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Open free Maryland NNAAP (GNA/CNA-I) Exam prep resources ↗Exam facts & prep options
Maryland Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation — National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Examination required for Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) / CNA-I registration
Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for Maryland NNAAP (GNA/CNA-I) Exam, with direct links to official sources.
Official exam siteJump to prep options ↓
QuestionsWritten Examination: 70 multiple-choice questions (or Oral Examination: 60 multiple-choice plus 10 reading-comprehension questions, on request); Skills Evaluation: 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills (handwashing is always one of them)
Testing timeWritten Examination: 2 hours; Skills Evaluation: 30 minutes to perform all five skills
ScoringPass/fail on both parts — candidates must pass both the Written (or Oral) Examination and the Skills Evaluation (all five skills rated Satisfactory) within 24 months of training completion to be placed on the Maryland Nurse Aide (GNA) Registry; no numeric passing score is published
Exam feeUSD 130 for the full Competency Evaluation (Written or Oral plus Skills); USD 45 Written or Oral Examination only; USD 85 Skills Examination only (Credentia fee schedule; fees non-refundable and non-transferable once submitted)
Prep options
Study resources for Maryland NNAAP (GNA/CNA-I) Exam
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- MBON
- Category
- Nurse Aide & Nursing Assistant
- Current version
- National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Examination — the Maryland form of the NCSBN-developed exam, developed, scheduled, administered, and scored by Credentia under contract with the Maryland Board of Nursing; Maryland is transitioning the associated credential title from GNA to CNA-I (designation effective April 1, 2026)
- Where it applies
- US-MD, United States
- Exam languages
- English
- Testing provider
- Credentia Nurse Aide Credentialing Services (primary vendor — Maryland Geriatric Nursing Assistant Testing Service), with D&SDT-Headmaster approved as a second testing vendor (approved October 23, 2024; fully operational for CNA-I testing as of January 21, 2026)
- Format
- Written (or Oral) exam delivered at regional test centers, at in-facility test sites, or via Credentia online proctoring; Skills Evaluation performed in person before a Nurse Evaluator
- Availability
- Scheduled test events at Maryland regional testing sites and in-facility test sites (reserve at least 10 calendar days ahead for test centers), with online-proctored Written/Oral exams available as early as the following day depending on availability
- Results
- Official results in the candidate's CNA365 online account within a few hours after a testing event is completed for the day; results are not given by telephone
- Remote testing
- Varies by jurisdiction
Exam structure
Two parts, both required: (1) a Written Examination of 70 multiple-choice questions (English) or an Oral Examination alternative, built on a published content outline — Physical Care Skills (Activities of Daily Living 22%, Basic Nursing Skills 35%, Self-Care/Independence 7%), Psychosocial Care Skills (Emotional and Mental Health Needs 8%, Spiritual and Cultural Needs 2%), and Role of the Nurse Aide (Communication 7%, Client Rights 8%, Legal and Ethical Behavior 5%, Member of the Health Care Team 6%); (2) a Skills Evaluation performing 5 randomly selected skills from the Maryland skills listing in 30 minutes (handwashing always included, one measurement skill among the four random selections), rated Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory by a Nurse Evaluator
Where rules vary
The exam is Maryland's state nurse aide competency evaluation, required for GNA (new CNA-I) registration to work as a nursing assistant in a Maryland licensed nursing home; GNA registration in Maryland requires prior Maryland CNA certification, and endorsement candidates from other states do not take it.
Eligibility
Must be certified as a CNA in Maryland (or qualify via student-nurse/graduate-nurse routes) and, under the primary route, have completed within the last 12 months a Board-approved 100-hour nursing assistant training program including clinical experience in a Maryland licensed nursing home; out-of-state CNAs in good standing may certify by endorsement without taking the exam
Retake policy
Up to 4 attempts within 24 months immediately after training completion to pass both parts; if not passed within 24 months or after 4 attempts, the candidate must successfully complete a new Board-approved 100-hour training program and take both parts again