Free Kentucky CNA Practice Test 2026 — 75-Question HDmaster Exam

Here is what every Kentucky CNA candidate needs to know before sitting for the exam — note that Kentucky's written exam content and skills-test scoring are both genuinely different from the generic NNAAP template: • Training required: 75 hours (federal minimum) • Exam administrator: HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) through the Kentucky Medicaid Nurse Aide Testing program, overseen by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) on behalf of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) • Written exam: 75 questions, 120 minutes (2 hours) — the question count and content domains are Kentucky-specific, even though the time limit happens to match the generic format • Skills exam: 5 randomly selected skills; each must be performed at 70% accuracy (not the usual 80%) with all critical steps performed at 100% • Passing score: 70% on the written exam • Exam fee: varies by KCTCS campus — $115 at some locations (written $40 + skills $75), a flat $135 "State Registry Exam" fee at others, for the same overall testing pathway. Confirm the exact amount with your own training program. • Retake limit: employed candidates get 3 attempts within 4 months of hire date; candidates not currently employed get 3 attempts within 1 year of training completion • Registry: Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry, maintained by CHFS If you've studied using a generic "70 questions, 45% Physical Care Skills" practice test, recalibrate — Kentucky's real exam is 75 questions built from its own 12-category test plan.

To become a Certified Nurse Aide in Kentucky, you must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the Kentucky Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) through the Kentucky Medicaid Nurse Aide Testing program on behalf of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). Kentucky requires a minimum of 75 hours of CNA training. The exam has two parts: • A written (or oral) knowledge test: 75 multiple-choice questions, 120 minutes • A clinical skills evaluation: demonstration of 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills, each scored at a 70% accuracy threshold You must pass both parts to be listed on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry. The passing score for the written exam is 70%.

Kentucky doesn't use the national NNAAP content outline — HDmaster's Kentucky-specific test plan breaks the 75 questions into 12 content domains: • Client Rights (9 questions) • Disease Process (9 questions) • Role and Responsibility (9 questions) • Basic Nursing Skills (10 questions) • Safety (7 questions) • Communication (6 questions) • Infection Control (6 questions) • Data Collection (4 questions) • Mental Health (4 questions) • Personal Care (4 questions) • Care Impaired (5 questions) • Aging Process and Restorative Care (2 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 13% of the exam, with Client Rights, Disease Process, and Role and Responsibility close behind.

The Kentucky CNA written exam is administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) at testing centers throughout the state: • Louisville • Lexington • Bowling Green • Owensboro • Covington • Hopkinsville • Richmond • Florence • Elizabethtown • Paducah To find the nearest testing center and available exam dates, visit hdmaster.com and search for Kentucky nurse aide. Louisville and Lexington have the most testing availability.

The clinical skills evaluation is held at an HDmaster skills testing site. You will demonstrate 5 randomly selected skills before a trained evaluator. Unlike most states, each skill only needs to be performed at 70% accuracy to pass — but all critical (bolded) steps must still be performed correctly. Handwashing is evaluated with every skill — perform it at the start and end of each demonstration. Incomplete hand hygiene is the most common reason Kentucky candidates fail the skills evaluation. The Kentucky Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook is available on the HDmaster website and lists every possible skill and required step.

Kentucky's written exam first-attempt pass rate is approximately 70–75%. 1. Take a full 75-question diagnostic practice test before studying. Review your scores across all twelve Kentucky content areas — don't assume one category dominates. 2. Prioritize Basic Nursing Skills, Client Rights, Disease Process, and Role and Responsibility — the four largest categories — but budget real study time for the smaller ones too. 3. Practice under timed conditions — 120 minutes for 75 questions, a slower pace per question than most HDmaster states. 4. Target 80% on practice tests before your real exam date. 5. If you're employed and testing through your facility, remember your retake window is only 4 months from your hire date — don't delay prep. CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free NNAAP-style practice test with 500+ questions — no account required.

After passing both parts of the Kentucky exam, your name is added to the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry maintained by CHFS. Kentucky employers must verify registry status before hiring nurse aides in licensed facilities. Your Kentucky 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 competency exam. Registry status can be verified through the CHFS website.