California CNA

It combines a written knowledge test covering nursing assistant theory with a practical skills demonstration in which you perform assigned procedures on a person or a simulated resident while an evaluator observes. We could not confirm the current item count, time limit, or skills list from CDPH's page, so verify format specifics directly with CDPH before test day.

The knowledge portion is mostly recall and scenario judgment, and most candidates who prepare steadily clear it. The practical portion is where people lose points, usually for skipped hand hygiene, missing safety checks, or leaving a resident unattended mid-procedure rather than for lack of knowledge.

We do not publish a retake policy because CDPH's certification page did not load when we checked it, and we will not guess at waiting periods or fees. Ask your training program or check the CDPH Nurse Assistant Certification page for the current retake and re-examination rules before you sit.

We deliberately leave this blank. The CDPH page we retrieved returned a page-not-found error, so we have no verified item count or time limit to report. Any number you see elsewhere should be checked against CDPH or your testing vendor's current candidate handbook before you rely on it.

We cannot state a passing score. We found no verified figure in the source we retrieved, and carrying an older or remembered number forward risks misleading you. Confirm the current passing standard through CDPH or the testing vendor's candidate handbook, since scoring methods differ between written and skills components.

Start with infection control and safety, because hand hygiene, body mechanics, and hazard awareness are scored inside almost every other task. Then take personal care skills, basic nursing skills, and nutrition and hydration. Finish with resident rights, mental health and social needs, and communication, which are largely scenario-based and reward practice with judgment questions.

Rushing the skills station. Typical deductions include not washing hands or not stating that you would, failing to identify the resident and explain the procedure, skipping privacy measures such as closing the curtain, forgetting to lock wheels or lower the bed, and omitting to report changes. Narrate each step and pause at checkpoints.

No. This is an independent study platform with no official affiliation, endorsement, or partnership with the California Department of Public Health. Our questions are original and written from general nursing assistant practice standards. Use them as practice, and treat CDPH as the authoritative source for eligibility, fees, scheduling, and certification rules.

We do not state a validity period or renewal requirement here because the CDPH page we retrieved did not load and we found no verified figure. Rules on expiration, renewal windows, and continuing education change over time. Check the current CDPH guidance for your situation rather than relying on what a coworker was told years ago.

No. The question sets work for anyone preparing for a nurse assistant certification exam or refreshing skills before returning to work. Pairing them with hands-on practice in a lab or clinical setting is strongly recommended, since the practical demonstration is scored on technique and sequencing that reading alone will not build.