Study resources

The exam is in English. These are common terms you'll encounter, with their translation and meaning.

On the written exam

• Not reading the full question before answering — picking the first option that 'sounds right' without ruling out the others.
• Leaving questions blank because you got stuck — it's better to answer with your best guess and keep moving.
• Spending too much time on one hard question and running out of time for the rest.
• Confusing the CNA's scope of practice — choosing answers that involve tasks only licensed nurses can do (medications, diagnoses).
• Arriving tired from not sleeping well the night before — fatigue affects your focus.

On the practical skills exam

• Forgetting to wash your hands at the start and/or end of the procedure — it's one of the most closely watched steps.
• Not explaining to the resident what you're about to do before starting.
• Not verifying the resident's identity before beginning the skill.
• Skipping steps out of nerves, even when you know them — practicing out loud helps you remember the order.
• Not protecting the resident's privacy (leaving the door open, not covering them).
• Forgetting to leave the resident in a safe, comfortable position, with the bed at a low height, when finished.
• Not asking for help when needed, putting the resident or yourself at risk.
• Working so fast out of nerves that you forget to say the steps out loud, which the evaluator often needs to hear.

• Practice a little every day instead of cramming the night before — spaced repetition sticks better in memory.
• Practice skills out loud, narrating each step just like you will on exam day.
• Use the timed mock exam to get used to the real time pressure you'll face.
• Focus on your weak areas using your progress tracking, instead of only reviewing what you already know.
• Sleep well the night before your exam and arrive with plenty of time to spare, without rushing.
• On practical exam day, speak out loud explaining what you're doing — many evaluators need to hear you say the steps, not just see them.
• If you get nervous, breathe and take a moment — it's okay to pause briefly to remember the next step.
• Read each question twice before answering on the written exam.

You have 6 months of access — you don't need to study it all at once. Here are some ways to make progress without burning out.

• Study in short 15-20 minute sessions instead of long blocks that are hard to sustain with a full-time job.
• Use dead time: on the bus, during your lunch break, standing in line — a few practice questions fit into almost any moment.
• Set a small, realistic goal each week (like 'finish one question category') instead of one huge goal for the whole month.
• Mentally review skills by narrating the steps while doing chores — you don't always need to be sitting down with the material open.
• Use your progress tracking to focus on your weak areas instead of reviewing everything equally — you'll move faster with the time you have.
• Let your family or roommates know your set study times, even if they're short, so they can respect that time.
• Give yourself permission to rest one day a week — a sustainable pace beats burning out in two weeks and giving up.

Exact details vary a bit by state and exam provider (Prometric, Credentia, Pearson VUE, etc.), but here's generally how it works.

If you fail only one part (written or practical), you usually only need to retake that part, not the whole exam. Confirm the exact details for your state with your training program or the official exam provider.

We're not going to give you a specific address here, and that's on purpose: testing centers — and even which company runs the exam — vary by state and can change year to year, so the only safe way to get it right is to check your state's official source, not a list that can go stale.

Additional official help: every state also has a Board of Nursing that oversees this process, in case you need to confirm something directly with the state authority.

Caring for others is beautiful work, but it's also exhausting — physically and emotionally. Feeling stressed, burned out, or even deeply sad in this job is more common than it seems, and it doesn't mean you're not cut out for it.