Is handwashing always on the CNA skills test?
Updated · Reviewed against official sources
Almost always, in one form or another. Credentia's North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia handbooks say hand hygiene is always one of your five skills; Prometric (Texas, Florida) scores Handwashing on every test without telling you to do it; and Ohio's D&S test builds soap-and-water hand washing into the mandatory first task. Pennsylvania's Credentia pages list it first as a reminder but don't say it's always one of the five.
| State (vendor) | Rule |
|---|---|
| North Carolina (Credentia) | Always one of the five skills |
| Virginia (Credentia) | Always one of the five skills |
| Georgia (Credentia) | Always one of the five skills |
| Pennsylvania (Credentia) | Listed first as a reminder; not stated as always one of the five |
| Texas, Florida (Prometric) | Always scored, unprompted, evaluated at the beginning |
| Ohio (D&S Headmaster) | Hand washing with soap and water embedded in the mandatory first task |
What evaluators look for
- Lather for at least 20 seconds (Credentia lists).
- Hands lower than elbows, fingertips down.
- Don't touch the sink with clean hands; turn off the faucet with a clean, dry paper towel.
- Wash before touching the resident and after care (Prometric).
Quick answers
- PA CNA skills test: is hand washing always on it?
- Credentia's PA pages don't say it's always one of the five. Hand washing steps are inside most skills anyway. See the Pennsylvania list.
- Will they tell me to wash my hands?
- Not in Texas or Florida: the bulletins say handwashing is not prompted.
- Can I use hand sanitizer?
- Ohio's pulse and respirations task uses hand sanitizer for hand hygiene, but its mandatory tasks require soap and water. Follow your checklist's wording.
What to do next
See the handwashing mistakes that fail candidates.
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
- Why do people fail handwashing on the CNA skills test?
- PA CNA skills test: is hand washing always on it, and which skills are tested?
- What is indirect care on the CNA 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?
- Do you have to play the patient on the CNA skills test?
Sources
- Credentia North Carolina handbook — Exam overview
- Credentia Virginia handbook — The Skill Evaluation
- Credentia Georgia handbook — The Skill Evaluation
- Credentia Pennsylvania handbook — Skills
- Texas Nurse Aide Candidate Information Bulletin (Prometric, PDF)
- Florida CNA Candidate Information Bulletin, Rev. 11012025 (Prometric, PDF)
- Ohio Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook, Version 27, December 2025 (D&S Diversified Technologies / Headmaster, PDF)
- Credentia California region handbook — Skills listing
Checked: . Rules, fees and vendors change — always confirm with your state's official page and candidate handbook.