May 12, 2026
Free Arkansas CNA Practice Test 2026 — 75-Question HDmaster Exam
Arkansas CNA exam facts for 2026: 90-hour training, HDmaster vendor, a 76% passing score (not 70%), a 12-category test plan, a 1-year retake window, and free practice questions.
Arkansas CNA Exam — Key Facts (2026)
Here is what every Arkansas CNA candidate needs to know before sitting for the exam — note that Arkansas's written exam format is genuinely different from the generic NNAAP template:
• Training required: 90 hours (about 74 classroom/lab + 16 clinical) — above the 75-hour federal minimum
• Exam vendor: HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies), on behalf of the Arkansas Office of Long-Term Care (OLTC)
• Written exam: 75 questions, 60 minutes
• Skills exam: 3 to 4 randomly selected nurse aide skills, 30 minutes, 80% per task
• Passing score: 76% — notably higher than the 70% most states require
• Exam fee: $125 for the first attempt (knowledge $30 + skills $95); an audio knowledge exam adds $10
• Retake window: up to 3 attempts, all within 1 year of training completion — half the 2-year window most states allow
• Registry: Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry, maintained by OLTC
If you've studied using a generic "70 questions in 2 hours, 70% to pass" practice test, recalibrate — Arkansas's real exam is 75 questions in 60 minutes with a 76% passing bar, and you have less time to retest than almost anywhere else.
Arkansas CNA Certification Overview
To become a Certified Nurse Aide in Arkansas, you must complete a state-approved training program and pass the Arkansas Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) on behalf of the Arkansas Office of Long-Term Care (OLTC).
Arkansas requires a minimum of 90 hours of CNA training — above the 75-hour federal minimum — including about 74 hours of classroom/lab instruction and 16 hours of supervised clinical practice.
The exam has two parts:
• A written (or audio) knowledge test: 75 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes
• A clinical skills evaluation: demonstration of 3 to 4 randomly selected nurse aide skills
You must pass both parts — within 1 year of completing training — to be listed on the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry. The passing score for the written test is 76%.
Arkansas CNA Written Exam — What Is Tested
Arkansas doesn't use the national NNAAP content outline — HDmaster, the vendor, uses its own 12-category Arkansas-specific test plan. The 75 questions break down as:
• Basic Nursing Skills (11 questions)
• Infection Control (9 questions)
• Safety (8 questions)
• Personal Care (8 questions)
• Role and Responsibility (7 questions)
• Resident Rights (6 questions)
• Aging Process and Restorative Care (5 questions)
• Communication (5 questions)
• Disease Process (5 questions)
• Data Collection (4 questions)
• Mental Health (4 questions)
• Care Impaired (3 questions)
There's no single dominant category like the 45% Physical Care Skills weighting most states use — Basic Nursing Skills is the largest at about 15% of the exam, with coverage spread across all twelve areas.
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Arkansas HDmaster Testing Locations
The Arkansas CNA written exam is administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) at testing centers statewide:
• Little Rock
• Fort Smith
• Fayetteville
• Springdale
• Jonesboro
• Conway
• Rogers
• Pine Bluff
• Bentonville
• Hot Springs
To find available test dates and the nearest center, visit hdmaster.com and search for Arkansas nurse aide. Your training program issues your authorization to test upon completion. Little Rock and Fayetteville slots can fill — register promptly after receiving authorization.
Arkansas CNA Skills Test — What to Expect
The clinical skills evaluation is held at an HDmaster skills testing site. You will demonstrate 3 to 4 randomly selected skills — fewer than the 5 most states require — before a trained RN evaluator who scores each skill using a standardized checklist. You get 30 minutes to complete your assigned tasks and must score 80% or better on each one, without missing any key steps.
Handwashing is evaluated as part of every skill — you must complete all handwashing steps at the start and end of each demonstration. Incomplete hand hygiene is among the most common causes of skills test failure in Arkansas.
Review the Arkansas Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook on the HDmaster website for the full list of skills and required steps.
How to Prepare for the Arkansas CNA Exam
Arkansas's written exam first-attempt pass rate is approximately 70–75%, despite a 76% passing bar that's notably higher than most states.
1. Take a full 75-question diagnostic practice test before studying. Review your scores across all twelve Arkansas content areas — don't assume one category dominates.
2. Prioritize Basic Nursing Skills, Infection Control, and Safety — the three largest categories — but budget real study time for the smaller ones too, since Arkansas's spread is far more even than most states.
3. Practice under timed conditions — 60 minutes for 75 questions.
4. Target 85% on practice tests before your real exam — a real buffer above Arkansas's 76% passing bar.
5. Don't delay — you only have 1 year from training completion to pass both portions, half the window most states allow.
CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free NNAAP-style practice test with 500+ questions — no signup required.
After You Pass — Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry
After passing both parts of the Arkansas exam, your name is added to the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry maintained by the Arkansas Office of Long-Term Care (OLTC). Employers in Arkansas are required to verify registry status before hiring nurse aides in licensed facilities.
Your Arkansas CNA certification is valid for 24 months. To maintain active status, you must work as a nurse aide for at least 8 hours for pay within each renewal period. Lapsed certifications require retaking the full competency evaluation.
Registry status can be verified through the Arkansas OLTC website.
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