What to Bring to Your CNA Skills Exam (And What You Don't Need)

Most candidates assume they need to buy a stethoscope, a gait belt, or a blood pressure cuff before their CNA skills exam. You don't — and in most states, you're not even allowed to bring your own. According to official state nurse aide candidate handbooks (reviewed across multiple states' published materials), the required items for your skills evaluation are: • Two forms of valid, signature-bearing identification • Your authorization-to-test letter • A watch with a second hand That's it. Several state handbooks state it plainly: "No other materials will be allowed."

This surprises a lot of candidates: official handbooks explicitly state you may not bring your own clinical equipment to the test site — the example most commonly given is a transfer or gait belt. The testing site provides the mannequin and all standard equipment (scales, cuffs, basins, linens) needed for your randomly assigned skills. You'll also be expected to know how to operate the equipment the site provides — for example, how to zero both a standing scale and a non-digital bathroom scale — since you won't be using your own familiar gear. Practicing on different equipment types beforehand (not just the one you're used to) is genuinely useful preparation. The one documented exception, confirmed across multiple states' official materials, is a watch with a second hand — you bring and use your own for timing pulse and respirations.

Since a watch with a second hand is the one piece of equipment you're actually required to bring, it's worth getting a real one rather than hoping your phone works (phones are frequently restricted or must stay put away during testing — check your authorization letter). An inexpensive analog watch with a visible second hand is all the exam requires.

A stethoscope and blood pressure cuff aren't exam-day requirements — you won't bring your own, and the site provides what you need for your assigned skills. But owning basic versions to practice blood pressure and auscultation technique at home, before your test date, can genuinely build confidence. This is a study aid, not a packing-list item — leave it in your bag on exam day, and don't be surprised if the testing site's equipment looks or feels different from whatever you practiced on.

Once you've passed and have an offer in hand, the real shopping list kicks in — most facilities expect you to show up in your own scrubs and non-slip shoes on day one, and many CNAs end up buying their own stethoscope and watch for real use on the floor even though the exam itself didn't require them. (A few states' skills evaluations do require non-slip shoes at the test itself, not just on the job — check your own state's handbook to be sure, and when in doubt, wear them to the exam too.) A realistic first-day starter kit: • At least 2 sets of scrubs — most facilities have a color code or dress policy; confirm it before you buy • Non-slip shoes — required at most facilities, and your feet will thank you after a 12-hour shift • A watch with a second hand — the same one from your exam works fine for the job • Compression socks — not required anywhere, but widely recommended by working CNAs after their first few shifts

In most states, no. Official candidate handbooks state you may not bring your own clinical equipment to the test site — only a watch with a second hand, along with your ID and authorization letter. The testing site provides the equipment you'll need for your assigned skills. Always check your own state's current candidate handbook before your test date, since policies are set by your state's testing vendor and could vary.

No — scrubs aren't part of the skills evaluation at all. You'll want them for your first day on the job once you're hired, not for the test itself. Many candidates wait until they have a confirmed start date before buying, since some facilities have specific color or style requirements they'll tell you about during onboarding.

State handbooks are explicit that missing required documents like your photo ID means you won't be allowed to test, with no refund of your exam fee — and the watch is listed right alongside ID on the same required-items list, so don't assume it's optional just because the penalty isn't spelled out item-by-item. A basic analog watch with a visible second hand is inexpensive and worth buying ahead of time rather than risking it — don't assume your phone will work as a substitute, since phones are commonly restricted during testing.