How much does the CNA exam cost in California?

The CNA certification exam fee in California is $120. This covers both the written and skills portions.

California CNA Practice Test — Free NNAAP Prep

Preparing for your California CNA certification exam? Practice with 501 free NNAAP questions covering every topic on the written exam — no signup required.

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California CNA Exam — Quick Facts

160

Training hours required

$120

Exam fee

Credentia

Testing vendor

Retake policy: Up to 3 attempts; must complete new training after 3 failures

California Nurse Aide Registry →

CNA Pay in California

Full salary breakdown →

$21.49/hr

Avg hourly wage

$45K

Avg annual salary

+4.18/hr

vs national avg

What's on the California CNA Written Exam?

The California nurse aide written exam uses the NNAAP format and covers six core topic areas. Click any topic to open the study guide and practice questions for that section.

Physical Care Skills

45% of exam · 225 practice questions

Psychosocial Care Skills

8% of exam · 40 practice questions

Role of the Nurse Aide

8% of exam · 40 practice questions

Safety & Emergency Procedures

14% of exam · 70 practice questions

Infection Control

14% of exam · 70 practice questions

Resident Rights

11% of exam · 55 practice questions

Try a California CNA Practice Quiz

Answer 10 sample questions — one from each NNAAP topic area — to see where you stand before exam day.

California Practice — 1 of 10

When assisting a resident with a shower, grab bars and non-slip mats are provided. Why are these safety devices especially important?

How to pass the CNA exam in California

1Complete 160 hours of state-approved training to become eligible to test
2Take our free diagnostic quiz to find your weak areas before exam day
3Study the topics where you scored below 70% using our study guides and flashcards
4Register with Credentia and pay the $120 fee — bring your training completion certificate
5When your practice test score reaches 80%+, you're ready for the real exam

California CNA Exam — Frequently Asked Questions

How many training hours do I need in California?

California requires 160 hours of state-approved training before you can sit for the certification exam.

Who gives the CNA exam in California?

The California nurse aide competency exam is administered by Credentia. You schedule your test directly through them after completing training.

How much does the California CNA exam cost?

The exam fee is $120. This covers both the written (knowledge) and skills (clinical) portions of the competency evaluation.

What happens if I fail the CNA exam in California?

Up to 3 attempts; must complete new training after 3 failures

Also prepare for the clinical skills test

The CNA exam has two parts: the written test and the clinical skills test. You'll be evaluated on 5 randomly selected skills from the NNAAP list of 25. These six are tested most often — click any to open the step-by-step checklist.

Handwashing

Observed on every skill

Checklist →

Indirect Care

Observed on every skill

Checklist →

Blood Pressure

Most common vital sign skill

Checklist →

Range of Motion

Common fail — joints skipped

Checklist →