Florida CNA Exam Guide

The Florida CNA exam has two parts: a written knowledge test and a clinical skills performance test. Both are administered by Prometric, Florida’s designated testing vendor. To earn your Florida CNA certification, you must pass both parts. This guide covers what each part involves, how to register, what to bring on exam day, how to prepare, and what happens if you need to retake.

Florida CNA Exam Overview

The Florida CNA exam is a two-part test. Both parts are administered by Prometric at testing centers across Florida.

Part	Format	Questions/Skills	Time Limit
Written Knowledge Test	Computer-based, multiple choice	60 questions	90 minutes
Clinical Skills Test	In-person performance	5 skills	31–40 minutes

You must pass both parts to receive Florida CNA certification. The sections below break down each part in detail. (Source: floridasnursing.gov Top 10 Examination Quick Tips, Prometric FL)

Before we walk through exactly what to expect on each part, here’s what the Florida CNA community is saying after they come out on the other side:

“omg i PASSED the florida prometric exam today i’m literally crying 😭😭 y’all it’s possible. i was so scared going in but just trust your training and KNOW your handwashing steps. that’s my #1 tip for anyone testing in FL. you got this”

(247 upvotes – Reddit user)

That relief is real, and it’s within reach. Let’s make sure you know exactly what you’re walking into.

The Written Knowledge Test

The Florida CNA written test is computer-based with 60 multiple-choice questions. You have 90 minutes to complete it. (Source: floridasnursing.gov Top 10 Examination Quick Tips)

A lot of people go into the written test expecting it to be easy. Here’s what the community has to say about that assumption:

“the written portion is NOT just common sense. i went in thinking it would be easy and almost didn’t pass. infection control questions are tricky — they ask you about PPE order and isolation precautions in ways that sound obvious but aren’t. actually study. use the ATI book or the prometric study guide.”

(163 upvotes – Reddit user)

Take that seriously. Below is exactly what the written test covers, and where people tend to lose points.

Written Test Topic Areas

The written test covers these content domains (Source: floridasnursing.gov Top 10 Examination Quick Tips):

• Basic nursing skills
• Personal care skills
• Infection control
• Safety and emergency procedures
• Mental health and social service needs
• Communication
• Resident rights

Infection control carries the heaviest question load. Know transmission routes, PPE donning and doffing order, isolation precautions, and standard precautions.

Resident rights is another high-coverage domain. Study OBRA protections and know how to apply them in specific scenarios, not just the broad concepts.

For specific practice questions, see the study strategy section below.

The Clinical Skills Test

The clinical skills test requires you to demonstrate 5 skills in front of a Prometric evaluator. You have 31 to 40 minutes to complete all five. (Source: floridasnursing.gov Top 10 Examination Quick Tips)

The 25 Testable Skills on the Florida CNA Exam

Your evaluator draws 5 skills from the following list. All are included in Florida’s official NNAAP skills checklist (Source: floridasnursing.gov):

1. Handwashing
2. Applying an Elastic Stocking
3. Assisting to Ambulate Using a Transfer Belt
4. Making an Occupied Bed
5. Making an Unoccupied Bed
6. Measuring and Recording Blood Pressure
7. Measuring and Recording Height and Weight
8. Measuring and Recording Urinary Output
9. Performing Passive Range of Motion for One Knee and One Ankle
10. Performing Passive Range of Motion for One Shoulder
11. Performing Perineal Care (Female)
12. Performing Perineal Care (Male)
13. Positioning: Fowler’s Position
14. Positioning in Bed on Side
15. Providing Catheter Care (Female)
16. Providing Foot Care
17. Providing Mouth Care
18. Providing Nail Care
19. Providing Partial Bath
20. Providing Range of Motion to One Elbow and One Wrist
21. Providing Stump Care
22. Recording Temperature Using Tympanic Thermometer
23. Taking an Apical Pulse
24. Taking a Radial Pulse
25. Indwelling Catheter Care (Male)

Your evaluator draws 5 skills from this list. Two of those 5 are not random. They are always included.

The Skills That Are Always Tested

This isn’t just test-prep advice. It’s something Florida exam takers confirm over and over:

“psa for everyone taking the florida cna exam: handwashing is ALWAYS tested. it doesn’t matter what your 4 random skills are — handwashing is one of them every single time. i tested in jacksonville and my friend tested in miami same week, both had handwashing. practice it until it’s muscle memory.”

(118 upvotes – Reddit user)

The community is right. Here are the skills that Florida’s testing protocol includes on every exam:

Two skills are always included on the Florida CNA clinical exam: handwashing and one indirect care skill. The remaining three are drawn randomly from the full pool. (Source: floridasnursing.gov Top 10 Examination Quick Tips)

Handwashing is always tested first. The evaluator begins scoring your infection control technique the moment you approach the sink. This is not a warmup. It is a scored skill with a defined checklist.

The full procedure: wet hands, apply soap, wash for 15–20 seconds using friction on all surfaces, rinse thoroughly, dry with a clean paper towel, and turn off the faucet with the paper towel (not bare hands). Skipping that last step is a common failure point.

One indirect care skill is always the second mandatory skill. An indirect care skill is a communication or care-explanation task performed with a simulated resident or family member present in the room, not a physical hands-on skill on the mannequin.

Examples include: explaining a procedure to a resident, communicating care information to a family member, or performing an infection control task that does not involve direct physical contact with the mannequin. The evaluator watches your communication technique, how you introduce yourself, and whether you follow proper care-process steps from start to finish.

Three additional skills are randomly drawn from the remaining pool. These three are the ones you cannot predict. Your goal is to practice all skills on the list, but knowing that handwashing and one indirect care skill are guaranteed lets you prioritize those two for deep practice before your exam date.

See the study strategy section below for how to build your practice schedule around this structure.

How to Register for the Florida CNA Exam

Register at prometric.com/nurseaide/fl. That is the only registration portal for the Florida CNA exam.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Go to prometric.com/nurseaide/fl
2. Create a Prometric account (or log in if you already have one)
3. Select “Florida Nurse Aide” as the exam type
4. Enter your background check ORI number: EDOH0380Z (Source: floridasnursing.gov)
5. Enter your name exactly as it appears on the government-issued ID you will bring to the testing center, including any middle name or initial
6. Select your preferred testing location and date
7. Pay the exam fee: $155 total ($35 for the written knowledge test, $120 for the clinical skills test) — you may register for one part at a time if needed (Source: prometric.com/nurseaide/fl)

Before you click through the Prometric registration screens, stop and read this:

“y’all please check that your name in prometric EXACTLY matches your ID before you go in. i showed up and my middle name was abbreviated differently on my registration vs my license and the testing center almost turned me away. they eventually let me test but i was shaking the whole time. not worth the stress”

(89 upvotes – Reddit user)

Double-check your legal name against your government-issued ID right now, before you submit anything.

Name mismatch is one of the most common reasons candidates are turned away at the testing center. Your name on your Prometric registration must match your government-issued ID exactly, including any middle name or initial. A discrepancy, even a nickname versus a legal name, can result in being denied entry on exam day.

Most candidates register 1–2 weeks after completing training and schedule their exam 1–4 weeks out from registration. The rescheduling fee is $35 if you need to change your exam date. (Source: prometric.com/nurseaide/fl)

What to Bring on Exam Day

Bring:
– Two valid, unexpired government-issued IDs
– Your primary ID must include your full legal name, photo, and signature (a driver’s license or passport qualifies)
– Your secondary ID must include at least your name and signature

The testing center provides:
– All clinical supplies for the skills portion (mannequin, gloves, supplies specific to each skill)
– All personal protective equipment (PPE)
– You do not need to bring any medical supplies

Do not bring:
– Cell phones (leave them in your car or the testing center will store them)
– Study materials, notes, or textbooks
– Food or drinks (unless medically required — contact the testing center in advance)

(Source: prometric.com/nurseaide/fl)

Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled exam time to allow for check-in, fingerprinting, and ID verification.

How to Prepare for the Florida CNA Exam

You already know two skills are always on your exam. Start your practice there.

Clinical Skills Preparation:

Master handwashing first. The evaluator scores you from the moment you approach the sink. Practice the full procedure until you don’t have to think about it: wet hands, apply soap, 15–20 seconds of friction across all surfaces, rinse thoroughly, dry with a paper towel, close the faucet with the towel.

Practice at least one indirect care skill before your exam date. These are communication-based tasks, not physical technique. Practice explaining procedures clearly, introducing yourself to a resident, and communicating care information to a simulated family member.

Then rotate through all the skills on the testable list. Prioritize any skill you don’t feel fully confident in. When you practice each skill, always practice the complete sequence: wash hands, gather supplies, introduce yourself, explain the procedure, complete the task, wash hands again. Evaluators score the full checklist, and skipping setup or closing steps is how candidates fail skills they actually know.

Written Test Preparation:

Infection control is the domain worth the most study time. Review transmission routes, hand hygiene protocols, PPE donning and doffing order, isolation precautions, and standard precautions.

Resident rights is the other high-coverage area. Study OBRA protections and know how to apply them in specific scenarios, not just the broad concepts.

Ready to practice written test questions? Our CNA practice exam includes questions across all content domains, including infection control and resident rights.

What If You Fail?

Failing any part of the exam is devastating. Here’s what the community says to anyone who just got bad news:

“i failed the skills portion my first time. i cried for two days honestly. but i want anyone reading this who failed to know — you just have to retake THAT PART. you don’t start over. i only had to redo the skills test and i passed it 3 weeks later. it’s not over.”

(142 upvotes – Reddit user)

The community is right. Here’s exactly how the retake process works in Florida, and why failing one part is not the end:

Failing one part does not mean repeating both. You retake only the part you failed. If you passed the written test but failed the clinical skills test, you schedule and pay for the clinical skills retake only. The same is true in reverse.

Florida’s three-attempt rule: You have up to three total attempts on each part of the exam. If you fail the same part three times, you must complete a new 120-hour Florida-approved CNA training program before you can retest. You do not get a fourth attempt without completing new training. (Source: floridasnursing.gov)

Schedule your retake through the same Prometric portal. The retake fee is $35. After a skills test failure, request your evaluator’s feedback report. It tells you exactly which steps you lost points on, so you can focus your preparation on those specific failure points rather than practicing everything from scratch.

And for anyone who’s already tried once or twice:

“passed on my third attempt. written exam both times, skills on the third. if you’re on your second or third try — keep going. i know it feels embarrassing but literally nobody at work knows or cares how many times it took. they just see your certification.”

(Reddit user)

Your certification looks the same regardless of attempt number. What matters is passing, and that’s still ahead of you.

The Challenge Exam Option

If you have certain healthcare credentials or prior training, you may qualify to take the Florida CNA exam without completing the 120-hour training program first. This is the challenge exam pathway, documented by the Florida Board of Nursing.

The pathway is generally available to:

• Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs) seeking to add CNA certification
• Military veterans with documented equivalent medical training
• Candidates with documented healthcare training equivalent to the 120-hour Florida program

(Source: floridasnursing.gov)

If you think you may qualify, check the Florida CNA guide for step-by-step guidance on the challenge exam process and full eligibility requirements. The Florida Board of Nursing has the complete documentation.

After You Pass

Once you pass both parts, your Florida CNA certification processes within 1 to 2 weeks. (Source: floridasnursing.gov)

Your name is added to the Florida Board of Nursing CNA registry. Employers verify your certification through the registry before hiring, so the timeline matters. You can also check your own certification status through the Florida Board of Nursing’s online portal.

For the full walkthrough of the license application, what to expect in your first job search, and how to verify your certification, see the Florida CNA guide.

Once you have your license, see what Florida CNAs typically earn.