PROMETRIC-NA Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

Understanding What "Passing" Actually Means

If you're searching for a single number - "get X out of 60 correct to pass" - the honest answer is that Connecticut's exam doesn't work that way. The Connecticut Department of Public Health, through its testing contractor Prometric, uses a state-adopted, equated passing standard. That means the difficulty of each test form is statistically balanced against every other form, and the number of correct answers required to reach the passing standard can shift slightly from one exam version to the next.

In practical terms: two candidates could sit for the exam on different days, answer a different raw count of questions correctly, and both pass - because the forms they received weren't identical in difficulty. This is standard practice for credentialing exams and it's not something you can game. The only reliable strategy is mastering the content across all five tested domains rather than chasing a magic number.

Inside the 60-Question Format

The Connecticut written knowledge exam contains 60 multiple-choice questions delivered on computer at an approved proctored site, with a 90-minute time limit. What surprises many first-time candidates is that not every question counts:

• 50 scored questions - these determine whether you meet the equated passing standard.
• 10 unscored pretest questions - these are mixed in to gather data for future exam forms and do not affect your result.

The catch is that you won't know which questions are scored and which are pretest items - they look identical and are distributed throughout the test. That means there's no shortcut of "skimming" certain questions; every one of the 60 needs your full attention as if it counts, because from your seat, it might.

The written exam is closed-book, computer-delivered, and administered in English. Translation dictionaries and personal translators are prohibited, though an oral testing option and approved disability accommodations exist for candidates who need them - you must request the oral option during your application, not on test day. For a deeper look at how tough the format feels in practice, see our complete difficulty guide.

The Five Domains That Decide Your Score

Since there's no single passing number to memorize, the smarter target is understanding exactly how the 50 scored questions are distributed across content areas. Connecticut's Candidate Information Bulletin lays out five official domains, each carrying a different weight:

Together, Basic Nursing Care and Promotion of Function and Health make up half of the entire scored exam. That's not a coincidence - these domains reflect the hands-on tasks nursing homes, assisted living communities, and home care agencies expect a certified nurse aide to perform daily: vital signs, ADLs, positioning, mobility support, and restorative care techniques.

For a full breakdown of every domain with sample question topics, read our complete guide to all 5 content areas. Understanding the weighting isn't optional trivia - it's how you decide where to spend limited study hours.

What Passing Costs You in 2026

Passing the written exam isn't the finish line for certification - you also need to pass the clinical skills component - but the fee structure changes depending on which pieces you're testing. Effective August 1, 2026:

• Written plus clinical skills: $125
• Oral plus clinical skills: $125
• Written-only or oral-only testing: $48
• Clinical-skills-only testing: $77

If you're retaking just the knowledge portion after passing skills previously (or vice versa), you only pay for the component you're retesting. The $48 charge is specifically for knowledge-only testing - it is not the full initial certification cost, since a first-time candidate must pass both parts. For the complete cost picture across scenarios, see our full pricing breakdown.

Retake Rules: Unlimited Attempts, 24-Month Window

Connecticut is notably candidate-friendly on retakes. There is no cap on the number of attempts you can make at either the written or clinical skills component. The constraint isn't attempt count - it's time. Both components must be passed within 24 months after completing your training program. Miss that window, and you may need to retrain before testing again.

This unlimited-attempt structure means a single rough test day at "not quite passing" the equated standard isn't the end of your certification path - but it also isn't a reason to under-prepare. Each retake still costs money and time, and each attempt draws from the same pool of 50 scored questions across the same five domains, so studying harder before attempt two is far more efficient than hoping for an easier form.

Standard Route 1 applicants must first complete a DPH-approved training program with at least 100 combined classroom and clinical hours before testing. If you haven't started training yet, review our eligibility and prerequisites guide before worrying about scores at all.

A Domain-Weighted Study Plan

Generic study advice - flashcards, spaced repetition, timed drills - only helps if it's pointed at the right targets. Since Basic Nursing Care and Promotion of Function and Health together account for half the scored questions, your study calendar should reflect that weighting rather than splitting time evenly across all five domains.

For a structured walkthrough of this approach with sample questions in the actual Prometric style, our first-attempt study guide goes deeper into technique. You can also run full practice simulations on our main practice test platform to get comfortable with the pacing before test day.

Test Day Mechanics That Affect Your Score

A surprising number of candidates lose time - and confidence - to logistics rather than content. Keep these Connecticut-specific rules in mind:

• Bring two matching-name identification documents, one of which must be a government-issued photo ID. Mismatched names between your ID and registration can delay or block your test session.
• Testing is closed-book - no notes, no translation dictionaries, no personal translators.
• If you need the oral option or a disability accommodation, request it during your application, not at check-in.
• The 90-minute clock covers all 60 questions, including the unscored pretest items, so pace yourself as though every question is worth equal weight.

None of these factors change the equated passing standard, but showing up unprepared logistically can create stress that hurts performance on borderline questions. Review the full scheduling picture, including registration deadlines, in our testing windows and scheduling guide.

Once you're certified, maintaining your status is far simpler than earning it: registry renewal is free and only requires employer verification of at least one eight-hour paid shift providing nursing or nursing-related services before your certification expires. Recertification then runs two years from your last verified employment date. For employment context after you pass, see our notes on earnings across Connecticut CNA roles or browse practice questions on the main site to keep your knowledge sharp between renewal cycles.

Frequently Asked Questions