You can take the CNA certification exam at a state-approved testing site or through your state’s approved CNA exam vendor. Depending on your state, the exam may be offered at community colleges, vocational schools, long-term care facilities, regional test centers, or vendor-managed testing locations. Some states allow the written or knowledge exam online, but the clinical skills exam is usually completed in person.
Understanding the CNA Certification Exam
Before choosing a testing location, it helps to understand what the CNA certification exam includes. In many states, this exam is officially called the nurse aide competency evaluation.
Most CNA exams include two parts:
1. Written or Knowledge Exam
The written exam usually includes multiple-choice questions about nursing assistant duties, infection control, patient safety, basic care, communication, and resident rights. Some states may also offer an oral version of the exam.
2. Clinical Skills Test
The clinical skills test requires you to demonstrate selected CNA tasks in person. These may include hand hygiene, measuring vital signs, assisting with mobility, providing personal care, or following safety procedures.
1. Community Colleges and Technical Colleges
Many community colleges and technical colleges offer state-approved CNA training programs. Some may also serve as approved CNA testing locations or partner with official testing vendors. This can be convenient because students may be able to complete training and schedule the exam through the same school or a nearby testing site.
However, not every CNA program is automatically a test center. Always confirm that the school is listed as an approved testing location by your state or testing vendor.
2. Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities
Some nursing homes and long-term care facilities are approved to host CNA skills testing or in-facility exams. This can be helpful because the skills test is usually completed in a healthcare-like environment.
If your CNA training program is connected to a long-term care facility, ask whether the facility is an approved testing site or whether you need to schedule your exam through an outside vendor.
3. American Red Cross CNA Training Update
The American Red Cross previously offered Nurse Assistant Training in some areas. However, the Red Cross has discontinued its Nurse Assistant Training program. If you are looking for CNA classes or exam locations, use your state’s approved nurse aide training and testing directory instead.
4. Prometric CNA Testing Centers
Prometric administers CNA or nurse aide exams for selected states. If your state uses Prometric, you can visit Prometric’s nurse aide testing page, choose your state, and review registration details, exam fees, candidate handbooks, testing locations, and scheduling instructions.
Because CNA exam providers vary by state, do not assume Prometric handles your exam unless your state nurse aide registry or board of nursing lists Prometric as the approved vendor.
5. Can You Take the CNA Exam Online?
In some states, the written or knowledge portion of the CNA exam may be available online or through remote testing. However, the clinical skills exam is usually completed in person because you must demonstrate hands-on nursing assistant tasks in front of an evaluator.
Before choosing an online option, check your state’s candidate handbook or testing vendor website. Some states may require both parts to be scheduled through an approved testing platform.
6. How to Find CNA Test Centers Near You
To find CNA test centers near you, follow these steps:
- Search for your state’s official nurse aide registry.
- Find the CNA testing or competency exam page.
- Check the approved testing vendor for your state.
- Use the vendor’s test center search or scheduling portal.
- Review the candidate handbook before choosing a date.
- Confirm whether your written exam, skills exam, or both must be taken in person.
Do not rely only on a general web search for “CNA test centers near me.” Always verify that the location is approved by your state.
7. Do You Need CNA Training Before Taking the Exam?
In most states, you need to complete a state-approved CNA training program before taking the certification exam. Federal rules require approved nurse aide training programs to include at least 75 clock hours of training, though many states require more.
Some states may offer alternative eligibility routes for nursing students, out-of-state CNAs, expired certificate holders, or candidates with prior healthcare training. Always check your state’s candidate handbook before applying.
8. What to Bring on CNA Exam Day
Requirements vary by state and testing vendor, but candidates commonly need:
- A valid government-issued photo ID
- Exam confirmation or admission notice
- Required uniform or clinical attire
- Closed-toe shoes
- Any documents listed in the candidate handbook
Arrive early and review your testing vendor’s rules before exam day. Missing identification or arriving late may prevent you from testing.
9. What Happens After You Pass the CNA Exam?
After you pass both parts of the CNA exam and meet your state’s requirements, your name is added to the state nurse aide registry. Once you are listed as active or certified, you can begin applying for CNA jobs in approved healthcare settings.
Processing times vary by state, so check your testing vendor or nurse aide registry for score reporting and registry update timelines.
10. What If You Fail the CNA Exam?
If you do not pass one part of the CNA exam, many states allow you to retake only the failed portion. Retake rules, waiting periods, fees, and attempt limits vary by state.
Check your candidate handbook to learn:
- How many attempts are allowed
- Whether you need retraining after failed attempts
- How long must you wait before retesting
- Whether your written and skills scores expire
11. State-Approved CNA Testing Sites
The most important rule is this: you must take the CNA certification exam through a state-approved testing site or state-approved exam vendor.
Each state has its own nurse aide registry, board of nursing, department of health, or licensing agency that manages CNA certification rules. These agencies publish information about approved testing providers, training requirements, application steps, and candidate handbooks.
To find your official testing site:
- Search for your state’s nurse aide registry or CNA testing page.
- Check which vendor administers the exam in your state.
- Review the current candidate handbook.
- Confirm your eligibility before scheduling.
- Schedule both the written/knowledge exam and the skills exam.
12. Major CNA Exam Vendors
Depending on your state, your CNA exam may be administered by one of several testing vendors.
Prometric
Prometric administers CNA or nurse aide exams for selected states and provides state-specific testing resources.
Credentia
Credentia administers nurse aide exams in several states and provides registration details, candidate resources, and test center information.
D&S Headmaster
D&S Diversified Technologies, also known as Headmaster, provides nurse aide testing services for multiple states.
Because states can change vendors, always confirm the current testing provider through your state nurse aide registry or official state website.
13. Hospitals and Healthcare Employers
Some hospitals and healthcare employers offer CNA training programs or partner with approved training providers. In some cases, they may help students schedule the certification exam after completing training.
However, hospitals do not automatically serve as official CNA testing sites. You should confirm whether the hospital program is state-approved and whether the exam is scheduled through an official testing vendor or registry.
14. Community Colleges, Technical Schools, and Vocational Programs
State-approved CNA programs are often offered through community colleges, technical schools, adult education centers, and vocational schools. Some of these schools may also be approved testing locations, while others help students register through an outside vendor.
Before enrolling, confirm that the program is approved by your state and ask how graduates schedule the certification exam.
15. Private CNA Training Programs
Private CNA training programs may help students prepare for the certification exam and may partner with approved testing centers. Some healthcare organizations and private schools also provide exam scheduling support.
Before enrolling in a private CNA program, confirm that it is approved by your state. Completing a non-approved program may prevent you from qualifying for the CNA exam.
16. State Nurse Aide Registries and Health Departments
Your state health department, nurse aide registry, or board of nursing is usually the best place to find official CNA testing information. These agencies may not directly administer the exam, but they often list approved training programs, testing vendors, registry requirements, and certification steps.
Conclusion
You can take the CNA certification exam at a state-approved testing site, which may include a community college, vocational school, long-term care facility, regional test center, or vendor-managed location. The exact location depends on your state and its approved testing provider.
Before scheduling your exam, check your state nurse aide registry, review the current candidate handbook, and confirm whether your exam is handled by Prometric, Credentia, Headmaster, or another approved provider.
Preparing for both the written exam and clinical skills test will help you move one step closer to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant.
FAQs
1. How do I prepare for the CNA certification exam?
Preparing involves studying nursing fundamentals, practicing clinical skills, and taking practice tests. Consider enrolling in a CNA training program for comprehensive preparation.
2. Is the CNA certification exam the same nationwide?
No, the content and format may vary from state to state. Each state has its own requirements and regulations.
3. How long is the CNA certification exam valid?
The validity period of a CNA certification varies by state. Typically, it is valid for one to two years, after which you may need to renew it by meeting certain requirements.
4. What is the passing score for the CNA certification exam?
The passing score for the CNA certification exam also varies by state. You will need to check with your state’s nursing board for specific score requirements.
Now that you have all the information you need about where to take the CNA certification exam, you can take the next steps toward your career in healthcare. Best of luck on your journey to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant!
