Utah CNA exam-day guide
Utah CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring a current driver's license, state ID, or passport. The tester checks identity before you enter the skills area. Confirm with your training provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether the name must match your registration exactly.
Your admission/registration confirmation
Print or screenshot the scheduling email or portal confirmation showing your test date, time, and location. Useful if there is a check-in question or a room change.
A watch with a second hand (or a visible-count timer)
Some skills require you to count respirations or time handwashing. Many candidates use a plain wristwatch; confirm with your provider whether a wristwatch is permitted or whether the room has a visible clock.
Two pens (black or blue ink)
You may need to record measurements on a flow sheet or sign paperwork. Confirm with the provider whether any written documentation is part of the skills portion.
Clean scrubs or uniform and closed-toe, non-skid shoes
Dress as you would for clinical: comfortable, professional, hair pulled back, short clean nails with no polish or artificial nails (hand hygiene and glove skills are commonly evaluated).
No jewelry that interferes with gloves or hand hygiene
Remove rings, bracelets, and dangling jewelry. A plain wedding band is usually acceptable - confirm with your provider.
Know your skills list and the critical steps
Review the skill sheets your program provided the night before. Focus on the critical (automatic-fail) steps in each skill rather than memorizing every numbered step word-for-word.
Practice the opening and closing routine out loud
Most skills start with hand hygiene, introducing yourself, identifying the resident, explaining the procedure, and providing privacy; they end with safety checks (bed low, call light in reach, side rails as appropriate) and hand hygiene. Rehearse this pattern until it is automatic.
Plan your route and arrival time
Arrive at least 15-30 minutes early to allow for parking, check-in, and settling. Confirm the exact building and room with your provider - testing sites are often inside a college lab or skills center.
Eat, hydrate, and sleep
The skills portion requires sustained concentration and physical stamina (transfers, repositioning, ambulation). Do not skip a meal on test morning.
Leave prohibited items behind or plan for storage
Phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials are typically not allowed in the testing area. Ask your provider in advance where to leave personal items.
Bring water and a light snack for after the test
Testing can run long if there are multiple candidates. Keep snacks outside the testing room.
Plan the day
Re-read every skill sheet your program issued and highlight critical steps. Run through each skill aloud with a partner or in front of a mirror, pantomiming supplies. Identify the two or three skills you feel weakest on and rehearse those daily.
Confirm logistics: exact address, room number, arrival time, parking, what ID is accepted, and whether you must bring your own supplies. If anything is unclear, call your training provider now rather than the morning of.
Protect your sleep schedule. Do not plan an all-night cram session - the skills test is performance-based, and fatigue shows in sequencing and safety checks.
Do one full timed run-through of your skills in the order and format you expect, including the opening and closing routine for each. Stop studying skills by early evening.
Lay out ID, confirmation, pens, watch, uniform, and shoes by the door. Check the weather and confirm your transportation plan.
Eat a real breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the site 15-30 minutes early. Use the restroom before check-in.
At check-in, present your ID, store your phone and belongings as directed, and take a few slow breaths. Avoid comparing notes with other candidates in the waiting area - it tends to increase anxiety and can introduce confusion about steps.
Read or listen to each skill prompt fully before you begin. Take a brief pause to mentally sequence the steps, then narrate what you are doing as you do it (for example, stating that you are lowering the bed or checking the call light).
Verbalize safety and privacy steps even if the mannequin or partner cannot respond - say that you are providing privacy, locking the wheels, or explaining the procedure. If you realize you missed a step, state it and correct it if the skill allows; do not silently panic.
If a supply is missing or a setup looks wrong, ask the evaluator for clarification before beginning. Asking a procedural question is not the same as asking for help with a skill step.
Ask the evaluator or provider how and when results will be reported, and confirm what your next step is if you need to retest any portion.
Rules to check
Bring and present valid government-issued photo ID at check-in. If you do not have acceptable ID, you may be turned away - confirm the accepted forms with your provider before test day.
Phones, smartwatches, and study materials are generally not permitted in the testing area. Silence and store devices as directed; confirm your provider's policy on personal items.
Follow the evaluator's instructions exactly. Testers cannot coach you through a skill, but you may ask a clarifying question about supplies or setup before you start.
Skills are scored step by step, and certain steps are critical - missing one can fail the entire skill even if everything else was correct. Review the critical steps on your program's skill sheets.
You must demonstrate each assigned skill independently and safely. If you perform an unsafe action, the evaluator may stop the skill; accept the direction and continue with the remaining skills as instructed.
Maintain standard precautions and hand hygiene throughout. Perform hand hygiene at the beginning and end of every skill and whenever gloves are removed, and use gloves where indicated.
Breaks and restroom access during testing are at the evaluator's discretion and depend on the number of candidates. Ask before the test begins if you need accommodation - confirm accommodation procedures with your provider in advance.
Testing policies on retakes, scoring thresholds, and result reporting are set by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and your approved program. Confirm these details with your training provider rather than relying on secondhand information.