Florida CNA Skills Test Checklist: All the Skills You Need to Know
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If you’re getting ready to sit for the Florida CNA skills test, you already know it’s the part of certification that makes most candidates nervous. Unlike the written exam, this portion puts you in a room with a live Prometric evaluator who watches your every move – from your handwashing technique to how you talk to the person you’re caring for.
The good news is that Florida’s clinical skills evaluation isn’t a mystery. The state publishes the exact skills that can appear on test day, and knowing that full list ahead of time is one of the best things you can do to walk in prepared. This Exam Prep guide breaks down the complete cna skills checklist, explains how the test is scored, and points out where candidates tend to lose points they didn’t have to lose.
What Is the Florida CNA Skills Test, Exactly?
Florida’s nursing assistant exam has two parts, both of which are administered by Prometric on behalf of the Florida Board of Nursing. You must pass both the written knowledge test and the clinical skills test to be listed on the Florida Nurse Aide Registry.
The skills portion is the hands-on half. You’ll perform five skills in front of an evaluator, using a mannequin or a role-playing “resident,” within a 31- to 40-minute window. Every skill has its own checklist of checkpoints, and the evaluator marks each one as satisfactory or unsatisfactory in real time. There’s no partial credit for a checkpoint – you either did it or you didn’t.
The Florida CNA Skills Checklist: All 22 Possible Skills
Here’s the part most candidates want most: the actual list. Prometric draws your five test skills from a pool of 22 official skills. Two of them show up on every single exam. The other three are selected at random, so you genuinely need to be ready for any of them.
The Two Skills Tested Every Time
- Handwashing – You won’t be told to wash your hands; you’re expected to do it on your own before and after physical contact with the resident.
- Indirect Care – This isn’t a task so much as a set of behaviors evaluated across every skill you perform, including how you greet the resident, explain what you’re about to do, ask about their preferences, and maintain their safety, comfort, and privacy.
The 20 Skills Selected at Random
Three of your remaining four skills come from this list:
| Skill | Category |
|---|---|
| Ambulate a resident using a gait belt | Mobility |
| Assist with use of a bedpan | Elimination |
| Change resident’s position (side-lying) | Positioning |
| Dress a resident with a weak arm | Personal care |
| Record urinary output | Documentation |
| Feed a resident seated in a chair | Nutrition |
| Measure and record radial pulse | Vital signs |
| Measure and record respirations | Vital signs |
| Provide catheter care (female resident) | Personal care |
| Provide foot care | Personal care |
| Provide mouth care (denture) | Personal care |
| Provide mouth care (natural teeth) | Personal care |
| Provide perineal care (incontinent female resident) | Personal care |
| Provide hand and nail care | Personal care |
| Give a partial bed bath and back rub | Personal care |
| Perform range of motion for one elbow and wrist | Mobility |
| Perform range of motion for one shoulder | Mobility |
| Perform range of motion for one hip, knee, and ankle | Mobility |
| Transfer a resident from bed to wheelchair using a gait belt | Mobility |
| Change bed linens with the resident still in bed | Environment |
A checklist like this is genuinely worth studying skill by skill rather than skimming once – the details (which arm, which foot, which side) are exactly where evaluators catch mistakes.
How the Clinical Skills Test Works on Exam Day
Because Indirect Care behaviors are scored on top of whatever task you’re doing, a few things need to happen no matter which skill lands in front of you:
- Greet the resident by name and introduce yourself.
- Explain what you’re going to do before and while you do it.
- Ask about the resident’s preferences during care.
- Use standard precautions and infection control measures throughout.
- Check in about comfort or needs during or after care.
- Protect the resident’s rights, privacy, and safety.
Skip one of these on any skill, and it counts against you even if the technical steps were flawless. That’s why experienced instructors often say the skills test is as much a communication exam as it is a clinical one.
Tips for Passing the Florida CNA Skills Test the First Time
- Practice out loud. Narrate your actions the way you would with a real resident – “I’m going to check your pulse now” – so it becomes automatic under pressure.
- Time yourself. Some skills, like a partial bed bath, eat up more of your 31-to-40-minute window than others. Knowing your pace prevents rushing.
- Drill the small details. Foot care is tested on one foot only; catheter care covers only the front perineal area. Missing these specifics is a common, avoidable checkpoint loss.
- Wear the right attire. Flat, closed-toe, nonskid shoes and a watch with a second hand are required for the skills test.
- Review Florida’s own materials before test day. The official candidate information bulletin from the Florida Board of Nursing spells out exactly what’s expected at each station.
Common Mistakes That Cost Points
Most candidates who don’t pass on the first try lose points for the same handful of reasons:
- Forgetting to explain the task before starting it
- Skipping the preference or comfort check partway through
- Rushing a transfer without properly applying the gait belt
- Washing hands for less than the required 20 seconds
- Leaving a resident exposed during personal care skills
None of these require more clinical knowledge – they require slowing down enough to hit every checkpoint in order.
Final Thoughts
The Florida CNA skills test rewards preparation over memorization. Once you know all 22 possible skills, understand that Handwashing and Indirect Care are non-negotiable, and practice the small details evaluators actually check for, the test becomes a lot less intimidating.
If you’d rather practice these skills hands-on with instructors who train specifically around Florida’s Prometric criteria, Elite Med Academy’s CNA program walks candidates through every item on this checklist before exam day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many skills are on the Florida CNA skills test?
Evaluators test five skills total on exam day. Two – Handwashing and Indirect Care – are included every time, and the other three are drawn at random from the remaining 20 skills on Florida’s official checklist.
What are the two skills always tested on the Florida CNA exam?
Handwashing and Indirect Care are the two constants. Handwashing is never announced – you’re expected to perform it on your own – and Indirect Care behaviors are actually scored across every skill you complete, not as a standalone task.
How long is the Florida CNA clinical skills test?
Candidates are given 31 to 40 minutes to complete all five assigned skills, though the exact time depends on which skills you’re asked to perform.
What happens if I don’t pass the Florida CNA skills test?
You can retest, though fees and wait times apply. If you fail either portion of the exam three times, Florida requires you to complete another state-approved training program before you can test again.
Where can I find the official Florida CNA skills checklist?
The complete, current CNA skills checklist is published directly by Prometric and the Florida Board of Nursing, and it’s worth reviewing the original document rather than relying on secondhand summaries.
