Certified Nursing Assistant Exam Pass Rates by State (2026)
1 of 51 states publish an official first-attempt pass rate. Published rates range from 87.14% (Florida) to 87.14% (Florida), averaging 87%.
Provides hands-on patient care under RN supervision. Two-part exam: written + clinical skills. Rows without a figure are marked “not published” — we do not estimate rates that states have not released.
| Rank | State | First-attempt pass rate | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 87.14% | Easier |
| — | Alabama | not published | — |
| — | Alaska | not published | — |
| — | Arizona | not published | — |
| — | Arkansas | not published | — |
| — | California | not published | — |
| — | Colorado | not published | — |
| — | Connecticut | not published | — |
| — | Delaware | not published | — |
| — | District of Columbia | not published | — |
| — | Georgia | not published | — |
| — | Hawaii | not published | — |
| — | Idaho | not published | — |
| — | Illinois | not published | — |
| — | Indiana | not published | — |
| — | Iowa | not published | — |
| — | Kansas | not published | — |
| — | Kentucky | not published | — |
| — | Louisiana | not published | — |
| — | Maine | not published | — |
| — | Maryland | not published | — |
| — | Massachusetts | not published | — |
| — | Michigan | not published | — |
| — | Minnesota | not published | — |
| — | Mississippi | not published | — |
| — | Missouri | not published | — |
| — | Montana | not published | — |
| — | Nebraska | not published | — |
| — | Nevada | not published | — |
| — | New Hampshire | not published | — |
| — | New Jersey | not published | — |
| — | New Mexico | not published | — |
| — | New York | not published | — |
| — | North Carolina | not published | — |
| — | North Dakota | not published | — |
| — | Ohio | not published | — |
| — | Oklahoma | not published | — |
| — | Oregon | not published | — |
| — | Pennsylvania | not published | — |
| — | Rhode Island | not published | — |
| — | South Carolina | not published | — |
| — | South Dakota | not published | — |
| — | Tennessee | not published | — |
| — | Texas | not published | — |
| — | Utah | not published | — |
| — | Vermont | not published | — |
| — | Virginia | not published | — |
| — | Washington | not published | — |
| — | West Virginia | not published | — |
| — | Wisconsin | not published | — |
| — | Wyoming | not published | — |
Sources: Florida Board of Nursing — CNA exam, Q1 2024 (84.7 written / 81.5 skills)
Frequently asked questions
Which states have the highest CNA exam pass rate?
Based on the published first-attempt rates in our dataset, Florida leads at 87.14%, and the published range runs from 87.14% to 87.14%.
Why is the CNA pass rate "not published" for my state?
Most states do not release first-attempt exam pass rates. When a state publishes the figure, we show it with the source; otherwise the row is marked "not published" and you should ask the state board directly.
How hard is the Certified Nursing Assistant exam overall?
The national reference pass rate is roughly 80%. In the 1 states that publish figures, first-attempt rates average 87%.
Does a low pass rate mean I will fail?
No. Published pass rates are first-attempt averages across all candidates, including those who take the exam without structured prep. Candidates who complete a study plan and practice questions pass at far higher rates than the aggregate figure suggests.
Compare CNA data
Pass-rate figures are as published by state boards and commissions (retrieved 2026-08-20). “Not published” means the state has not released an official first-attempt figure — not that the rate is unknown to the board. Verify with your state board before making decisions.