Credentia NNAAP CNA Practice Test 2026: Exam Format and Study Guide

What is the Credentia (NNAAP)?

The NNAAP is the nurse aide competency exam developed and managed by Credentia Nurse Aide LLC. It has two parts: a written (or oral) test and a skills evaluation. Under federal rules (42 CFR 483.154) you must pass both, you may choose between a written and an oral exam, and you get at least three opportunities. The 2024 content outline is based on the NCSBN 2019-2020 job analysis. Not every state uses the NNAAP, so check your state's nurse aide registry.

Credentia (NNAAP) format: written and skills

Written component

The written test has 70 multiple-choice items; 10 of them are unscored pretest items, so 60 are scored. You have up to 2 hours (per the Alabama and Pennsylvania handbooks). The oral version has 60 multiple-choice items plus 10 reading comprehension (word recognition) items. The written or oral test is offered online or at a test center in some states; check your state handbook for your exact format.

Skills component

You perform five randomly selected nurse aide skills in front of a nurse evaluator, and you have 30 minutes to demonstrate all five. Hand washing is always one of the skills; the other four are randomly chosen. You need a Satisfactory result on all five skills. If you leave out a critical step you do not pass that skill. Skills evaluations are only offered at a test center.

Total exam duration: Written or oral test: up to 2 hours. Skills evaluation: 30 minutes for all five skills.

Which states use the Credentia (NNAAP)?

13 US states are listed here, based on provider information we could verify. Some states use more than one provider and some use a state-run exam, so always confirm with your state's nurse aide registry.

How to apply for the Credentia (NNAAP)

1. 1

   Complete a state-approved nurse aide training program

   Federal rules require at least 75 hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. Many states require more. Check your state's approved-program list.

2. 2

   Confirm your state's exam provider

   Credentia runs the NNAAP in the states listed on this page, and some states use more than one provider. Look up your state on its nurse aide registry or Credentia's state list to confirm your candidate handbook.

   Open the vendor site
3. 3

   Register, pay and schedule

   Exam fees vary by state and provider. Check your state's candidate handbook for the fee, the retake rules and how to schedule.

Credentia (NNAAP) exam day: what to bring and expect

• Arrive early: Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time for check-in.
• ID: Bring the identification your state's handbook requires. Requirements are set by the state and provider.
• Leave at home: Cell phones are not permitted at Credentia test centers and there is no storage for personal belongings. Plan to leave valuables at home or in your car.
• Results: Credentia reports official results within a few hours after a testing event is completed for the day, as Pass or Fail only.

Credentia (NNAAP) pass rates and difficulty

Providers do not publish pass rates on a comparable basis, so we do not quote one. Most candidates who prepare with the checklist for each skill and practice the written content areas do well. If you do not pass, federal rules give you at least three opportunities.

Credentia (NNAAP) cost and fees

• Exam feeVaries by state and provider. Check your state's candidate handbook.
• Retake feeVaries by state and by component. Check your state's candidate handbook.
• Training programSet by the program. Aides hired by a facility cannot be charged for training or testing under federal rules.

How is the Credentia (NNAAP) graded?

You must pass both the written (or oral) test and the skills evaluation. The skills evaluation is scored by a nurse evaluator against a checklist: missing a critical step means you do not pass that skill. Credentia reports Pass or Fail only, with no numeric score, and passing scores are not published. Other providers and state-run exams may report differently, so check your state's candidate handbook.

Credentia (NNAAP) clinical skills

Federal rules require the skills demonstration to use randomly selected skills graded by a nurse evaluator. Missing a critical step means you do not pass that skill. Your state's candidate handbook lists the skills and checklists for your exam. Walk through each skill step by step in our clinical skills walkthrough.

How to prepare for the Credentia (NNAAP)

Start with your state's candidate handbook and the skills checklist. Take a timed practice test to find weak content areas, drill written questions daily, and rehearse every skill out loud, step by step, including the critical steps. In the last week, do full-length timed simulations.

Common mistakes that fail the Credentia (NNAAP)

These are common ways candidates lose points. Avoiding them matters as much as memorizing every content area.

• 1.Skipping or rushing hand washing

  On the Credentia (NNAAP) skills test, hand washing is always one of the five skills, and every skill is graded on a checklist that includes critical steps. Practice the full sequence until it is automatic.

• 2.Missing a critical step

  If you leave out a critical step you do not pass that skill, and you need a satisfactory result on all five skills to pass the skills evaluation. The number of critical steps differs by skill, so learn each skill's checklist from your state handbook.

• 3.Forgetting privacy and respect for the resident

  Knock, introduce yourself, explain what you are about to do, and keep the resident's privacy for the whole skill, not only at the start.

• 4.Running out of time

  Pace yourself. Mark hard written questions for review and come back to them. On the Credentia (NNAAP) skills test you have 30 minutes for all five skills, so do not over-explain or repeat steps.

• 5.Bringing items the test center will not allow

  Credentia test centers do not allow cell phones and have no storage for personal belongings. Leave them at home or in your car and arrive 30 minutes early.

Credentia (NNAAP) sample questions (with answers)

These questions mirror the format and difficulty you'll see on the Credentia (NNAAP) exam. After choosing your answer, expand the explanation to see why it's correct and what concept it tests. Use these as a self-check before scheduling your real exam.

What happens if you fail the Credentia (NNAAP)

Federal rules give you at least three opportunities to pass. Your state sets the exact limits and the time window, and a state may require retraining after repeated failures. Retake fees and windows differ by state and provider, so check your state's candidate handbook. Between attempts, review your score report, practice the skills you missed, and drill the written content areas where you were weakest.

Credentia (NNAAP) frequently asked questions

Related exam guides