Everything You Need to Know About the Texas CNA Exam (2026)
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The Texas CNA exam is the two-part competency test you take through Prometric to become a certified nurse aide in Texas. It has a written knowledge test of 60 multiple-choice questions and a clinical skills test where you perform a set of hands-on skills for an evaluator. The full exam costs $120, or $130 if you take the oral version instead of the written, and you must finish a state-approved Texas training program before you can sit for it. You register through TULIP, the state's nurse aide portal, then schedule with Prometric, and the written test can now be taken at home with remote proctoring. Pass both parts and your name goes on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry, which is what lets you work.
Certified Nursing Assistant - Williams Career School of Excellence
- Format: Hybrid
- Tuition: $725 to start, $1,450 total
- No high school diploma or GED required, and you can start at age 16
- Day, evening, and weekend schedules
Nurse Aide - Southern Careers Institute - Waco Campus
- Format: Hybrid
- Tuition: $1,200 total
- VA funding accepted
You can also compare programs by city in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, browse CNA classes near you, or see how long training takes before the exam. If cost and speed are your priority, start with the cheapest and fastest CNA programs.
Texas CNA Salary and Job Outlook
Texas CNAs earn a median of $37,500 a year, about $18.03 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS-sourced data, which sits below the national median of $42,260. Pay runs higher in metros like Houston and Dallas and in hospital settings.
Nationally, the BLS projects 2% employment growth for nursing assistants from 2024 to 2034, with steady openings driven by turnover, so the certification holds its value across the state. For the bigger case for the career beyond the exam, see great reasons to become a CNA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the passing score for the Texas CNA exam?
There is no single percentage published for the Texas CNA exam. The written test requires a passing score set by Prometric, and you must pass it together with the clinical skills test to be certified, since passing one does not carry the other. The skills test is graded pass/fail, not on a percentage.
How many questions are on the Texas CNA exam?
The written test has 60 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute limit. If you take the oral version, you get 120 minutes and a short set of added reading-comprehension questions. The clinical skills test is a hands-on demonstration, not a question count.
How much does the Texas CNA exam cost?
The Texas CNA exam costs $120 for the written and skills tests together, or $130 if you take the oral test instead of the written. You pay Prometric when you schedule, and retaking a single part costs less than the full exam. Compare Texas training costs on Dreambound to budget the whole path.
How many skills can you miss on the Texas CNA skills test?
You cannot miss a required step. The skills test is scored on the critical steps of each assigned skill, so skipping a required step or doing it wrong can fail that part. Hand hygiene and the indirect-care behaviors are checked every time, which is why candidates practice those most.
How do you get a CNA certification in Texas?
Finish a state-approved Texas training program, pass both parts of the Prometric exam, and your name is added to the Texas Nurse Aide Registry, which is your certification. The registry listing is what employers verify, and you renew it every two years.
Passing the Texas CNA Exam
The Texas CNA exam rewards preparation more than memorization. The skills test comes down to the steps you practice, hand hygiene shows up every time, and the written test covers the same material your program already taught you. Finish your program, register through TULIP, and book your exam dates early.
When you are ready to choose a program or compare your options, Dreambound lists Texas CNA training you can sort by cost and length.
