CNA Practice Test

This page is for nursing assistant candidates preparing for the Credentia NNAAP nurse aide assessment, which has a Written Examination of 70 multiple-choice questions and a Skills Evaluation of 5 randomly selected skills. Here you will find free practice sets, worked explanations of sample questions, a study plan and answers to common questions.

CNA Exam at a Glance

What the CNA is and how it works

According to Credentia (owner and administrator of the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program, NNAAP) with state nurse aide registrie, “For the Skills Evaluation, you will be asked to perform five (5) randomly selected nurse aide skills within thirty (30) minutes.”^[1]

The CNA credential lets you work as a certified nurse aide. In many states the route runs through the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program, which Credentia owns and administers together with state nurse aide registries. Requirements differ by state, so check your own registry before you book anything.

Federal rules call for state-approved training of at least 75 clock hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. Your training program or state registry can confirm whether you are ready to sit the assessment.

The Written Examination has 70 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 2 hours. The Skills Evaluation asks you to perform 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills within 30 minutes, and you must perform all 5 correctly to pass that part. We have not verified a written passing score, so use your state candidate handbook to see how the written part is scored.

On retakes, federal rules let a state cap the number of attempts, but the cap may be no lower than 3. Your state may allow more, so confirm locally. If 24 consecutive months pass with no paid nursing or nursing-related work after you finish a training and competency evaluation program, retraining and re-testing is required.

For exam format, the official source is the Credentia exam overview. Our practice questions are written by us with AI tools. They are not real exam questions and they do not replace your state handbook.

Worked examples: how to reason through CNA 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: What does the term 'scope of practice' mean for a CNA?

1. The geographic area where a CNA is allowed to work
2. The specific tasks and duties a CNA is legally permitted to perform
3. The number of patients a CNA can care for at one time
4. The salary range for CNAs in a given state

Answer: B. The specific tasks and duties a CNA is legally permitted to perform

Explanation:

The correct answer is that scope of practice means the specific tasks and duties a CNA is legally permitted to perform. It is a legal boundary set by the state and your training, and it exists to protect both you and the patient.

The geographic area is wrong because scope of practice is about what you may do, not where you work. The number of patients is wrong because that is an assignment or staffing decision made by your employer. The salary range is wrong because pay has nothing to do with legal authority.

The rule to remember: if a task is outside your scope, do not perform it, even if someone asks. Tell the nurse, ask for clarification and follow your facility policy and state rules.

Example 2

Question: What role does feedback play in CNA professional development?

1. Identifying strengths and improvement areas to guide growth
2. Only useful when positive
3. Given only during annual reviews
4. Only from supervisors

Answer: A. Identifying strengths and improvement areas to guide growth

Explanation:

The correct answer is that feedback identifies strengths and areas for improvement, which gives you something concrete to act on. That is why it supports professional growth.

Only useful when positive is wrong because criticism that is specific and fair often teaches more than praise. Given only during annual reviews is wrong because feedback is most useful when it is timely, close to the situation it describes. Only from supervisors is wrong because colleagues, patients and your own reflection can all point out things a supervisor may not see.

The rule to remember: treat feedback as information, not judgment. Ask for examples, decide what you will change and follow up so you can see whether it worked.

Example 3

Question: Which vitamin does the body synthesize when skin is exposed to sunlight?

1. Vitamin A
2. Vitamin C
3. Vitamin D
4. Vitamin K

Answer: C. Vitamin D

Explanation:

The correct answer is Vitamin D. Skin makes it when exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun, and the body uses it to absorb calcium and keep bones healthy.

Vitamin A is wrong because it comes mainly from food and supports vision and immune function. Vitamin C is wrong because the body cannot make it, so it must come from foods such as citrus fruit and peppers. Vitamin K is wrong because it is obtained from leafy greens and also made by gut bacteria, and its main job is blood clotting, not response to sunlight.

The rule to remember: sunlight and skin point to Vitamin D. This matters for residents who spend little time outdoors.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Read the Credentia exam overview and your state candidate handbook so you know the format and the skills your state expects. Keep a short list of anything that differs from what you learned in class.

Next, use our practice sets as a check on knowledge, not as a memory test. Begin with the Infection Control and Prevention, Patient Care and Basic Nursing Skills, and Nutrition and Hydration sets, since they are closest to daily nurse aide work. Then try Safety Protocols and Procedures and Professional Standards and Ethics. Some other sets on this page cover workplace topics beyond bedside care, so use them as extra reading and judge for yourself how relevant they are to your state test.

After each set, read every explanation, including those for questions you got right. Write down the rule behind each miss in your own words and revisit those notes before the next session.

For the Skills Evaluation, practice out loud with a partner or in your training lab. Say each step as you do it, because you must perform every skill correctly. Time yourself so you are used to working inside the limit.

In the final days, rest, review your notes and confirm your test location and identification requirements with your registry.

Sources & last verified

1. kb-pa.credentia.com — number of questions, time limit, passing score (official source). “For the Skills Evaluation, you will be asked to perform five (5) randomly selected nurse aide skills within thirty (30) minutes.” Verified Nov 5, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
2. ecfr.gov — retake policy (official source). “The State may impose a maximum upon the number of times an individual upon the number of times an individual may attempt to complete the…” Verified Nov 5, 2026 · source checked Nov 1, 2026.
3. ecfr.gov — renewal (official source). “If, since an individual's most recent completion of a training and competency evaluation program, there has been a continuous period of 24 consecutive months during…” Verified Nov 5, 2026.
4. ecfr.gov — eligibility (official source). “( 1 ) Consist of no less than 75 clock hours of training; ( 2 ) Include at least the subjects specified in paragraph (b)…” Verified Nov 5, 2026 · source checked Nov 1, 2026.

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