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100+ Free AMCA NAC Practice Questions

Pass your AMCA Nursing Assistant Certification exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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The drainage bag for an indwelling urinary catheter must be kept:

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Key Facts: AMCA NAC Exam

149

Exam Questions

AMCA NAC blueprint

2h 45m

Time Limit

AMCA

70%

Passing Score

AMCA policy

41%

Patient Care Skills

Largest domain

$109

Exam Fee

AMCA 2026

2 years

Certification Valid

10 CE credits to renew

The AMCA NAC exam contains 149 questions over 2 hours 45 minutes. Patient Care Skills is the largest domain at 41%. A score of 70% is required to pass. The exam fee is $109 and the credential is valid for 2 years with 10 CE credits required for renewal. Eligibility requires completion of a nursing assistant training program or 1 year of current nursing assistant work experience.

Sample AMCA NAC Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your AMCA NAC exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1When performing a complete bed bath, in what order should you wash the patient's body?
A.Face, arms, chest, abdomen, legs, perineal area, back
B.Chest, face, arms, abdomen, perineal area, legs, back
C.Back, legs, perineal area, abdomen, chest, arms, face
D.Perineal area, face, arms, chest, abdomen, back, legs
Explanation: The standard sequence for a complete bed bath proceeds from clean to dirty: face first, then arms, chest, abdomen, legs, perineal area last before the back. This prevents contamination of cleaner areas.
2A nursing assistant notices a resident has redness over the coccyx that does not blanch when pressed. This finding is MOST consistent with:
A.Stage 1 pressure injury
B.Stage 2 pressure injury
C.Deep tissue injury
D.Incontinence-associated dermatitis
Explanation: Non-blanchable redness of intact skin is the hallmark of a Stage 1 pressure injury. Blanching redness indicates intact microcirculation; non-blanching suggests tissue damage has begun.
3When assisting a resident with oral care who cannot rinse and spit, the nursing assistant should:
A.Use a toothbrush with toothpaste and have the resident tilt forward
B.Use a moistened foam swab and position the resident on their side
C.Skip brushing and only apply lip balm
D.Use hydrogen peroxide undiluted to clean the mouth
Explanation: For residents who cannot rinse and spit, a foam swab moistened with water or oral rinse is used. Positioning on the side reduces aspiration risk. Hydrogen peroxide undiluted damages mucosa.
4When removing dentures for cleaning, the nursing assistant should:
A.Place them in a paper towel while cleaning
B.Clean them with hot water to sanitize
C.Place them in a labeled denture cup with water or denture solution
D.Leave them on the bedside table while the resident sleeps
Explanation: Dentures must be stored in a labeled denture cup with water or denture solution to prevent warping. Hot water can warp dentures. A paper towel creates a fall/loss risk.
5A resident who usually feeds herself suddenly cannot control her spoon. The nursing assistant should FIRST:
A.Assist with feeding and document the observation
B.Report the change to the nurse immediately
C.Provide finger foods instead
D.Assume fatigue and continue the meal
Explanation: A sudden loss of motor control is a change in condition that could indicate a stroke or other emergency. The nursing assistant must report this to the nurse immediately before continuing care.
6When dressing a resident who has left-sided weakness, the nursing assistant should:
A.Dress the right (stronger) side first
B.Dress the left (weaker) side first
C.Have the resident dress independently to build strength
D.It does not matter which side is dressed first
Explanation: "Weak side first, strong side last" is the rule for dressing. Dressing the weak side first requires less range of motion manipulation and causes less discomfort. Undressing reverses the order.
7Perineal care for a female resident should be performed:
A.Back to front to clean more thoroughly
B.Front to back using a clean area of the cloth for each stroke
C.In circular motions using the same area of the cloth
D.Only when the resident requests it
Explanation: Perineal care for females is always performed front to back (urethra to anus) using a clean area of the washcloth for each stroke to prevent introducing rectal bacteria to the urethral area, reducing UTI risk.
8A resident's blood pressure reading is 158/96 mmHg. The nursing assistant should:
A.Administer the resident's antihypertensive medication
B.Recheck in 5 minutes and document both readings
C.Report the reading to the nurse
D.Assume cuff placement error and repeat the measurement
Explanation: 158/96 mmHg is elevated (Stage 2 hypertension). The nursing assistant's role is to accurately measure and report abnormal vital signs to the nurse, not to make clinical decisions or administer medications.
9When measuring a radial pulse, the nursing assistant counts for:
A.15 seconds and multiplies by 4 if the rhythm is regular
B.30 seconds and multiplies by 2 for all patients
C.One full minute for irregular rhythms, at minimum
D.10 seconds and multiplies by 6 to save time
Explanation: An irregular pulse must be counted for a full 60 seconds to obtain an accurate rate. For regular pulses, 30 seconds × 2 is acceptable, but irregular rhythms require a full minute.
10A resident's temperature is 38.9°C (102°F). This is considered:
A.Normal
B.Hypothermia
C.Low-grade fever
D.Fever (pyrexia)
Explanation: Normal oral temperature is 36.1–37.2°C (97–99°F). A temperature of 38.9°C (102°F) is a clinically significant fever (pyrexia) requiring reporting to the nurse.

About the AMCA NAC Exam

The AMCA Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) is a nationally recognized credential validating entry-level nursing assistant competency for hospital and long-term care employment. The 149-question exam covers seven domains: Patient Care Skills (41%), Anatomy & Physiology (14%), Safety/Infection Control (13%), Medical Law & Ethics (13%), Medical Terminology (13%), Pharmacology (5%), and EKG (1%). Candidates have 2 hours and 45 minutes and must score 70% to pass. The NAC is valid for 2 years and renewed with 10 CE credits.

Questions

149 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours 45 minutes

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$109 (American Medical Certification Association (AMCA))

AMCA NAC Exam Content Outline

41%

Patient Care Skills

Bathing, dressing, feeding, oral/denture care, perineal care, positioning (Fowler, Sims, lateral, supine, prone), transfers and body mechanics, vital signs, I&O, catheter care, ostomy basics, restorative care, ROM, pressure injury prevention, fall prevention, end-of-life care

14%

Anatomy and Physiology

Body systems overview: cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary, urinary, digestive systems; normal ranges for vital signs; disease processes relevant to nursing assistant practice

13%

Safety and Infection Control

Standard precautions, transmission-based precautions (airborne, droplet, contact), PPE donning/doffing sequence, handwashing technique, blood spill management, fall prevention, restraints (last resort, alternatives, regulation), emergency response (Heimlich, CPR/AED awareness)

13%

Medical Law and Ethics

HIPAA and PHI, resident rights under OBRA, scope of practice, mandatory reporting of abuse and neglect, advance directives and DNR, professional boundaries, incident reporting, documentation standards

13%

Medical Terminology

Prefixes, suffixes, and root words; common abbreviations (NPO, I&O, BID, PRN, ROM, ADL, IADL); directional and positional terminology; medical conditions vocabulary

5%

Pharmacology

Drug categories relevant to nursing assistant observation; common side effects and adverse reactions to report; diuretics, analgesics, cardiac medications; role of the nursing assistant in medication safety

1%

EKG

Basic EKG awareness: patient preparation, electrode/lead placement, normal sinus rhythm recognition, artifact minimization

How to Pass the AMCA NAC Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 149 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Exam fee: $109

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AMCA NAC Study Tips from Top Performers

1Patient Care Skills is 41% of the exam — master bathing, positioning, transfers, vital signs, and catheter care first
2Know the difference between Fowler's (45-60°), semi-Fowler's (30-45°), and high Fowler's (60-90°) positions
3Memorize the 'weak side first' rule for dressing and the 'stronger side' rule for transfer setup
4Practice the 'front to back' rule for perineal care and catheter cleaning to prevent contamination
5Know when to use soap and water vs. alcohol-based hand rub (C. diff and visible soil require soap and water)
6Study transmission-based precaution types: airborne (TB, measles, chickenpox), droplet (flu, meningitis), contact (MRSA, VRE, C. diff)
7Know the mandatory reporting chain: observe → document objectively → report to nurse immediately
8Review common medical abbreviations: NPO, I&O, BID, TID, PRN, ROM, ADL, IADL, DNR
9Understand resident rights under OBRA: right to refuse treatment, privacy, dignity, and freedom from restraints
10Restraints are a last resort requiring a physician order and must be monitored at least every 30 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AMCA NAC exam?

The AMCA Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) is a national certification exam offered by the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) that validates entry-level nursing assistant knowledge and skills for employment in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

How many questions are on the AMCA NAC exam?

The AMCA NAC exam contains 149 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete the exam. The exam covers seven content domains, with Patient Care Skills being the largest at 41% of questions.

What is the passing score for the AMCA NAC?

Candidates must score 70% or higher to pass the AMCA NAC exam. The exam can be taken in a computer-based format at a testing center or on paper/pencil, with a live remote proctoring option available for an additional $40 fee.

What are the eligibility requirements for the AMCA NAC?

There are two pathways: (1) Graduate from a nursing assistant training program (at an AMCA Approved Test Site or another accredited institution) and take the exam within one year of completion; or (2) Have a minimum of one year of full-time work experience as a nursing assistant, currently employed in the field, and take the exam within 60 days of approval.

How much does the AMCA NAC exam cost?

The AMCA NAC exam fee is $109. An additional $40 is charged for the live remote proctoring option. If certification expires within one year, a $25 reinstatement fee applies. Candidates expired for more than one year must re-test at the full exam fee.

How long is AMCA NAC certification valid?

AMCA NAC certification is valid for 2 years from the date of testing. Recertification requires 10 continuing education credits submitted to AMCA before expiration. Allow up to 21 business days for CE processing.

Is the AMCA NAC the same as a state CNA license?

The AMCA NAC is a national credential, while CNA licensure is state-specific and typically required for employment in Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities. Some employers accept the AMCA NAC in place of or in addition to state board CNA certification. Candidates should verify requirements with their state nursing board and prospective employer.