Attempts, Retakes, Fees, and 12-Month Rules
Key Takeaways
- Kansas course completers have three attempts to pass the CNA state test within the applicable 12-month window.
- A candidate who uses all three attempts or misses the 12-month window should expect to complete approved training again before further testing.
- Kansas regulations list a $20 nonrefundable state test application fee, and approved test sites may have separate local processes or charges.
- Retakes should be treated as remediation opportunities, not as unlimited practice exams.
- Attempt rules can differ for nonstandard pathways, so endorsement or equivalent applicants should verify their limit before testing.
The three-attempt rule
Kansas course completers should know this rule before the first test date: three attempts within 12 months. That window is not a suggestion. It is a boundary around the course-completer testing pathway. If the candidate does not pass within the allowed attempts and window, the next step is not another casual retake. The candidate should expect to complete approved training again or follow the current KDADS instructions for requalification.
This rule changes how you should use practice questions. The first state test is a real attempt, not a diagnostic drill. A candidate who is still guessing on resident rights, infection control sequence, reporting triggers, scope, Kansas registry facts, or basic nursing observations should remediate before testing.
| Rule area | Kansas point |
|---|---|
| Course-completer attempts | Three attempts |
| Course-completer window | 12 months |
| Passing score | 75% on the 100-question test |
| State application fee | $20 nonrefundable state test application fee |
| After failed attempts or expired window | Expect retraining or requalification before more testing |
Fees and local charges
Kansas regulations list a $20 nonrefundable state test application fee. The word nonrefundable matters. Candidates should confirm payment instructions, timing, and any additional site fee with the approved school or test site before each attempt. Do not assume an online price from another state applies to Kansas.
A practical approach is to keep a simple testing record: course start or completion information, test attempt dates, scores, fees paid, and messages from the program. If there is a dispute about whether an attempt counts, or whether the 12-month window is still open, documented dates make the conversation easier.
How to use a failed attempt
A failed attempt should produce a targeted study plan. Do not simply reread the whole course in the same order. Sort missed or uncertain topics into buckets:
- Kansas facts: 90-hour course, 100 questions, 75%, three attempts, 12 months, $20 fee, Trainee II rules.
- Scope and delegation: what the CNA may do, what must be reported, and what belongs to the nurse.
- Resident rights: refusal, privacy, dignity, confidentiality, personal choice, and grievances.
- Safety and infection control: falls, transfers, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, clean-to-dirty care.
- Observation and documentation: objective data, exact statements, abnormal vital signs, skin, intake and output.
Then practice decision-making, not memorized phrasing. For every missed scenario, write one sentence beginning with: The CNA should... followed by the safest action. Then add: because... followed by the reason. This turns a missed question into a reusable rule.
Attempt limits and special pathways
The three-attempt rule is the high-yield course-completer rule. Other pathways can be stricter. For example, endorsement or reciprocity applicants may not receive the same number of attempts before they must complete Kansas-approved training. If your pathway is not the standard Kansas course-completer route, confirm your exact attempt limit before you test.
The safest mindset is simple: protect each attempt. Test only when you can consistently identify unsafe choices, out-of-scope choices, and resident-rights violations. The exam is only 100 questions, but the attempt window is limited. Preparation should make the first attempt count.
A Kansas CNA course completer fails the state test once. What should the candidate understand about remaining attempts?
Which fee statement is most accurate for Kansas CNA testing?
After failing a Kansas CNA attempt, which study response is strongest?