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The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) test may be challenging. Our free CNA practice tests let you know how well you are prepared for the actual exam, so that you can concentrate on the areas you need to work on. Try measuring your knowledge with some of our sample CNA test questions!
Summary: We have free CNA practice tests to help you prepare for the CNA exam.
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Using our practice CNA exam questions is a proven method to prepare for your upcoming CNA exam. The best part about our sample CNA practice tests is that they require no payment or registration – they are completely free!
Our CNA example questions are categorized based on the official CNA outline. Once you have completed Test-Guide’s quizzes, your answers will be immediately graded. The score report you receive after completing our CNA practice tests will not only include your grade, but also a complete explanation for all of your wrong answers, letting you see where you need to improve.
We are currently in the process of adding more free CNA test questions and answers, so please check back often. If you have another source of quality sample questions, be sure to let us know!
- Becoming comfortable with the test format - The CNA exam, like most standardized tests, has its own unique format and structure. As you take more and more free CNA practice tests, you will begin to see a pattern in the way the questions are written. Once the actual test day comes, you will feel comfortable and have no surprises.
- Focusing your study time - Using free sample tests or CNA study guides is a very effective prep strategy. One of the biggest advantages of taking practice tests is learning what you are good at and what you are weak at. You can then concentrate your study time on your weakest areas.
- Helping you retain information - When you take sample tests like our free CNA practice tests you don't just measure what you already know, you reinforce the learning and make it more likely that you will be able to retrieve the information later.
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What is the CNA Exam?
In 1987, Congress adopted the Nursing Home Reform Act which was intended to improve the quality of care in long-term care facilities. One of the major components of the act was to define training and evaluation standards for nursing assistants who work in nursing homes. Each state is responsible for running nursing aide programs that meet these federal standards.
Every state administers a CNA certification exam which consists of a written/knowledge test and a skills evaluation. Most states work with a third-party test administrator to manage the examination process. The three largest CNA exam providers are: NNAAP/Pearson Vue, Prometric, and HDMaster.
The details on these exams are provided below:
NNAAP (Pearson Vue) CNA Exam
The National Nurse Aid Assessment Program (NNAAP) is an examination program that is used by over 25 states and territories to assess competency for certified nurse assistants (CNAs).
The NNAAP certification exam is the largest nurse aide exam program and is given to over 200,000 students per year. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) developed the NNAAP certification program to meet both federal and state laws and regulations. The exam is administered by Pearson Vue.
The NNAAP certification covers the following states and territories:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Guam
- Louisiana
- Mariana Islands
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Virgin Islands
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The CNA exam consists of two parts: a written portion and a portion focused on skills. The written portion of the test has 70 multiple-choice questions based off of the 2014 Job Analysis and Knowledge, Skill, and Ability Study of Nurse Aides. For the skills examination, candidates will need to perform five randomly selected nurse assistant skills. Candidates are given 25 minutes to complete the five skills.
The CNA practice tests provided by Test-Guide cover key aspects of the final test, giving you thorough prep for your final CNA exam.
NNAAP Written Exam Outline
Topic | % of Exam | # of Questions |
I. Physical Care Skills | ||
A. Activities of Daily Living 1. Hygiene 2. Dressing and Grooming 3. Nutrition and Hydration 4. Elimination 5. Rest/Sleep/Comfort | 14% | 9 |
B. Basic Nursing Skills 1. Infection Control 2. Safety/Emergency 3. Therapeutic/Technical Procedures 4. Data Collection and Reporting | 39% | 23 |
C. Restorative Skills 1. Prevention 2. Self Care/Independence | 8% | 5 |
II. Psychosocial Care Skills | ||
A. Emotional and Mental Health Needs | 11% | 6 |
B. Spiritual and Cultural Needs | 2% | 2 |
III. Role of the Nurse Aide | ||
A. Communication | 8% | 4 |
B. Client Rights | 7% | 4 |
C. Legal and Ethical Behavior | 3% | 2 |
D. Member of the Health Care Team | 8% | 5 |
NNAAP Skills List
For the skills evaluation, you will be asked to perform five randomly selected skills from the following list:
- Hand Hygiene (Hand Washing)
- Applies one knee-high elastic stocking
- Assists to ambulate using transfer belt
- Assists with use of bedpan
- Cleans upper or lower denture
- Counts and records radial pulse
- Counts and records respirations
- Donning and removing PPE (gown and gloves)
- Dresses client with affected (weak) right arm
- Feeds client who cannot feed self
- Gives modified bed bath (face and one arm, hand and underarm)
- Measures and records blood pressure
- Measures and records urinary output
- Measures and records weight of ambulatory client
- Performs modified passive range of motion (PROM) for one knee and one ankle
- Performs modified passive range of motion (PROM) for one shoulder
- Positions on side
- Provides catheter care for female
- Provides foot care on one foot
- Provides mouth care
- Provides perineal care (PERI-CARE) for female
- Transfers from bed to wheelchair using transfer belt
Prometric CNA Exam
Eleven states use the assessment company Prometric to administer their Certified Nursing Aide examination. The CNA exam has two components: a written exam and a clinical skills exam. The written exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions.
Candidates are given 90 minutes to take the exam.
During the clinical skills exam candidates are expected to perform five clinical skills from a list of twenty skills. Two of the skills will include handwashing and indirect care. The time limit for the skills test ranges from 31 minutes to 40 minutes based on your selected skills.
The Prometric CNA test outline covers the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Michigan
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oklahoma
Prometric CNA Written Outline
Topic | % of Exam (approximate) | # of Questions (approximate) |
I. Role of the Nurse Aide A. Personal responsibility B. Nurse aide as a member of the healthcare team C. Interpersonal relations/communication skills | 20% | 12 |
II. Promotion of Safety A. Potential hazards in the healthcare environment B. Common injuries of residents C. Risks related to common injuries D. Safety and comfort E. Safety devices (e.g., wanderguard, alarms) F. Infection prevention and control G. Emergencies H. Fire prevention and safety | 22% | 13 |
III. Promotion of Function and Health of Residents A. Personal care skills B. Health maintenance/restoration C. Age-related changes D. Psychosocial needs of residents | 20% | 12 |
IV. Basic Nursing Care Provided by the Nurse Aide A. Routine, chronic, non-life threatening situations B. Acute emergency situations | 24% | 14 |
V. Providing Specialized Care for Residents with Changes in Health A. Physical problems B. Psychological problems C. Care of the dying resident and post-mortem care | 14% | 9 |
Prometric Skills List
Your CNA exam skills evaluation will require you to perform five skills from the following list of twenty skills. You will also be evaluated on your handwashing technique at the beginning of the test, but you will not be prompted.
- Ambulate the resident using a transfer/gait belt
- Assist resident needing to use a bedpan
- Change bed linen while the resident remains in bed
- Change resident’s position to a supported side lying position
- Dress a resident who has a weak arm
- Empty contents of resident’s urinary drainage bag, and measure and record urine output on an Intake and Output (I&O) form
- Feed a resident who is sitting in a chair
- Measure and record a resident’s radial pulse
- Measure and record a resident’s respirations
- Provide catheter care to a female resident who has an indwelling urinary catheter
- Provide foot care to a resident who is sitting in a chair
- Provide mouth care to a resident who has a denture
- Provide mouth care to a resident who has teeth
- Provide perineal care to a female resident who is incontinent of urine
- Provide resident hand and nail care
- Provide resident a partial bed bath and back rub
- Provide resident with passive range of motion(ROM) exercises to one elbow and wrist
- Provide resident with passive range of motion (ROM) exercises to one shoulder
- Provide resident with passive range of motion (ROM) exercises to one hip, knee and ankle
- Transfer the resident from the bed into a wheelchair using a pivot technique and a transfer/gait belt
Headmaster/HDMaster CNA Exam
Eleven states have their CNA exams administered by D&S Diversified Technologies LLP, commonly referred to as Headmaster (www.hdmaster.com). Like the other test providers, the headmaster CNA exam consists of two components, a written exam and a manual skills exam. Our free CNA practice tests will help you prepare for the Headmaster exam.
The written CNA exam has 75 multiple-choice questions. The manual skill test consists of three or four selected skills. One of the skills will be selected from the following: perineal care of a female, bedpan and output, or perineal care of a male with changing a soiled brief.
The HDmaster test is given in the following states:
- Arizona
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- New Jersey
- Nevada
- Ohio (STNA)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
HDMaster CNA Written Exam Outline
Topic | Approximate Questions |
Safety | 7 |
Infection Control | 8 |
Personal Care | 9 |
Mental Health | 4 |
Care Impaired | 4 |
Resident Rights | 5 |
Communication | 7 |
Data Collection | 7 |
Basic Nursing Skills | 9 |
Role and Responsibility | 7 |
Disease Process | 4 |
Older Adult Growth & Development | 4 |
HDMaster Skills List
You will be tested on handwashing and four additional skills from the list below:
- Handwashing
- Ambulation with gait belt
- Ambulation with walker
- Backrub
- Bedpan and output
- Blood pressure
- Catheter care
- Denture care
- Dressing resident
- Emptying a urinary drainage bag
- Feeding the dependent resident
- Hair care
- Isolation gown and gloves
- Making an occupied bed
- Making an unoccupied bed
- Mouth care
- Mouth care comatose resident
- Nail care one hand
- Partial bed bath-face, arm, hand and underarm
- Perineal care for a female
- Position resident on side
- Range of motion hip & knee
- Range of motion one shoulder
- Stand, pivot & transfer with gait belt
- Vital signs - oral temperature, pulse and respiration
- Vital signs - axillary temperature, pulse and respiration
- Weighing and ambulatory resident
What Does a CNA Do?
CNAs are sometimes referred to as nursing assistants or nurse aides. CNAs provide help and basic care to patients in hospitals and residents of long term care facilities (nursing homes).
Typical responsibilities of a CNA include:
- Bathing and cleaning patients/residents
- Serving meals and helping patients eat
- Assisting residents and patients with going to the bathroom
- Helping dress residents
- Listening to and recording patients' concerns about their health - and relaying to the appropriate nursing/medical staff
- Taking residents' blood pressure and temperature
In addition, some CNAs may be allowed to dispense medicine depending on the state that they are licensed in, and their training level.
CNAs are typically regulated and licensed by individual states, which will specify training/education requirements. Most CNAs are trained in state-approved programs delivered by a community college, trade/vocational school, the American Red Cross, or in a nursing home/hospital.
After completing an education program, nurse aides will have to take a competency exam which will allow them to use a state-specific title (such as Certified Nursing Assistant) and be placed on the state registry. Some states may have additional requirements such as background checks and continuing education.
Nurse aides may be able to gain additional credentials, such as the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), which will allow them to dispense medication. Additionally, CNAs may choose to specialize in certain areas such as geriatrics.
The job prospects for nurse aides are good. Overall employment of CNAs is expected to rise over 20% through 2022. There are over 1.5 million nursing assistants currently employed. The average CNA salary (from May 2012) was $24,420. Nursing assistants often choose to advance their career by furthering their education. Nursing assistants can become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Registered Nurses (RNs).
CNA FAQS
Is the CNA exam hard?
As with any test, the better you prepare, the better you will do. Free practice tests are a great way to prepare for the CNA. Our free practice tests have detailed answer explanations to help you learn the material.
How many questions are on the CNA exam?
The CNA exam consists of 60 questions that are spread out over 5 sections. The 5 sections are role of the nurse aid, promotion of safety, promotion of function and health of residents, basic nursing care, and providing specialized care for residents with changes in health.
What are some questions on the CNA test?
The questions on the CNA are asked about 5 different topics. Do get tested in all 5 topics, take one of our free practice tests with answer explanations to help you best prepare for the CNA test.
Best of Luck with Your CNA Practice Exams!
By utilizing Test-Guide’s in-depth and free CNA practice tests, you’ll be able to hone and develop key skills that you’ll need during your ultimate CNA exam. We wish you luck moving forward as you take our CNA practice exams, and hope you succeed on the big day!
And if you know of any other resources for CNA practice tests, or CNA exam study guides or prep materials, please let us know and we can include them on our site.
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