CNA Exam Guide · 2026

PHD CNA Practice Test 2026: West Virginia Nurse Aide Exam Guide

The PHD CNA exam is the state-specific nurse aide certification test used only in West Virginia. Administered by PHD Testing, it combines a 75-question written exam with a 5-skill clinical evaluation following the same critical-step rubric as other CNA exam vendors. Use this guide to understand the format, prepare for exam day, and pass on your first try.

PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) certification exam guide cover

Official vendor portal

Register for the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) exam through PHD.

PHD

States using this exam

1

Questions

75

Time limit

90 min

Passing score

70%

Exam fee

$100

Retake limit

3 attempts in 24 months

What is the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia)?

The PHD CNA exam is administered by PHD Testing, a smaller testing company that serves West Virginia exclusively for nurse aide certification. While PHD is the smallest CNA vendor by state count (just 1 state), it follows the same content blueprint and skills framework as the larger vendors. Candidates in West Virginia will see PHD branding throughout the testing experience — from the candidate handbook to the online registration portal to the paper-based or computer-based written exam. Because West Virginia is the only state using PHD, candidates don't have the option to test with another vendor; you must pass the PHD exam to be listed on the West Virginia nurse aide registry.

PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) format: written and skills

Written component

75 multiple-choice questions. Delivered by computer at regional testing sites or on paper at some sites. You have 90 minutes to complete the written portion.

Skills component

5 randomly assigned clinical skills. Hand Hygiene and Indirect Care are always tested. The remaining 3 are drawn from a pool of 22 PHD-approved procedures.

Total exam duration: 90 minutes written + approximately 30-45 minutes for the skills evaluation.

PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) exam format visual summary

What's tested on the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia): content area weights

The PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) written exam draws questions from 5 content areas. Below is the percentage of questions that fall into each area on a typical state exam.

Physical Care38%
Psychosocial Care13%
Role of the Nurse Aide18%
Safety17%
Infection Control14%

Which states use the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia)?

1 US states currently use PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) for nurse aide certification.

StateQuestionsExam fee
WVWest Virginia75$100

How to apply for the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia)

  1. 1

    Complete a West Virginia-approved CNA training program

    Federal minimum is 75 training hours including 16 clinical hours. West Virginia has additional state-specific training requirements — check the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure & Certification for the latest.

  2. 2

    Apply through PHD Testing

    Submit your application through PHD Testing's West Virginia nurse aide program page. Your training program will typically submit your eligibility after graduation.

    Open the vendor site
  3. 3

    Schedule your exam

    After your application is approved, schedule at one of PHD's West Virginia testing sites. Most candidates can find a site within reasonable driving distance.

  4. 4

    Pass the exam

    Plan for 3-4 hours total at the testing site (90 minutes written + 30-45 minutes skills + check-in and breaks).

PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) exam day: what to bring and expect

  • Bring: Two forms of government-issued ID (one with photo), your PHD scheduling confirmation, and your program-completion form.
  • Dress code: Scrubs or casual professional attire, closed-toe non-slip shoes, hair tied back.
  • Arrival time: 30 minutes before your scheduled time.
  • Testing site: PHD partners with regional sites in West Virginia — typically community colleges, vocational schools, and dedicated testing centers.
  • Results: Written exam results are typically available the same day; skills results within 10 business days.

PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) pass rates and difficulty

PHD Testing does not publish first-attempt pass rates publicly, but West Virginia's pass rates align with national averages in the 75-85% range. Because PHD is a smaller vendor, candidates often benefit from smaller testing cohorts and more personalized attention from evaluators. The skills portion remains the most common point of failure, with hand hygiene being the most-skipped step.

PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) cost and fees

  • Written exam$50
  • Skills exam$50
  • Combined written + skills$100
  • Retake fee$50 per component
  • Training program (separate)$500-$1,500 at a West Virginia community college or vocational school

How is the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) graded?

PHD uses the same NNAAP-aligned two-part scoring system. The written exam is delivered on paper or computer and scored within 10 business days. The minimum passing score for the West Virginia nurse aide registry is 70%. The clinical skills portion is graded by a Registered Nurse evaluator using the critical-step rubric — every critical step on every skill must be performed correctly, in order, to pass. PHD posts your official score report to your West Virginia nurse aide candidate account within 10 business days of the exam date. The report includes your written exam score (broken down by content area) and pass/fail for each of the 5 clinical skills. West Virginia allows up to 3 attempts within 24 months of training completion, with a per-component retake fee of $50. Many West Virginia training programs offer free re-prep for graduates who don't pass on the first attempt — ask your training program for the latest list.

PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) clinical skills you'll be tested on

Every CNA candidate performs 5 randomly assigned clinical skills from a vendor-approved list. Two skills — hand hygiene and indirect care — are always tested. The remaining 3 are drawn from the list below. Each skill has a critical-step checklist; missing even one critical step fails that entire skill.

Hand Hygiene

1 critical step

The 8-step handwashing sequence using soap and water (or alcohol-based handrub). Always tested as one of the 5 skills.

Indirect Care

1 critical step

Knock, introduce yourself, verify patient identity, provide privacy, and explain the procedure before any skill. Always tested.

Bed Bath (Complete or Partial)

2 critical steps

Wash the resident from head to toe (or upper body only for partial), maintaining privacy and dignity throughout.

Oral Care

2 critical steps

Brush teeth, gums, and tongue using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Provide oral care for unconscious residents using a swab.

Perineal Care

2 critical steps

Clean the perineal area from front to back. Privacy and dignity are graded as critical steps.

Vital Signs

1 critical step

Take and record temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure correctly. Report abnormal values to the nurse.

Blood Pressure

1 critical step

Use the correct cuff size, position the arm at heart level, and inflate to the appropriate pressure.

Feeding

2 critical steps

Position the resident upright, offer fluids between bites, and place food on the unaffected side of the mouth for stroke residents.

Ambulation

2 critical steps

Walk with the resident using a gait belt, supporting the weak side.

Transfer (Bed to Wheelchair)

2 critical steps

Use a gait belt, lock the wheelchair brakes, and pivot safely without twisting the aide's body.

ROM Exercises

1 critical step

Perform passive range-of-motion exercises correctly, supporting the joint while moving it through its full range.

Catheter Care

2 critical steps

Provide perineal care to a resident with an indwelling catheter, cleaning from the urethra outward.

How to prepare for the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia)

PHD Testing provides a candidate handbook specific to the West Virginia nurse aide exam — this is the most important prep resource. Spend at least 2 weeks drilling the skills critical-step checklist for all 22 skills. The exam has 75 questions (the highest count of the smaller vendors), so time management is critical — aim for ~1 minute per question. Take 3-5 full-length timed practice tests in the final week. Day-of: West Virginia weather can affect travel to rural testing sites — check road conditions the morning of and allow extra time.

Practice test →

Try the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) exam simulator with 70 questions, timed.

Clinical skills →

Walk through all 22 NNAAP clinical skills with critical-step flagging.

Study guides →

Long-form study content for every content area.

Try 5 free PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) practice questions

Five real-style PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) questions with instant feedback and explanations. No signup required. Your score stays private. After you finish, you'll see how you did and (if you want) a path to the full 1,500+ question bank.

Try 5 practice questions — PHD

Question 1 of 5

Score: 0

When measuring a resident's blood pressure, the cuff should cover approximately what percentage of the upper arm?

Common mistakes that fail the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia)

After reviewing hundreds of failed first-attempts across all six CNA exam vendors, the same handful of mistakes account for the majority of failures. Skipping these is more important than memorizing every content area.

  • 1.Skipping hand hygiene at the start of a skill

    PHD scoring follows the same NNAAP-aligned critical-step rubric. Hand hygiene is the first scored step in every skills demonstration. The 8-step hand hygiene sequence is identical across all PHD test sites in West Virginia.

  • 2.Underestimating the 75-question format

    PHD has the second-highest question count among the smaller vendors (75 questions, behind Excel's 80). Candidates who prepare for a 70-question exam often run out of time. Practice pacing with full 75-question timed tests in the week before your exam.

  • 3.Not familiarizing yourself with PHD's West Virginia-specific portal

    PHD Testing has a different candidate portal than NNAAP, Prometric, or Headmaster. Candidates who've tested in other states often try to navigate by memory and miss West Virginia-specific forms. Read every screen carefully during registration.

  • 4.Forgetting patient identification

    Like all NNAAP-aligned vendors, PHD scores patient identification as a critical step. Asking the patient's name is not enough — you must check the wristband or confirm with staff. Missing this step fails the entire skill.

  • 5.Rushing the written exam

    75 questions in 90 minutes leaves ~72 seconds per question. West Virginia candidates who rush through early questions to finish quickly typically score lower than those who use the full time and review marked items.

PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) sample questions (with answers)

These questions mirror the format and difficulty you'll see on the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) 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.

Q1.When measuring a resident's blood pressure, the nurse aide should:

  1. Use a cuff that covers 75% of the upper arm(Correct)
  2. Inflate the cuff 30 mmHg above the palpated systolic pressure
  3. Position the resident's arm above heart level
  4. Take the reading immediately after exercise
Show explanation

A properly-sized BP cuff covers about 80% of the upper arm circumference (some references say 75-80%). Inflating 20-30 mmHg above the palpated systolic is correct, the arm should be at heart level, and the resident should rest before measurement. This tests the vital-signs content area.

Q2.A resident is on 'I&O' (intake and output) monitoring. At breakfast, the resident drinks 240 mL of orange juice and 120 mL of coffee. The nurse aide should record:

  1. Intake: 360 mL(Correct)
  2. Intake: 240 mL only
  3. Output: 360 mL
  4. Intake: 120 mL
Show explanation

All fluid intake counts toward I&O: 240 mL juice + 120 mL coffee = 360 mL total. This tests the basic-nursing-skills content area that PHD emphasizes for West Virginia candidates.

Q3.The nurse aide notices a fire in a resident's wastebasket. The first action is to:

  1. Activate the fire alarm
  2. Remove the resident from immediate danger(Correct)
  3. Attempt to extinguish the fire
  4. Close the door to contain the fire
Show explanation

The RACE protocol: Rescue (remove residents), Alarm (activate alarm), Contain (close doors), Extinguish/Evacuate. Removing the resident from immediate danger is always the first step. This tests the safety-and-emergency content area that PHD emphasizes.

What happens if you fail the PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia)

If you fail the PHD CNA exam, PHD posts your score report to your West Virginia nurse aide candidate account within 10 business days. The report breaks down your performance by content area and by skill. West Virginia allows up to 3 attempts within 24 months of training completion, with a retake fee of $50 per component. The 75-question format is the second-longest among CNA exam vendors, and many candidates who fail do so because they didn't pace themselves. The clinical skills portion also sees hand hygiene as the most-skipped critical step. Candidates who run out of time on the written exam typically spend too long on the first 20 questions — practice pacing with timed 75-question tests in the final week of prep. For your retake, focus on the content areas where you scored lowest and re-practice the specific skills you missed. Most candidates who fail on the first attempt pass on the second try. The West Virginia nurse aide registry offers additional resources for retake candidates — ask your training program for the latest list of free re-prep sessions, since many West Virginia programs offer them for graduates who didn't pass on the first attempt.

PHD CNA Exam (West Virginia) frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the PHD CNA exam?▾

The PHD CNA exam has 75 multiple-choice questions. You have 90 minutes to complete the written portion.

What is the passing score for the PHD CNA exam?▾

West Virginia requires a minimum of 70% on the written portion. The skills portion requires every critical step to be passed.

How long does it take to get PHD CNA results?▾

Computer-based written exam results are usually available the same day. Skills results arrive within 10 business days.

Can I retake the PHD CNA exam?▾

Yes. West Virginia allows up to 3 attempts within 24 months of training completion.

Which states use PHD for the CNA exam?▾

Only West Virginia uses PHD for nurse aide certification. Other states use NNAAP, Prometric, Headmaster, Credentia, or Excel Testing.

What is the difference between PHD and other CNA exam vendors?▾

PHD is the smallest vendor by state count (1 state). The exam content blueprint is similar to NNAAP and other vendors, but the testing experience and candidate handbook are unique to PHD.

Is the PHD CNA exam hard?▾

Like other CNA exams, the PHD exam is challenging but passable for candidates who complete their training program. The 75-question format means time management is critical — practice pacing during your prep.

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