Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) Exam
Information for students and graduates about the Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) exam in Washington state.
About the Exam
The Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) exam consists of two parts:
- In-person skills test
- Online written test
Exam candidates should take the skills test first.
- Candidates are expected to pass the skills test before registering for the written test.
- Testing out of order can delay certification.
Nursing assistant applicants must pass both parts of the exam in order to be considered for certification.
Exam costs
- Skills test: $100
- Written test: $55
Total exam costs for both written and skills: $155.
Exam administration
Training programs now provide the skills test.
- Most training programs provide skills testing.
- This means you can likely test in your own training program, or one that is nearby, soon after you graduate.
In Washington, Credentia is the company that administers the online written test.
Helpful Credentia resources
- Practice online written test (PDF)
- List of skills and skills steps you will be tested on (PDF)
- Candidate Handbook (PDF)
Eligibility to Take the Exam
How you become eligible to take the exam is called your Eligibility Route.
Each Eligibility Route has a specific code assigned to it that you need to use to register for the exam.
The most common Eligibility Route is completing an approved nursing assistant training program in Washington:
- Traditional training program (code = E1)
- Alternative (“bridge”) program (code = E6).
There are several other Eligibility Routes, all of which are considered “non-routine” routes.
Eligibility through a “non-routine” route means that you must submit a complete application with DOH – Credentialing to receive an Authorization to Test prior to registering for the exam.
- You will not be able to test without an Authorization to Test.
Eligibly Routes
All Eligibility Routes:
E1: New nursing assistant (graduate of an approved Washington traditional training program, not previously certified)
E2: Nursing student (LPN or RN program) or nursing program graduate (LPN or RN program)
E3: Military nursing student
E4: Out-of-State nursing assistant training program graduate or nursing program (LPN or RN program) graduate
E5: Lapsed nursing assistant credential >3 years, but completed training again
E6: New nursing assistant (graduate of an approved Washington alternative “bridge” training program)
E7: Training occurred prior to Feb. 1, 2015
E8: OBRA Re-activation (only 1 re-test attempt allowed; you must pass both parts of the exam on 1st attempt or re-training is required)
E9: Training program now closed
Applying to Take the Exam and Your NAC Credential
Once you determine your Eligibility Route, follow the 3-steps for your route below in to take the exam and earn your NAC credential.
STEP 1:
Apply for your Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) credential with the Department of Health (DOH) if you haven’t already. You need your NAC credential number to take the competency exams. To find your credential number, use the "Provider Credential Search" tool on the Department of Health website.
STEP 2: Register for the skills test.
- Option A: Register with your training program, if your training program is ready to provide skills testing
- If your training program offers testing, the program will reach out to you about available skills test dates and the registration and payment process.
- Please wait for the program to contact you (or check the program’s website for information). Contacting the program now will cause delays in scheduling.
- Option B: Register through WABON online scheduling if your training program is NOT providing skills testing at this time.
- Register for a test location, date, and time.
- The test site will follow up regarding their process for paying the skills test fee.
Step 3: Register for the written (or oral) test AFTER you pass the skills test.
* When filling out your written exam application on Credentia, make sure to enter your NAC credential number correctly. Mistakes can cause major delays in processing your credential.
Other Information
- Overall cost of the nursing assistant exam is the same, but the amounts paid for each part of the exam have changed.
- Skills test fee will be $100.
- Written (or oral) test fee will be $55.
All Other Eligibility Routes (“Non-Routine”)
If you match any of the other Eligibility Routes (E2-E5, E7-E9) then follow the 4 steps below:
- Eligibility through a “non-routine” route means that you must submit a complete application with DOH – Credentialing to receive an Authorization to Test prior to registering for the exam.
- You will not be able to test without an Authorization to Test.
STEP 1: Apply for your Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) credential with the Department of Health (DOH) if you haven’t already. You need your NAC credential number and an Authorization to Test from the Department of health prior to taking competency exams.
To find your credential number, use the "Provider Credential Search" tool on the Department of Health website.
When filling out your written exam application on Credentia, make sure to enter your NAC credential number correctly. Mistakes can cause major delays in processing your credential.
STEP 2: Register for the skills test.
- Register through WABON online scheduling if your training program is NOT providing skills testing at this time.
- Register for a test location, date, and time.
- Follow test site’s payment police for the $100 testing fee.
STEP 3: Register for the written (or oral) test on the Credentia website AFTER you pass the skills test
Other Important Exam Information
- Exam candidates must provide proof to test. To take the skills test, candidates must give the evaluating RN a copy of one of the following:
- Certificate of Completion (COC)
- Authorization to Test (ATT)
Other Important Exam Information
- Exam candidates must provide proof to test. To take the skills test, candidates must give the evaluating RN a copy of one of the following:
- Certificate of Completion (COC)
- Authorization to Test (ATT)