May 12, 2026
Free West Virginia CNA Practice Test 2026 — 100-Question PHD Exam
West Virginia CNA exam facts for 2026: 120-hour training, PHD vendor, a 100-question/90-minute exam (not the standard 70/2hr), $140 fee, and free practice questions.
West Virginia CNA Exam — Key Facts (2026)
Here is what every West Virginia CNA candidate needs to know before sitting for the exam — note that West Virginia's written exam format is genuinely different from most other states:
• Training required: 120 hours (including 55 hours of supervised clinical practice) — well above the 75-hour federal minimum
• Exam vendor: Professional Healthcare Development, LLC (PHD), on behalf of the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC)
• Written exam: 100 questions, 90 minutes — more questions than the standard 70-question format
• Skills exam: 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills, 30 minutes
• Exam fee: $140 for the first attempt (written + skills); written-only $55, skills-only $85, oral $180
• Retake limit: up to 3 attempts, within 2 years of completing training — after that, a new approved training program is required
PHD does not publish a fixed percentage breakdown by content area the way some other vendors do, so don't rely on a generic "45% Physical Care Skills" study plan here — study broadly across all core nurse aide competencies.
West Virginia CNA Certification Overview
To become a Certified Nurse Aide in West Virginia, you must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the West Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation administered by Professional Healthcare Development, LLC (PHD) on behalf of the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC).
West Virginia requires a minimum of 120 hours of CNA training — well above the federal minimum of 75 hours — including at least 55 hours of supervised clinical practice. This reflects West Virginia's commitment to a strong standard of care.
The exam has two parts:
• A written (or oral) knowledge test: 100 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes
• A clinical skills evaluation: demonstration of 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills, 30 minutes
You must pass both parts to be listed on the West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry.
West Virginia CNA Written Exam — What Is Tested
West Virginia's written exam does not use the national NNAAP format most other states use. PHD's exam has 100 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes — more questions, in less relative time per question, than the standard 70-question/2-hour format.
PHD does not publish a fixed category/weight breakdown for the written exam. Content is drawn broadly from the core nurse aide competencies covered in your state-approved training program: basic nursing skills, personal care, safety and emergency procedures, infection control, resident rights, communication, and the nurse aide's role and scope of practice. Because there's no published weighting, even, broad preparation across every topic in your training matters more here than concentrating on one domain.
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West Virginia PHD Testing Locations
The West Virginia CNA written exam is administered at PHD (Professional Healthcare Development LLC) testing centers throughout the state:
• Charleston
• Huntington
• Morgantown
• Parkersburg
• Wheeling
• Weirton
• Fairmont
• Martinsburg
• Beckley
To find the nearest testing site and available exam dates, contact PHD or visit the West Virginia DHHR website for current registration instructions. Charleston and Morgantown have the most testing availability.
West Virginia CNA Skills Test — What to Expect
The clinical skills evaluation is held at a PHD (Professional Healthcare Development, LLC) skills testing site. You will demonstrate 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills from the West Virginia Nurse Aide Program Policy Manual's official skills list, with 30 minutes to complete all five.
Handwashing is evaluated with every skill — perform it at the start and end of each demonstration. Incomplete hand hygiene is the most common reason West Virginia candidates fail the skills evaluation. A trained RN evaluator scores each step, and refusing to attempt any assigned skill fails the exam regardless of your score on the others.
The West Virginia Nurse Aide Program Policy Manual (Appendix F) is available through OHFLAC or your training program and lists every possible skill.
How to Prepare for the West Virginia CNA Exam
West Virginia's written exam first-attempt pass rate is approximately 70–75%.
1. Take a full 100-question diagnostic practice test before studying.
2. Study broadly — PHD doesn't publish a weighted category breakdown, so don't over-focus on any one topic.
3. Study infection control and safety carefully — PPE order and emergency response protocols are frequently tested regardless of exact weighting.
4. Run at least one full timed 90-minute practice test before exam day.
5. Target 80% on practice tests before your real exam.
CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free NNAAP-style practice test with 500+ questions — no account required.
After You Pass — West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry
After passing both parts of the West Virginia exam, your name is added to the West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry maintained by OHFLAC (Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification, within DHHR). West Virginia employers must verify registry status before hiring nurse aides in licensed facilities.
Your West Virginia 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 OHFLAC website.
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