California CNA exam-day guide
California CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with your signature
A valid, unexpired driver's license, state ID, or passport. Your name on the ID should match the name on your registration; if your name has changed, confirm in advance with your provider which documents are accepted.
Your exam authorization or confirmation notice
The email or letter naming your test date, time, and location. Some providers require it printed, others accept it on a phone at check-in - confirm which, and print it if you are unsure.
A wristwatch with a second hand
Useful for counting a pulse and respirations during the skills portion. Many testing sites now have a visible clock, so confirm whether a watch is required or simply recommended.
Comfortable scrubs or uniform and closed-toe non-skid shoes
You will be bending, moving, and standing for a long period. Dress as you would for clinical work, since the skills portion is evaluated as if you were at the bedside.
Short, clean natural nails and no artificial nails
Infection-control criteria are scored during skills. Keep nails short and unpolished or lightly polished, and confirm any jewelry limits with your provider in advance.
A pen
You may need it for sign-in paperwork or a confidentiality attestation. Confirm whether the site supplies writing materials; do not count on it.
Leave your phone, smartwatch, and smart glasses at home or in the car
Electronic devices are almost always prohibited in the testing room. If you must bring a phone, expect to turn it off and store it as staff direct - do not keep it on your person.
Plan to arrive early - aim for 30 minutes before your appointment
Check-in, ID verification, and orientation take time, and late arrivals may be turned away. Confirm the exact reporting time and any late-arrival rule with your provider.
Know your route, parking, and backup transportation
Drive the route or check transit options the day before. Note the building name and room number from your confirmation notice, since testing sites are often inside larger buildings.
Review your training program's skills checklists
Practice out loud, in order, on a pillow or a partner - hand hygiene, privacy, safety checks, and explaining each step to the 'resident' are scored just like the procedure itself.
Eat a normal meal and take your usual medications
Expect to be on site for several hours. Bring a water bottle and a snack for after the exam; confirm whether food or drink is allowed in the waiting area.
Know your provider's contact number
Save the testing vendor's phone number and your training program's number in case of an emergency, illness, or a schedule problem on exam day.
Plan the day
Re-read your confirmation notice end to end: date, time, address, room, what to bring, and any rules about electronics or dress. Call the provider if anything is unclear or if your ID name does not match your registration.
Do two or three full timed run-throughs of the skill sheets from your training program, narrating each step as you would to a resident. Focus on the steps people lose points on: hand hygiene, privacy, explaining, safety, and final positioning.
Review the written portion's main topic areas - infection control, safety and emergency response, resident rights, personal care, nutrition and hydration, and body mechanics - rather than trying to memorize new material.
Confirm transportation and parking, and decide what you will wear. Set two alarms for exam morning and tell someone your schedule so they can check on you.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation notice, watch, pen, water, snack, and a light layer. Lay out your clothes and shoes by the door.
Stop studying by early evening. Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time - sleep matters more than one more review pass.
Eat breakfast, take your usual medications, and leave earlier than you think you need to. Aim to be at the building 30 minutes before your reporting time.
Skip strong perfume, cologne, or lotion - some candidates are asked to remove scents for infection-control reasons - and leave jewelry beyond a plain band at home.
Follow staff instructions exactly, present your ID and confirmation notice, sign whatever attestation is required, and store all prohibited items where directed.
Read each question fully and answer every item; there is usually no penalty for guessing, so never leave a blank. Flag uncertain items and return to them if time allows.
Listen to the entire instruction before you begin, take a breath, and work at a steady pace - not fast. Announce hand hygiene, knock and identify yourself, explain each step, provide privacy, and check safety as you go.
If you draw a skill you did not practice, do not panic: perform it in a safe, logical order and narrate what you are doing. Safety, privacy, and communication are scored even on unfamiliar skills.
Ask staff when and how results are released and what the retake process is if you do not pass. Note the answers before you leave the building.
Rules to check
Bring only what the provider permits into the testing room. Phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices are almost always prohibited and may be grounds for dismissal from the exam.
Your ID must be valid and unexpired, and the name should match your registration. If your documents do not match, you may be denied entry - confirm the provider's policy before exam day rather than at the door.
You may ask the evaluator to repeat or clarify the instructions for a skill. You may not ask for clinical hints, coaching, or confirmation that what you are doing is correct.
Do not discuss, photograph, record, or share exam questions or skill scenarios with anyone. You will likely be asked to sign a confidentiality or honesty attestation at check-in.
You are generally expected to remain in the testing area for the duration. Confirm the provider's policy on restroom breaks and whether any break is allowed during the skills portion.
Treat the mannequin or practice partner as a real resident at all times: explain what you are doing, protect privacy, ensure safety, and use proper infection-control practices. Evaluators score these behaviors, not just the physical steps.
Each portion of the exam is scored independently on a pass/fail basis, and you generally must pass both the written and the skills portions to be certified. Confirm the exact scoring and retake rules with your provider and with the California Department of Public Health.
What you may and may not bring into the skills room, and how retakes are scheduled and paid for, varies by testing vendor and site - confirm those details with the provider named on your authorization notice rather than assuming.