If you read through your training materials and studied online information as suggested in the Guide to Studying for and Taking the CNA Exam, and you still feel you aren’t ready for your CNA test, then you may want to take a practice test. Practice tests often help students feel more confident as they head into the exam, as practice tests can give students a feel for what to truly expect from the written and clinical parts of the CNA exam.

While many pre-test sites often demand money to take a practice test, these same sites often provide sample questions and previews so you know what you’re buying. One such site is Pearson VUE, a site that categorizes nurse assistant test information by state. For instance, if you want to know more about what the CNA exam is like in Georgia, look for that state in the drop-down menu. This choice will open a page filled with information about the Georgia CNA exam. You can download a Candidate Handbook, an application form, information about regional test sites and test schedules and more.

The Pearson Vue Web site often provides a “partnership” site that can help you further with practice test materials. Again, at the Georgia site, a click on the Georgia Health Partnership Web site will take you to a page where you can register and log in to gain further insight into Georgia’s aides for nursing assistants.

Another place where you can ask questions about practice tests for your state is the Nursing Assistant Message Board. This is a great place to network as well, because you’ll meet many other nervous students who are about to take their state exams. As with any other career, you can learn much about what to expect with your job as well as your exam through boards such as this one.

Another resource, other than books and paid online practice exams, includes this NNAAP Nurse Aide Practice Written Exam Packet. Through this thirteen-page PDF file, you can try out a practice written exam (including an answer sheet), learn more about the NNAAP content outline and take advantage of the practice exam answer key.

Finally, some states such as Oregon have established sites geared toward helping nursing assistant students with their state boards. The aQuire Training Solutions’ new Nursing Assistant Review Course contains multiple practice tests which learners may take over and over, resulting in increased test-taking comfort as well as retention of vital information required for passing state boards. The course also contains 15 videos which break required skills into simple step-by-step procedures.

While the site mentioned immediately above touts a “learn online instead of a classroom” technique, many students use sites such as this to review what they’ve learned in their training courses. While the review course is not free, the price is reasonable and it may help you if you want to practice for Oregon state boards for the CNA.

Once again, meet some nursing assistant students online and learn from their mistakes before you jump into courses or practice sites that cost money. You may learn just as much from students who have failed the exam as you would from a slick site that offers promises for cash. Either way, a practice exam is just one way to learn that there is not much to fear from your CNA exam if you know your material.