Official sample questions
See Credentia's own examples of written-question format and its reading self-check. We link to them; we do not copy them into our question bank.
Open official sample questions →NORTH CAROLINA NURSE AIDE I
Know where to go next.
The current exam rules, free public study material, fee help and registry links in one place. Every outside resource below comes from the exam administrator, North Carolina, CMS or a public workforce agency.
START HERE
Your path to the NC exam
- Check your route. Most candidates complete a state-approved Nurse Aide I program; some qualify through a waiver or another route. N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry overview · Credentia eligibility routes
- Study the current handbook. Start with the North Carolina candidate handbook, its content outline and skills list. Older PDFs may describe an earlier exam.
- Apply and schedule. Use the official NC Credentia portal and registration instructions. Check fee coverage before paying.
- After passing, check your listing. Use the N.C. registry verification search. Credentia says an initial listing usually appears in two to five business days.
EXAM AT A GLANCE
Two parts, one current handbook
The NC NNAAP requires a written or oral exam and a skills evaluation. The current written exam has 70 multiple-choice questions: 60 scored and 10 unscored, with two hours allowed. The skills evaluation assesses five skills in 30 minutes, including hand hygiene and a measurement skill. Candidates must pass both parts for registry listing. Verify your own eligibility window and attempt limit before scheduling. Credentia exam overview · Skills evaluation · Eligibility
FREE PUBLIC PREPARATION
Study with the source open
Official skills list
Read the current steps and critical elements for the 23 listed skills. Use your instructor's training for hands-on practice.
Open Credentia skills →North Carolina curriculum
N.C. DHHS publishes its state-approved training curriculum, including measurement, infection prevention, safety and communication modules. This is a training-program resource.
Explore the N.C. curriculum →Original practice here
Our nine public guides and free study desk have original questions, explanations and source links. They supplement your approved training; they are not official exam items.
Browse study guides →Open the free study desk →PLAN YOUR TEST
Training, location and exam day
Find approved training
The N.C. DHHS registry explains training routes and links its state-approved program guide. Ask a program about current admissions, schedules and whether an exam voucher is included.
N.C. training information →Find a test seat
Credentia distinguishes regional sites, which eligible candidates can use, from in-facility sites reserved for that site's trainees. Actual dates and seats are shown when you schedule.
Registration and locations →Check ID and exam-day rules
Bring the exact identification Credentia requires. Check its current test-center or online instructions before leaving for a test or setting up an online written/oral exam.
ID requirements →Test-center rules →Online exam rules →Request accommodations
Credentia describes how to request an ADA accommodation with documentation and reviews requests individually. Start before booking so your testing plan matches the approval.
Accommodation instructions →EXAM FEES AND HELP
Who pays for the NC CNA exam?
Credentia currently lists $140 for the initial written or oral exam plus skills, $40 for a written/oral-only retest, and $100 for a skills-only retest. Check the current NC fee table when you register.
A nursing home may have to cover it
If you are employed by, or have an offer from, a Medicare- or Medicaid-participating nursing facility when your nurse aide training or competency program begins, federal rules say you cannot be charged for the program, including the competency exam. If you pay first and are hired by a qualifying facility within 12 months after completing the program, reimbursement of eligible training and exam costs may be due on a prorated basis during employment. Save receipts and ask the facility how it handles payment or reimbursement. Credentia NC policy · CMS clarification
Other places to ask
- NCWorks Career Center — ask a counselor whether you qualify for funded training or related support in your local area. Center services do not mean every CNA exam fee is covered.
- Community college Finish Line Grants — emergency help for eligible students facing an unexpected financial hardship while completing education or training; this is not a general exam scholarship.
- N.C. Workforce Pell approved-program list — Forsyth Technical Community College's Nursing Assistant program is listed as both state- and federally approved. Other nurse aide programs have state approval only. Contact the school about eligibility and coverage; listing alone does not promise that your exam fee is paid.
PAY FACTS
Will passing the exam increase my pay?
There is no published North Carolina average raise caused by passing the CNA exam. Pay depends on the employer, role, region, experience and shifts. The state's 2025 wage estimates show a $18.89 mean hourly wage for nursing assistants and $15.54 for home health and personal care aides. The $3.35 hourly difference compares different occupations; it is not a predicted raise for an individual after testing. N.C. Commerce, 2025 occupational wage estimates
AFTER THE EXAM
Results and registry
Credentia score-report instructions explain where results appear. Passing does not itself prove a registry listing; check the official N.C. listing search. For renewal, reciprocity, address changes and re-testing, use the N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry.
Source check: October 10, 2026. We summarize official public pages and link to them directly. The official site controls eligibility, fees, accommodations and scheduling. Yes You Can CNA is an independent study supplement, not the exam administrator or an approved training program.