Pass Your CNA Exam — Free Practice Tests, Real NNAAP-Style Questions
Take a full 60-question practice exam, drill all 22 hands-on skills, and study every tested topic — no signup, no credit card, 100% free.
60-question full exam · 11 topic tests · Instant scoring · Free forever
60
Question Full Practice Exam
11
Topic Practice Tests
22
NNAAP Skills Walkthroughs
100%
Free — No Signup
Practice tests
Free CNA Practice Tests for Every Exam Topic
NNAAP-style multiple-choice questions with instant scoring and answer explanations — the same content areas Credentia, Prometric, Headmaster, and PSI test.
60 questions · NNAAP-style
Full CNA Practice Test
Covers every content area on the written exam, with instant scoring and explanations.
Start now →22 NNAAP skills · Critical fail steps
CNA Skills Test Guide
Step-by-step walkthroughs of the hands-on portion, including the steps you can't miss.
See the skills →Infection Control Practice Test
25 NNAAP-style questions on PPE, hand hygiene, and isolation.
Patient Rights Practice Test
25 questions on OBRA, HIPAA, abuse, and restraints.
Basic Nursing Skills Test
25 questions on vital signs, transfers, and ROM.
Safety & Emergency Practice Test
22 questions on RACE, PACE, falls, and CPR.
How to Become a CNA in 4 Steps
The exact rules vary by state. Use this roadmap, then check your state's specific requirements.
Check Your State's Rules
Every state sets its own rules — training runs from 75 hours (the federal minimum, used by Texas and others) up to 160 hours in California. Most states ask you to be 16–18 with no disqualifying background-check findings. Check your state's exact requirements.
Complete Approved Training
State-approved programs combine classroom theory with supervised clinical experience in a long-term care setting, usually over 4–12 weeks. Find programs near you.
Pass the Written + Skills Exam
Your state's competency exam — administered by Prometric, Credentia, Headmaster, or PSI — includes a written test plus a hands-on skills demonstration. Take the free practice test and drill the 22 NNAAP skills until both feel routine.
Get on Your State Registry
Once you pass, your state adds you to its nurse aide registry. From that point you can work as a CNA in any licensed facility in your state. Verify your license.
Learn first, then test
13 Free CNA Study Guides — Every NNAAP Topic Covered
Read the guide, then take the matching practice test. Every major topic on the NNAAP / state CNA competency exam is covered — free, no signup.
Chain of infection, standard precautions, PPE use, hand hygiene, and transmission-based precautions.
Then test yourself: Infection Control practice test →OBRA '87 resident rights, HIPAA, dignity, privacy, freedom from abuse and restraints, advance directives.
Then test yourself: Patient Rights practice test →Vital signs, intake and output, positioning, transfers, and range-of-motion exercises.
Then test yourself: Basic Nursing Skills practice test →RACE/PASS fire safety, fall prevention, choking, CPR, seizure care, and incident reporting.
Then test yourself: Safety & Emergency practice test →SBAR handoff, therapeutic communication, and adaptations for hearing, vision, and dementia residents.
Bathing, peri-care, oral care, denture care, toileting, and incontinence management.
Delirium vs dementia, sundowning, validation therapy, and de-escalation of combative behavior.
Objective vs subjective data, pain scales, what to report immediately, and charting principles.
CNA scope of practice, the four elements of negligence, mandatory reporting, and ethical principles.
Hospice vs palliative care, Kübler-Ross stages, signs of approaching death, and postmortem care.
Stroke (FAST), CHF, hypoglycemia, COPD, pressure-injury staging, and other common LTC conditions.
ADA, Section 504, Section 1557, and OBRA duties: effective communication, the service-animal two-question rule, accessible care, and anti-discrimination at the bedside.
Your federal rights for CNA program admission, NNAAP exam accommodations (Credentia, Prometric, Headmaster, PSI), and workplace accommodations on the job.
Know Your State's Rules
CNA certification is state-by-state. Check the exact rules where you live, and verify any nurse aide license in seconds.
CNA Requirements by State
Training hours (75 in Texas, 160 in California), age, background check, exam, and cost — exact rules for all 50 states.
See your state →Nurse Aide License Lookup
Verify certification status, expiration dates, and renewal steps for all 50 state registries.
Look up a license →CNA Requirements by State
Training hours, age, exam, background check, and cost — vary by state. Pick yours to see the exact rules.
Need In-Person Training First?
Search 805+ state-approved CNA programs by state and city — compare cost, length, and schedules, including our guide to American Red Cross CNA classes and facility-sponsored programs that train you free in exchange for a work commitment.
What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?
A 4–12 week path into healthcare — no degree required.
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) provides hands-on care to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. CNAs are essential members of the healthcare team, working directly with patients to ensure their comfort and well-being.
Assist patients with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating
Monitor vital signs and report changes to nursing staff
Provide emotional support and companionship to patients
Help with mobility and physical therapy exercises
CNA Career Snapshot
- Median Salary
- $35,760/year
- Job Growth (2022-2032)
- +4% (Faster than average)
- Training Time
- 4-12 weeks
- Education Required
- High School Diploma
- Work Settings
- Hospitals, Nursing Homes
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about becoming a CNA
How long does it take to become a CNA?
Most CNA programs take 4 to 12 weeks to complete, depending on the state and whether you attend full-time or part-time. State training-hour requirements vary widely — Texas, Ohio, and several others require the federal minimum of 75 hours, while California requires 160 hours, Virginia and Illinois 120, and New York 100. See our state-by-state CNA requirements directory for exact timing in your state.
How much does CNA training cost?
CNA training typically ranges from $400 to $2,000, with community colleges and technical schools offering the lowest tuition. Many nursing facilities sponsor training in exchange for a post-certification work commitment, making the path effectively free for committed candidates. Add roughly $100 to $200 for state exam fees, background-check fees, and uniforms.
What's on the CNA certification exam?
The state CNA competency exam has two parts: a written (or oral) knowledge test with 60–100 multiple-choice questions, and a hands-on skills demonstration of 3 to 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills. The exam is administered by state-contracted vendors including Prometric, Credentia (formerly Pearson VUE), Headmaster, and PSI. Our free study guides cover every major topic tested.
Do I need a high school diploma to become a CNA?
It depends on your state. Some states (California, New Jersey) require a high school diploma or GED for CNA certification. Others (Texas, Florida, Illinois, Ohio) do not require a diploma at the state level, though individual training programs may. Several states also allow students 16 or older to start CNA training while still in high school through dual-enrollment programs.
Is CNA certification valid in all states?
No — CNA certification is issued by each state's nurse aide registry, so it is state-specific. However, most states offer reciprocity (sometimes called endorsement) for CNAs in good standing on another state's registry. The transfer process typically requires submitting a reciprocity application, providing verification from your current state, and passing a state background check. See your destination state's CNA registry page for specific reciprocity rules.
Can I work while getting my CNA certification?
Yes. Many CNA programs offer evening and weekend schedules for working adults. Federal OBRA rules also allow you to begin working as a paid nurse aide in a nursing home for up to four months after completing approved training, while you finish the competency exam and registry process. Several states like Tennessee offer a formal temporary work permit (120 days) so you can start earning a CNA wage immediately after training.