Connecticut CNA exam-day guide
Connecticut CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. The name must match the name on your registry/testing registration exactly - if your name recently changed, bring documentation and confirm with the provider how to handle it.
Test appointment confirmation / admission letter
Print or save the confirmation from the testing provider showing your test date, time, location, and candidate ID. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Your provider's candidate handbook / skills checklist
Bring the state-approved skills list and candidate handbook you received in your nurse aide training program so you can review the exact steps and critical (automatically failing) elements before you are called in.
Watch with a second hand (if permitted)
Some candidates use a watch with a sweep second hand for counting pulse and respirations. Confirm with your testing provider whether a watch is allowed in the testing room or whether timing is provided by the evaluator.
Two or more No. 2 pencils and a black or blue pen
Bring extra writing instruments in case the written (knowledge) portion is administered on paper. Confirm with the provider whether the written test is paper-based or computer-based at your site.
Clean, comfortable clinical attire
Wear scrubs or the uniform approved by your program: clean, modest, and easy to move in for skills such as bed baths, transfers, and positioning. Avoid loose jewelry, lanyards, and anything that could dangle near a resident-care task.
Closed-toe, non-skid shoes
You will be on your feet and moving around a simulated care area. Non-skid soles and closed toes are the safe, standard choice; confirm with your program if they require a specific shoe color or style.
Short, clean fingernails and hair secured
Nails should be short and clean with no polish or artificial nails, and long hair should be tied back. These are standard infection-control expectations and are also graded within hand hygiene and glove use.
Water and a light snack for after the test
Testing sessions can run long with check-in and waiting. Keep food and drink in a bag and out of the testing room; confirm with the provider where personal items may be stored.
Directions, parking information, and a backup transportation plan
Locate the exact building and room in advance and identify parking or transit options. Plan to arrive well before your scheduled time so traffic or check-in delays do not cost you your slot.
A one-page personal review sheet
Write out the skills you find hardest (for example hand hygiene, measuring blood pressure, perineal care, transfer with gait belt) plus the measurement ranges and safety points you tend to forget. Review it before check-in, then put it away.
Contact number for the testing provider
Save the provider's phone number and your program instructor's number in your phone in case of a last-minute problem such as a car issue, illness, or a closed building. Confirm the provider's policy for rescheduling or late arrival.
Plan the day
Re-read your provider's candidate handbook and the official skills checklist. Confirm your appointment date, time, address, room number, and reporting time, and confirm which vendor administers the Connecticut test if you are unsure. Confirm the ID requirement and whether a watch, pencils, or printed confirmation are allowed.
Do two or three full practice run-throughs of the skills you find hardest, out loud, in the order you would perform them, including hand hygiene at the start and end. Practice announcing each step clearly if your provider requires verbalization.
Check your transportation and parking plan and decide what time you will leave. Confirm your uniform and shoes are clean and ready. Get your usual sleep - do not plan to cram the night before.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, handbook and review sheet, pencils and pen, watch if permitted, water and snack. Lay out your uniform and shoes.
Do a light review only - measurement ranges, safety points, and the sequence of skills that involve positioning, transfers, and elimination care. Then stop and go to bed at a normal hour.
Eat a normal breakfast and drink water, but avoid heavy caffeine if you are already nervous. Recheck the address, room, and reporting time, and leave with a buffer for traffic and check-in.
Arrive early enough to check in calmly. Keep your phone silenced and stored as the provider directs. Use the waiting time for quiet review, not for last-minute conversations about the test.
Read each question fully and answer the safety-first option when two choices seem plausible. If the test is computer-based, confirm with the proctor how to flag and revisit questions. Do not rush the last questions.
Listen to the evaluator's instructions and read or listen to the scenario before you begin. Perform hand hygiene before and after care, gather supplies, explain what you are doing to the 'resident', and state clearly when you have finished each skill.
If you are unsure whether a step is required in your state's checklist, ask the evaluator for clarification about the instruction, not about how to perform the skill. Follow the checklist you were taught rather than improvising.
Follow the provider's instructions about receiving results and about how results are submitted to the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry. Ask what to do if you need to retake one portion.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID with a name that matches your registration. If you arrive without acceptable ID, you may be turned away - confirm the exact ID policy with your testing provider before test day.
Arrive at or before your reporting time. Late-arrival and no-show policies vary, so confirm in advance whether you would be refused entry or charged a fee, and call the provider immediately if something goes wrong.
Keep phones, smart watches, and notes out of the testing room unless the provider explicitly permits them. Silence and store devices as directed; unauthorized devices can end your session.
Treat the evaluator and any simulated residents with professional courtesy. You are being observed on safety, infection control, and communication as well as on task steps - arguing with or coaching from the evaluator is not allowed.
Certain steps are designated as critical elements, and missing one can fail the entire skill regardless of how well the rest went. Confirm which steps are critical in your provider's candidate handbook and treat hand hygiene, resident identification, and safety checks as non-negotiable.
Passing typically requires passing both the knowledge and the skills portions, and there may be limits on how many attempts or how much time you have to complete both. Confirm the current rules and retake process with your provider or the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry.
Breaks and restroom access are controlled by the testing staff during the session. Ask a proctor if you need to step out, and confirm the provider's break policy if you have a medical or accessibility need.
Do not share, photograph, or discuss specific test items or scenarios afterward. If you believe a testing condition was unfair, ask the provider about their appeals or incident-report process rather than raising it with the evaluator during the test.