Credentia Knowledge Test for Washington CNAs: Format, Topics, and Passing Score

The Credentia knowledge test is Part 2 of Washington's nursing assistant certification exam. It is a multiple-choice test, delivered online with a proctor or in person at a test site, with an oral version available for candidates who read English with difficulty. The fee is $55, paid to Credentia when you register, and you can only register after your training program has recorded a passing result on the $100 in-person skills test. Credentia sends passing results to the Washington State Department of Health, which then issues the Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) credential once your application and background check are complete.

Who takes the Credentia test and when

Since October 1, 2023, Washington has split its exam between two administrators. Training programs run the skills test; Credentia runs the knowledge test. Every candidate route that requires testing takes the same Credentia test: traditional program graduates, Home Care Aide bridge graduates, nursing students, out-of-state applicants who must test, and people reactivating a lapsed credential. The sequencing rule applies to all of them. If you try to register with Credentia before your skills pass is on file, the registration will not go through.

That means the timing of your knowledge test is controlled by your skills test date. A candidate who passes skills in the week after finishing a four-week program can usually register the same week and test within a few weeks, depending on appointment availability. Details on the registration steps are in how to register for the Washington CNA exam.

Format at a glance

Credentia publishes the current number of questions and the time limit in its Washington candidate handbook; check that document before your appointment rather than relying on figures quoted in older forums, because vendor and state changes have altered them in the past.

Content areas on the test

The test is written to the Washington nursing assistant curriculum, the same curriculum WAC 246-841A-440 requires approved programs to teach in their 35 classroom hours. Expect questions in these areas:

• Role and responsibilities of the nursing assistant, including scope of practice, delegation, and when to report to the nurse.
• Resident rights, including privacy, choice, freedom from restraint and abuse, and the right to refuse care.
• Communication, including working with residents who have hearing, vision, speech, or cognitive impairments.
• Infection control, including standard precautions, hand hygiene, and isolation.
• Safety and emergencies, including fall prevention, fire response, choking, and body mechanics.
• Personal care skills, the theory behind bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and skin care.
• Basic nursing skills, including vital signs, intake and output, and observation.
• Restorative care, including range of motion, positioning, and promoting independence.
• Mental health and social needs, including dementia care and responding to difficult behaviors.
• Care of the dying resident and postmortem care.

Questions are application-based. Rather than asking you to define "standard precautions," a question describes a situation and asks what the nursing assistant should do first, or what should be reported. A typical stem reads: "A resident with a new cast on the left leg says the toes feel numb. What should the nursing assistant do?" The correct answer is the action that keeps the resident safe and gets the nurse involved. Learn to identify the safest, most resident-centered option, and to spot answers that exceed a nursing assistant's scope.

What "passing score" means in Washington

Washington does not publish a raw number of correct answers that guarantees a pass. The passing standard is set by the state and applied by Credentia, and results are reported as pass or fail rather than as a percentage. Two practical consequences follow. First, do not aim for a bare minimum; aim to be solid in every content area, because the standard reflects competence across the whole curriculum. Second, if you fail, your score report shows the content areas where you were weakest, and that report is the study plan for your retake. More on turnaround and reading your result is in how Washington CNA exam results work.

Online, in person, or oral: choosing a delivery option

The online proctored option lets you test from home on a computer with a webcam, microphone, and a stable connection. You will be asked to show identification, scan the room, and keep your workspace clear. It is the fastest way to get an appointment for many candidates, but a poor internet connection or a shared household can make it stressful. The in-person option at a Credentia test site removes the technology risk. The oral option is the same test read aloud through headphones; you still select answers on screen. If reading speed rather than nursing knowledge is your limiting factor, read who qualifies for the oral CNA exam in Washington before you register, because the format is selected at registration. Candidates with a documented disability can request other accommodations through Credentia; see Washington CNA exam accommodations.

Registration and fees in brief

1. Confirm your training program has recorded your skills pass; ask them directly if you are unsure.
2. Create or log in to your Credentia account and select the Washington nursing assistant knowledge test.
3. Choose online or in-person delivery, and the oral format if you qualify.
4. Pay the $55 fee and book an appointment.
5. On test day, have valid government-issued photo identification ready.

The total exam cost is $155 across both parts. A retake requires a new registration and a new $55 fee.

A study plan built around the content areas

Your course materials already cover everything on the test. The most efficient plan uses the content areas as a checklist:

• Spend the first study block on resident rights, safety, and infection control together. These areas overlap heavily and produce many of the "what should you do first" questions.
• Review vital signs ranges and the observations that must be reported immediately; these produce direct questions with one clearly correct answer.
• Practice with scenario questions and, for every wrong answer, write down why the correct option was better. Patterns appear fast: you may be choosing actions that belong to the nurse, or choosing to reassure a resident when the correct move is to report.
• Take at least one timed practice set to learn your pace.
• In the final days, reread the skills checklists you used for Part 1. The knowledge test asks about the reasons behind the same steps, such as why the bed goes low or why you dress the weak side first, so the skills list doubles as review material.

Students in Huduma CNA Programs' CNA Traditional course cover this content in the 35 theory hours and get instructor feedback on practice questions before testing.

After the test

A pass closes the exam requirement. Credentia transmits the result to the Department of Health, and your remaining tasks are the NA-C application, the name-based background check, and any fees on the DOH fee schedule. A fail means a new registration and fee, plus targeted study using the content-area feedback. There is no waiting period unique to Washington beyond appointment availability, so most candidates who fail can retest within weeks.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Credentia knowledge test cost in Washington? $55, paid to Credentia when you register. Combined with the $100 skills test fee, the full exam costs $155.

Can I register for the Credentia test before my skills test? No. Washington requires a recorded skills pass before Credentia will accept your registration.

Is the knowledge test available in languages other than English? The test is given in English. The oral format, which reads questions aloud, is the standard support for candidates who read English with difficulty. Check Credentia's Washington candidate handbook for any current language options.

What score do I need to pass? Washington reports results as pass or fail against a standard set by the state. Credentia does not publish a fixed number of correct answers; prepare across every content area.

How soon can I retake the knowledge test if I fail? As soon as you register again, pay the $55 fee, and find an appointment. Use the content-area feedback on your score report to focus your study.

Do bridge graduates take a shorter knowledge test? No. HCA–CNA Bridge graduates and traditional graduates take the same Credentia test.

For the complete two-part exam process, including retake rules for the skills portion, see the Washington NAC exam guide.