Introduction

This handbook is designed for candidates seeking nurse aide certification in South Carolina. It describes the process of applying for and taking the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP®) Examination.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) has contracted with Credentia, a nationally recognized leading provider of assessment services to regulatory agencies and national associations. Credentia will develop, score, and report the results of the NNAAP® Examination for the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry. Credentia also processes applications, schedules examinations and administers the examinations.

Exam Overview

The two parts of the NNAAP Examination process, the Written (or English or Spanish Oral) Examination and the Skills Evaluation. You must pass both parts in order to be certified and listed on the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry. You must pass both portions of the exam within two (2) years from your training completion date or within three (3) attempts, whichever comes first, in order to be placed on the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry. Failure to do so will require completing a 100- hour state-approved Nurse Aide Training Program and retesting both portions of the examination

The Written Examination consists of seventy (70) multiple choice questions written in English. Sample examination questions are provided in this handbook.

An Oral Examination available in either English or Spanish may be taken in place of the Written Examination if you have difficulty reading English. The English or Spanish Oral Examination consists of sixty (60) multiple-choice questions and ten (10) multiple-choice reading comprehension questions provided on an MP3 player. You will be asked to listen to a recording of the Oral Examination and follow along in the test booklet as the questions are read aloud on the MP3 player. If you want to take the Oral Examination, you must request it when you submit your application.

At the Skills Evaluation you will be asked to perform five (5) randomly selected nurse aide skills. You will be given thirty (30) minutes to complete the five (5) skills. You will be rated on these skills by a Nurse Aide Evaluator. You must successfully demonstrate five (5) skills in order to pass the Skills Evaluation.

Assessment Program
National Nurse AIDE Assessment Program (NNAAP®)

The Nursing Home Reform Act, adopted by Congress as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA ’87), was designed to improve the quality of care in long-term health care facilities and to define training and evaluation standards for nurse aides who work in such facilities. Each state is responsible for following the terms of this federal law.

 The National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP®) is an examination program designed to determine minimal competency to become a certified nurse aide in your state. The NNAAP was developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc., (NCSBN) to meet the nurse aide evaluation requirement of federal and state laws and regulations. Credentia is the authorized administrator of the NNAAP in your state. 

The NNAAP Examination is an evaluation of nurse aide-related knowledge, skills, and abilities. The NNAAP Examination is made up of both a Written (or Oral) Examination and a Skills Evaluation. The purpose of the NNAAP Examination is to test that you understand and can safely perform the job of an entry-level nurse aide.