100+ Free CELA Practice Questions

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Question 1

Score: 0/0

Under federal Medicaid law, how long is the 'lookback period' for uncompensated asset transfers for long-term care Medicaid eligibility?

3 years

5 years

7 years

10 years

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CELA Exam

100

Exam Questions

NELF

70%

Passing Score

NELF

6 hours

Exam Duration

NELF full-day

$750-$1,250

Exam Fee

NELF

5 years

Experience Required

NELF eligibility

5 years

Certification Validity

Recertification required

The CELA exam is a full-day (~6 hour) written examination with approximately 100 essay and multiple-choice questions, passing at 70%. Candidates must have a JD, active bar membership, 5+ years of practice, spend at least 16 hours per week on elder and special needs matters, handle at least 60 elder law matters per year, complete 36+ hours of elder law CLE in the preceding three years, and submit peer references. Certification is valid 5 years; recertification requires continued substantial involvement, CLE, and peer review. Fee: $750-$1,250.

Sample CELA Practice Questions

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

1Under federal Medicaid law, how long is the 'lookback period' for uncompensated asset transfers for long-term care Medicaid eligibility?

A.3 years

B.5 years

C.7 years

D.10 years

Explanation: The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 extended the Medicaid lookback period to 60 months (5 years) for all uncompensated transfers. Any gift or below-market transfer during this period is reviewed and may trigger a transfer penalty delaying Medicaid long-term care coverage. Note this applies to institutional Medicaid and HCBS waivers; it does not apply to standard community Medicaid.

2A client transferred $120,000 to her daughter 18 months before applying for nursing home Medicaid. The state's divisor (average monthly private-pay nursing home cost) is $10,000. What is the length of the transfer penalty period?

A.10 months

B.12 months

C.15 months

D.No penalty because the gift was under $150,000

Explanation: The penalty period equals the amount transferred divided by the state divisor: $120,000 / $10,000 = 12 months. The penalty does not begin until the applicant is (a) otherwise eligible for Medicaid and (b) applying for long-term care coverage — this is the DRA 'later of' rule. There is no dollar threshold that exempts transfers from the penalty.

3Which of the following is an EXEMPT (non-countable) resource for Medicaid long-term care eligibility in most states?

A.A second vacation home

B.A jointly-owned brokerage account

C.One automobile of any value

D.A cash-value life insurance policy with $25,000 in cash value

Explanation: Under federal Medicaid rules, one automobile of any value is exempt regardless of use, provided the applicant or a household member uses it. The principal residence (up to the state equity cap, typically $713,000-$1,071,000 in 2025) is also exempt if the applicant or spouse lives there or intends to return. Cash-value life insurance is countable once total face value exceeds $1,500; a second home is generally countable unless income-producing.

4The 'caregiver child exemption' under 42 U.S.C. 1396p(c)(2)(A)(iv) allows a Medicaid applicant to transfer her home without penalty to an adult child who:

A.Lived in the home for at least 2 years before institutionalization and provided care allowing the parent to avoid institutional care

B.Has power of attorney and agrees to provide future care

C.Is disabled and lives on the property

D.Any adult child living in the home at the time of application

Explanation: The caregiver child exemption requires the child to have lived in the parent's home for at least 2 years immediately before the parent's institutionalization AND to have provided care that permitted the parent to remain at home rather than enter a nursing facility. Documentation (often a physician's letter) is typically required to prove the care level. The disabled child exemption is a separate rule under 1396p(c)(2)(B)(iii) with no 2-year cohabitation requirement.

5A Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) permits the community spouse of a nursing home Medicaid recipient to retain:

A.Half the couple's countable assets up to a federal cap

B.All assets in the community spouse's sole name

C.The full value of the marital home plus one vehicle only

D.Only assets received by inheritance during the marriage

Explanation: Under the spousal impoverishment rules (42 U.S.C. 1396r-5), the CSRA is typically half of the couple's countable assets at institutionalization, subject to state minimum and federal maximum (approximately $30,828 minimum and $154,140 maximum for 2025). Some states use a 100% rule up to the maximum. Titling does not matter — Medicaid counts assets regardless of which spouse's name is on the account.

6The Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMNA) is designed to:

A.Protect a minimum income for the community spouse

B.Establish the income limit for Medicaid eligibility

C.Cap the nursing home resident's personal needs allowance

D.Determine the transfer penalty divisor

Explanation: The MMNA permits the community spouse to retain a minimum monthly income — if the community spouse's own income falls below the MMNA, income from the institutionalized spouse may be diverted to bring the community spouse up to the MMNA. The 2025 floor is approximately $2,555 and the cap is approximately $3,948. A fair hearing or court order may raise the MMNA above the cap based on exceptional expenses.

7Which of the following is TRUE about a first-party Special Needs Trust (SNT) under 42 U.S.C. 1396p(d)(4)(A)?

A.It may be funded with the beneficiary's own assets, the beneficiary must be under 65 at funding, and it must contain a Medicaid payback provision

B.It may be funded at any age without a payback provision

C.It must be funded only by a parent or grandparent

D.It is always subject to the 5-year lookback

Explanation: A (d)(4)(A) SNT (sometimes called a 'self-settled' or 'first-party' SNT) must be funded with the beneficiary's own assets (often a personal injury settlement or inheritance), the beneficiary must be disabled and under age 65 at initial funding, and at the beneficiary's death the state Medicaid agency must be reimbursed up to the amount of benefits paid ('Medicaid payback'). Establishing a properly drafted d4A SNT is a safe-harbor that does not trigger a transfer penalty.

8A third-party Special Needs Trust is typically preferred over a first-party SNT for an inheritance from a parent because:

A.It has no age limit and no Medicaid payback requirement on the beneficiary's death

B.It protects assets from the 5-year lookback but still has payback

C.It requires no trustee

D.It is only available for elderly beneficiaries

Explanation: A third-party SNT is funded with someone other than the beneficiary's assets (typically a parent's estate plan or a lifetime gift from family). Because the beneficiary never owned the assets, there is NO Medicaid payback requirement at the beneficiary's death — remainder can pass to other family members per the grantor's intent. There is no age limit on creation or funding.

9A pooled trust under 42 U.S.C. 1396p(d)(4)(C) is administered by:

A.A non-profit association that maintains separate sub-accounts for each beneficiary but pools investments

B.A state Medicaid agency

C.A for-profit bank

D.The Social Security Administration

Explanation: A (d)(4)(C) pooled trust is established and managed by a non-profit association. Each beneficiary has a separate sub-account for accounting purposes, but assets are pooled for investment. Beneficiaries may be any age at funding (no age 65 limit for initial funding, though many states impose penalties for post-65 funding). At death, funds either stay in the non-profit trust for other disabled beneficiaries or are subject to Medicaid payback.

10A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) is generally an:

A.Irrevocable trust where the grantor is not a beneficiary of principal but may retain limited income rights

B.Revocable trust funded with the grantor's countable assets

C.Trust that allows the grantor to serve as both trustee and beneficiary

D.Trust that avoids the 5-year lookback entirely regardless of structure

Explanation: A MAPT is typically drafted as an IRREVOCABLE trust where the grantor retains no right to principal (to remove the assets from the Medicaid countable resource pool) but may retain a limited income interest. The grantor cannot serve as trustee. Transfers into the MAPT trigger the 5-year lookback — the MAPT does not avoid the lookback but rather starts it running. After 5 years, assets in the MAPT are fully protected.

About the CELA Exam

The NELF Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) credential is the only ABA-accredited board certification for elder law attorneys. The full-day written exam tests substantive mastery of Medicaid planning, Medicare, Social Security, SSI, Veterans benefits, long-term care, guardianship, advance directives, capacity, estate and disability planning (including SNTs and ABLE accounts), elder abuse, and ethics specific to elder law practice.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

6 hours (full-day written exam)

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$750-$1,250 (National Elder Law Foundation (NELF))

CELA Exam Content Outline

25-30%

Medicaid Planning & Long-Term Care

Medicaid eligibility, asset spend-down, 5-year lookback, transfer penalties, MAPTs, spousal impoverishment (CSRA/MMNA), personal services contracts, caregiver child exemption, estate recovery (MERP), OBRA-93

15-20%

Medicare, Social Security & Federal Benefits

Medicare Parts A/B/C/D, Medigap coordination, SSI, SSDI, retirement benefits, WEP, GPO, Veterans Aid & Attendance and VA pensions with 3-year lookback

15-20%

Estate, Disability & Retirement Planning

Revocable trusts, first-party d4A SNTs, third-party SNTs, pooled d4C trusts, ABLE accounts, RMDs, SECURE Act 2.0, 10-year rule, Roth conversions, IRC 121 home sale exclusion

15%

Guardianship, Capacity & Advance Directives

Guardianship vs conservatorship, least restrictive alternative, supported decision-making, durable/springing POAs, healthcare POA, living wills, DNR, POLST/MOLST, testamentary vs contractual vs donative capacity, lucid interval

10-15%

Elder Abuse, Housing & Discrimination

Physical/emotional/financial exploitation, APS mandatory reporting, Fair Housing Act, ADEA age discrimination, CCRC and nursing home admission agreements

10%

Ethics & Professional Responsibility

Joint representation conflicts, undue influence, fiduciary duties, diminished capacity (Model Rule 1.14), NAELA Aspirational Standards

How to Pass the CELA Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70%
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 6 hours (full-day written exam)
Exam fee: $750-$1,250

Keys to Passing

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

CELA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the 5-year Medicaid lookback, transfer penalty calculations, and exempt asset rules cold — these appear heavily

2Know the spousal impoverishment numbers: CSRA minimum and maximum, MMNA calculation

3Understand the difference between first-party (d4A) and third-party SNTs and when each is appropriate

4Study RMD rules under SECURE Act 2.0: age 73/75, 10-year rule for non-spouse beneficiaries, eligible designated beneficiaries

5Know VA Aid & Attendance 3-year lookback (2018 reform) and how it differs from Medicaid lookback

6Review NAELA Aspirational Standards and Model Rule 1.14 (client with diminished capacity)

7Practice essay writing — the exam heavily emphasizes applied problem-solving, not just recall

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NELF CELA exam?

The CELA is a board certification exam administered by the National Elder Law Foundation — the only ABA-accredited certifying body for elder law attorneys. It is a full-day written exam covering Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, VA benefits, guardianship, advance directives, SNTs, ABLE accounts, and elder law ethics.

What are the eligibility requirements for CELA?

Candidates must hold a JD, be admitted to the bar in at least one US jurisdiction in good standing, have practiced law for at least 5 years, spend at least 16 hours per week on elder and special needs matters, handle at least 60 qualifying elder law matters per year in each of the three preceding years, complete at least 36 hours of elder law CLE in the three years before application, and submit peer references from attorneys and judges.

How many questions are on the CELA exam?

The CELA exam contains approximately 100 questions, combining essay and multiple-choice formats, administered in a single full-day (~6 hour) session. The passing score is 70%.

How much does the CELA exam cost?

The application and examination fee typically ranges from $750 to $1,250 depending on joint certification arrangements with state bars (e.g., North Carolina, Florida, Ohio). Check nelf.org for current fees.

How long is CELA certification valid?

CELA certification is valid for 5 years. Recertification requires continued substantial involvement in elder law, completion of additional CLE, peer review, and confirmation of good standing — no re-examination is required if recertification standards are met.

How should I prepare for the CELA exam?

Plan for 100-200 hours of focused study over 3-6 months. Review NAELA materials and Aspirational Standards, study Medicaid state plan details for your jurisdiction, review federal POMS and HALLEX where relevant, practice essay writing under timed conditions, and complete 200+ practice questions. Many candidates form study groups with other CELA applicants.