Hawaii CNA exam-day guide
Hawaii CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with signature
Bring the exact ID your testing vendor requires (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID). The name must match your registration; if it doesn't, call the vendor before test day to correct it rather than waiting until check-in.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save your appointment confirmation, candidate/eligibility number, and the test site address and phone number. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Comfortable, clinical-appropriate clothing
Loose short-sleeve top and pants you can move and bend in. You will be performing skills on a partner or mannequin, so avoid tight sleeves, long dangling items, and anything that restricts kneeling, lifting, or range of motion.
Closed-toe, flat, non-skid shoes
Safe footwear for transfers and ambulation practice. Avoid heels, open toes, clogs that slip off, and new shoes that will blister during a long session.
Analog watch with a second hand
Some vendors require a manual watch for counting respirations and pulses and prohibit smartwatches or phones in the testing room. Confirm with your provider whether a watch is permitted or whether a timer is supplied.
Short, clean, natural nails
Trim nails short and remove polish and artificial nails before test day; nail care is commonly evaluated or observed during hand hygiene. Confirm the specific nail and jewelry policy with your training program or vendor.
Minimal jewelry and secured hair
Plain wedding band only is the usual standard; stud earrings and other jewelry may need to be removed. Tie back long hair so it does not fall forward during skills. Confirm the exact dress code with your provider.
Know your skill checklist expectations
Review the skills list published by your training program and the vendor, and rehearse the opening and closing steps (hand hygiene, privacy, explain procedure, safety check, call light, bed low) that apply across nearly every skill.
Plan arrival 30 minutes early
Arrive early enough to park, find the building, and complete check-in. Confirm your exact report time and the site's late-arrival policy with the provider, since many vendors deny entry after a cutoff.
Leave valuables and study materials at home or in the car
Phones, notes, and smart devices are typically not allowed in the testing area. Confirm the site's policy on lockers, personal items, and whether a phone must be powered off.
Eat and hydrate beforehand
Eat a normal meal and drink water before you arrive; testing sessions can run long and food is usually not permitted in the testing room. Confirm break policy with the provider.
Bring a pen (optional, needs_review)
Some sites provide all materials and prohibit bringing your own; others ask you to bring a pen for sign-in paperwork. Mark as needs_review and confirm with your testing vendor.
Plan the day
Re-read the vendor's candidate handbook and skill checklist. Confirm your appointment date, time, and address, and verify the name on your registration matches your photo ID. Practice each skill aloud in order, including the hand-hygiene and safety steps, on a friend or a pillow/mannequin.
Rehearse timing: most skills are scored on completing critical steps within a set window. Practice performing the full sequence without skipping steps rather than racing, and identify the two or three skills you are least confident in for extra repetition.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, analog watch, shoes, and clothing. Lay out clothes you have already worn and can move in. Check the weather and your route, and confirm parking or transport.
Do a final light review of the skill steps and the critical (automatic-fail) elements for each skill. Stop studying by early evening, eat a normal dinner, and get a full night's sleep. Avoid cramming new material.
Set two alarms, charge your phone, and screenshot the site address and phone number. Trim nails, remove polish, and set out your ID and confirmation by the door.
Eat breakfast, hydrate, and dress in your laid-out clothing and shoes. Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Leave your phone and notes in the car or in the designated locker.
Present your ID and confirmation, follow sign-in instructions, and listen carefully to the proctor's orientation. Ask a clarifying question only if instructions are genuinely unclear.
Read or listen to each skill prompt fully before acting. Announce your steps out loud where the format allows, verbalize safety checks, and never skip hand hygiene. If you realize you missed a step, correct it if the format permits rather than freezing.
Manage your time per skill, keep the scene safe (bed low, call light in reach, brakes locked), and treat the mannequin or partner as a real resident-explain each procedure and protect privacy every time.
Turn in any materials, collect your belongings, and ask the proctor how and when results are reported and what the retake process is if you do not pass.
Rules to check
Bring photo ID that matches your registration name exactly; if your name has changed, resolve it with the vendor before test day or you may be turned away.
Follow the vendor's dress and hygiene code: short natural nails, no polish or artificial nails, hair secured, minimal jewelry, closed-toe non-skid shoes. Confirm specifics with your provider.
Phones, smartwatches, and study materials are generally not permitted in the testing area; power devices off and store them as directed, and confirm the site's personal-item policy in advance.
Arrive by the required report time. Many vendors deny entry to late candidates and require a new appointment and fee; confirm the late-arrival and rescheduling policy with your provider.
Perform skills exactly as taught in your approved training program, including hand hygiene, privacy, explanation, and safety steps. Critical steps that are missed may cause automatic failure of that skill-confirm the critical-step list with your provider.
Do not coach or accept coaching from other candidates during the exam, and do not discuss skill scenarios with anyone in the waiting area.
If you need a break, water, or an accommodation, ask the proctor before the test begins; do not leave the testing area without permission. Confirm break and accommodation policies with your provider.
If you believe a testing condition was unfair or an error occurred, note it with the proctor immediately and follow the vendor's appeal or grievance process afterward.