DC CNA exam-day guide
DC CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Unexpired government-issued photo ID
Bring an original driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. The name must match your registration exactly; if your name has changed, contact the testing provider before test day. Confirm which ID forms are accepted.
Admission/authorization document or scheduling confirmation
Bring whatever eligibility or scheduling notice your testing provider sent after your application was approved by the DC Board of Nursing. Confirm whether a printed copy is required or whether the confirmation is tracked electronically.
Your candidate/eligibility number
Write it down and keep it in your bag (not in the testing room unless permitted). You may need it at check-in or when requesting your score report.
Analog watch with a second hand
Useful for counting pulse and respirations during the skills portion. Smartwatches and phones are almost always prohibited in the testing area, so bring a simple watch. Confirm with the provider whether a watch is permitted during the skills demonstration.
Clean scrubs/uniform and closed-toe non-slip shoes
Dress as you would for clinical work: neat, comfortable, hair secured, nails short and clean, no dangling jewelry or false/acrylic nails if your program prohibits them. Confirm the provider's dress code, since some test sites have specific requirements.
Black or blue ink pens
Bring two pens in case one fails. Confirm whether the written portion is administered on paper or on a computer at your site.
Review your training program's skills checklists
Study the step-by-step procedures you were taught, including the order of steps and the safety and infection-control steps that must never be skipped. Use your program's materials, not the testing company's, as your study source.
Practice the skills out loud with a partner
Rehearse your opening and closing routine - hand hygiene, identifying the patient, explaining the procedure, providing privacy, safety checks, and reporting - until it is automatic. Saying steps aloud as you perform them helps evaluators see what you did.
Confirm the test center address, parking, and arrival time
Do a route check the day before and add buffer time for traffic, security screening, and check-in. Arrival windows and late-arrival policies vary - confirm them with the provider.
Check current site health/screening requirements
Some test centers have required masking, symptom screening, or temperature checks. Confirm the current requirements with the provider before you travel.
Bring a light snack and water for after the test
Food and drink are usually not allowed in the testing room, but having something for afterward helps if the two portions run long. Confirm where personal items must be stored.
Plan the day
Re-read your program's skills sheets and identify your three weakest skills. Practice those aloud, in order, with a partner acting as the patient. Review hand hygiene, vital signs, and any skill that requires measuring or recording, since these commonly appear on skills evaluations. Confirm your appointment time, the test center address, and the ID you will bring. Set out your uniform and shoes so nothing needs to be washed the morning of.
Do one full walk-through of your skills without notes, then stop studying. Charge your phone but plan to leave it in your bag or locker at the site. Pack your ID, admission document, pens, watch, and uniform in one place. Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol, and get a full night's sleep. Set two alarms and plan to arrive earlier than the check-in time.
Eat a real breakfast and limit caffeine if it makes you jittery. Dress in your uniform with hair secured and jewelry removed. Arrive early, allow time for check-in and ID verification, and use the restroom before you are seated. Take a few slow breaths and remind yourself that the skills are the same ones you practiced in training.
Read each question completely before answering, watch for words like 'first,' 'best,' and 'except,' and choose the safest, most resident-centered answer. Answer every question; there is generally no penalty for guessing, but confirm the scoring rules with your provider. If you are unsure of a term, use the process of elimination. Ask the proctor only for procedural clarification, not for help with content.
Before each skill, take a breath and mentally run the sequence. Announce what you are doing, perform hand hygiene at the start and end, verify the resident's identity, explain the procedure, provide privacy, and use proper body mechanics. Narrate safety checks such as bed height, call light, and side rails. If you make a mistake, keep going calmly rather than stopping. Confirm the exact number of skills and any mandatory skills with your provider before test day.
Ask the proctor how and when results are released, and keep your score report. If you did not pass one portion, ask which portion and what the retake and fee policy is. Do not discuss specific exam content with other candidates.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired photo ID; the name must match your registration. If it does not, contact the testing provider before test day rather than at check-in. Confirm accepted ID forms with the provider.
Phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials are not allowed in the testing room. Store personal items where the proctor directs and follow all proctor instructions immediately.
Perform hand hygiene at the beginning and end of every skill and whenever contamination occurs. Omitting infection-control steps is one of the most common reasons candidates lose points - confirm which steps your provider treats as critical.
Treat the manikin or partner as a real resident: identify the person, explain what you are doing, provide privacy, and never skip safety steps such as lowering the bed, raising side rails, or placing the call light within reach.
You generally must pass both the written and the skills portions to be certified, and scores are usually reported per portion. Confirm the passing standard and whether portions can be retaken separately with your provider.
Break and restroom policies differ between the written and skills portions. Ask the proctor before the test begins rather than leaving the room unannounced.
Late arrival, missed appointments, and rescheduling can affect your fee and your eligibility window. Confirm the provider's late-arrival and rescheduling policy in advance.
Do not share, photograph, or discuss exam questions or skill scenarios. Exam content is confidential, and discussing it can invalidate your result.