CNA Exam Pass Rates: What They Really Tell You About a Program

How much should a 100% exam pass rate weigh in your choice of a certified nursing assistant career? The answer starts with a concrete example. ASU-Newport's Medication Assistant Training Program posted a 100% certification exam pass rate for fiscal year 2026, counting both first-time and repeat test-takers.

For aspiring CNAs, pass rates reveal whether classroom instruction and clinical practice line up with what state exams actually test. A perfect rate matters, but only when you know how it was calculated and how it compares with state averages, program cost, and format.

What Is a CNA Exam Pass Rate, and How Is It Calculated?

A 100% pass rate can mean very different things depending on who was counted, so the calculation is just as important as the headline number. At its simplest, CNA exam pass rates are calculated by dividing the number of candidates who passed by the number who tested. If 25 people took the exam and 20 passed, the pass rate is 80%. The real question is who belongs in that group.

First-time vs. overall pass rates

First-time pass rate counts only candidates who pass on their first attempt, making it the clearest signal of how well a program's CNA exam preparation equips students before exam day. Overall pass rate includes repeat test-takers, so someone who fails once and passes on a second attempt can still lift the program's overall figure. A high overall rate may reflect strong retraining support rather than strong first-time preparation alone. For example, a program with a 100% overall rate may have a lower first-time rate if several students needed a second try.

Written, skills, and state reporting

CNA certification usually has two parts: a written or knowledge exam and a hands-on CNA skills test. Some states publish separate pass rates for each component, while others publish a combined program rate. State boards of nursing or their approved testing vendors typically calculate and publish these rates, using a consistent reporting window so that prospective students can compare programs fairly. Pay attention to whether a published rate is first-time or overall, because both can be called a pass rate.

Why Pass Rates Matter When Choosing a CNA Program

ASU-Newport's Medication Assistant Training Program posted a 100% certification exam pass rate for fiscal year 2026, a clear sign that its curriculum lines up with state exam content. For CNA students, pass rates serve the same purpose: they indicate whether a CNA training program teaches what the written and skills exams actually test.

What a high pass rate tells you

A high pass rate usually reflects two things working together. First, instructors cover the right clinical skills and communication standards. Second, students get enough hands-on practice and remediation before test day. When candidates pass on the first attempt, employers often see them as better prepared, which can shorten the hiring process and boost confidence for new nursing assistants.

What a low pass rate may signal

By contrast, a persistently low pass rate may point to thin clinical hours, outdated lesson plans, or weak student support. One rough cohort can happen, but a multi-year pattern deserves a second look. A program that repeatedly falls below its state average may leave you paying for retesting or delaying your job start.

Pass rates are not the only measure. CNA training cost, location, scheduling, and job placement still matter. Treat a strong pass rate as evidence of CNA program outcomes, not a guarantee, and confirm the number with your state board or nursing regulatory agency.

National CNA Exam Pass Rates: Written, Skills, and Overall

Nationally, the most commonly cited overall CNA exam pass rate falls between 80% and 85%, based on a synthesis of 2023 to 2024 data from multiple states. A single nationwide written and skills breakdown is not consistently published, so the table also shows program-level written and skills rates to illustrate the range.

State-By-State CNA Exam Pass Rates: How Your State Compares

CNA exam pass rates are published state by state, but states have not adopted a single reporting standard. Students need to read the fine print before comparing states. For example, Arizona's 2023 data shows an 85% written pass rate and a 79% skills pass rate, while Florida's most recent quarter reports an overall pass rate of 87.14%, with a written rate of 84.7% and a skills rate of 81.5%.

What the available state numbers show

Arizona reports written and skills pass rates separately, and no overall figure is published in the sources reviewed. Florida's exam provider Prometric reports an overall rate of 87.14% for the first quarter of 2024, along with written and skills components. That means Florida's overall number combines some test takers who may have passed one portion but not the other, while Arizona's separate figures leave you to judge each skill area on its own.

Why direct comparisons are tricky

States do not all define "overall pass rate" the same way. Some include repeat test takers, others count only first-time candidates. Some report written and clinical skills separately, while others blend them into one rate. Because reporting is decentralized across nurse aide registries, a complete current state-by-state table is not available from published sources. When you see a state pass rate, check whether it covers first-time testers, repeat testers, or both, and whether it is for the written exam, the skills test, or a combined figure. For the most accurate picture, look for the exam provider and time period listed with any state figure.

High-Performing CNA Programs: 100% and Near-100% Pass Rates

A number of CNA and medication assistant programs report 100% or near-100% exam pass rates, often across multiple exam periods. The table below highlights a sample of high-performing programs from state reports, school outcome pages, and news announcements. Use these examples as reference points, not as a complete list, when evaluating your own training options.

Does Program Cost Predict Exam Success? The Data on Tuition Vs. Pass Rates

Do more expensive CNA programs actually produce stronger exam results? The available data says not reliably. National program prices range from about $400 to over $3,000, but no consistent pattern shows that higher tuition buys a better pass record.

What the numbers show

Cost and outcomes often move in opposite directions. A Utah program charging about $550 plus exam fees reports a first-attempt pass rate above 90%. Another program priced near $1,275 posts roughly 84%. By contrast, one program listing about $2,749 in total charges reported first-time pass rates of just 70% in 2020 and 50% in 2021. Community college programs with subsidized tuition also show strong results, including pass rates in the high 80s and 90s.

Why sticker price misleads

Higher tuition can reflect marketing, location, or facilities, not better clinical training or student support. Many lower-priced programs rely on strong faculty, clinical partnerships, and remediation to drive pass rates. Some high-performing programs do not publish tuition, so cost-versus-pass-rate comparisons are incomplete.

When comparing options, focus on net price after aid, not the advertised sticker price. Ask whether a program reports first-attempt results rather than only overall pass rates, and whether it includes all test takers. The better question is not "did I pay more," but "what support will I receive before and after the exam?"

Online, Hybrid, or In-Person: Which Training Format Boosts Pass Rates?

Online convenience or hands-on mastery: choosing between virtual theory and in-person training can feel like choosing between flexibility and skill readiness.

What program data show

The strongest current evidence suggests hybrid CNA training can produce pass rates similar to in-person training, but there is no controlled multi-program study proving causation. One program's outcomes illustrate the variation. At Carl Sandburg College, 2023 face-to-face students posted a 95.24% pass rate while hybrid students posted 88.89%.¹ In 2024 the pattern flipped: hybrid students hit 100% and face-to-face students posted 89.5%.² Earlier hybrid cohorts ranged from 83.33% to 92.86%.¹ These are single-school figures and can shift with small cohort sizes.

Why the hands-on piece still matters

State licensure requires in-person clinical hours, so a true fully online CNA program does not really exist.⁴ Most "online" options are hybrid CNA programs with virtual theory plus in-person CNA skills labs and clinicals. That structure can work: online theory may be fine for the written exam, while supervised skills practice is critical for the CNA skills exam. Reported hybrid pass rates across programs range from 55.6% to 100%, so format alone is not a reliable quality signal.³

Nationally, first-time CNA pass rates are commonly described as roughly 70% to 87%, with wide state and program variation.³ Because state boards report pass rates differently, compare within the same state and reporting period when possible. Look beyond modality and check a program's own official outcome reports before choosing.

Beyond Pass Rates: Other Quality Indicators to Check

A pass rate tells you how many graduates cleared the certification exam, but it does not show how confident they felt on day one, how quickly they found work, or how well they handle real patients. To judge CNA programs fairly, look at several quality signals together.

Check These Indicators

• State approval: The program should be approved by your state's nursing board or department of health. Without it, you may not be eligible to sit for the exam.
• Instructor qualifications: Look for instructors who are registered nurses or have direct long-term care experience.
• Clinical hours: More supervised hours in a real facility usually means more hands-on practice with residents.
• Lab equipment: A program with a current CNA skills lab, beds, lifts, manikins, and gait belts gives you safer, more realistic skills practice.
• Job placement and graduate feedback: Ask about CNA job placement rates or whether graduates say they felt ready. Some schools track employer satisfaction or alumni outcomes.

High pass rates matter, but they reflect test preparation, not necessarily bedside confidence. A school could teach to the test while leaving graduates shaky on teamwork, documentation, or working with dementia patients.

Build a Side-by-Side Checklist

When comparing schools, make a simple chart. List each program and rate it on: state approval, instructor background, clinical hours, equipment quality, job placement help, and graduate reviews. A 100% pass rate is a strong signal, but it should sit alongside the other boxes on your checklist.

What You Can Earn After Passing: CNA Salary Overview

After passing your CNA exam, your earning potential depends on where you work and the specific duties you take on. National wage data show nursing assistants earn a median annual wage of about $42,260, with most earners between $37,260 and $47,220. A broader group that includes orderlies and psychiatric aides reports a similar median of $41,970.

Related Articles