Virginia CNA exam-day guide
Virginia CNA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with signature
Your name must match your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted (driver's license, passport, state ID) and whether an expired ID is refused - plan to bring a second form if you have one.
Appointment confirmation / authorization notice
Print a paper copy rather than relying on your phone, since phones are usually restricted in the testing room. Check the date, time, address, and which portion(s) you are scheduled for.
Two No. 2 pencils and a blue or black pen
Needed if the written portion is paper-based. Confirm with the provider whether the site supplies pencils or whether you must bring your own.
A plain watch with a second hand (not a smartwatch)
Used to count pulse and respirations during skills. Confirm with the provider whether a second-hand watch is permitted or required, and whether the site provides a clock/timer.
Clinical-friendly clothing
Short-sleeved top or scrub top, loose comfortable pants you can move and bend in, and closed-toe, non-skid shoes. Avoid dangling jewelry, long necklaces, and loose sleeves that interfere with hand hygiene.
Grooming: short, clean nails; hair secured
Artificial nails, wraps, and long nails interfere with hand hygiene and glove use. Confirm the provider's exact nail and jewelry rules before test day, since a violation could cost you a critical step.
Your program's skills checklist, studied but left in the car
Review the steps and critical elements beforehand; do not carry notes into the testing room. Practice saying the steps out loud with a partner and time yourself.
Route, parking, and arrival plan
Confirm the arrival time on your notice - arrive at least 30 minutes early unless your confirmation says otherwise - and know where to park and which entrance to use.
Snack and water for after the test
Testing sessions can run long. Keep food and drinks outside the testing room; ask the proctor where they may be stored.
Phone charged but silenced and stored
Plan to turn it off and put it away before you enter the testing area. Do not plan to use it for your confirmation notice or as a timer.
Backup plan if something goes wrong
Save the provider's phone number and your program coordinator's number so you can call immediately if you are delayed, ill, or have an ID problem.
Plan the day
Re-read your confirmation notice and verify the date, time, address, and which exams you are taking. Check that your ID name matches your registration exactly. Call the provider if anything is inconsistent.
Confirm logistics you are unsure about: paper vs. computer-based written exam, whether an oral version or accommodation was approved, arrival time, nail and jewelry rules, and whether you must bring a watch. Ask the provider rather than guessing.
Run full skills practice out loud with a partner, using the checklist from your training program. Focus on the steps that are automatic failures if missed - hand hygiene, safety, privacy, and resident rights - and on the order of steps.
Time yourself on measurement skills: blood pressure, pulse, respirations, and height/weight if your program teaches them. Practice on a real person, not just a mannequin, if you can.
Fix grooming issues now: trim nails, remove polish and artificial nails, plan to leave jewelry at home, and set out a hair tie. Confirm the provider's rules first.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation notice, pencils, pen, watch, snack, and water. Lay out your clothes and shoes so the morning is automatic.
Confirm your ride or your route and parking, charge your phone, and set two alarms. Check the weather and traffic outlook.
Do a light review only - hand hygiene sequence, the critical elements of each skill, and general safety and infection-control principles. Stop early; do not cram new material the night before.
Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol, and get a full night's sleep. Fatigue hurts skills performance more than one more hour of studying helps.
Eat breakfast and hydrate. Dress in your laid-out clothes, leave the jewelry at home, and leave earlier than you think you need to.
On arrival, turn your phone off and store it, present your ID, sign in, and follow staff instructions. Ask where the restroom is before you are seated.
Read each question in full and watch for words like 'first,' 'best,' and 'except.' Answer every question, mark uncertain ones, and return to them if the format allows. Confirm the time limit with the proctor.
Listen to the scenario, and ask the evaluator to repeat the instructions before you begin if anything is unclear. Then narrate your hand hygiene and safety checks, keep the resident covered, and work in the order you practiced. If you slip, keep going calmly - do not stop to apologize.
Ask the proctor how and when results will be released, and confirm the retake process and any waiting period with the provider before you leave.
Rules to check
Arrive on time with valid ID. Late arrival or missing ID can mean you are turned away and lose your appointment fee - confirm the provider's exact policy in advance.
Your name on your ID must match your registration. If you changed your name, resolve it with the provider before test day, not at the door.
No phones, smartwatches, notes, or study materials in the testing room. Put them away or leave them in your car; using a device during an exam can end your session.
Do not discuss or share exam content with other candidates, and expect to sign a confidentiality or testing-integrity agreement. Confirm the details with the provider.
Ask the proctor before taking any break. Unscheduled breaks may not be allowed, and if they are, your testing time may keep running - confirm how breaks are handled.
Both portions (written or oral, and skills) must be passed. Skills are scored pass/fail against critical elements, so missing a safety or infection-control step can fail that skill even if the rest of your performance looked correct.
You may ask the evaluator to repeat the scenario or instructions before you start a skill, but not for coaching once you begin. Follow the proctor's directions at all times, and tell staff immediately if you feel ill or need an accommodation.
Results timing, passing scores, and retake rules vary - confirm them with your testing provider or the Virginia Board of Nursing rather than relying on what other candidates tell you.