CNA Certification Test – The Ultimate Test To Become A CNA

Nursing is one of the fastest growing professions in the health care industry. Nurses are the backbone for the smooth and efficient running of any health care organizations. Due to the growing elderly population and the awareness of better health care, the demands for nurses are on a rapid growth. Certified Nursing Assistant or CNA is one such entry level position into the growing health care field.

Beginning a career as a certified nursing assistant CNA, you at the very first need to earn CNA certification. Earning CNA certification indicates patients, employer and others that you are trained, competent and qualified to take on the job of a certified nursing assistant CNA. However earning CNA certification is possible only after you complete the state approved CNA training program and successfully pass the CNA certification exam.


Also referred to as the Nurse Aide Assessment Examination and the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program NNAAP, CNA certification exam is the final test that a nursing assistant student must pass in order to become eligible to work as a certified nursing assistant CNA and be listed on the Nurse Aide Registry of a particular state that you are working in.

You must first complete the state approved CNA training programs in order to be eligible to sit and take the CNA certification test. Many vocational schools, community colleges, health care institutions, universities, nursing homes, long term care unit, hospital and other medical training schools provide CNA training programs to the students aspiring to become a certified nursing assistant CNA.

Depending upon the state requirements; the duration of CNA training programs may vary from 6 to 12 weeks. Federal government require that an aspiring CNA student to spend at least 75 hours of training of which approximately 51 hours of classroom lectures and remaining 24 hours of clinical hands-on instructions in actual health care setting under the direct supervision of registered nurse RN.


Courses in the training program include subjects like human anatomy, physiology, nutrition, patient care, medical terminology, medical ethics, psychology, communication, patient right and infection control. Students during training period learn about the basic CNA duties like bathing, feeding, brushing, dressing and moving the patient. Furthermore they are taught to take the vital signs like blood pressure level, blood sugar level, temperature, and heartbeat and pulse rate.

Once you complete the training, you are eligible to sit for the state CNA certification test. The exam consists of two parts; a written component and the clinical hands-on demonstration. The written exam checks the knowledge and understanding of student and the hands-on portion check the ability and skills to perform the task. You must pass both the exams to be certified and qualified to work as a certified nursing assistant CNA in any part of the country.