1.1 Virginia CNA Exam Facts
Key Takeaways
- Virginia CNA candidates take a knowledge exam and a separate skills evaluation through Credentia/NNAAP under the Virginia Board of Nursing.
- The written knowledge exam has 70 multiple-choice questions; the oral version has 60 knowledge questions plus 10 reading questions.
- The skills evaluation assigns five random skills, lasts 30 minutes total, and gives a 5-minute warning at the 25-minute mark.
- Current Credentia fees are $45 for written/oral and $95 for skills, and candidates need two current IDs at check-in.
- Virginia-approved nurse aide training is 140 hours effective May 2023 in the local metadata.
Virginia CNA Test Path
Virginia CNA candidates test through Credentia using the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) format under the Virginia Board of Nursing. Start with the official Credentia Virginia exam overview and the Board's nurse aide applicant resources before you schedule.
| Requirement | Virginia fact to plan around |
|---|---|
| Training | Virginia-approved nurse aide training; local metadata records 140 hours effective May 2023 |
| Knowledge exam | Written or oral option; written has 70 multiple-choice questions |
| Oral option | 60 knowledge questions plus 10 reading questions |
| Skills evaluation | Five randomly selected skills from the official skills list |
| Skills timing | 30 minutes total, with a 5-minute warning at 25 minutes |
| Fees | $45 written/oral plus $95 skills, per Credentia's exam fees page |
| Check-in | Two current IDs; names must match your CNA365 registration |
The practical takeaway is simple: prepare for two different tests. The knowledge exam asks for the safest, in-scope CNA action. The skills evaluation asks you to perform care out loud, in order, while preserving resident safety, privacy, infection control, and communication.
Use these facts to reverse-plan your calendar. Your 140-hour training gives the base, but the last stretch should include timed knowledge sets, oral-reading practice if you selected the oral exam, and several full five-skill runs. Budget fees early, verify both IDs before test week, and make sure the name on your documents matches your registration.
Do not treat the skills day as a quick add-on. Credentia's skills evaluation rules mean five skills can cover hand hygiene, measurements, mobility, personal care, and resident rights in one sitting. Practice under a 30-minute timer so the 25-minute warning feels like a pacing cue, not a surprise.
A Virginia candidate selects the oral knowledge exam instead of the written exam. Which statement is accurate for planning?
During a timed Virginia skills practice, what checkpoint best mirrors the official pacing rule?