North Carolina Nurse Aide I skills test: which skills are on it?
Updated · Reviewed against official sources
North Carolina's Nurse Aide I skills evaluation (Credentia) is five skills in 30 minutes, and Hand Hygiene is always one of the five. Skills come from a 23-skill list, critical element steps are in bold, you perform the skills in the order on your instruction card, and NC requires full 360° privacy whenever a privacy curtain is used.
| # | Skill | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hand hygiene (hand washing) | Yes |
| 2 | Applies one knee-high elastic stocking | Yes |
| 3 | Assists to ambulate using transfer belt | Yes |
| 4 | Assists with use of bedpan | Yes |
| 5 | Cleans upper or lower denture | Yes |
| 6 | Counts and records radial pulse | Yes |
| 7 | Counts and records respirations | Yes |
| 8 | Donning and removing PPE (gown and gloves) | Yes |
| 9 | Dresses client with affected (weak) right arm | Yes |
| 10 | Feeds client who cannot feed self | Yes |
| 11 | Gives modified bed bath (face and one arm, hand and underarm) | Yes |
| 12 | Measures and records electronic blood pressure | State-specific BP skill |
| 13 | Measures and records urinary output | Yes |
| 14 | Measures and records weight of ambulatory client | Yes |
| 15 | Modified passive ROM for one knee and one ankle | Yes |
| 16 | Modified passive ROM for one shoulder | Yes |
| 17 | Positions on side | Yes |
| 18 | Provides catheter care for female | Yes |
| 19 | Provides foot care on one foot | Yes |
| 20 | Provides mouth care | Yes |
| 21 | Provides perineal care (peri-care) for female | Yes |
| 22 | Transfers from bed to wheelchair using transfer belt | Yes |
| 23 | Measures and records manual blood pressure | State-specific BP skill |
North Carolina rules that trip people up
- Full 360° privacy for every skill that uses a privacy curtain.
- Order: perform the skills in the order listed on your instruction card.
- Gloves: if you fail to put on or remove gloves properly after a reminder, a correction earns no credit.
- Order-dependent steps: correcting one without stating where it belongs in the sequence earns no credit.
- No going back: once you start a new skill, earlier skills can't be corrected.
- Recording: measurements go on a digital sheet on the evaluator's tablet.
Being the volunteer
A candidate volunteer plays a weakened elderly person. Wear flat, slip-on, non-skid shoes, a loose short-sleeved or tank top and loose pants that can be rolled up; you'll wear a gown over your clothes. See volunteer rules.
Quick answers
- Is hand washing always on the NC CNA skills test?
- Yes. Credentia's NC overview says Hand Hygiene will be included as one of the five skills.
- How long is the NC skills evaluation?
- Five skills in 30 minutes.
- Which BP skill does North Carolina test?
- The NC list includes both electronic (Skill 12) and manual (Skill 23) BP as state-specific skills that can't be substituted for each other; your instruction card says which one you get.
What to do next
Know exactly what a critical element step is before you practice the checklists.
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
- Credentia NNAAP skills list: all 23 skills and their tolerances
- Can you correct a mistake during the CNA skills test?
- Do you have to do CNA skills steps in order?
- How do you record measurements on the CNA skills test?
- Texas CNA skills test list 2026: which skills are on the exam?
- Florida CNA skills checklist: what's on the Prometric skills test?
- What skills are tested on the California CNA skills exam?
- PA CNA skills test: is hand washing always on it, and which skills are tested?
Sources
- Credentia North Carolina handbook — Exam overview
- Credentia North Carolina handbook — The Skill Evaluation
- Credentia North Carolina handbook — Skills
- NCDHHS — North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry
Checked: . Rules, fees and vendors change — always confirm with your state's official page and candidate handbook.