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Washington Certified Nursing Assistant — Requirements & Free Practice

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Nursing Assistant–Certified

Certification for nursing assistants, including initial examination and endorsement pathways.

Licensing authority: Washington State Board of Nursing · Application information

Initial certification — completed program now closed

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Completed an approved Washington nursing-assistant or bridge program that is no longer active; provide training evidence for nonroutine Authorization to Test.
Initial certification — endorsement from a substantially equivalent jurisdiction
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Additional education
Provide any additional education information requested by the Board.
Application
Submit the application, applicable fees, and required conduct and background documentation.
Employment history
Provide caregiver employment history from the jurisdiction where currently certified.
Prior credential
Hold active nursing-assistant certification from another jurisdiction whose standards the Board determines are substantially equivalent; RCW 18.88A.110 permits endorsement without the competency evaluation.
Verification
Complete the applicant part of the verification form and obtain direct verification from each jurisdiction in which certification was held.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Reactivation — expired for one renewal cycle or less
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Practice
Do not practice until returned to active status.
Prior credential
expired for one renewal cycle or less
Reissue
Pay current renewal and late fees and provide the declarations required by WAC 246-12-040(3)(a).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Reactivation — expired longer than one renewal cycle, up to three years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Practice
Do not practice until returned to active status.
Prior credential
expired longer than one renewal cycle, up to three years
Reissue
Submit the abbreviated application, current renewal and late fees, expired-credential reissuance fee, conduct declarations, and any other requested documentation. At exactly three years, WAC 246-12-040(3)(c) supplies the administrative requirements; WAC 246-841A-980 does not impose its over-three-year competence rule until more than three years.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Reactivation — more than three years expired, with active equivalent certification elsewhere
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Competence
The Board determines substantial equivalence and competence. RCW 18.88A.110 authorizes endorsement without competency evaluation; the Board’s current reactivation page requires retraining and retesting after three years for applicants without active certification elsewhere.
Prior credential
Washington NAC expired for more than three years; hold an active substantially equivalent nursing-assistant credential in another U.S. jurisdiction.
Reissue
Submit the reactivation application, fees, current credential verification, and declarations required by WAC 246-12-040(3)(c).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Reactivation — more than three years expired, without an active credential elsewhere

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Prior credential
Washington NAC credential expired for more than three years and no active credential in another U.S. jurisdiction.
Reissue
Submit the reactivation application and fees, and meet WAC 246-12-040(3)(c) documentation requirements.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Complete a new approved nursing-assistant training program and retest before reissuance.
Initial certification — training outside the United States

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Cpr
Submit a current CPR card, front and back.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Submit official foreign-training transcripts. The Board may request more education information and must approve the education before authorizing testing.
Initial certification — home care aide bridge

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Cpr
Provide evidence of completion of a CPR course.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Prior credential
Hold current Washington Home Care Aide certification.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Complete the approved HCA alternative program: at least 36 hours, comprising 17 theory, 13 lab, and 6 clinical hours; submit its completion certificate and current HCA certification.
Initial certification — medical assistant bridge

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Cpr
Provide evidence of completion of adult CPR training.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Prior credential
Hold current Washington Medical Assistant Certification meeting the alternative-program eligibility requirements.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Complete the approved MA alternative program: at least 36 hours, comprising 16 theory, 14 lab, and 6 clinical hours; submit its completion certificate and the official nationally accredited medical-assistant program transcript.
Military status maintenance
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Renewal
No ordinary renewal or continuing education is required during military status.
Service
Qualifying active service continues; return the maintenance notice with official current service orders.
Underlying scope
This changes status of the existing nursing-assistant credential; it does not enlarge the authorized scope. For medication endorsement, retain its underlying NAC qualification.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Inactive military related status issuance
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Documents
Hold an active credential in force and submit a written request, service orders and marriage or domestic-partnership proof.
Practice
Do not practice in Washington during inactive military-related status.
Relationship
Be the spouse or registered domestic partner of a service member deployed or stationed outside Washington.
Underlying scope
This changes status of the existing nursing-assistant credential; it does not enlarge the authorized scope. For medication endorsement, retain its underlying NAC qualification.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Inactive military related status maintenance
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Documents
Provide current service orders with the maintenance notice.
Education
No continuing education is required while this status continues.
Relationship
Remain married or in a registered domestic partnership while the service member remains deployed or stationed outside Washington.
Underlying scope
This changes status of the existing nursing-assistant credential; it does not enlarge the authorized scope. For medication endorsement, retain its underlying NAC qualification.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Return to active status from inactive military related status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Discharge
If the service member has discharged, provide DD214 and return to active status within six months of qualifying discharge; late requests are subject to WAC 246-12-040.
Education
Applicable continuing education resumes in the next renewal cycle.
Reactivation
Pay active renewal fees and any required surcharge and document the service member’s current service or discharge.
Underlying scope
This changes status of the existing nursing-assistant credential; it does not enlarge the authorized scope. For medication endorsement, retain its underlying NAC qualification.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Return to active status from military status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Discharge
Within six months of qualifying discharge submit notice, official DD214, active renewal fees and any required surcharge. Late requests are subject to WAC 246-12-040.
Education
Applicable continuing education resumes after the first post-discharge renewal.
Underlying scope
This changes status of the existing nursing-assistant credential; it does not enlarge the authorized scope. For medication endorsement, retain its underlying NAC qualification.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Military status issuance
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Practice
The credential remains in force during service and authorizes practice unless suspended or revoked.
Service
Hold an active credential in good standing and submit a written military-status request with official qualifying service orders.
Underlying scope
This changes status of the existing nursing-assistant credential; it does not enlarge the authorized scope. For medication endorsement, retain its underlying NAC qualification.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Initial certification — military training

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Military training or experience satisfies the state requirements unless the Board determines it is not substantially equivalent. Submit DD214 Member-4 or Service-2, or NGB-22, and official JST or CCAF transcripts for approval.
Initial certification — traditional training with NAR employment clinical credit

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Clinical credit
The training program must approve NAR work for clinical credit case by case. Work follows theory and lab training, occurs during course enrollment under a pending or active NAR credential, includes a prior background check, and is directly supervised and verified by an on-site licensed nurse who is not a friend or relative. Care recipients may not be friends or relatives; hours and competencies must be documented and verifiable.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Complete the same approved traditional program; this pathway changes how the clinical requirement is met.
Initial certification — nursing school student or graduate

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Cpr
Submit a current CPR card, front and back.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Submit official nursing-school transcripts establishing equivalent approved RN or LPN education. Board review and education approval are required.
OBRA registry reactivation for nursing home employment

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Retest
Retake both examinations with one attempt each without retraining, or complete approved training and then retest with four attempts; failing the one-attempt option requires retraining.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Vendor difference
The current Washington vendor Eligibility Criteria also states: "If a nursing assistant certified has not provided nursing or nursing-related services for monetary compensation within the past twenty-four (24) months and desires to work in a nursing home, they must retrain and retest." The Board’s July 2026 handbook explicitly permits the one-attempt reactivation option.
Work history
OBRA registry status expired after more than 24 months without nursing-assistant work, preventing nursing-facility employment even if the state NAC credential remains current.
Initial certification — training before February 1, 2015

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Completed training before February 1, 2015 and never applied or tested; submit training documentation for official authorization to test.
Initial certification — training outside Washington

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Cpr
Submit a current CPR card, front and back.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Complete out-of-state nursing-assistant or nursing-program training without certification there; submit official transcripts or a certificate of completion for Board equivalency approval.
Annual renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing education
The Board’s renewal page states that this credential has no continuing-education requirement.
Renewal
Renew annually by the practitioner’s birthday; pay renewal fees and supply required declarations.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Reinstatement after support order suspension
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuity
Continue to satisfy all other reinstatement requirements throughout suspension and pay any reinstatement fee. The statute then requires automatic reissuance.
Release
Provide the DSHS release confirming compliance with the order.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Initial certification — Washington traditional training

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board-approved application and the applicable fees.
Attempts
The July 2026 Board handbook allows four attempts on each examination; after four unsuccessful attempts, complete training again. OBRA reactivation has the separate one-attempt rule.
Authorization
Nonroutine candidates must obtain the Board’s Authorization to Test before examination registration.
Conduct
Meet the conduct and background requirements; supply supporting documents for any affirmative personal-data answer.
Light duty
A candidate on light duty or restricted activity needs a medical release to full activity before taking the skills examination.
Testing sequence
Obtain a pending NAC credential number; complete the skills examination before registering with Credentia for the written or oral knowledge examination.
Training
Successfully complete a Board-approved traditional training program of at least 108 hours: 35 theory, 33 skills lab, and 40 clinical hours.
Initial issuance — mandatory two year out of state requirements waiver
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit verification, application, and applicable fees. For medication endorsement, maintain the underlying Washington NAC credential.
Conduct
No ground for denial or a conditional license; no unprofessional-conduct or impairment discipline in the preceding two years or while the application is pending; no investigation or charges while it is pending.
Prior credential
Hold the same profession’s credential in a jurisdiction with substantially equivalent standards for at least the two years immediately preceding application, with no licensure interruption longer than 90 days.
Waiver
RCW 18.130.077(1) requires waiver of education, training, experience, and examination requirements for qualifying applicants.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Skills Evaluation

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Provider
Credentia Nurse Aide LLC (develops and manages the NNAAP exam); administered by Credentia at test centers
Format
Performance evaluation at a test center, scored and retaken separately from the Written (or Oral) Examination: the candidate performs five skills on a candidate volunteer acting as the client and is rated by a Nurse Aide Evaluator; each skill is scored Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory and all five must be Satisfactory to pass
Time limit
30 minutes
Examination sources

NNAAP Written (or Oral) Examination

Provider
Credentia Nurse Aide LLC (develops and manages the NNAAP exam); administered by Credentia online or at test centers
Format
Multiple-choice examination taken online or at a test center, in English or Spanish, scored and retaken separately from the Skills Evaluation; candidates may choose the Oral Examination form, in which the multiple-choice questions are read aloud by recorded voice (MP3 player at test centers) and ten reading comprehension (word recognition) questions are added, and both Oral sections must be passed
Exam questions
70 multiple-choice items: 60 scored and 10 pretest (non-scored); the Oral form has 60 multiple-choice items and 10 reading comprehension (word recognition) items
Time limit
2 hours
Examination outline
  • I. Physical Care Skills — A. Activities of Daily Living (22% of the exam; 13 questions) (22%)
    • Activities of Daily Living — 1. Hygiene
    • Activities of Daily Living — 2. Dressing and Grooming
    • Activities of Daily Living — 3. Nutrition and Hydration
    • Activities of Daily Living — 4. Elimination
    • Activities of Daily Living — 5. Rest/Sleep/Comfort
  • I. Physical Care Skills — B. Basic Nursing Skills (35% of the exam; 21 questions) (35%)
    • Basic Nursing Skills — 1. Infection Control
    • Basic Nursing Skills — 2. Safety/Emergency
    • Basic Nursing Skills — 3. Therapeutic/Technical Procedures
    • Basic Nursing Skills — 4. Data Collection and Reporting
  • I. Physical Care Skills — C. Self-Care and Independence (7% of the exam; 4 questions) (7%)
    • Self-Care and Independence
  • II. Psychosocial Care Skills — A. Emotional and Mental Health Needs (8% of the exam; 5 questions) (8%)
    • Emotional and Mental Health Needs
  • II. Psychosocial Care Skills — B. Spiritual and Cultural Needs (2% of the exam; 1 question) (2%)
    • Spiritual and Cultural Needs
  • III. Role of the Nurse Aide — A. Communication (7% of the exam; 4 questions) (7%)
    • Communication
  • III. Role of the Nurse Aide — B. Client Rights (8% of the exam; 5 questions) (8%)
    • Client Rights
  • III. Role of the Nurse Aide — C. Legal and Ethical Behavior (5% of the exam; 3 questions) (5%)
    • Legal and Ethical Behavior
  • III. Role of the Nurse Aide — D. Member of the Health Care Team (6% of the exam; 4 questions) (6%)
    • Member of the Health Care Team
Examination sources