May 12, 2026
Free CNA Practice Test Iowa 2026 — NNAAP Exam Prep Guide
Everything Iowa CNA candidates need to know — exam format, HDmaster and Credentia testing locations, training requirements, and free NNAAP practice tests to help you pass on your first try.
Iowa CNA Exam — Key Facts (2026)
Here is what every Iowa CNA candidate needs to know before sitting for the exam — Iowa genuinely lets you pick between two different vendors for your written exam:
• Training required: 75 hours (federal minimum)
• Exam vendors: as of January 2026, DIAL contracts with both HDmaster and Credentia for the written exam — candidates choose: $50 remote (HDmaster), $70 remote (Credentia), or $50 proctored at an Iowa community college. Community colleges now serve only as testing sites, not registrars.
• Clinical skills exam: $115, administered at a community college, separate from whichever vendor you pick for the written exam
• Registry: Iowa Nurse Aide Registry, maintained by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL)
Because HDmaster and Credentia don't use identical test plans, confirm with your training program which vendor's study materials match your actual registration before you start preparing — don't assume the generic national NNAAP format applies if you've registered with HDmaster.
Iowa CNA Certification Overview
To become a Certified Nurse Aide in Iowa, you must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the Iowa Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation. Iowa is a genuine dual-vendor state: DIAL contracts with both HDmaster and Credentia, and candidates choose which one administers their written exam.
Iowa requires a minimum of 75 hours of CNA training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Most approved programs meet or exceed this requirement.
The exam has two parts:
• A written (or oral) knowledge test, administered by whichever vendor you choose
• A clinical skills evaluation, administered separately at a community college for a flat $115 regardless of your written-exam vendor
You must pass both parts to be listed on the Iowa Nurse Aide Registry.
Iowa CNA Written Exam — What Is Tested
Iowa's written exam content depends entirely on which vendor you register with. Credentia's exam follows the standard national NNAAP format — 70 questions across six content areas, led by Physical Care Skills at 45%. HDmaster's Iowa exam, consistent with how HDmaster runs testing in most other states, uses its own state-specific test plan with different categories and weights — the exact Iowa-specific breakdown was not independently confirmed in this research pass.
Confirm with your training program which vendor you're registered with, and use matching study materials — don't assume the generic NNAAP format if you're on the HDmaster path.
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Iowa CNA Testing Locations
The Iowa CNA written exam can be taken remotely (HDmaster or Credentia) or in-person, proctored at an Iowa community college:
• Des Moines
• Cedar Rapids
• Davenport
• Sioux City
• Iowa City
• Waterloo
• Council Bluffs
• Ames
• Dubuque
• Ankeny
To find the nearest community college testing site and available exam dates, visit hdmaster.com, credentia.com, or check with your training program — they'll confirm which vendor you're registered with and where to schedule. The clinical skills exam is separately scheduled at a community college.
Iowa CNA Skills Test — What to Expect
The clinical skills evaluation is held at an Iowa community college for a flat $115 fee, regardless of which vendor administered your written exam. You will demonstrate randomly selected skills before a trained evaluator.
Handwashing is evaluated with every skill — perform it at the start and end of each demonstration. Failing to complete hand hygiene steps is a common reason Iowa candidates fail the skills test.
Commonly tested skills include:
• Handwashing
• Measuring and recording blood pressure
• Providing perineal care for a female resident
• Transferring a resident from bed to wheelchair using a gait belt
• Positioning a resident in Fowler's position
• Providing passive range of motion for the shoulder and elbow
• Making an occupied bed
The Iowa Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook is available through your training program or the DIAL website.
How to Prepare for the Iowa CNA Exam
Iowa's written exam first-attempt pass rate is approximately 70–75%. Since Iowa genuinely runs two different exam formats depending on your chosen vendor, your first step should be confirming which one applies to you.
1. Ask your training program (or check your registration confirmation) whether you're testing through HDmaster or Credentia — the content and format differ.
2. If you're on the Credentia path, use standard NNAAP practice materials — 70 questions across six content areas, with Physical Care Skills at 45%.
3. If you're on the HDmaster path, don't rely on generic NNAAP practice questions — HDmaster states typically use their own state-specific test plan with different category weights.
4. Either way, drill the clinical skills checklist thoroughly, since the $115 skills exam is identical regardless of which vendor administered your written exam.
5. Target 80% or higher on practice tests before scheduling your real exam.
CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free NNAAP-style practice test with 500+ questions — no account required.
After You Pass — Iowa Nurse Aide Registry
After passing both parts of the Iowa exam, your name is added to the Iowa Nurse Aide Registry maintained by DIAL. Iowa employers must verify registry status before hiring nurse aides in licensed facilities.
Your Iowa 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 during each renewal period. Lapsed certifications require retaking the full competency exam.
Registry status can be verified through the Iowa DIAL website.
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