CRNFA Practice Test

CRNFA Exam at a Glance

What changed for CRNFA in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Delivery changed to Online portfolio portal (Microsoft Word format) (previously Online portfolio portal (Microsoft Word documents uploaded)).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Retake policy changed to One revision within 60 days; failure requires full reapplication (previously One revision and resubmission within 60 days; after that, reapply).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Time limit changed to Start within 2 months of approval; submit within 3 months of start date (previously Start within 2 months of acceptance; submit within 3 months of start date).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Score release changed to Goal: within 1 month of submission (previously Goal: within one month of submission).^[4]
• Oct 27, 2026: Renewal changed to $450 early (Jan 1–Jul 1) / $500 standard (Jul 2–Dec 31) every 5 years (previously $450 early (Jan 1–Jul 1) / $500 standard (Jul 2–Dec 31), via contact hours or points).^[4]

What the CRNFA is and how it works

According to National Assistant at Surgery Certification, “The completed CRNFA Professional Portfolios are evaluated by two members of a NASC volunteer panel consisting of active and emeritus CRNFAs. The volunteers use a detailed rubric to evaluate and score each portfolio.”^[2]

The CRNFA is not a multiple-choice sitting. You complete a professional portfolio through an online portal, using Microsoft Word documents, and submit it in Word format. Two peer evaluators from a volunteer panel of active and emeritus CRNFAs score it against a detailed rubric. No numeric passing score is published, so there is no number to aim for.

Eligibility depends on your background. An RN needs a bachelor's degree or higher in any field, a current CNOR, an unrestricted RN license and an RNFA program that meets AORN standards, plus 2,000 RNFA practice hours. An APRN needs a graduate-level APRN degree, an RN license, accredited APRN certification, the same type of RNFA program and 2,000 RNFA practice hours. Check the handbook for your own situation.

Timing and fees. Your start date must fall within 2 months of approval, and you must submit within 3 months of that start date. The fee is $550 for new applicants and $275 for current RNAS-C holders. The goal is to send results within 1 month of submission. If you do not pass, you may revise and resubmit once within 60 days for a $100 resubmission fee; otherwise you reapply in full.

Certification lasts 5 years. Renewal costs $450 early (January 1 to July 1) or $500 standard (July 2 to December 31). Fees and rules can change, so confirm them with the official body before you apply.

CRNFA content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CRNFA content outline published by National Assistant at Surgery Certification, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CRNFA questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: A Bookwalter retractor system is best classified as which type of retractor?

1. Hand-held retractor
2. Self-retaining retractor
3. Malleable retractor
4. Vein retractor

Answer: B. Self-retaining retractor

Explanation:

The correct answer is self-retaining retractor. A Bookwalter system attaches to the OR table and holds tissue open without a person gripping it, which is what defines the category. A hand-held retractor needs someone to hold it throughout. A malleable retractor is a bendable blade that is usually held by hand and shaped to the site. A vein retractor is a small, fine instrument for delicate vessel work, not a table-mounted frame.

Rule to remember: classify a retractor by how it is held. If it is fixed to the table or locks open on its own, it is self-retaining. If a team member must hold it, it is hand-held.

Example 2

Question: A patient with a known latex allergy should be scheduled as which type of surgical case?

1. Last case of the day to allow room decontamination
2. First case of the morning before latex particulates accumulate in the air
3. Requires a separate operating room only
4. No special scheduling is needed if latex-free gloves are used

Answer: B. First case of the morning before latex particulates accumulate in the air

Explanation:

The correct answer is first case of the morning. Latex particles can linger in the air after latex products are used, so scheduling the patient before that build-up lowers exposure. Last case of the day is wrong because particles accumulate over the day and the patient would face the highest level. A separate operating room alone is not the standard answer, since timing and a latex-safe environment matter. Saying no special scheduling is needed because gloves are latex-free ignores airborne particles and other latex items in the room.

Rule to remember: for latex allergy, think of the whole environment and schedule the patient early.

Example 3

Question: Which phase of wound healing is characterized by fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition?

1. Hemostasis phase
2. Inflammatory phase
3. Proliferative phase
4. Maturation/remodeling phase

Answer: C. Proliferative phase

Explanation:

The correct answer is the proliferative phase, when fibroblasts multiply and lay down collagen, with new vessel growth and wound contraction. The hemostasis phase comes first and is about clot formation to stop bleeding. The inflammatory phase follows, clearing debris and bacteria with immune cells. The maturation or remodeling phase is the late stage, when collagen is reorganised and the scar gains strength, rather than being laid down for the first time.

Rule to remember: match the key cell or event to the phase. Clot means hemostasis, immune clean-up means inflammation, fibroblasts and collagen build-up mean proliferation, and reorganisation means remodeling.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official CRNFA handbook and the portfolio page, because the portfolio is what gets scored. Read the eligibility rules, the portfolio documents and the rubric, and confirm your own requirements and fees before anything else.

Then use our practice sets to find gaps in the content areas listed above. Take one topic set at a time, starting with Preoperative Patient Assessment, then the intraoperative sets, which cover the largest share of the outline. After each set, read every explanation, including those for questions you got right, and write down the rule behind each miss in your own words.

Revisit weak topics in short, repeated sessions rather than one long block. When a set feels comfortable, move to the next area, and return to the earlier sets later to check that the knowledge stuck.

Keep the portfolio in view throughout. Use what you review to describe your own cases, decisions and professional practice in clear, specific terms, and plan your start date so you can submit inside the allowed window. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so treat them as a way to refresh knowledge, not as a prediction of your result. Ready to begin? Start the practice test.

Sources & last verified

1. National Assistant at Surgery Certification — time limit (official source). “The selected start date must be within two months from the date the application is accepted. Candidates must submit the completed portfolio within three months…” Verified Oct 27, 2026.
2. National Assistant at Surgery Certification — passing score, exam fee, retake fee, retake policy (official source). “The completed CRNFA Professional Portfolios are evaluated by two members of a NASC volunteer panel consisting of active and emeritus CRNFAs. The volunteers use a…” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
3. National Assistant at Surgery Certification — exam fee (official source). “The fee to apply for CRNFA certification is:New Applicants: $550Current RNAS-C: $275” Verified Oct 27, 2026.
4. National Assistant at Surgery Certification — renewal, score release (official source). “It will cost $500 to renew your CRNFA certification. The cost of CRNFA recertification with the early bird discount (before July 1 each year) is…” Verified Oct 27, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.