- What Is the PROMETRIC-NA Certification?
- Who Administers It and Why That Matters
- Written Exam Format and Structure
- The Five Content Domains
- Fees and What They Actually Buy You
- Training, Eligibility, and the 24-Month Window
- Building a Domain-Weighted Study Plan
- Registry, Renewal, and Recertification
- Who Hires PROMETRIC-NA Holders
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The written exam has 60 questions: 50 scored, 10 unscored pretest items, in 90 minutes.
- Basic Nursing Care (26%) and Promotion of Function and Health (24%) carry the heaviest weight.
- Written-only or oral-only testing costs $48; full initial certification requires passing clinical skills too.
- Connecticut allows unlimited retake attempts within 24 months of finishing training.
What Is the PROMETRIC-NA Certification?
The PROMETRIC-NA certification refers to the Connecticut Nurse Aide Written (Knowledge) Examination - the written half of the state's Nurse Aide Competency Exam. This exam is developed, administered, and scored by Prometric under contract with the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), which also manages the state's nurse aide registry. If you're preparing to work as a certified nursing assistant in Connecticut, this written knowledge test is one of two components you must pass, alongside the hands-on clinical skills demonstration.
Because several unrelated credentials share similar acronyms, it's worth being precise: this article covers only the Connecticut written knowledge exam administered through Prometric for nurse aide certification. For a broader definition-focused overview, see What Is PROMETRIC-NA? and PROMETRIC-NA Meaning.
Who Administers It and Why That Matters
Connecticut DPH sets the policy and eligibility rules; Prometric builds the exam content, runs the testing centers, and maintains the registry data on DPH's behalf. This split matters practically: the content basis for the written exam comes from the currently linked Connecticut Candidate Information Bulletin (with an August 21, 2019 cover revision), while fee updates - including the August 2026 changes - are published on Prometric's program page. If you want a plain-language breakdown of who does what and why the acronym gets confused with other credentials, check What Does PROMETRIC-NA Stand For? and What Is A PROMETRIC-NA?.
Testing itself is computer-delivered, closed-book, and conducted in English at an approved proctored site. Translation dictionaries and translators are prohibited, but an oral testing option and approved disability accommodations exist - you must request the oral option during your application, not on test day.
Written Exam Format and Structure
The written knowledge exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions total. Of those, 50 are scored and 10 are unscored pretest items used to evaluate future questions - but since scored and pretest items look identical during testing, you should treat every question as if it counts. You get 90 minutes to complete the full exam.
Because Prometric uses a state-adopted, equated passing standard, the exact number of correct answers needed to pass can shift slightly between different test forms. This is a common source of confusion for candidates comparing notes with friends who tested on different days. For a full explanation of how equating works and what score you actually need, see PROMETRIC-NA Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Don't try to calculate a fixed "raw score" target from other candidates' experiences - the passing standard is equated per form, so focus on mastering content across all five domains instead.
The Five Content Domains
The written exam draws from five official domains defined in the Candidate Information Bulletin. Understanding their relative weight helps you allocate study time efficiently rather than spreading effort evenly across topics that aren't equally tested.
Domain 1: Role of the Nurse Aide (18%)
Covers communication, resident rights, ethical and legal boundaries, and the aide's scope of practice within the care team.
- Know what tasks fall outside a nurse aide's authorized duties
Domain 2: Promotion of Safety (18%)
Focuses on infection control, body mechanics, fall prevention, and emergency response procedures.
- Standard precautions and proper use of protective equipment
Domain 3: Promotion of Function and Health of Residents (24%)
The second-largest domain, covering mobility assistance, restorative care, nutrition, and supporting resident independence.
- Positioning, transfers, and range-of-motion support techniques
Domain 4: Basic Nursing Care Provided by the Nurse Aide (26%)
The single largest domain on the exam, covering personal hygiene, vital signs, elimination needs, and comfort measures.
- Expect the highest volume of questions from this content area
Domain 5: Providing Specialized Care for Residents with Changes in Health (14%)
Addresses recognizing and responding to changes in a resident's condition, including cognitive and behavioral shifts.
- Smallest domain by weight, but still tested consistently
For a deeper walkthrough of each domain with sample question styles, see PROMETRIC-NA Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Fees and What They Actually Buy You
Effective August 1, 2026, Connecticut's fee structure for the Nurse Aide Competency Exam changes. Here's how the components break down:
| Testing Option | Cost (Effective Aug. 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Written + Clinical Skills | $125 |
| Oral + Clinical Skills | $125 |
| Written-Only or Oral-Only | $48 |
| Clinical-Skills-Only | $77 |
A critical point many candidates miss: the $48 fee covers the knowledge component alone. Initial certification requires passing both the written (or oral) knowledge test and the clinical skills demonstration - so $48 is not the complete cost of becoming certified unless you're only retaking the knowledge portion after already passing skills separately. For a full pricing breakdown across every combination and scenario, see PROMETRIC-NA Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Training, Eligibility, and the 24-Month Window
Most candidates enter through Connecticut's Standard Route 1, which requires completing a DPH-approved training program with at least 100 combined classroom and clinical hours. Once training is finished, you have 24 months to pass both the written knowledge exam and the clinical skills exam. Miss that window, and you may need to retake training.
The encouraging part: Connecticut permits unlimited attempts at both exam components within that 24-month eligibility period. There's no cap on how many times you can retest, though each attempt carries its own fee. If you're mapping out a retake strategy after a failed attempt, see PROMETRIC-NA Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling for scheduling logistics, and PROMETRIC-NA Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify for full eligibility details.
On test day, bring two matching-name identification documents, including the required government-issued photo ID. Mismatched names between your ID and application are a common reason candidates get turned away.
Building a Domain-Weighted Study Plan
Generic study techniques only help if they're pointed at the right material. Rather than studying every domain equally, allocate more time to Basic Nursing Care and Promotion of Function and Health, since together they represent half the scored content.
Basic Nursing Care Foundations
- Review hygiene, vital signs, and elimination care - the largest domain at 26%
- Use short daily review sessions rather than one long cram block
Function and Health Promotion
- Study transfers, positioning, and restorative care concepts (24% weight)
- Practice explaining procedures aloud as if teaching a resident
Safety and Role of the Aide
- Cover infection control and scope-of-practice questions (18% each)
- Take a timed 60-question practice set to build 90-minute pacing
Specialized Care and Final Review
- Focus on recognizing condition changes (14% domain)
- Revisit weak areas identified in earlier practice sets
A full weekly breakdown with specific practice recommendations is available in the PROMETRIC-NA Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you're unsure how demanding the exam actually feels compared to your training coursework, How Hard Is the PROMETRIC-NA Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through what makes certain domains trickier than others. You can also run realistic practice sessions anytime on our main practice test platform to get comfortable with the 90-minute format before test day.
Registry, Renewal, and Recertification
Passing both exam components gets your name placed on Connecticut's nurse aide registry. Renewal itself is free, but it isn't automatic - it requires employer verification that you completed at least one eight-hour paid shift providing nursing or nursing-related services before your certification expires.
p>If your certification lapses and you need to recertify, that recertification period runs two years from your last verified date of employment. This makes it important to track your work history closely, especially if you take extended time away from direct care roles.Key Takeaway
Set a calendar reminder well before your renewal date - employer verification of a single eight-hour shift is the entire requirement, but it must be documented before expiration, not after.
Who Hires PROMETRIC-NA Holders
Connecticut CNAs with active registry status typically find work in skilled nursing facilities, long-term care homes, assisted living communities, rehabilitation centers, and home health agencies. Because the credential confirms both knowledge and hands-on skill competency, employers use active registry status as a baseline hiring requirement rather than a bonus qualification.
If you're weighing whether this career path fits your goals, Is the PROMETRIC-NA Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and PROMETRIC-NA Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis cover the broader career picture. For training program options before you sit the exam, see PROMETRIC-NA Training, and for a look at current openings and how registry status factors into applications, see PROMETRIC-NA Jobs.
Whether you're just starting to research the pathway or you're a few weeks from test day, reviewing condensed material can sharpen recall fast - the PROMETRIC-NA Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is built for that final review pass, and our practice test simulator lets you rehearse full-length, timed exams under realistic conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The written knowledge exam and the clinical skills demonstration are separate components of Connecticut's Nurse Aide Competency Exam. Both must be passed for initial certification, though they can be scheduled and paid for separately in some cases.
The exam contains 60 multiple-choice questions: 50 scored questions and 10 unscored pretest questions, with a 90-minute time limit. Since scored and unscored items aren't distinguishable during the test, treat all 60 as important.
Connecticut allows unlimited retake attempts as long as you remain within 24 months of completing your training program. Each retake requires paying the applicable testing fee again.
Yes, an oral testing option is available, but you must request it during your application process rather than at the testing center. Oral-only testing costs the same $48 as written-only testing.
Renewal isn't based on a fixed calendar cycle alone - it requires employer verification of at least one eight-hour paid qualifying shift before your certification's expiration date. If certification lapses, recertification runs two years from your last verified employment date.