California CNA Practice Test 2026 — Free NNAAP Prep (160-Hour Program)

Here is what every California CNA candidate needs to know before sitting for the exam: • Training required: 160 hours (at least 50 hours clinical) — the highest state requirement in the nation • Exam vendors: Credentia, D&S Diversified Technologies (HDmaster), and the Regional Testing Center (Huntington Beach) • Written exam: 70 questions, 2 hours, passing score is 70% (49 of 70 correct) • Skills exam: 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills, evaluated at a CDPH-approved testing site • Exam fee: approximately $75–95 per section depending on vendor (written and skills billed separately) • Retake limit: up to 3 total attempts within 24 months of completing your training program • Waiting period between retakes: typically a few days to a few weeks — varies by vendor and location • Registry: California Nurse Assistant Registry (CNAR), maintained by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) • Registry validity: 24 months; must complete 48 hours of in-service training and work at least 8 paid hours per renewal period • Registry lookup: CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS) — searchable online California's 160-hour requirement is nearly double the federal minimum. If you completed your training here, you have more preparation than candidates in almost any other state — use that advantage on exam day.

To become a Certified Nurse Assistant in California, you must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the California Nurse Assistant Competency Evaluation administered by CDPH-approved testing vendors on behalf of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). California has the most rigorous training requirements in the nation — 160 hours of instruction, compared to the federal minimum of 75 hours. Of those 160 hours, at least 50 must be hands-on clinical training. The exam consists of two parts: • A written (or oral) knowledge test: 70 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours • A clinical skills evaluation: demonstration of 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills You must pass both parts to be listed on the California Nurse Assistant Registry (CNAR). The passing score for the written test is 70%.

The California written exam follows the NNAAP (Nurse Aide Assessment Program) format. All 70 questions come from six content areas: • Physical Care Skills (45%) — bathing, grooming, feeding, transfers, positioning, catheter care, elimination • Safety & Emergency Procedures (14%) — fall prevention, RACE protocol, Heimlich maneuver, seizure response • Infection Control (14%) — hand hygiene, PPE order, isolation precautions, standard precautions • Resident Rights (11%) — OBRA regulations, right to refuse care, privacy, abuse reporting • Psychosocial Care Skills (8%) — therapeutic communication, dementia care, end of life • Role of the Nurse Aide (8%) — scope of practice, chain of command, documentation Physical Care Skills accounts for nearly half the exam. California candidates who concentrate their study time on bathing, transfers, positioning, and catheter care significantly improve their pass rate.

The California CNA exam is administered by three CDPH-approved testing vendors: Credentia, D&S Diversified Technologies (HDmaster), and the Regional Testing Center in Huntington Beach. Testing is available across all major regions: • Los Angeles area • San Diego • San Francisco Bay Area • Sacramento • Fresno • San Jose • Bakersfield • Riverside and San Bernardino To find testing locations and available dates, visit credentia.com or hdmaster.com and search for California nurse assistant. Your state-approved training program will issue your authorization to test once you complete the required 160 hours. Test dates in the Los Angeles and Bay Area fill up weeks in advance — schedule as soon as you receive your authorization.

The clinical skills evaluation is conducted at a CDPH-approved testing site run by your assigned vendor. You will be evaluated by a trained skills observer and asked to demonstrate 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills using a mannequin and standard equipment. Handwashing is evaluated as part of every skill — you must wash your hands at the start and end of each skill demonstration. Failure to perform the handwashing steps correctly can result in failing the entire skills test. Commonly tested skills in California include: • Handwashing • Providing catheter care for a female resident • Measuring and recording blood pressure • Transferring a resident from bed to wheelchair using a gait belt • Providing passive range of motion for the hip and knee • Positioning a resident in Fowler's position • Providing mouth care You do not need to perform skills perfectly but must complete all critical steps. Review the California Nurse Assistant Candidate Handbook (available on the CDPH website) for the complete list of skills and critical steps.

California's written exam pass rate for first-time candidates is typically around 65–70%. The additional training hours required in California mean candidates are generally well-prepared — but the exam still requires focused study. Recommended study approach: 1. Take a full 70-question diagnostic practice test before studying. Identify your weakest topics by section. 2. Focus on Physical Care Skills first — nearly half the exam comes from this section. Master bathing technique, gait belt use, transfer steps, and catheter care direction. 3. Study Infection Control next — California facilities place a strong emphasis on infection prevention, and these questions are very specific about PPE order and isolation precaution types. 4. Take timed practice tests. Aim for 80% or higher before your exam date to give yourself a buffer above the 70% passing threshold. 5. For the skills test, practice each skill from start to finish with handwashing included. Do not skip handwashing steps — it is the most common reason candidates fail the skills evaluation. CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free 70-question NNAAP practice test with 501 questions across all six topics — no signup required.

Once you pass both parts of the California exam, your name is added to the California Nurse Assistant Registry (CNAR) maintained by the CDPH. Employers are required to verify registry status before hiring. Your California CNA certification is valid for 24 months. To maintain your listing, you must work as a nurse assistant for at least 8 hours for pay during each 24-month renewal period. You must also complete 48 hours of in-service training during the same period. If your certification lapses, you must retake the full exam — written and skills — to be reinstated on the registry. Keeping your certification current is far easier than starting over. You can verify your registry status at the CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS) website.