1.3 The Prometric Florida Exam: Logistics

The Two-Part Prometric Exam

The Florida CNA competency evaluation has two scored components, and you must pass both before the Board lists you on the registry.

The written test measures whether you know correct, safe practice; the skills test measures whether you can actually perform it. The written content is built on the Prometric content outline — for example, Role of the Nurse Aide (~20%), plus physical care, psychosocial care, infection control, safety, and resident rights.

How The Skills Test Is Built

The skills evaluation is five skills: three randomly assigned hands-on skills plus two that are always scored — Handwashing and Indirect Care. Handwashing is evaluated at the very beginning and is not prompted; you are expected to perform it on your own as part of demonstrating infection control. Indirect Care covers residents' rights and preferences (privacy, communication, safety) woven through the assigned skills.

Because you must pass all five, a single critical error — skipping hand hygiene, breaking the skill's required steps, or compromising safety — can fail the whole skills portion even if the other skills are clean.

Fees (Paid To Prometric)

Training tuition and the Livescan/FBI screening fee are separate and not part of the Prometric exam fee. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, so confirm the current amounts on the Prometric Nurse Aide portal before you pay.

Scheduling, Identification, And The Oral Option

You schedule through the Prometric Nurse Aide portal once your application, fees, and Board-approved screening are recorded. Exams are delivered at Prometric-affiliated test sites across Florida; because the skills portion is performance-based, it is never done remotely. The written test is computer-delivered and returns a pass/fail score report when you finish.

Oral / Audio Written Test

Candidates who read English with difficulty can take the written test in an audio (oral) format, available in English or Spanish, at the same $35 fee. This accommodates reading barriers without changing what is tested. Separately, documented ADA accommodations (such as 150% time) must be requested and approved before you schedule.

Identification Rules

You must present two valid pieces of identification, and at least one must be a current (not expired) government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration record exactly. A mismatch — a maiden name, a missing middle name, a typo carried from the application — is among the most common reasons a candidate is turned away and forfeits the fee.

Avoidable Logistics Failures

• Arriving after the published check-in time.
• ID name not matching the registered legal name, or only one ID.
• Bringing prohibited electronics (cell phones are not allowed in the testing area).
• Clothing or footwear that prevents safe, full skills performance.
• Letting the Prometric application expire before testing.

Retake Policy

Florida lets you retake only the portion you failed — pass the written but fail skills, and you re-sit skills only (submitting a new application and the relevant fee). However, if you fail one portion three times, an E3 Challenger must complete a 120-hour approved training program before testing again. After a fail, you can request a written exam review ($30) within 21 days, completed within 60 days. Treat the first attempt as the one to win: passing both parts the first time avoids extra fees, a tighter timeline, and the training mandate.

Skills-Test Strategy And Common Failure Points

The clinical skills evaluation is the part candidates most often underestimate. Each skill has a written checklist (posted at www.prometric.com/NurseAide), and the nurse-evaluator scores discrete checkpoints — miss a designated critical checkpoint and the skill fails. The most reliable way to pass is to over-practice the universal habits that show up in almost every skill:

A Worked Example

Suppose your three random skills are measuring radial pulse, making an occupied bed, and assisting with ambulation using a gait belt. You still get scored on Handwashing (first, unprompted) and Indirect Care throughout. A candidate who performs the pulse perfectly but forgets to lock the bed wheels during ambulation, or leaves the call light out of reach, can fail on safety checkpoints. Because all five skills must pass, consistency beats brilliance: nail the routine open-and-close habits on every skill rather than gambling on one flawless demonstration.