Oregon CNA exam-day guide
Oregon CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID (driver license, state ID, passport, or military ID - confirm which forms the testing provider accepts). The name on your ID must match the name on your registration exactly; if your name has changed, contact the provider before test day to fix it.
Registration/admission confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your test date, time, and location. Some sites ask to see it at check-in.
Test site address, parking, and check-in instructions
Look up the exact building and room the night before. Test sites are sometimes inside a training center, hospital, or community college - confirm the room and entrance with the provider, not just the street address.
Watch with a second hand or digital seconds
You may need to count a pulse or respiration rate. Confirm with the provider whether a watch is permitted and whether a clock is supplied in the testing room - needs_review.
Short, clean, unpainted fingernails; no artificial nails
Trim nails short and remove polish, gel, and overlays before test day so you can perform hand hygiene and glove use correctly. Confirm the provider's specific nail and jewelry rules - needs_review.
Hair secured and simple, professional clothing or scrubs
Wear clean scrubs or neat, comfortable clothing and closed-toe, non-slip shoes. Tie long hair back and keep jewelry minimal so it does not interfere with skills.
Two pens or pencils
Bring your own writing instruments in case the site does not supply them. Confirm with the provider whether scratch paper is allowed.
Water and a light snack for afterward
Eat a normal meal before you arrive. Keep snacks and drinks stored out of the testing room unless the provider says otherwise.
Your skills checklists from your training program
Use them to review the night before, then leave them at home or in the car - study materials and notes are not allowed in the testing room.
A plan for your phone and other devices
Plan to turn your phone completely off and store it out of reach. Confirm where the provider requires devices to be kept during testing.
A backup ride and a time buffer
Ask a family member or friend to be on standby, and plan to arrive well ahead of your scheduled time so traffic or parking problems do not cost you the appointment.
Confirmation of what the test covers and how many skills are scored
Ask the provider ahead of time how the skills portion is structured and which skills are mandatory, so you are not surprised on test day - needs_review.
Plan the day
Confirm the date, time, location, and check-in time directly with the testing provider; verify your registration is complete and paid and that your ID name matches.
Practice each skill out loud with a partner using your training program's checklist, focusing on the critical steps and on stating what you are doing as you do it.
Read the provider's candidate handbook or instructions for arrival time, what to bring, what is prohibited, and the reschedule policy.
Review standard precautions and hand hygiene until automatic - these are usually the first things evaluated and the easiest place to lose points.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, pens, watch, water. Lay out clothes and shoes. Put everything by the door.
Do a light final review of skill sequences rather than cramming new material. Stop studying early enough to get a full night's sleep.
Check the weather, traffic, and parking plan; set two alarms and confirm your backup ride.
Avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine, eat familiar meals, and hydrate normally so you are not uncomfortable during testing.
Eat breakfast, dress in clean scrubs or professional clothing, secure your hair, check your nails, and remove extra jewelry.
Grab your packed bag, leave early, and arrive at the site with a comfortable buffer; use the restroom before check-in.
Turn your phone off and store it as directed at check-in. Do not review notes in the waiting area if the provider prohibits it.
Listen to the entire instruction before starting a skill. If an instruction is unclear, ask the evaluator to repeat it - asking for clarification is not the same as asking for a hint.
Perform each skill exactly as your training program taught it, narrating your steps and safety checks in a normal voice, and perform hand hygiene at the required points.
Work at a steady, deliberate pace. Do not rush, do not improvise with equipment, and do not skip steps to save time.
If you realize you made an error, stay calm, finish the skill as safely as you can, and continue to the next one. Ask the provider afterward about any retake process.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID. If the name on your ID does not match your registration, resolve it with the provider before test day; you may be turned away at check-in.
Arrive before your scheduled check-in time. Late arrival policies vary - confirm with the provider whether late candidates are admitted or must reschedule and pay again.
Electronic devices, including phones and smartwatches, must be off and stored out of reach during testing. Using a device during the test can void your results.
Do not bring notes, books, or study materials into the testing room. Leave them in your car or with a companion.
Follow the evaluator's directions precisely and do not ask whether a step was performed correctly or for hints during a skill. Ask only for clarification or repetition of an instruction.
Perform skills exactly as taught in your approved nurse aide training program, using the equipment provided. Substituting equipment or improvising technique can cost you critical steps.
The skills portion is scored on critical (essential) steps; missing a critical step generally fails that skill. Confirm with the provider how many skills are scored and whether all must be passed in the same session - needs_review.
If you need to reschedule, contact the provider before their stated deadline. No-shows and late cancellations may forfeit your fee - confirm the exact policy with the provider.