How close do your measurements have to be on the CNA skills test?
Updated · Reviewed against official sources
Your reading is compared with the evaluator's. On Credentia's lists you must be within 4 beats for pulse, 2 breaths for respirations, 8 mm Hg for each manual blood pressure number, 25 mL for urine output and 2 lb for weight. Ohio's D&S test allows 6 beats and 4 breaths, plus 25 mL for output and 60 mL for fluid intake.
| Measurement | Credentia (NC, PA, VA, CA region) | D&S Headmaster (Ohio) |
|---|---|---|
| Radial pulse | ±4 beats (count 1 full minute) | ±6 beats (60 s, or 30 s × 2 — say which) |
| Respirations | ±2 breaths | ±4 breaths |
| Manual BP | ±8 mm Hg each number; round UP to nearest 2 | Not on the Ohio list |
| Electronic BP | Exactly as displayed | Not on the Ohio list |
| Urine output | ±25 mL; round UP to nearest 25 between lines | ±25 mL |
| Weight | ±2 lb (±0.9 kg) | Not on the Ohio list |
| Food / fluid intake | Not a separate skill | Food ±25 percentage points; fluid ±60 mL |
Prometric states
Texas and Florida measure pulse, respirations and urine output (on an I&O form). Their tolerances are in Prometric's Clinical Skills Checklist, not the bulletin; download it from Prometric's nurse aide page.
Three habits that keep you inside tolerance
- Count the full time your checklist says; don't multiply a 15-second count.
- Read the graduate at eye level on a flat surface.
- Write the number immediately on the form you're given.
Quick answers
- CNA manual blood pressure tolerance on the skills test?
- Within 8 mm Hg of the evaluator for both systolic and diastolic on Credentia's lists.
- Can I count pulse for 30 seconds and double it?
- Ohio allows 30 s × 2 if you tell the observer. Credentia's lists say count one full minute.
- What if the reading is between lines on the graduate?
- Credentia: round up to the nearest 25 mL.
What to do next
See the specific ways candidates miss these numbers.
You must pass the written test too. Take the free 20-question practice test, or unlock the timed 60-question exam simulator, the full question bank and every skill checklist for $29 one-time (or $9/month).
Related guides
- Why do people fail the CNA measurement skills?
- How do you record measurements on the CNA skills test?
- Credentia NNAAP skills list: all 23 skills and their tolerances
- What is a critical element step on the CNA skills test?
- Can you correct a mistake during the CNA skills test?
- How long is the CNA skills test?
- Is handwashing always on the CNA skills test?
- What is indirect care on the CNA skills test?
Sources
- Credentia North Carolina handbook — Skills
- Credentia Pennsylvania handbook — Skills
- Credentia California region handbook — Skills listing
- Ohio Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook, Version 27, December 2025 (D&S Diversified Technologies / Headmaster, PDF)
- Prometric — Nurse Aide (checklists and sample forms)
Checked: . Rules, fees and vendors change — always confirm with your state's official page and candidate handbook.