Texas CNA exam-day guide
Texas CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document (driver license, state ID, passport, or military ID). The name must match your registration exactly. Confirm with your testing provider which forms of ID it accepts and whether a second ID is required - policies change, so verify before test day.
Registration/admission confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your test date, time, and location. Ask the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether an electronic copy is acceptable.
A watch with a second hand
You may need to count a pulse or respirations within a time limit. Ask your provider whether a wristwatch is allowed in the testing room; some candidates are told to bring one, others are timed by the evaluator.
Closed-toe, non-skid shoes
You will be on your feet and moving around a mock resident care area. Avoid sandals, clogs with an open heel, and slick soles.
Clean scrub-style uniform or professional clothing
Dress as you would for clinical. Loose jewelry, dangling lanyards, and long necklaces can interfere with skills such as bed making and transfers. Confirm any dress code with the provider.
Hair, nails, and jewelry prepared for infection control
Tie back long hair. Keep fingernails short and natural. Many programs prohibit artificial nails and polish because they harbor organisms. Confirm the specific grooming rules with your provider before the test.
Money or a card for parking and a snack
Know the parking situation in advance and bring payment if the lot is not free. Bring water and a snack to have before or after the test, not in the testing room.
A plan for your belongings
Phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags typically must be stored outside the testing room or in a designated area. Decide in advance where they will go, such as a locked car.
Directions, arrival time, and provider phone number
Do a route check the day before. Save the provider's contact number in case of traffic, illness, or a scheduling question. Confirm with the provider how early you should arrive.
A reviewed list of the skills in your state curriculum
Review the skill steps from your state-approved training program the night before. Verify with your provider which skills are currently tested and how many you will perform, because this can change.
Rest and a normal meal
Being tired or hungry shows up in timed skills like pulse counting and in following multi-step directions. Treat the night before like the night before a clinical shift.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment time, address, and ID requirements with the testing provider. Re-read the skills checklist from your training program and practice the hand-hygiene and indirect-care steps out loud, since those are scored in almost every skill.
Practice the skills that involve timing or counting (pulse, respirations, blood pressure if applicable) with a watch or clock you will have access to. Practice in the same shoes and clothing you will wear.
Check the weather and traffic patterns for your route. Decide your departure time with at least 30 minutes of buffer, and confirm the provider's late-arrival policy.
Lay out your ID, confirmation, uniform, shoes, and watch. Charge your phone and note the provider's number. Avoid staying up late cramming; a short review of the steps you are least sure about is more useful than a long one.
Eat normally and hydrate. If you take daily medication, take it as prescribed.
Eat breakfast, dress in your prepared clothing, and leave with buffer time. Keep your phone off or silenced and stored as directed once you are on site.
Present your ID and confirmation, follow sign-in instructions, and listen carefully to the orientation. Ask the proctor to repeat anything unclear about timing, breaks, or station setup.
Read each question fully, answer the ones you know first, and use the full time allowed. If an oral version was approved for you, confirm the format at check-in.
Before each skill, take a breath and mentally list the steps. Say your safety checks out loud if your program teaches that. Treat the person acting as the resident as a real resident: explain what you are doing, protect privacy, and never leave them in an unsafe position.
Turn in materials as directed, retrieve your belongings, and ask the provider how and when results are reported. Do not discuss specific test content with other candidates.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID the provider requires, and make sure the name on your registration matches it. If your name has changed, contact the provider before test day.
Plan to arrive early. Confirm the provider's late-arrival and no-show policy in advance, because arriving after the cutoff may mean you cannot test and may forfeit your fee.
Phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials are not allowed in the testing room. Store them as instructed, and do not attempt to bring in written aids.
Hand hygiene and standard precautions are scored. Wash or sanitize at the points your training program teaches, even when a step feels repetitive.
Performance is scored against a checklist: know the critical steps and safety errors for each skill, and ask the provider which steps are automatic failures.
If an evaluator's instruction is ambiguous, ask for clarification before you begin. Do not guess at a step in a way that could endanger the mock resident.
Follow all evaluator and proctor directions about timing, breaks, and station setup; leaving a station or the room without permission may end your test.
Do not discuss or share specific exam content afterward. Results, retake eligibility, and score reporting timelines come from your testing provider - confirm those details directly with them.