California CNA Exam Flashcards

Q: Who administers the California CNA exam?

California CNA certification is controlled by CDPH, and the competency exam is administered through D&S Diversified Technologies / Headmaster using the California TMU testing system.

Q: How many questions are on the California CNA knowledge exam?

The California CNA knowledge exam has 75 multiple-choice questions with a 60-minute time limit. Candidates must also pass a separate manual skills test.

Q: What score is needed to pass the California CNA knowledge exam?

The knowledge exam requires a 75% passing score. Certification also requires passing the manual skills test and meeting CDPH application and background-check requirements.

Q: What happens if a California CNA candidate fails one exam portion?

The candidate generally retakes the failed portion only and pays that portion's fee. California candidates have three attempts to pass each portion within two years of training completion.

Q: What should California CNA candidates focus on for flashcard review?

High-yield topics include CNA scope, resident rights, infection control, safety, basic nursing skills, measurement, ADL care, dementia communication, reporting changes, and skills-test closing steps.

Question 1

CDPH role in California CNA certification

Accepted Answer

The California Department of Public Health controls CNA eligibility, application review, training-program approval, criminal-record clearance, registry placement, renewal, and misconduct review.

Question 2

D&S Headmaster role

Accepted Answer

D&S Headmaster administers California CNA testing through TMU. It handles scheduling, test events, knowledge testing, skills scoring, and candidate handbook rules.

Question 3

California CNA exam parts

Accepted Answer

Certification requires both parts: a computer-based knowledge exam and a hands-on manual skills test. Passing only one part is not enough for registry placement.

Question 4

California CNA knowledge exam format

Accepted Answer

The knowledge exam has 75 multiple-choice questions, a 60-minute time limit, and a 75% passing score. Pace steadily and stay within CNA scope.

Question 5

California CNA skills test format

Accepted Answer

The skills test assigns 3 or 4 manual tasks in 30 minutes. One first task includes embedded soap-and-water handwashing.

Question 6

California CNA attempt limit

Accepted Answer

Candidates have three attempts to pass each exam portion within two years of training completion. If attempts or the window are exhausted, new approved training is required.

Question 7

California CNA initial application

Accepted Answer

CDPH 283B is the Certified Nurse Assistant Initial Application. Name, birth date, training completion, Live Scan, and TMU records should match to avoid delays.

Question 8

Live Scan for California CNA applicants

Accepted Answer

Live Scan fingerprinting supports the criminal-record clearance required by CDPH. A clearance issue is handled by CDPH, not by the test evaluator.

Question 9

California CNA training structure

Accepted Answer

The local California pathway requires 160 total NATP hours: 60 classroom/theory hours and 100 supervised clinical hours. Skills lab practice may be useful but is separate.

Question 10

Remote testing in California CNA

Accepted Answer

Remote proctoring may be available for the knowledge exam only. The skills test remains a live performance of assigned care tasks.

Question 11

Core California CNA scope

Accepted Answer

A CNA observes, assists, measures, records, and reports delegated care under licensed nurse supervision. The CNA does not diagnose, prescribe, or create care plans.

Question 12

Tasks outside normal CNA scope

Accepted Answer

Medication administration, sterile procedures, catheter insertion, changing treatment orders, and independent clinical decisions are outside normal CNA scope unless a specific lawful policy says otherwise.

Question 13

When a delegated task feels unsafe

Accepted Answer

Stop and ask the nurse before acting. A CNA is responsible for accepting only tasks within training, scope, care-plan directions, and facility policy.

Question 14

CNA reporting vs. diagnosing

Accepted Answer

Report objective changes such as swelling, pain, weakness, drainage, fever, confusion, or shortness of breath. Do not label the condition or promise a diagnosis.

Question 15

Chain of command

Accepted Answer

Use the facility chain of command when a resident risk is not addressed. A serious safety concern should not be dropped because one person is busy.

Question 16

Objective documentation

Accepted Answer

Chart facts: what was seen, heard, measured, or done. Avoid blame, guesses, opinions, unapproved abbreviations, and charting care before it happens.

Question 17

Resident right to dignity

Accepted Answer

Dignity means respectful speech, privacy during care, choice when safe, clean appearance, prompt response, and never shaming or threatening the resident.

Question 18

Resident refusal of care

Accepted Answer

A resident may refuse care. The CNA should not force the task; instead, listen, try a respectful approach if appropriate, and report the refusal to the nurse.

Question 19

Confidentiality in daily CNA work

Accepted Answer

Share resident information only with authorized staff for care-related reasons. Hallway talk, social media posts, and casual family updates can violate privacy.

Question 20

Abuse or neglect suspicion

Accepted Answer

Report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment, or missing property through required channels. Do not confront the suspected abuser or investigate on your own.

Question 21

Restraints and resident rights

Accepted Answer

Restraints are never for staff convenience. They must follow law, an order or care plan, facility policy, monitoring requirements, and the resident's rights.

Question 22

Standard precautions

Accepted Answer

Use standard precautions with every resident, regardless of diagnosis. Choose hand hygiene, gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection based on expected exposure.

Question 23

Gloves and hand hygiene

Accepted Answer

Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Clean hands before putting gloves on and after removing them, and change gloves when moving from dirty to clean care.

Question 24

When soap and water matter

Accepted Answer

Use soap and water when hands are visibly soiled, after certain body-fluid tasks, and whenever the skill checklist requires handwashing. Avoid recontaminating clean hands.

Question 25

PPE removal risk

Accepted Answer

Many PPE errors happen during removal. Touch only clean areas when possible, keep contaminated surfaces away from clothing, discard PPE correctly, and perform hand hygiene.

Question 26

Handling soiled linen

Accepted Answer

Keep soiled linen away from the uniform, do not shake it, and place it in the correct container. Shaking linen can spread microorganisms.

Question 27

Symptoms that may need isolation reporting

Accepted Answer

Report new cough, fever, diarrhea, draining wounds, rash, or other infection signs promptly so the nurse can decide whether extra precautions are needed.

Question 28

Fall prevention basics

Accepted Answer

Keep the bed low, wheels locked, call light within reach, pathway clear, footwear safe, and transfer help consistent with the care plan.

Question 29

After a resident falls

Accepted Answer

Call the nurse and stay with the resident. Do not move the resident unless there is immediate danger, because movement could worsen an injury.

Question 30

Safe transfer setup

Accepted Answer

Before a transfer, lock bed and wheelchair brakes, apply needed footwear, use the care-plan device, keep a wide base, and avoid twisting.

Question 31

If a resident starts to fall

Accepted Answer

Do not try to catch the full weight. Widen your stance, protect the head as much as possible, ease the resident to the floor, and call for help.

Question 32

RACE for fire response

Accepted Answer

RACE means Rescue anyone in immediate danger, Alarm, Contain by closing doors, and Extinguish or Evacuate according to facility procedure.

Question 33

Oxygen safety

Accepted Answer

Oxygen supports combustion. Keep flames, smoking materials, and unsafe electrical equipment away, and do not adjust flow unless trained and directed by policy.

Question 34

Counting respirations

Accepted Answer

Count respirations without making the resident change their breathing pattern. Observe rate, rhythm, effort, and signs of distress, then report abnormal changes.

Question 35

Blood pressure positioning

Accepted Answer

Use the correct cuff on the bare upper arm, keep the resident supported and quiet, and follow facility reporting rules for abnormal or sudden changes.

Question 36

Intake and output units

Accepted Answer

Record intake and output in milliliters when assigned. Measure at eye level on a flat surface and document the actual value, not a rounded guess.

Question 37

Reportable urine changes

Accepted Answer

Report low output, dark urine, blood, cloudiness, new odor with symptoms, pain, burning, leakage, or catheter pulling. These changes need nursing assessment.

Question 38

Meal and fluid intake skills

Accepted Answer

Measure only what the resident consumed, calculate the required amount accurately, and record in the units requested by the test or facility form.

Question 39

Bathing care priority

Accepted Answer

Bathing protects dignity, skin health, and comfort. Provide privacy, expose only the area being washed, encourage independence, and report skin changes.

Question 40

Perineal care direction

Accepted Answer

Use privacy, gloves, clean-to-dirty technique, and front-to-back wiping for female perineal care. Change cloth areas as they become soiled.

Question 41

Catheter drainage bag position

Accepted Answer

Keep the drainage bag below bladder level and off the floor. Avoid tugging the catheter and report pain, leakage, blood, or poor drainage.

Question 42

Oral and denture care

Accepted Answer

Oral care helps prevent infection, pain, odor, and aspiration risk. Handle dentures carefully and report mouth sores, bleeding, loose teeth, or pain.

Question 43

Dressing a resident with weakness

Accepted Answer

Dress the weak or affected side first. When undressing, remove clothing from the strong or unaffected side first to reduce pulling and discomfort.

Question 44

Range of motion safety

Accepted Answer

Support the limb above and below the joint, move smoothly through the normal range, and stop if pain or resistance occurs. Never force movement.

Question 45

Purpose of restorative care

Accepted Answer

Restorative care helps residents maintain or regain function. CNAs support independence by following the care plan, encouraging safe effort, and reporting changes.

Question 46

Ambulating with a gait belt

Accepted Answer

Apply the belt snugly over clothing at the waist, stand on the weak side when appropriate, walk slightly behind and to the side, and monitor tolerance.

Question 47

Pressure injury prevention

Accepted Answer

Prevent pressure injuries through repositioning, skin checks, hygiene after incontinence, nutrition, hydration, and pressure relief. Do not massage reddened bony areas.

Question 48

Dementia communication

Accepted Answer

Approach from the front, use the resident's name, speak calmly, give one instruction at a time, and allow extra time for response.

Question 49

Responding to delusions or confusion

Accepted Answer

Do not argue or shame the resident. Validate feelings when appropriate, redirect to a safe activity, reduce triggers, and report sudden confusion.

Question 50

Closing steps on California skills

Accepted Answer

Before finishing a skill, leave the resident safe and comfortable, lower the bed when required, place the call light within reach, clean the area, and perform hand hygiene.

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