Washington NAC Exam Guide: Skills Test, Knowledge Test, Fees, and Retakes

Washington's nursing assistant certification exam has two parts taken in a fixed order: an in-person skills test administered by your training program for a $100 fee, followed by an online knowledge test administered by Credentia for $55. You must pass the skills test before you can register for the knowledge test, and you must pass both before the Department of Health will issue the Nursing Assistant-Certified (NAC) credential. This guide explains how each part works, what evaluators actually score, and what happens if you do not pass the first time.

What changed in 2023

Before October 1, 2023, Washington's exam was administered end to end by a national testing vendor. The Board of Nursing restructured the process so that approved training programs administer the skills portion themselves, while Credentia administers the written (or oral) portion. The total cost stayed the same but was split: $100 to the skills test site and $55 to Credentia. The other notable change is sequencing. Candidates are now expected to pass the skills test first and register for the knowledge test only after that result is recorded.

If you read an older guide that describes a single test day with both parts, it is out of date.

Part 1: The in-person skills test

Who administers it

Your training program, if it offers testing. Most established Washington programs, including Huduma CNA Programs, run skills testing on site with trained evaluators. Programs that do not offer testing route students through the board's online scheduling system.

What you are asked to do

You perform a set of nursing assistant skills on a volunteer or mannequin in a simulated care setting. Hand hygiene is always tested. The remaining skills are drawn from the Washington skills list, which includes:

• Measuring and recording blood pressure, radial pulse, respirations, weight, and urinary output.
• Giving a modified bed bath and providing perineal care.
• Providing mouth care, denture care, and foot care.
• Feeding a resident who cannot feed themselves.
• Dressing a resident with a weak arm.
• Transferring a resident from bed to wheelchair using a transfer belt and assisting with ambulation.
• Positioning a resident on their side and performing passive range of motion.
• Providing catheter care.
• Applying a knee-high elastic stocking.
• Donning and removing gown and gloves.
• Assisting with a bedpan.

You are not told in advance which skills you will draw. Programs that build in mock testing, like the four hours built into Huduma's HCA–CNA Bridge, rehearse the full list under test conditions.

How it is scored

Each skill has a checklist of steps. Some are critical steps related to safety, infection control, and resident dignity. Missing a critical step typically fails the skill regardless of how well everything else was done. Common critical steps include:

• Washing hands or using sanitizer at the correct points.
• Explaining the procedure to the resident before starting.
• Locking wheelchair and bed brakes before a transfer.
• Checking water temperature before a bath.
• Using a transfer belt correctly and never lifting under the arms.
• Maintaining privacy with curtains, doors, and draping.
• Leaving the call light within reach and the bed in a safe position at the end.

Evaluators can only score what they can see or hear. Saying "I am checking the water temperature" while doing it is not optional theater; it is how the step gets credited.

Attempts

Under WAC 246-841A-430, approved programs must allow students at least four attempts to take and pass the skills competency exam. Retakes are scheduled through the program and each attempt carries the test-site fee.

Part 2: The Credentia knowledge test

Registering

Once your program records a passing skills result, you register on the Credentia website for the Washington nursing assistant written examination. The fee is $55. You choose a testing appointment; online proctored options are available, and some test sites offer in-person sessions.

Format

The knowledge test is multiple choice and covers the content areas in the state curriculum: role and responsibilities of the nursing assistant, resident rights, communication, infection control, safety and emergencies, personal care skills, basic nursing skills such as vital signs, restorative care, mental health and social needs, and care of the dying resident. Questions are written in plain language and test application, not just recall: expect scenarios such as "A resident refuses a bath. What should the nursing assistant do first?"

The oral option

Candidates who read English with difficulty can request the oral version, in which questions are read aloud through headphones. The content is the same. Programs can help you determine whether you qualify and how to request it when you register.

Results

Knowledge test results are typically available quickly after the appointment. Credentia transmits passing results to the Department of Health; you do not need to mail anything.

Putting the sequence together

For the full credentialing picture, including renewal and the NAR option, see Washington State CNA Requirements.

If you fail the skills test

Failing one skill fails the attempt, but you do not go back to square one. Your evaluator's feedback tells you which steps were missed. The most productive response is to practice those specific skills to the checklist standard, ask your instructor to watch you perform them, and reschedule promptly while the rest of the material is fresh. Programs must allow at least four attempts, and most candidates who fail once pass on the second try. Candidates using the OBRA reactivation route are the exception: they receive a single attempt and must pass both parts the first time or retrain.

If you fail the knowledge test

Credentia allows retakes with a new registration and fee. Look at your score report for the content areas with the weakest results, then study those areas using your course materials and practice questions. If test anxiety or reading speed was the problem, ask about the oral format for the retake.

Preparing effectively

• Treat the checklist as the exam. Practice each skill in the exact order of the steps, verbalizing safety actions as you go.
• Practice on people, not just mannequins. Classmates and family members give you real feedback on communication and comfort.
• Time yourself. Skills tests have time limits; practice finishing within them without rushing safety steps.
• Use the mock test. A simulated test under exam conditions, with an evaluator who is not your everyday instructor, exposes habits you cannot see yourself.
• For the knowledge test, read the whole question. Many wrong answers come from reacting to the first sentence of a scenario.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Washington CNA exam cost? $155 in total: $100 for the skills test paid to the test site, and $55 for the knowledge test paid to Credentia.

Can I take the knowledge test first? No. Washington requires a passing skills result before you register for the knowledge test.

Is the exam different for HCA bridge graduates? No. Bridge and traditional graduates take the same skills and knowledge tests.

How long are my exam results valid? Apply for the NAC promptly after passing. The DOH can advise on validity periods if your application is delayed significantly.

Where do I take the skills test? At your training program's test site if it offers testing. Otherwise, use the board's online scheduling to find an available site.

To prepare with a program that tests on site, review the CNA Traditional and HCA–CNA Bridge pages and current class dates.