- PROMETRIC-NA stands for the Prometric Connecticut Nurse Aide Written (Knowledge) Examination.
- Connecticut's Department of Public Health sets the rules; Prometric develops and administers the test.
- The written exam has 60 multiple-choice items: 50 scored, 10 unscored pretest questions, in 90 minutes.
- Written-only or oral-only testing costs $48; full written plus clinical skills costs $125 starting August 1, 2026.
The Acronym Breakdown
"PROMETRIC-NA" is shorthand this site uses for a very specific credential: the Prometric Connecticut Nurse Aide Written (Knowledge) Examination. Each piece of that name tells you something concrete about the test:
- Prometric - the company that writes the questions, runs the testing sites, and manages the Connecticut nurse aide registry on the state's behalf.
- Connecticut - the exam applies to CNA candidates seeking certification specifically in Connecticut, under rules set by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH).
- Nurse Aide - the occupational title candidates are testing to earn: certified nurse aide (CNA) status on the state registry.
- Written (Knowledge) - this is the multiple-choice, computer-delivered portion of the Nurse Aide Competency Exam, distinct from the hands-on clinical skills test.
If you've seen "PROMETRIC-NA" used elsewhere to describe a different certification, ignore it. On this site, and in this article, it means the Connecticut written knowledge exam and nothing else. For a broader definition-focused overview, see What Is PROMETRIC-NA? and PROMETRIC-NA Meaning.
Who Runs It and Why It Matters
Connecticut's DPH is the governing body - it decides eligibility rules, training-hour requirements, and what happens after you pass. Prometric is the contracted vendor that actually builds the exam content, schedules test appointments, delivers the computer-based questions, and maintains the state's nurse aide registry once you're certified.
This division matters practically. When you have questions about training programs or renewal, you're dealing with DPH rules. When you're scheduling a test date, choosing written-only versus written-plus-skills, or requesting the oral option, you're dealing with Prometric's process. Understanding this split helps you know where to look when something changes, like the fee adjustments taking effect August 1, 2026.
What "Written (Knowledge)" Actually Means
The "Written (Knowledge)" half of the name distinguishes this component from the clinical skills demonstration. The knowledge exam is:
- Computer-delivered at an approved, proctored testing site - not paper-and-pencil.
- Closed-book, with no notes, translation dictionaries, or translators permitted.
- 60 total questions: 50 count toward your score, and 10 are unscored pretest items used to evaluate future exam questions. You won't know which 10 are unscored, so every question deserves full attention.
- Timed at 90 minutes, which averages out to roughly 90 seconds per question if you pace evenly.
- Delivered in English, with an oral option available for candidates who request it during the application process, and approved accommodations for candidates with documented disabilities.
Because scored and pretest items look identical during the test, treating every question as equally important is the only realistic strategy. For a deeper look at how tough the format feels in practice, read How Hard Is the PROMETRIC-NA Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Key Takeaway
Don't try to guess which questions are "pretest" during the exam - there's no visible marker, and treating any question as skippable risks your score unnecessarily.
The Five Domains Behind the Name
The Connecticut Candidate Information Bulletin defines five official content domains that structure every version of the written exam. These weights come directly from the state-adopted outline:
Domain 1: Role of the Nurse Aide - 18%
Covers scope of practice, communication with residents and care teams, legal and ethical behavior, and documentation basics.
- Know what a nurse aide can and cannot do independently.
Domain 2: Promotion of Safety - 18%
Focuses on infection control, fall prevention, emergency response, and safe body mechanics during resident handling.
- Expect scenario questions about identifying hazards before they cause harm.
Domain 3: Promotion of Function and Health of Residents - 24%
The second-largest domain. Covers mobility support, restorative care, activities of daily living, and encouraging resident independence.
- Study questions that test judgment about when to assist versus when to let a resident do a task themselves.
Domain 4: Basic Nursing Care Provided by the Nurse Aide - 26%
The single largest domain on the exam. Covers vital signs, personal hygiene, nutrition and hydration assistance, and basic comfort measures.
- Because this domain carries the most weight, weak knowledge here has an outsized effect on your score.
Domain 5: Providing Specialized Care for Residents with Changes in Health - 14%
The smallest domain. Covers recognizing and responding to changes in a resident's condition, including cognitive and behavioral shifts.
- Smaller weight doesn't mean skip it - a handful of missed questions here still counts.
For a full breakdown of each domain with sample question styles, see PROMETRIC-NA Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas. Since there's no published raw-score cutoff (Prometric uses an equated passing standard that can shift slightly between forms), understanding what constitutes a passing performance is worth reading separately at PROMETRIC-NA Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
| Domain | Weight | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Nursing Care | 26% | Vitals, hygiene, nutrition, comfort |
| Promotion of Function and Health | 24% | Mobility, ADLs, restorative care |
| Role of the Nurse Aide | 18% | Scope of practice, ethics, communication |
| Promotion of Safety | 18% | Infection control, fall prevention, emergencies |
| Specialized Care for Health Changes | 14% | Recognizing and reporting condition changes |
Fees, Format, and Registration Mechanics
Understanding the "PROMETRIC-NA" name also means understanding what you're paying for and when. Effective August 1, 2026, Connecticut's fee structure is:
- Written plus clinical skills: $125
- Oral plus clinical skills: $125
- Written-only or oral-only: $48
- Clinical-skills-only: $77
Note that $48 covers only the knowledge component - initial CNA certification in Connecticut requires passing both the written (or oral) knowledge test and the clinical skills demonstration. A full pricing breakdown, including how these components add up depending on your testing path, is covered in PROMETRIC-NA Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Both components must be passed within 24 months after completing an approved training program. Connecticut does not cap the number of attempts within that window - if you fail one or both parts, you can retest as many times as needed before the 24-month eligibility period closes. Bring two matching-name identification documents, including a government-issued photo ID, to your test appointment.
Who Needs This Credential
The written knowledge exam is required for anyone pursuing initial CNA certification in Connecticut through the standard Route 1 pathway - completing a DPH-approved training program with at least 100 combined classroom and clinical hours before testing. Nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, and rehabilitation facilities across the state hire based on active registry status, which requires passing both exam components.
Once certified, staying on the registry isn't automatic forever: renewal is free, but it 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. If you're weighing whether the whole process - training, testing, and renewal - pays off for your career plans, see Is the PROMETRIC-NA Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and PROMETRIC-NA Jobs for where certified aides typically find work.
Mapping Study Time to the Name
Once you understand what each part of "PROMETRIC-NA" represents, your study plan should mirror it: more time on the domains with more weight, and dedicated attention to the exam's specific format (60 questions, 90 minutes, closed-book).
Basic Nursing Care (26%) and Role of the Nurse Aide (18%)
- Start with the heaviest domain first while your study energy is highest.
- Review scope-of-practice boundaries alongside hygiene and vitals content.
Promotion of Function and Health (24%) and Promotion of Safety (18%)
- Pair mobility/ADL content with infection control and emergency response scenarios.
Specialized Care (14%) plus full-length timed practice
- Finish the smallest domain, then run 60-question, 90-minute practice sets to build pacing.
A short spaced-repetition review of missed questions in the final days before your test date reinforces weak spots without introducing brand-new content under time pressure. For a complete week-by-week plan built around these same domain weights, see PROMETRIC-NA Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and for a condensed reference the night before testing, try PROMETRIC-NA Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts.
You can build this pacing skill directly using full-length, Prometric-style practice exams on our practice test platform, which simulates the 60-question, 90-minute format so timing feels familiar on test day.
Key Takeaway
Study in proportion to domain weight - Basic Nursing Care and Promotion of Function and Health together make up half the exam, so they deserve roughly half your prep time.
Frequently Asked Questions
On this site, it refers to the Prometric Connecticut Nurse Aide Written (Knowledge) Examination - the multiple-choice portion of Connecticut's Nurse Aide Competency Exam, developed and administered by Prometric under Connecticut DPH oversight.
No. Initial CNA certification requires passing both the written (or oral) knowledge exam and a separate clinical skills demonstration. The $48 fee covers knowledge-only testing, not the complete initial exam.
There are 60 multiple-choice questions total: 50 are scored and 10 are unscored pretest items, all within a 90-minute time limit. You cannot tell which questions are unscored while testing.
Connecticut allows unlimited attempts, provided you pass both the written and clinical skills components within 24 months of completing your approved training program.
The standard written exam is administered in English. An oral option is available if requested during the application process, and approved disability accommodations can also be arranged. Translation dictionaries and translators are not permitted.