Louisiana CNA exam-day guide
Louisiana CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID you registered with - typically a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. The name on your ID must match your registration exactly. Confirm the list of accepted ID forms with your testing provider before test day; a copy or expired card is generally not accepted.
Test authorization or admission notice
Bring the printed or electronic notice showing your name, test date, time, and site address. You may be asked for it at check-in in addition to your ID.
Comfortable clothing you can move in
Loose or scrub-style clothing that lets you bend, stoop, and reach. You will be demonstrating skills on a manikin or another candidate, so avoid tight skirts, low necklines, or anything that interferes with body mechanics.
Flat, closed-toe, non-skid shoes
You will be on your feet for a long period and will demonstrate transfers and ambulation. Open-back or open-toe shoes are usually not permitted.
Watch with a second hand
You may need to count a pulse and respirations. Confirm with your provider whether a wall clock is provided or whether you must bring your own timing device, and whether a smartwatch is allowed (it usually is not).
Hair secured away from your face
Bring a plain hair tie or clip. Hair that falls forward interferes with hand hygiene and with skills performed close to the manikin.
Short, clean, filed nails
Keep nails short and free of polish, tips, or artificial nails so you can perform hand hygiene and don gloves correctly. Confirm your provider's specific nail and polish rule in advance.
Jewelry removed or minimal
Most providers allow only a plain wedding band. Remove rings, bracelets, and dangling earrings before you arrive; confirm the exact jewelry policy with your provider.
Pen (and pencil if allowed)
You may need one for the written portion, sign-in, or paperwork. Some sites supply materials and prohibit outside items - confirm what is permitted.
Water and a light snack
The testing session can run several hours with limited breaks. Confirm whether food and drink are allowed in the waiting area but not in the testing room.
Arrival plan: route, parking, and entrance
Know exactly where to go and how long it takes to get there. Aim to arrive well before your scheduled time; confirm the required arrival window with your provider.
Plan the day
Reconfirm your test date, time, and site address with your training program or testing provider, and check that the name on your registration matches your photo ID. If it does not match, call the provider immediately - do not wait until test day.
Practice the skills you were taught out loud, in order, using your own checklist. Focus on hand hygiene, privacy, safety, and body mechanics, since those steps are the ones most often missed under pressure.
Do not try to learn brand-new material. Review what you already know, then stop and rest. Sleep is more useful than one more hour of cramming.
Pack your bag: photo ID, authorization notice, watch, pen, and water. Lay out your clothes and shoes so the morning requires no decisions.
Confirm your transportation and travel time, and check the site's website or phone line for any notices about parking, entrance, or schedule changes.
Eat a normal dinner, hydrate, and go to bed at your usual time. Avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine late in the day.
Eat breakfast and arrive early - being rushed is the most common cause of skipped critical steps. Leave your phone and study materials in the car or in whatever secure storage the site provides; confirm their policy at check-in.
Check in at the front desk, present your ID and authorization, and listen carefully to the orientation instructions, including where to wait and how candidates are called.
Listen to each skill prompt in full before you move. If an instruction is genuinely unclear, ask before you begin - but do not ask the evaluator whether a step you performed was correct.
Perform hand hygiene at the start and end of every skill, explain what you are doing to the 'resident,' provide privacy, and use proper body mechanics. Treat the manikin or partner as a real person throughout.
If you realize you skipped a step, keep going and complete the skill. Do not stop, restart, or announce the error. Complete every remaining critical element.
Pace yourself and use the timing device as instructed. Ask about restroom breaks and the session schedule before testing begins; confirm the provider's break policy.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired photo ID. Candidates who cannot present acceptable identification may be turned away - confirm the accepted forms and the consequences of a missing ID with your provider before test day.
Phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials are not allowed in the testing room. Follow the site's secure-storage instructions exactly; do not keep a device in your pocket.
No coaching, signaling, or conversation with other candidates about the skills during the session. Follow the evaluator's directions about when you may talk, and treat any communication during a skill as part of your performance.
Treat the manikin or partner as a real resident: explain each step, provide privacy, ensure safety, and use correct body mechanics. Safety and infection-control errors are treated as critical and can fail a skill.
Use only the equipment and supplies the site provides. Do not bring your own gloves, linens, or devices into the skills area unless the provider tells you to.
Ask about restroom breaks and the overall schedule during orientation. Break policies vary by site, and leaving the testing area without permission may be treated as a conduct issue.
Scoring is based on critical elements within each skill; missing a single critical step can fail that skill and the examination. Confirm the exact passing standard and retake policy with your provider rather than relying on what other candidates tell you.
If you are late, ill, or unable to attend, contact the provider as soon as possible. Rescheduling windows, fees, and no-show rules differ by provider - confirm them in advance and in writing where possible.