Announcement : 

All recent Nurse Assistant Training Graduates must submit a completed initial nurse aide application/283b form [PDF] to CDPH either by mail or through the CDPH online portal for your information to be added to the Nurse Assistant Registry. 

This form must be submitted to CDPH prior to the program completion.

The test applicant must create a profile to facilitate the processing of your state license. 

Do NOT wait to create your CDPH Account Profile after you passed the nurse assistant certification exam. 

Important Information:

Announcement:

• Registration forms/fees must be received in the Regional Testing Center (RTC) office a miminum of 20 business days before the preferred exam date.
• Once registered, the applicant will receive an email or letter confirmation including
  • the scheduled examination date and time.
  • test site location address
  • instructions on what to bring to the exam.
  • Confirmation letters and email are not required for entrance to the examination. 
• If you do not receive a confirmation letter or email within 7 days of your requested exam date, contact the RTC to confirm your test registration.

How to Register for an Exam:

1. Complete CNA Registration Form [PDF]

a. Incomplete registration forms will not be processed and return to the applicant.
b. If you are currently enrolled in the CNA program and a non-graduate, include with your application the California Training ID and end date (found on your 283B Form.

c. License Renewal or Equivalency Applicants

Include the Sponsor ID and approval date found on your Approval Letter/932 Form sent by the CA Department of Public Health (CDPH).

2. Select Exam Dates and Test Site
a. 1st preferred selection is based on space availability. 
b. If 1st selection is unavailable, the candidate will be registered for 2nd choice.
c. If both preferred sites or test dates are not available, the candidate will be contacted by email or phone to select another test date and/or location.
d. Should the candidate cannot be contacted, the registration form and fees will be returned via U.S. mail to the candidate.

3. Include with the application the Testing Payment (money order or cashier’s check only). 

Mail application to:

Testing Day:

Please arrive 15-20 minutes prior the scheduled exam time begins for parking and checking in. Late arrivals are not allowed to test.  The applicant may request to reschedule the exam for another available time. Rescheduling fee will be applied. 

All fees are non-refundable.

Each candidate must bring the following items to sit for the examination:

1. Original 283-B form OR CDPH 932 form. (Copies are not be accepted)
2. Social Security card (receipts from social security office, photocopies, or laminated cards will not be accepted)
3. A valid government issued photo ID (state driver's license, state ID, military ID, or passports are accepted as a form of identification). Photocopies or receipts are not be accepted.
4. Face mask
   • Any surgical face mask is accepted.
   • Nose and mouth must be fully covered.

Failure to bring any items listed above or if your names do not match your identification, the applicant is NOT admitted into the testing area and must reschedule the exam for another day. A testing rescheduling fee is applied.

Exam Details:

The Certified Nurse Assistant state exam consist of two areas:

1. Written/Oral Written
2. Manual Examination. 

Written Exam:

• There will be a total of 70 multiple choice questions.
• Maximum hours to complete the exam:  2 hours 
• 15 minutes warning time to complete the exam will be communicated by the test evaluator.

ORAL Written Examination:

• For applicants who elect to request for an ORAL WRITTEN exam, the applicant will receive an MP3 player with headphones. An additional $15 fee is added to the application fees.

Manual Exam:

• The exam is 4-6 hours. Please plan accordingly.
• Be prepared to complete and test on five (5) different skills.
  • The "hand washing" skill will be on all exams.
• The student will have 30 minutes to complete the exam.
• There are 23 skills in the handbook. The skills that states "Skills Not Tested" are not included in the final grading score.
• A step that is highlighted in bold type is called a Critical Element Step. If you leave out a critical element step or do not perform correctly, you will fail the exam.

Exam Results:

Please DO NOT contact the Regional Testing Center or the District Office for your exam results.

Results/score reports will not be handed out on the exam date. You will be asked to bring a self-addressed stamped envelope as your results/score reports will be mailed to you within 24 hours of the exam date.

Test Results processing time is 5-7 business days. If you still have not received your results after this time period, please contact Credentia at scorenow@credentia.com.

In the communication to Credentia, the applicant will need to include the following information to request for a copy of the results:

• Full name (first and last)
• Date of birth
• Exam date
• Test site/location
• Last 4 digits of SSN
• Email address