UNAR Practice Test

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.

UNAR Exam at a Glance

What changed for UNAR in 2026

• Oct 26, 2026: Testing window changed to 1 year after training, no extensions (previously attempt window: 1 year and 3 attempts per exam after training completion).^[3]
• Oct 26, 2026: Validity changed to 2 years (previously expired cert: 0-6 months late: renew with $40 late fee; 6-24 months: retest both exams; 24+ months: repeat NATCEP training).^[4]
• Oct 26, 2026: Renewal changed to 200 paid hours under a licensed nurse in 24 months (previously renewal cycle: every 2 years; 200 paid hours of nursing/nursing-related work under a licensed nurse in prior 24 months (42 CFR 483.156; Utah Admin Code R432-45)).^[3]

What the UNAR is and how it works

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.

• Written Knowledge Exam: 75 multiple-choice questions, with up to 2 hours to finish. You need 75%, which means at least 57 correct answers.
• Manual Skills Exam: 5 skills performed within 45 minutes. Each skill needs a score of at least 80%, and you must get 100% of the key steps.

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.

UNAR content outline and where to practise each area

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.

Worked examples: how to reason through UNAR 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 nursing assistant is caring for a patient who speaks limited English. The BEST action is to:

1. Speak very slowly and loudly to help the patient understand
2. Use gestures and pictures only, avoiding all speech
3. Request a qualified interpreter or language assistance service
4. Ask another patient in the room to translate

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.

Example 2

Question: How often should a bedridden patient be repositioned to help prevent pressure injuries?

1. Every 15 minutes
2. Every 2 hours
3. Every 6 hours
4. Once per shift

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.

Example 3

Question: A nursing assistant finishes emptying a bedpan and then needs to assist with oral care. When should gloves be changed?

1. After completing both tasks to conserve supplies
2. Before assisting with oral care — between tasks on the same patient
3. Only if the patient has a known infection
4. Only if visible soiling is present on the gloves

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.

How to use these practice tests

1. Start with the official handbook. Download the current UNAR candidate handbook and read the written exam rules and the skills checklists. The evaluator scores you on the steps listed there.
2. Take a baseline test. Begin with the general UNAR practice test to find your weaker areas.
3. Work through each content area. Use the table above to choose the set that matches each official area. After each set, read every explanation, including the ones for questions you got right, and write down the rule behind every miss.
4. Go back to weak spots. Repeat your lowest-scoring sets, such as infection control or resident rights, until you are scoring above the 75% passing mark.
5. Practise skills out loud. For the manual skills exam, rehearse each skill with a partner and name each key step as you do it. Then time a full run of 5 skills against the 45-minute limit. Missing a single key step fails that skill.
6. Before test day. Log in to TMU to confirm your test site and time, and do a final mixed review of your notes.

Sources & last verified

1. Utah Nursing Assistant Registry — number of questions, time limit, passing score, exam fee (official source). “The written knowledge exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions.” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
2. Utah Nursing Assistant Registry — exam fee, retake fee (official source). “Expired Certificate Competency Exam Fee $110” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
3. Utah Nursing Assistant Registry — retake policy, renewal, testing window (official source). “If you are unable to pass either exam after three attempts, you will need to repeat a UNAR-approved NATCEP program. No extensions are given to…” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
4. Utah Nursing Assistant Registry — validity (official source). “Your certification is valid for 2 years.” Verified Oct 26, 2026.

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