Nebraska CNA exam-day guide
Nebraska CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Driver's license, state ID, or passport. The name must match your registration. You will not be admitted without it. (needs_review: confirm which documents your testing provider accepts.)
Test appointment confirmation or admission letter
Bring the confirmation showing your date, time, and site address. Some providers want a printed copy; check your letter. (needs_review: confirm whether a digital copy is accepted.)
Clarity on what you are testing that day
Know whether you are taking the written exam, the skills exam, or both, and bring any retake or re-registration paperwork the provider told you to bring.
Watch or timer for counting pulse and respirations
A watch with a sweep second hand is the safest choice. (needs_review: confirm whether smartwatches or phone timers are permitted at your site-many are not.)
Comfortable clothing and closed-toe, non-slip shoes
Scrubs or loose clothing you can bend, kneel, and move a manikin in. Avoid restrictive skirts, dresses, or heels.
Pen and pencil
Useful for the written portion and check-in paperwork. (needs_review: confirm whether writing materials are supplied at the site.)
Your skills checklist from training
Use it for a final review the night before. If materials are not allowed in the testing room, leave it in the car or lobby.
Grooming per dress code
Short, clean nails, no artificial nails or polish, hair tied back, no dangling jewelry. (needs_review: confirm your provider's exact dress code.)
Water and a snack for afterward
Testing can run long. Keep food and drink in the car or a locker if they are not allowed inside.
Transportation and parking plan
Know the address, parking situation, and drive time. Have a backup ride so a delay does not cost you your test.
Phone charged but silenced
You will need it for directions and your ride, but it must be off and stored out of the testing area during the exam.
Accommodation approval paperwork, if applicable
If you requested testing accommodations, bring the approval you received. (needs_review: confirm the provider's accommodation process well before test day.)
Plan the day
Call or check online to confirm your date, time, and site address. Verify the ID requirement and anything you are told to bring.
Read through the candidate handbook and the skills list from your training program. Flag the skills you are least confident about.
Practice those skills out loud with a partner or a manikin, including hand hygiene at the start and end and the closing steps.
Confirm your ride, parking, and drive time. Plan to arrive well before your scheduled time.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, pen and pencil, watch, clothes, shoes, water.
Check grooming against the dress code-nails short and unpainted, no dangling jewelry, hair secured.
Do one or two light review passes only. Cramming all night costs you more than it gains.
Set two alarms, skip alcohol, and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a real meal and drink water. Low blood sugar makes skill steps harder to recall.
Arrive early-aim for the arrival time your provider recommends, typically 15 to 30 minutes ahead. (needs_review: confirm the recommended arrival time with your provider.)
Check in, present your ID, and turn your phone off and store it as directed.
Listen to the entire set of instructions before you begin. If something is unclear, ask before the skill starts-not mid-skill.
Perform hand hygiene at the start and end of every skill, and verbalize steps if your examiner requires it.
If you make a mistake, stay calm and finish the skill. Do not stop and argue with the examiner.
Work at a steady pace. Ask permission before leaving the testing area for any reason.
Confirm with the examiner that you are finished and ask how and when results are reported.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID with a name matching your registration. You will not be admitted without acceptable identification. (needs_review: confirm acceptable ID documents with your provider.)
Arrive at the time stated on your confirmation. Late candidates may be turned away and may forfeit their fee. (needs_review: confirm the late-arrival policy with your provider.)
Phones and smart devices must be off and stored outside the testing area. Do not photograph, record, or copy any test material.
Follow the examiner's directions exactly. Do not ask for hints, coaching, or confirmation that a step was correct during the test.
Perform each skill in the order and manner taught in your training program. Some steps are treated as critical and must be done correctly. (needs_review: confirm how critical steps are scored with your provider.)
To be listed on the registry you must pass both the written and the skills portions. (needs_review: confirm current retake rules and fees with your provider.)
If you need a break, ask the examiner. Do not leave the testing area without permission.
Dress in closed-toe non-slip shoes with short, unpainted nails and no dangling jewelry. (needs_review: confirm your provider's specific dress-code requirements.)