North Carolina CNA Practice Test 2026 — Free NNAAP Prep (Credentia)

Here is everything North Carolina CNA candidates need to know before sitting for the exam: • Training required: 75 hours (at least 16 hours supervised clinical practice) • Exam vendor: Credentia, on behalf of the NC Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) • Written exam: 70 questions, 2 hours, passing score is 70% (49 of 70 correct) • Skills exam: 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills demonstrated at a Credentia testing facility • Exam fee: approximately $45 per section — written and skills are scheduled and 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 one week — check credentia.com for scheduling • Registry: North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry, maintained by the NC DHSR • Registry validity: 24 months; must work at least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide during each renewal period • Registry lookup: NC DHSR online registry search — employers are required to verify status before hiring North Carolina uses the Nurse Aide I (NA I) designation — this is the standard entry-level CNA credential. After gaining experience, CNAs can pursue Nurse Aide II (NA II) certification, which allows for more advanced tasks including venipuncture and IV therapy.

To become a Nurse Aide I in North Carolina, you must complete a state-approved training program and pass the North Carolina Nurse Aide I Competency Evaluation administered by Credentia on behalf of the NC Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR). North Carolina requires a minimum of 75 hours of CNA training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. The exam has 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 North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry. The passing score is 70%.

The North Carolina written exam follows the NNAAP format. The 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, fire response (RACE), Heimlich, seizure care • Infection Control (14%) — handwashing, PPE order, standard and transmission-based precautions • Resident Rights (11%) — OBRA regulations, right to refuse care, privacy, dignity, abuse reporting • Psychosocial Care Skills (8%) — therapeutic communication, dementia care, grief and end-of-life • Role of the Nurse Aide (8%) — scope of practice, documentation, chain of command North Carolina's growing elderly population means strong demand for CNAs across the state. Candidates who master Physical Care Skills and Resident Rights are best positioned for both the exam and the workforce.

The North Carolina CNA written exam is administered by Credentia at testing centers statewide: • Charlotte (multiple locations) • Raleigh and Durham • Greensboro • Winston-Salem • Fayetteville • Wilmington • Asheville • Greenville • High Point To find the nearest testing center and available dates, visit credentia.com and search for North Carolina nurse aide. Your training program will issue your authorization to test upon completion of the required coursework. Charlotte and Raleigh-area slots fill up quickly — register as soon as you receive your authorization.

The clinical skills evaluation is conducted at a Credentia skills testing facility. You will demonstrate 5 randomly selected skills with a trained evaluator scoring each one against a required steps checklist. Handwashing is evaluated as part of every skill — perform it at the start and end of each demonstration. North Carolina evaluators closely watch hand hygiene, gait belt placement, and perineal care direction. Commonly tested North Carolina skills include: • Handwashing • Measuring and recording oral temperature • Providing catheter care for a female resident • Assisting with a bed-to-wheelchair transfer using a gait belt • Passive range of motion for the shoulder • Positioning in the lateral (side-lying) position • Providing perineal care The North Carolina Nurse Aide I Candidate Handbook, available through Credentia, contains the full list of skills and required steps.

North Carolina's first-attempt written exam pass rate is approximately 70–75%. Structured practice test preparation is the most reliable way to pass on the first try. Recommended study plan: 1. Take a full 70-question diagnostic practice test before studying anything. Identify your weakest topics by section score. 2. Start with Physical Care Skills — 45% of the exam. Focus on transfer steps, catheter care technique (front to back for female residents), proper bathing order, and standard positioning. 3. Study Infection Control and Safety together — 28% of the exam combined. Know PPE donning and doffing order and the RACE protocol without having to think. 4. Take at least two full timed practice tests before your exam date. Aim for 80% — the passing score is 70%, so build in a buffer. 5. For the skills test, practice each skill from start (handwashing) through completion (final handwashing) multiple times. Do not rush — take your time to complete each required step. CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free 70-question NNAAP practice test with 501 questions across all six content areas — no signup required.

After passing both parts of the exam, your name is added to the North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry maintained by DHSR. North Carolina employers must verify registry status before hiring any nurse aide. Your North Carolina 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. If your certification lapses, you must retake the full competency evaluation. You can verify your North Carolina nurse aide registry status through the DHSR online registry search.