- What Is PROMETRIC-NA, Exactly?
- Who Administers and Governs the Exam
- Written Exam Format and Question Style
- The Five Official Exam Domains
- Fees, Routes, and Registration Mechanics
- What to Bring and What Happens on Test Day
- After the Exam: Retakes, Registry, and Renewal
- Who Hires PROMETRIC-NA Certified Nurse Aides
- Preparing Smart: A Domain-Aware Study Approach
- Frequently Asked Questions
- PROMETRIC-NA is the Connecticut Nurse Aide Written (Knowledge) Exam, administered by Prometric for the CT Department of Public Health.
- The written test has 60 multiple-choice questions (50 scored, 10 unscored pretest) with a 90-minute limit.
- Five domains are weighted: Basic Nursing Care (26%), Promotion of Function and Health (24%), Role of the Nurse Aide (18%), Promotion of Safety (18%)...
- Starting August 1, 2026, written-only or oral-only testing costs $48; combined written plus clinical skills costs $125.
What Is PROMETRIC-NA, Exactly?
PROMETRIC-NA refers specifically to the Connecticut Nurse Aide Written (Knowledge) Examination, the knowledge-based half of Connecticut's Nurse Aide Competency Exam. It is one of two components - written (or oral) and clinical skills - that a candidate must pass to become a certified nursing assistant in Connecticut. The exam is developed, administered, and scored by Prometric, which also manages the state's nurse aide registry under contract with the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH).
This article focuses only on the written knowledge exam: its structure, its content domains, how it fits into the certification process, and how registration and fees actually work in Connecticut. If you want a deeper breakdown of each content area, see the PROMETRIC-NA Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Who Administers and Governs the Exam
Connecticut's nurse aide program follows a familiar oversight structure: DPH sets the regulatory framework and eligibility rules, while Prometric builds and delivers the actual exam content, schedules test sessions, and maintains registry records once candidates pass. This division matters for candidates because policy questions (training hours, renewal timelines) go through DPH's program pages, while logistics questions (scheduling, fees, test-day rules) are handled through Prometric's candidate bulletin and website.
Understanding this split also clarifies why the passing standard isn't a fixed number of correct answers. Prometric applies a state-adopted, equated passing standard, meaning the raw score needed to pass can shift slightly between different test forms even though the effective difficulty stays constant. For a full explanation of how this works, see PROMETRIC-NA Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Written Exam Format and Question Style
The PROMETRIC-NA written exam is computer-delivered, closed-book, and administered in English at an approved proctored testing site. Candidates who need alternate language support cannot use personal translation dictionaries or bring a translator - those are prohibited. Instead, Connecticut offers an official oral testing option, which must be requested during the application process rather than on test day.
- Total questions: 60 multiple-choice items
- Scored questions: 50
- Unscored pretest questions: 10 (mixed in, not identified to the candidate)
- Time limit: 90 minutes
- Delivery: Computer-based, proctored, closed-book
Because the 10 pretest questions are indistinguishable from the 50 scored ones, candidates should treat every question on the screen as if it counts. Guessing which questions are "just pretest filler" is not a viable strategy and can cost focus on items that actually determine your score.
Key Takeaway
Budget roughly 90 seconds per question during practice sessions to build comfort with the 90-minute, 60-question pace before test day.
The Five Official Exam Domains
The written exam's content is organized into five domains drawn from the Connecticut Candidate Information Bulletin. Each domain carries a different weight, meaning some topics appear far more often than others.
Domain 1: Role of the Nurse Aide (18%)
Covers scope of practice, communication with residents and care teams, legal and ethical boundaries, and resident rights.
- Reporting responsibilities and chain of communication
Domain 2: Promotion of Safety (18%)
Focuses on infection control, body mechanics, fall prevention, and emergency response procedures.
- Standard precautions and safe transfer techniques
Domain 3: Promotion of Function and Health of Residents (24%)
The second-largest domain, addressing mobility support, restorative care, and helping residents maintain independence.
- Range-of-motion assistance and adaptive equipment use
Domain 4: Basic Nursing Care Provided by the Nurse Aide (26%)
The single largest domain, covering hands-on tasks like personal hygiene, nutrition and hydration support, vital signs, and comfort measures.
- ADL support procedures and documentation basics
Domain 5: Providing Specialized Care for Residents with Changes in Health (14%)
The smallest domain by weight but still tested - covers recognizing and responding to changes in resident condition.
- Identifying signs that warrant escalation to nursing staff
Because Basic Nursing Care and Promotion of Function and Health together account for half of the exam's scored content, study time should reflect that imbalance rather than being split evenly across all five areas. For a topic-by-topic breakdown of each domain, review the PROMETRIC-NA Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Fees, Routes, and Registration Mechanics
Fee structure is one of the most misunderstood parts of the PROMETRIC-NA process because candidates often confuse "written-only" pricing with the full cost of initial certification. Effective August 1, 2026, the fee schedule is:
| Testing Option | Cost |
|---|---|
| Written plus clinical skills | $125 |
| Oral plus clinical skills | $125 |
| Written-only or oral-only | $48 |
| Clinical-skills-only | $77 |
Initial certification requires passing both the knowledge component and the clinical skills component. The $48 fee covers only the written (or oral) portion - it is not the complete cost of becoming certified. Candidates testing both components together at once pay the combined $125 rate. For a full cost breakdown including scenarios where fees are paid separately, see PROMETRIC-NA Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Most candidates enter through Standard Route 1, which requires completing a DPH-approved training program with at least 100 combined classroom and clinical hours before testing. Details on eligibility paths are covered in PROMETRIC-NA Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
What to Bring and What Happens on Test Day
Test-day requirements for the written exam are strict about identification. Candidates must bring two matching-name identification documents, including one required government-issued photo ID. Names on both documents must match your registration exactly - a mismatch (maiden name, missing middle name, etc.) can result in turnaway at the testing site.
- Testing occurs at an approved proctored site, not remotely
- No personal translation dictionaries or translators are permitted
- Approved disability accommodations must be arranged in advance
- The oral testing option must be requested during application, not on arrival
Because the written exam is closed-book and computer-delivered, there is no opportunity to reference notes or study materials once testing begins. Everything must be internalized beforehand - which is why targeted practice on domain-weighted content, rather than generic review, tends to matter more than raw study hours.
After the Exam: Retakes, Registry, and Renewal
Connecticut's retake policy is more forgiving than candidates often assume. There is no cap on the number of attempts - you can retest as many times as needed, provided you pass both the knowledge and clinical skills components within 24 months of completing your training program. If that window closes without both components passed, retraining may be required. Details and scheduling logistics are covered in PROMETRIC-NA Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling and CT CNA retake guidance elsewhere on this site.
Once certified, staying on Connecticut's nurse aide registry is free, but it isn't automatic. Renewal requires employer verification of at least one eight-hour paid shift providing nursing or nursing-related services before your certification expires. Recertification then runs for two years from your last verified employment date - not from your original certification date. This distinction trips up aides who assume every renewal cycle is a flat two years from initial certification.
Key Takeaway
Track your last verified paid shift date, not your original certification date - that's what determines your two-year recertification clock.
Who Hires PROMETRIC-NA Certified Nurse Aides
Passing the written and clinical components and appearing on Connecticut's nurse aide registry is the credential employers check before hiring for nurse aide roles. Skilled nursing facilities, long-term care homes, rehabilitation centers, and home health agencies across Connecticut rely on registry status to confirm a candidate is cleared to provide nursing-related services. If you're weighing whether the credential pays off in job opportunities and pay, see PROMETRIC-NA Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and Is the PROMETRIC-NA Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026. For a broader look at where certified aides find work, browse PROMETRIC-NA Jobs.
Preparing Smart: A Domain-Aware Study Approach
Generic study techniques only help if they're pointed at the right material. Since Basic Nursing Care (26%) and Promotion of Function and Health (24%) together make up half the scored questions, a study sequence that front-loads those two domains - then circles back to Role of the Nurse Aide, Promotion of Safety, and finally Specialized Care - mirrors how the exam is actually weighted rather than treating all five domains equally.
Basic Nursing Care
- Drill ADL support, hygiene procedures, and vital signs terminology using spaced repetition flashcards
Promotion of Function and Health
- Practice scenario questions on mobility support and restorative care
Role of the Nurse Aide & Promotion of Safety
- Review scope-of-practice boundaries and infection control checklists
Specialized Care & Full Simulation
- Take timed 60-question practice sets to build 90-minute pacing endurance
For a complete week-by-week plan built around these weightings, see the PROMETRIC-NA Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also gauge your readiness honestly with How Hard Is the PROMETRIC-NA Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 before locking in a test date.
Once you're ready to test your recall under realistic timing, a full-length practice test that mimics the 60-question, 90-minute format is far more useful than passively rereading notes. Running multiple timed simulations through our practice platform also helps you notice which of the five domains consistently costs you points, so your final review week can target weak spots instead of everything at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. PROMETRIC-NA refers specifically to the written (or oral) knowledge exam, which is one of two required components. You also need to pass the clinical skills exam to become fully certified and appear on Connecticut's nurse aide registry.
The written exam has 60 multiple-choice questions - 50 scored and 10 unscored pretest items mixed in - with a 90-minute time limit. You won't know which questions are pretest, so treat every item as scored.
Written-only or oral-only testing costs $48 effective August 1, 2026. This does not cover clinical skills testing; combined written plus clinical skills costs $125, and clinical-skills-only testing costs $77.
Connecticut allows unlimited retake attempts, as long as you pass both the written and clinical skills components within 24 months of completing your DPH-approved training program.
The written exam is administered in English only, and translation dictionaries and translators are prohibited. Connecticut offers an official oral testing option and disability accommodations, but both must be requested during the application process.