
The written test evaluates your understanding of nursing assistant knowledge including patient rights, infection control, safety, communication, personal care, and basic clinical observation. Most state exams contain 60–80 questions, and the passing score is typically 70–75%.
An oral version is available for candidates with reading difficulties or English language challenges — contact your state’s testing coordinator or your testing vendor (Prometric or Pearson VUE) to request accommodations.
The skills test requires you to demonstrate a set of nursing assistant procedures before a trained evaluator. You will typically be asked to perform 5 skills drawn randomly from your state’s standardized list — which usually includes 25–30 possible procedures.
Common skills tested include handwashing, measuring and recording vital signs, assisting with repositioning, providing perineal care, and ambulation assistance. The evaluator scores each skill using a standardized checklist — every required step must be completed correctly to receive credit.
A structured, 3-phase study plan gives you the best chance of entering the exam with confidence:
Most states allow candidates to attempt the CNA exam up to three times before requiring additional training. After three unsuccessful attempts, most states require the candidate to complete another approved CNA training program before testing again. Check your state’s specific rules via your testing vendor or state nursing board.
The written portion typically takes 60–90 minutes. The clinical skills evaluation usually takes 25–40 minutes including setup time. Total appointment time at the test center including check-in is typically 2–3 hours.
The passing score varies by state but is most commonly 70–75% on the written portion. The clinical skills test is typically pass/fail on each skill — you must correctly perform each required step of each skill. Failing even one skill component may result in a failing overall score on the clinical section.
Most states use either Prometric or Pearson VUE as their testing vendor. Check the NCSBN website or your state’s nurse aide registry to confirm which vendor handles your state’s exam.
NCOOA’s CNA prep course covers all 15 core content areas aligned with the CNA exam — from infection control and patient rights to dementia communication and end-of-life care. The course is self-paced with a full year of access and includes free CPR training and free Basic First Aid training.
