The UNAR competency exam is for people in Utah who have finished a UNAR-approved nurse aide training program (NATCEP) and want to be listed as a certified nursing assistant. This page sets out the exam format, fees, scoring and retake rules published by the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry. It also matches each official content area to one of our free practice sets and works through sample questions with full explanations.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Written Knowledge Exam) | 75 multiple-choice questions[1] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Time limit (Written Knowledge Exam) | 2 hours[1] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Passing score (Manual Skills Exam) | 80% per skill, 100% of key steps, 5 skills in 45 minutes[1] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Passing score (Written Knowledge Exam) | 75% (57 of 75 correct)[1] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Expired certificate (6-24 months) competency exam) | $110 to retest both exams[2] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Renewal late fee (1 day - 6 months late)) | $40[2] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Written Knowledge Exam + Manual Skills Exam (initial)) | $110 combined ($55 written + $55 skills)[1] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Retake fee | $55 per exam attempt[2] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Retake policy | 3 attempts per exam, then repeat NATCEP training[3] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Validity | 2 years[4] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Renewal | 200 paid hours under a licensed nurse in 24 months[3] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Delivery | In person at independent UNAR-approved test sites; booked and paid in TMU[1] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Score release | Written: same day after 6 pm; skills: within 1-3 business days[1] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Testing window | 1 year after training, no extensions[3] | Utah Nursing Assistant Registry · Oct 26, 2026 |
According to Utah Nursing Assistant Registry, “The written knowledge exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions.”[1]
The Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR) runs the competency evaluation that candidates take after nurse aide training. It has two separate exams, and you must pass both.
Both exams are taken in person at independent UNAR-approved test sites in cities such as Salt Lake City, Ogden, Logan, Lehi, Cedar City and St. George. You book and pay through your TMU account. The first attempt costs $55 for each exam, or $110 for both, and every retake attempt is $55.
You have 1 year after training and 3 attempts to pass each exam. If you cannot pass either exam after 3 attempts, you must repeat a UNAR-approved NATCEP program. UNAR gives no extensions. Written results appear in TMU after 6 pm on the day you test, Monday to Friday. Skills results follow within 1-3 business days.
Certification is valid for 2 years. Fees and policies can change, so check the current candidate handbook on utahcnaregistry.com before you book.
The content areas below are copied from the official UNAR content outline published by Utah Nursing Assistant Registry. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Basic Nursing Skills[1] | UNAR Vital Signs Measurement Practise taking and recording vital signs accurately and knowing which readings to report to the nurse. |
| Body Systems[1] | UNAR Body Systems, Aging and Common Condit... Learn how each body system changes with age and which signs of common conditions a nursing assistant should notice and report. |
| Infection Prevention and Control[1] | UNAR Infection Control Practices Practise hand hygiene, glove changes between dirty and clean tasks, and standard precautions for every resident. |
| Intro to Healthcare and Residents' Rights[1] | UNAR Resident Rights and Ethics Review privacy, dignity, informed choice and the limits of the nursing assistant role. |
| Mental Health/Illness & Cognitive Impairment[1] | UNAR Dementia and Alzheimer's Care Practise calm, simple communication and safe responses to confusion, agitation and wandering. |
| Personal Care[1] | UNAR Personal Care Skills Work through bathing, grooming, oral care, dressing and toileting steps in the correct order while protecting privacy. |
| Rehabilitation & Restorative Care[1] | UNAR Range of Motion and Mobility Practise range-of-motion exercises, safe transfers and ways to encourage residents to do as much as they can for themselves. |
| Safety[1] | UNAR Safety and Emergency Procedures Review fall prevention, body mechanics, call-light use and what to do first in fires, choking and other emergencies. |
Prepare for the UNAR - Utah Nursing Assistant Registry exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
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.
Question: A nursing assistant is caring for a patient who speaks limited English. The BEST action is to:
Answer: C. Request a qualified interpreter or language assistance service
Explanation:
C is correct. A qualified interpreter or language assistance service lets the patient understand their care and answer questions accurately. It also protects their right to private communication. A is wrong because speaking slowly and loudly does not help someone who does not know the words, and it can come across as disrespectful. B is wrong because gestures and pictures can support communication but cannot replace it. They miss details about symptoms, consent and preferences. D is wrong because another patient is not trained, may translate inaccurately and would hear private health information. Rule to remember: when there is a language barrier, use the facility's approved interpreter service, never untrained bystanders, and tell the nurse about the need.
Question: How often should a bedridden patient be repositioned to help prevent pressure injuries?
Answer: B. Every 2 hours
Explanation:
B is correct. The standard rule is to reposition a bedridden patient at least every 2 hours. Constant pressure over bony areas cuts off blood flow and damages the skin, and turning relieves it. A is wrong because every 15 minutes is not the standard interval and would disturb the patient's rest without a clear benefit. C is wrong because every 6 hours leaves tissue under pressure far too long. D is wrong for the same reason, since a shift is much longer than the safe interval. Rule to remember: turn and reposition at least every 2 hours, or more often if the care plan says so. Each time, check heels, hips, the tailbone and other bony areas for redness, and report any skin changes to the nurse.
Question: A nursing assistant finishes emptying a bedpan and then needs to assist with oral care. When should gloves be changed?
Answer: B. Before assisting with oral care — between tasks on the same patient
Explanation:
B is correct. Emptying a bedpan contaminates your gloves with urine or stool. Going straight to the mouth would carry those germs to a clean site. Before oral care, remove the gloves, clean your hands and put on a fresh pair. A is wrong because saving supplies never outweighs infection control. C is wrong because standard precautions apply to every patient, whether or not an infection is known. D is wrong because contamination is often invisible, and gloves that look clean can still carry germs. Rule to remember: change gloves and perform hand hygiene whenever you move from a dirty task or body site to a clean one, even on the same patient. Also change them whenever a glove tears.
The UNAR Written Knowledge Exam has 75 multiple-choice questions, and you have up to 2 hours to finish. The passing score is 75%, which means you must answer at least 57 questions correctly. The written exam is scored separately from the skills exam, and you must pass both to be certified.
You perform 5 skills within 45 minutes. To pass, you need at least 80% on each skill, and you must get 100% of the key steps. Missing a key step means failing that skill even if the rest was done well. Study the skills checklists in the official UNAR handbook, because those are the steps the evaluator scores.
The first attempt costs $55 for the Written Knowledge Exam and $55 for the Manual Skills Exam, or $110 for both. Every retake attempt is $55 per exam. You book and pay through your TMU account. Check utahcnaregistry.com for current fees before you book, because they can change.
You can retest for $55 per attempt. You have 3 attempts to pass each exam, and all attempts must fall within 1 year after your training. If you cannot pass either exam after 3 attempts, you must repeat a UNAR-approved NATCEP program. UNAR does not give extensions to the 1-year window.
Written exam results are posted to your TMU account after 6 pm on the day you test, Monday to Friday. Skills exam results are released within 1-3 business days. Check your TMU account rather than waiting for a call from the test site.
Certification is valid for 2 years. To renew, you submit signed proof of at least 200 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related work under the direction of a licensed nurse during those 24 months. A renewal filed 1 day to 6 months late costs a $40 late fee. If your certificate has been expired for 6-24 months, you must retake both exams for $110.
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