NASC CRNFA exam-day guide
NASC CRNFA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your application. Confirm with the provider which specific ID forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Authorization or scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your test date, time, and test-center location or online proctoring link. Confirm with the provider how and when your admission document is issued.
Know your credential and exam code
The CRNFA (Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant) credential is administered by the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI). Verify the current exam name, code, and eligibility requirements directly with CCI before test day.
Review the current candidate handbook
Download the handbook from the certifying body's official site and read the sections on scheduling, rescheduling, cancellation, test-center procedures, and scoring. Policies change; rely on the current edition only.
Test-center logistics plan
Confirm the exact address, parking or transit options, and arrival time. Aim to arrive early; confirm with the provider the latest arrival time after which you may be turned away.
Permitted-item check
Most testing vendors prohibit personal items in the testing room and provide lockers. Confirm with the provider what, if anything, you may bring to your seat, and plan to leave valuables at home.
Accessibility or accommodation approval
If you requested accommodations, bring the approval documentation and confirm with the provider how it will be applied on test day.
Study materials kept out of the testing room
Leave notes, textbooks, smart devices, and watches outside the testing area. Confirm with the provider which devices are prohibited.
Rest and fuel plan
Plan a normal night's sleep, a light meal, and hydration before the exam. Avoid new caffeine amounts or unfamiliar foods on test day.
Content review plan for the final week
Focus on high-yield domains: perioperative assessment, intraoperative first-assisting technique, hemostasis and wound closure, suturing, and postoperative management. Use your own notes and the current exam blueprint.
Practice under timed conditions
Complete at least one full-length timed practice set in the final week to calibrate pacing. Do not rely on recalled questions from any source.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the provider's contact number for scheduling problems and identify a backup transportation option. Confirm with the provider how to handle an unexpected absence or technical failure.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment date, time, and location or proctoring link. Re-read the candidate handbook sections on ID, prohibited items, and scoring. Stop introducing new study material; consolidate high-yield perioperative and first-assistant content you already know.
Complete one timed practice set and review only your incorrect answers for patterns, such as misreading the question stem or missing a priority action. Write a one-page summary of key safety and priority principles to review, then set it aside.
Check transportation and parking or test your computer, camera, microphone, and internet if proctoring remotely. Confirm with the provider the technical requirements and what to do if the connection fails.
Lay out your ID, admission confirmation, and any approved accommodation documents. Charge devices, set two alarms, and note the arrival time. Review your one-page summary briefly, then stop studying.
Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Confirm your wake-up plan and transportation.
Eat a light breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive early. Leave prohibited items at home or in your vehicle. Keep the pre-exam review brief and calm.
Present your ID and confirmation, follow staff or proctor instructions, store personal items as directed, and use the restroom before entering. Confirm with the provider whether a tutorial or nondisclosure agreement appears before the exam begins.
Read each question stem carefully and identify what is being asked before looking at the options. Answer every question; there is no penalty for guessing unless the provider states otherwise. Flag uncertain items and return to them if the platform allows review.
Take scheduled breaks if offered, stretch, and hydrate. Do not discuss exam content with anyone. Confirm with the provider the break policy and whether the clock stops during breaks.
Follow the provider's instructions on score reporting and next steps. Do not attempt to reconstruct or share exam content; doing so may violate the candidate agreement.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID in the name on your application. If your name has changed, confirm with the provider in advance how to document it.
Arrive by the time stated in your admission materials. Confirm with the provider the cutoff for late arrival and the policy on missed appointments and rescheduling fees.
Leave prohibited items outside the testing room, including notes, textbooks, phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices. Confirm with the provider the full prohibited-item list.
Follow all proctor and test-center instructions. Unauthorized items, talking, or leaving the testing area without permission may result in dismissal; confirm with the provider the specific consequences.
Take breaks only as permitted by the platform or proctor. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the exam clock runs during them.
Do not copy, record, or share exam content. The candidate agreement and nondisclosure terms apply; review them before test day.
Scoring is criterion-referenced and based on the current exam blueprint. Confirm with the provider the passing standard, score reporting timeline, and retake policy rather than relying on secondhand claims.
If a technical failure or emergency occurs, notify the proctor or provider immediately and follow their documented procedure. Confirm with the provider in advance how such incidents are handled.