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Start with the name on your exam booking. California has several approved testing vendors, so a question count or time limit from one vendor may not fit your appointment. Source: CDPH testing vendors (checked October 23, 2026).
Knowledge exam comparison
The following facts come from each vendor’s currently linked material. A blank in an official source is a reason to ask the vendor, not a reason to borrow another vendor’s rule.
| Vendor | Knowledge questions | Time limit | Published knowledge passing rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D&S / Headmaster | 75 multiple-choice questions | 60 minutes | 75% or better | October 2026 handbook, Version 9.0, printed pp. 34–36 (checked October 23, 2026) |
| Credentia | 70 written questions; 10 are unscored pretest items | Not established by the current California pages checked; confirm before booking | Not established by those pages; ask Credentia | California content outline (checked October 23, 2026) |
| Regional Testing Center (RTC) | 70 multiple-choice questions | 120 minutes | 70% or better | RTC handbook, printed p. 13 (checked October 23, 2026) |
These are official exam rules for the named vendors. They are not a target practice score and do not tell you how likely you are to pass. This site’s practice sessions are general knowledge study, not replicas of a vendor’s exam.
Written, oral or audio: check the exact option
- Headmaster offers an audio version of its knowledge exam. Headmaster handbook, printed p. 36 (checked October 23, 2026).
- Credentia’s oral exam has 60 multiple-choice items plus 10 reading-comprehension items. Credentia California exam overview (checked October 23, 2026).
- RTC offers a Written Exam (Audio-English Only) option. RTC handbook, printed p. 13 (checked October 23, 2026).
The skills part has its own rules
| Vendor | Skills format and scoring | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Headmaster | 3 or 4 tasks in 30 minutes; every critical step and at least 80% of non-key steps on each task | Headmaster handbook, printed p. 45 (checked October 23, 2026) |
| Credentia | 5 skills in 30 minutes; all 5 must be passed | Credentia California exam overview (checked October 23, 2026) |
| RTC | 5 skills in 30 minutes; all Key Steps and at least 70% on each skill | RTC handbook, printed p. 17 (checked October 23, 2026) |
Use the exact checklist for your vendor with your training instructor. Our California skills guide identifies the Headmaster route; it should not replace a different vendor’s checklist.
Fill in your exam summary before studying to a timer
- My booked vendor: __________. My exam option: written / oral / audio.
- My knowledge time limit, confirmed in current instructions: __________.
- My skills checklist and handbook URL: __________.
- Any approved accommodation and where it appears in my confirmation: __________.
- A detail I still need the vendor to confirm: __________.
Keep planning your next step
- California exam registration and fees by vendor
- California CNA exam retakes: what to do next
- California CNA test-day checklist
- 14-day CNA knowledge study plan
- 30-day CNA knowledge study plan
Healthcare Exam Prep is independent. We are not affiliated with the California Department of Public Health or any CNA testing provider. Practice scores do not predict your exam result.