CNA Gerontological Nursing exam-day guide
CNA Gerontological Nursing · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission or authorization document
Bring the testing vendor's admission letter or authorization email if one was issued to you. Confirm with the provider which document, if any, is required at check-in.
Two forms of acceptable identification
Bring unexpired government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport. Confirm with the provider which ID types and how many are accepted, and check that the name matches your registration exactly.
Registration confirmation and test code
Have your candidate ID, registration number, or test code available. Confirm with the provider how it is delivered and whether a printed copy is needed.
Know the test format and timing
Review the official candidate handbook from your testing provider for the number of questions, time limit, and whether the written and skills portions are separate appointments. Confirm all specifics with the provider rather than relying on secondhand reports.
Skills portion supplies
If a clinical skills demonstration is part of your exam, confirm with the provider what is supplied at the site (gloves, linens, equipment) and what, if anything, you must bring. Wear clean, professional clothing and closed-toe shoes.
Watch or timing device
A simple wristwatch can help you pace yourself if the room lacks a visible clock. Confirm with the provider whether personal items are permitted at the workstation.
Arrival plan and contact number
Map the route, account for traffic and parking, and save the testing center phone number. Confirm with the provider the recommended arrival time and late-arrival policy.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Sleep well the night before and eat a normal meal. Bring water or a snack only if the provider allows items in the waiting area.
Personal item plan
Plan where your phone, bag, and coat will go. Most sites require them to be stored; confirm with the provider whether lockers are available or you should leave valuables at home.
Review plan for high-frequency topics
Focus last-minute review on safety, infection control, mobility and falls, skin care, nutrition and hydration, elimination, and communication with older adults. Use your own notes and course materials.
Emergency backup contact
Have a phone number for the testing center or your program coordinator in case of illness, delay, or a scheduling problem. Confirm with the provider who to call and when.
Read the candidate agreement in advance
Review the testing provider's rules on conduct, prohibited items, and scoring before test day so nothing at check-in is a surprise. Confirm any unclear point with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment time, location, and required documents with the provider. Re-read the official candidate handbook sections on format, scoring, and conduct. Print or save your admission materials and check that your ID name matches your registration. Do a focused review of safety and infection-control principles, then stop adding new material.
Do a timed practice set in your weakest two content areas, then review the rationales using your own notes. Practice the sequence for common skills if your exam includes a demonstration, talking each step through aloud. Confirm your transportation and parking plan.
Pack your ID, admission materials, watch, and any permitted supplies in one place. Lay out clean, professional clothing and closed-toe shoes. Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol, set two alarms, and get a full night of sleep. Do light review only, such as a one-page safety checklist.
Eat breakfast and hydrate normally. Arrive at the recommended time, allowing extra buffer for parking and check-in. Leave phones and valuables at home or stored as directed. Use the restroom before check-in. Stay calm and avoid last-minute cramming with other candidates.
Read each question completely and identify what is being asked before looking at options. For priority questions, apply safety first: address immediate threats, then comfort, then routine care. For skills, state each step clearly and narrate safety checks such as hand hygiene, privacy, and identification. Watch your pacing so you leave time to review flagged items, and use remaining time to check that no question was left blank if the format requires an answer.
Follow the provider's instructions on when and how results are released. Do not discuss specific exam content with others. If you did not pass, request your score report and use it to plan a retake, confirming retake timing and fees with the provider.
Rules to check
Bring identification that exactly matches your registered name, and confirm with the provider which ID types and how many are accepted before test day.
Arrive at the time the provider recommends. Late arrival may result in forfeiture of your appointment or fee; confirm the late-arrival policy with the provider.
Follow all directions from staff about personal items. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags are generally prohibited in the testing area; confirm storage options with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates about exam content during or after the test. Sharing or soliciting specific questions violates testing integrity rules.
Ask the provider in advance about break policy, accommodations, and whether you may leave the room during the test. Do not assume a break is available.
Understand how your exam is scored before test day. Confirm with the provider whether scoring is pass or fail, how the written and skills portions are weighted, and when results are released.
If you need testing accommodations, request them well before your appointment and confirm approval with the provider. Do not expect accommodations to be arranged on test day.
If you feel ill or cannot attend, contact the provider as early as possible to ask about rescheduling. Confirm any fee or timing consequences with the provider rather than assuming.