What is indirect care on the CNA skills test?
Updated · Reviewed against official sources
Indirect Care is one of the five scored skills on Prometric's nurse aide clinical skills test (Texas and Florida). It isn't a task you're told to do; it's how you treat the resident throughout the test: resident rights and preferences, communication, safety and comfort, and infection control. Failing it fails the whole skills test, since you must pass all five.
| Area (from the bulletins) | What the evaluator sees |
|---|---|
| Resident rights and preferences | Knock, introduce yourself, call the resident by name, ask preferences, provide privacy |
| Communication | Explain each step before you do it; check comfort |
| Safety and comfort | Bed locked and returned low, call light in reach, side rails per the scenario |
| Infection control | Clean vs dirty, gloves changed when needed, hand hygiene |
Why it fails people who "knew the skills"
Candidates focus on the three assigned skills and forget that everything around them is scored too. Build an identical opening and closing routine you perform for every skill so indirect care becomes automatic.
Quick answers
- Is indirect care on Credentia tests?
- Not as a separate skill name; those steps sit inside each skill's checklist instead.
- Can I fail just indirect care?
- Yes. It's one of the five skills you must pass on Prometric's test.
- Is indirect care the same in Texas and Florida?
- Both bulletins describe it the same way.
What to do next
Indirect care plus handwashing are scored every time. Practice the routine with Prometric's list.
You must pass the written test too. Take the free 20-question practice test, or unlock the timed 60-question exam simulator, the full question bank and every skill checklist for $29 one-time (or $9/month).
Related guides
- How does the Prometric CNA clinical skills test work?
- Is handwashing always on the CNA skills test?
- Texas CNA skills test list 2026: which skills are on the exam?
- Florida CNA skills checklist: what's on the Prometric skills test?
- What is a critical element step on the CNA skills test?
- Can you correct a mistake during the CNA skills test?
- How long is the CNA skills test?
- How close do your measurements have to be on the CNA skills test?
Sources
- Texas Nurse Aide Candidate Information Bulletin (Prometric, PDF)
- Florida CNA Candidate Information Bulletin, Rev. 11012025 (Prometric, PDF)
Checked: . Rules, fees and vendors change — always confirm with your state's official page and candidate handbook.