Loading...All aspiring CNAs need to apply for and take the NNAAP (National Nurse Aide Assessment Program) Examination to seek nurse aide certification in Virginia. The Virginia Board of Nursing works in association with Pearson VUE to conduct the examination and report the result of the NNAAP exam. The Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Service (NACES) has contracted with Pearson group to administer and schedule the examination.
Eligibility
To become eligible to take the NNAAP Examination in Virginia requires qualifying one of the following eligibility routes:
- New Nurse Aide
- Previously failed part or all of the NNAAP examination.
- First time test taker.
- Nursing Graduate
- Nursing Student
- Lapsed Certificate Holder
Components of the Examination
The NNAAP Examination process involves two parts: the written/oral examination and skills evaluation. Both the exams are administered on the same day and candidates must pass both in order to qualify for listing on the state’s Registry.
Written Examination: This section comprises of 70 multiple choice questions. The exam is conducted only in English. Students are supposed to complete the examination in 2 hours.
Oral Examination: This section is a replacement of Written Examination for candidates with difficulty in reading English. The test is taken by using a tape recorder and headset. The exam consists of 10 reading comprehension questions and 60 multiple -choice questions. At the time of submitting Examination Application, candidates have to request for oral Examination. Students are given a time period of 2 hours to finish the examination.
Skills Evaluation: Candidates perform 5 randomly chosen nurse aide skills. Students are given 25 minutes to finish 5 skills.
Exam Fees
| Written Examination and Skills Evaluation | Both | $ 94 |
| Oral Examination and Skills Evaluation | Both | $ 94 |
| Oral Examination ONLY | Retest | $ 25 |
| Written Examination ONLY | Retest | $ 25 |
| Skills Evaluation ONLY | Retest | $ 69 |
- Examination fee is acceptable only in the form of company check, certified check or company check payable to “NACES”; not in the form of cash, Personal check or credit cards.
- Payment must be paid for both the Skills Evaluation and Oral/Written Examination.
Application and Exam Scheduling
Application:
- To apply for the NNAAP Examination, candidates have to fill an Examination Application.
- The Application can be downloaded from the website of Pearson VUE – www.pearsonvue.com or by contacting NACES at 800-758-6028.
- The Virginia Board of Nursing records that address of candidates that they mention on the examination application. The address can be changed either by mailing a written note to the Board of Nursing or at the time of certificate renewal.
- The certificate stays valid for 1 year from the original application receipt date or the date of approval of the application.
- Candidates have to mail appropriate examination fee, required documentations and Examination Application together in an envelope to the address:
NACES/Virginia NNAAP
7600 Burnet Road, Suite 440
Austin, TX 78757-1299
Exam Scheduling:
NACES schedules candidates for testing after receiving appropriate fees, required documents and needed approval from the Board of Nursing. NACES must receive application material around 2 weeks before the requested examination date. After scheduling the test- date, NACES mails Authorization to Test Notice to candidates at the address they provide in the Examination Application within 2 days after receiving required documents of candidates.
Special Exam Requests and Services: State provides special arrangement for candidates who are disabled. Candidates have to seek approval from the Virginia Board of Nursing in advance. Candidates have to provide a proof of the diagnosed disability to the Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE group is equipped with machinery called TDD (Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf) to help hearing-impaired aspirants and deaf.
Testing Location: NACES takes the NNAAP Examination at Regional Test Sites. A complete testing schedule is available on the website of Pearson VUE- www.pearsonvue.com. Additional information is obtainable at: 800-758-6028.
Cancellation and Rescheduling
Candidates who do not attend the examination on a scheduled date can reschedule the examination. But to reschedule the examination and transfer the paid exam-fee to a new examination date, candidates must notify NACES minimum 5 business days before the scheduled date.
Acceptable reasons for missing the examination: NACES considers the following excused absences of candidates to reschedule their examination-
- Military duty
- Death in the family
- Illness of a candidate or of his immediate family member
- Disabling traffic accident
- Weather emergency
- Jury duty or court appearance
Candidates must present a proof of excused absence within 10 business days following the scheduled date of examination.
What to Bring on the Exam Day
Candidates without proper documents can’t sit for the exam. They must reach the test site 30 minutes before with:
Two forms of official identification. Both forms must bear signature and one out of the two must be photo identification. They must be original and current (non-expired). A list of acceptable identification includes:
- Social Security card with signature
- Clinic card
- Driver’s License
- Library card
- Credit card
- Passport
- Identification card issued by the state
- University ID card (signed) with a signature line
- High School ID card (signed) with a signature line
The name on candidates’ identification must match with their name on the examination application. In case of name change, candidates must provide a proof of name change (divorce decree or marriage license) to the test site.
- Eraser and 2 sharpen pencils.
Score Reporting
- Candidates having queries related to the content of the exam or the Score- Report may contact Pearson VUE at 877-244-1694.
- Pearson VUE does not give results over the telephone.
- Result is given through an Official Score Report. The Report shows whether candidate has passed the Written/ Oral Examination and Skills Evaluation.
- If Score Report gets delayed by a week after testing, candidates must contact Pearson VUE at 877-244-1694.
Failing Result:
- Failed Score Report provides information about re-taking the examination.
- A new exam-fee is charged every time candidates take the examination.
- Students can re-take either or both parts of the examination as many times as they can, but exam is to be passed within 2 years after the completion of the training program; else candidate has to take the training all over again.
- Candidates must submit a new application, failing Score Report and required examination fee to NACES.
Passing Result:
The name of students with passing Score Report of both Written/Oral Examination and Skills Evaluation is submitted to the state’s Board of Nursing to appear on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry. Candidates may practice as a Certified Nurse Aide only when their name gets listed on the Registry.