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CNA practice tests: free official options

Test companies give free CNA practice: sample questions and skills checklists. Prometric sells 50-question tests at US$15; Headmaster from US$8.95.

Checked November 15, 2026
Care staff with residents in a care home day room
Photo: Pexels

Short answer: The best free CNA practice comes from the company that runs your state's test: Credentia's handbook has free sample questions, Headmaster offers a free question of the day and a free 10-question test, and Prometric publishes its skills checklists for free. Full practice tests cost money: Prometric sells 50-question written tests at US$15 each, and Headmaster sells practice tests from US$8.95.

A comparison grid of Credentia, Prometric and Headmaster showing each company's free practice, its paid practice price, and whether it covers the written or skills test

Start with your own state's test company

Each state chooses its own testing company, and each company writes its own test: the written test can be 60, 70 or 79 questions long, and the skills lists differ. Practice from the right company is worth more than a general quiz. To find your company, see CNA state exam: who runs it in your state.

What each test company offers

Company Free Paid Written or skills
Credentia (NNAAP) Sample written questions and a reading self-test in the candidate handbook; full skills list with critical steps Skills practice simulations on web and XR (extended reality); price not shown on the page Both
Prometric Clinical Skills Checklist, skills instructions, timing information and measurement forms on each state page Written practice: 3 tests of 50 questions at US$15 each, or one 150-question test at US$35. Clinical Skills Readiness Test: US$10 per skill set, or US$35 for all skills Both (the skills readiness test is multiple choice)
Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) Question of the day; a free 10-question practice test (named in the Ohio handbook); skills task list in each state handbook Practice tests: 1 for US$8.95, 5 for US$34.95, 20 for US$99.95, 100 for US$299.95 Written; skills from the handbook

Prometric's Florida bulletin prints older practice prices (US$10 per test and US$25 for all three). The prices above are from Prometric's own practice page, read November 15, 2026. Check the price on the checkout page before you pay.

Credentia

Credentia runs the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP). Its online candidate handbook for each state includes a short set of sample written questions and a two-part reading self-test. Credentia says that if you score fewer than 17 correct on the reading test, you may have difficulty with the written exam and should think about the oral version. The handbook also lists all 23 NNAAP skills with their steps, and the critical steps are in bold.

Prometric

Prometric says its practice tests are based on federal regulations and apply to all states. Each written practice test gives feedback on every answer, with reasons and textbook references. The Clinical Skills Readiness Test is a set of multiple-choice questions about the skills. It does not replace hands-on practice, because in the real test you perform the skills.

The free Clinical Skills Checklist is the most useful free item. Prometric calls it "the exact checklist" your evaluator will use. Prometric also says the checklists are not written as procedures: they show what the nurse looks for, not how to learn the skill.

Headmaster

Headmaster's paid practice tests use mastery learning: you must answer each question correctly before the next one opens. At the end you get a first-attempt score and a list of words to study. When you buy, choose your state so the questions follow your state's test plan. Headmaster says practice tests do not replace your state candidate handbook, skills lists or training materials.

How to judge a free practice site

Many websites offer free CNA practice tests. Some are useful. Some are out of date or wrong. Before you trust one, check:

  1. Does it name the test company and the state? A test built for the NNAAP will not match a Headmaster state.
  2. Does it explain each answer? A score alone does not teach you.
  3. Is it dated? The NNAAP content outline changed in 2024. Old material may not match.
  4. Does it claim to have the real questions? Federal rules require a system that prevents disclosure of the question pool. Be careful with any site that claims to show the real test.
  5. Does it cover skills? Half of your certification is the skills test, which you can only practice with your hands.

Two example items

These show the style of a CNA written question. They are not from any real test.

Example (written by All Nursing Exams). A resident asks for help to the bathroom while you are making an empty bed. What should you do? A. Tell the resident to wait until you finish the bed. B. Stop and help the resident now. C. Ask the resident to use the call light later. D. Report the request to the nurse and keep working. Answer: B. A toileting need cannot wait, and an empty bed can.

Example (written by All Nursing Exams). Which action best protects a resident's privacy during bathing? A. Leave the door open so staff can help. B. Close the door and pull the curtain. C. Bathe the resident quickly. D. Ask the family to leave the building. Answer: B.

What to do next

  1. Find your state's test company and download its candidate handbook.
  2. Read the skills list and practice each skill with a classmate, step by step.
  3. Use the free items first, then buy a paid practice test only from your own state's company if you want more.

Common questions

Are paid practice tests required?

No. New York's manual, written by the state health department, says taking the Prometric practice exam is not a requirement.

Can I practice the skills test online?

You can study the steps online, and Credentia sells skills simulations. You still need to practice with your hands, because the evaluator watches you perform each skill.

Sources