Kansas CNA exam-day guide
Kansas CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Two forms of current, valid identification
Bring government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver's license or state ID) plus a second ID if your provider requires it. Confirm with the provider which specific documents are accepted and whether the name must match your registration exactly; a name mismatch is the most common reason candidates are turned away.
Your test appointment/registration confirmation
Print or save the confirmation, authorization-to-test notice, or admission letter you received when you scheduled. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a phone screenshot is acceptable.
Exact test site address, room, arrival time, and parking plan
Confirm the location and check-in time with the provider in advance - sites are often at training centers or long-term care facilities that are hard to find. Do a route check (or drive it) so you are not navigating on the morning of the exam.
Clean, professional attire and closed-toe non-slip shoes
Scrubs or a clean uniform are typical. Confirm the provider's dress code in writing. Avoid loose sleeves, dangling jewelry, and long artificial nails - they can interfere with hand hygiene and glove donning during skills.
Short, clean fingernails with no polish or artificial nails
Skills are scored on infection control, and long or polished nails can cost you points on hand hygiene steps. Trim nails short the night before.
A wristwatch with a second hand or a visible seconds display
Several skills require you to count a pulse, count respirations, or time handwashing. Confirm with the provider whether a watch is permitted in the testing room, since some sites restrict personal items or require phones to be stored.
Review the official skills checklist and candidate handbook from your training program
Practice from the same checklist the evaluator will use. Pay special attention to the critical (mandatory) steps - these are the ones that cause automatic failure of a skill if missed.
Rehearse all skills aloud, in order, with a partner
The evaluator scores what you say and do, so narrate: identify the resident, explain the procedure, provide privacy, wash hands, don gloves, and state safety checks. Practice announcing steps you would otherwise do silently.
Practice timing and sequencing without prompts
Run through skills end to end without a checklist in hand. Ask a classmate or instructor to watch for skipped steps such as raising the bed rail, locking wheels, or lowering the bed at the end.
Confirm what happens if you arrive late or miss the appointment
Ask the provider about late-arrival cutoff, rescheduling fees, and no-show policy before exam day.
Plan food, water, and rest for the day before
Eat a normal breakfast and bring a light snack and water for after the test. Avoid heavy caffeine if you get shaky hands - steady hands matter for blood pressure and pulse counts.
Bring a pen or pencil if permitted
Some sites provide all materials and prohibit personal items in the testing room. Confirm with the provider what you may bring to your seat.
Plan the day
Read the official candidate handbook and skills checklist start to finish. Confirm your appointment time, address, ID requirements, and dress code with the provider in writing (email is best). Confirm transportation and, if needed, childcare or work coverage.
Do two full mock run-throughs with a partner, narrating every step. Have the partner mark skipped critical steps. Focus your remaining practice on the two or three skills you are least confident about.
Practice each skill from memory with the checklist face-down. Re-check hand hygiene, glove use, resident identification, privacy, and bed safety steps - these infection-control and safety points appear across nearly every skill.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, watch, pen, snack, water, and clothes/shoes laid out. Charge your phone and confirm your alarm. Do one light review - no cramming new material.
Trim nails, remove nail polish, and set out a clean uniform. Get a full night's sleep; aim for at least 7-8 hours.
Eat breakfast and hydrate. Arrive early - plan to be on site well before your check-in time to allow for parking and sign-in. Confirm the specific early-arrival window with the provider.
Leave non-essential items (study notes, phone, smartwatch) in the car or in the designated storage area if the site requires it. Confirm the site's personal-item rules at check-in.
Present your ID and confirmation, sign in, and listen carefully to the proctor's instructions about the order of the written and skills portions and about breaks.
Read or listen to each skill prompt fully before starting. Take a breath, then narrate each step out loud and in order: identify the resident, explain, provide privacy, hand hygiene, supplies, perform the skill, safety checks, and cleanup.
If you realize you skipped a step, correct it immediately and say so aloud - evaluators typically score the correction, but not if you stay silent.
If you do not understand an instruction, ask the evaluator to repeat the prompt. Ask only about instructions - do not ask whether your technique was correct.
Ask the proctor when and how results will be reported and what the retake process is if you do not pass. Confirm this with the provider, since reporting timelines vary.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID and be ready to show it at check-in. If your name does not match your registration, ask the provider before exam day how to correct it - do not assume you can explain it at the door.
Arrive at the check-in time the provider gives you. Late-arrival and no-show policies differ by site, so confirm the cutoff in advance rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Follow the site's rules for personal items. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials are typically prohibited in the testing room, and unauthorized items can end your exam - confirm the exact list with the provider.
Narrate your actions and speak clearly throughout the skills demonstration, because the evaluator scores observable behaviors. Silence during a step can be scored as a missed step.
Treat the mannequin or simulated resident exactly as a real resident: identify, explain the procedure, provide privacy, and maintain safety at all times. Skipping these counts as errors in professionalism and safety.
Do not coach or assist other candidates. Testing is individual, and speaking to another candidate during the exam may be treated as misconduct.
Ask the proctor about restroom breaks before the exam begins; break policies are usually at the proctor's discretion and may not be allowed during the skills portion. Confirm with the provider.
Understand the scoring model before you arrive: skills are scored against a checklist with critical steps that must be performed correctly, and the written portion is scored separately. Confirm the exact passing standard and retake policy with your provider - do not rely on another candidate's description.