To become a certified nursing assistant (CNA), you need to complete an accredited program so that you qualify for a license to practice in your state. Before you get your CNA license, you need to pass an exam to prove that you’re qualified for the job. This test isn’t as intense as the tests that nurses, physician assistants, or doctors have to take, but they can still be difficult if you aren’t prepared. It is important to study for this licensing exam, which you can do through taking practice tests or exams.

There are two main ways to take the CNA test. First, you can take a practice test on your own. There are multiple resources for this available online, and you can also purchase books that come with practice tests. Of the online resources, consider your options carefully. Some, especially those that are free, are not great representations of the real test. Do research to find the practice tests that are most highly acclaimed and more recommended.

Your second practice exam option is to participate in a CNA program that spends part of the time preparing for the test you’ll have to take. This is one of the best ways to prepare for the CNA test, as you’ll have professors to answer your questions and review your results with you so that you can get a better score on the real test.

No matter which method you use for taking a practice, there are some tips you can use to make sure that you’re getting the most out of your practice test experience. Here are some that you should keep in mind:

• Prepare for the practice test as though you’re taking the real test. You want to know the areas in which you’re strongest and weakest, so study as though the practice test is more than just practice.
• Don’t plan the practice test too closely to the real test. It will take time to be graded, and even if you do an instant kind of online test, you need time to review your score and work on the sections where you didn’t score well.
• When you take the practice test, set up the situation as close to possible as the real situation. In other words, don’t sit on your couch and answer the questions. Set up a real test-like environment, at a desk or table, and time yourself taking the test.

Don’t panic if your first attempt doesn’t score well. That’s why you’re practicing! As soon you get your test back, review your answers, making notes as to how well you did. Which kinds of questions did you miss most often? Which topic areas had questions that you missed the most? Analyze your results, and then get back to studying. Remember, the night before your test, put the books away, get a good night of sleep, and try to calm your nerves so that you can do well on your test. Need more tips? Check out test-taking strategies here.

Top Nurse's Assistant Programs

Becoming a nursing assistant will usually require you to have at least an associate's degree an possibly LPN/LVN licensure. The degree programs offered by the online schools below will help you get started in your endeavors.

	University of Phoenix — The Associate of Arts in healthcare degree from the University of Phoenix College of Health and Human Services does well to prepare its students for becoming certified nurse assistants. Graduates of this program will be ready to enter the health workforce in an entry-level medical assisting position.
	Kaplan University — Kaplan offers an associate's degree in medical assisting designed to cover a variety of subjects, including community nursing care, health informatics, management, and more.
	Keiser University — Keiser's AS degree in medical assisting is designed specifically for those who wish to care medically for others, but who may otherwise not be able to attend years of schooling in order to become an RN or physician.
	American InterContinental University — The AA in business healthcare administration offered by American InterContinental University Online is a business degree with a concentration in the inter-workings of the healthcare system.
	Virginia College — Virginia College, unlike the aforementioned schools, offers a bachelor's degree program in health management. This four-year program provides more advanced knowledge and skills to the medical assistant looking to expand his/her career into a more managerial role.
	Rasmussen College — The online associate's degree in medical administration readies students for entry-level positions as medical/nursing administrative assistants. Students of this program will be taught coding, billing, medical ethics, medical terminology, anatomy, and more.
	Herzing University — Herzing offers an AS degree in medical assisting curriculum that is designed to prepare students for assisting in numerous healthcare settings, including hospitals, doctor's offices, clinics, and more. Similar associate's degrees are offered in health IT, medical billing, and medical office administration.
	American InterContinental University — American InterContinental University Online's AABA in healthcare administration program helps students to prepare for positions as administrative specialists within the health industry. Students will learn anatomy, medical terms, billing regulations, and computer technology. AIU also offers an AABA in medical billing and coding.
	Brookline College — Brookline College offers an AS in health care administration program that combines independent research with online coursework to compose a comprehensive learning experience for those wishing to enter the health industry ad an administrator.
	Ashford University — The BA in healthcare administration degree program from Ashford is a more in-depth course of study than many of the associate's degrees listed herein. This program is ideal for anyone looking to expand their current healthcare careers into the field of administration.
	Western Career College — The AAS in healthcare information technology online degree program offered at Western Career College teaches students about anatomy, medical terminology, billing, and patient record keeping to prepare them for careers as medical assistants and nursing assistants.
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