Passing Your CNA Test

You must take and pass a CNA certification test before you can become a certified nursing assistant and work as an important part of the health care team.  You will not be able to take the certification test until you complete a CNA training program.  A good quality program (such as one though the American Red Cross) should prepare you will for the CNA certification test.
There is various CNA test information that you should know.  The test will consist of two parts.  The first part that you complete will be the written portion.  This section will have multiple-choice questions covering materials you learned during the course.  If you paid attention during lectures and studied all your textbooks and handouts, you should be well prepared for this test. To maximize your chances of passing the written portion of your exam, make sure you review our free CNA study guide.

A second part of the CNA test is referred to as the skills portion.  As the term implies, you will demonstrate a variety of nursing assistant skills.  Most tests will require you to demonstrate about five different CNA skills from start to finish.  For example, if you are asked to reposition a patient in their bed, you will need to show everything you do to complete this task.
It is about more than the specific skill.  For instance, you must remember to always knock on a patient’s door and announce yourself before entering their room.  The instructor will watch to see if you pull closed a patient’s privacy curtain and if you put up their safety rails.  If you forget a step during your exam, you should stop and ask to go back and complete that step so that the person administering the rest knows that you know what you are doing.

You will not receive your certification if you fail one or both parts of the certification exam.  Instead, you will need to take the test again at a later date.  You will have another opportunity to take the test.  You will usually need to wait a few months before you are able to take the test again. Sometimes you will need to take some training again if you do not pass the exam on the second try.  But after that, it is usually possible to try taking the test again.

When you complete your CNA certification course, your instructor can help you to schedule your certification exam.  You will receive the date and time of your test as well as any pertinent instructions.   Make certain to arrive at your exam on time (if not early).  You might be required to take proper identification with you to your exam as well as the notice stating you are eligible for your exam and have completed all necessary requirements prior to the exam.

If your cna certification test is not being held at a healthcare facility, you might be asked to bring someone with you to serve as your sample patient for the skills portion of the exam.  Make certain to have everything with you that you need before arriving for the certification exam.