Practice questions on basic nursing skills, personal care, infection control, and residents' rights, matching the format used by D&S Diversified Technologies, dba Headmaster LLP (scheduling coordinated via SDHCA) in South Dakota. 60 questions on the real written exam, 70% to pass. Full explanations on every answer.
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The South Dakota Certified Nursing Assistant competency exam is administered by D&S Diversified Technologies, dba Headmaster LLP (scheduling coordinated via SDHCA), under the oversight of the South Dakota Board of Nursing. It combines a 60-question written (or oral) knowledge test requiring 70% to pass with a hands-on skills evaluation. Must pass both exam components within 3 attempts and 4 months of eligibility, a tighter window than most states.
The South Dakota CNA written exam covers real clinical knowledge, from infection control to residents' rights under federal OBRA 1987 protections. Practising realistic multiple-choice questions with full explanations builds the recall speed you need, especially for scenario-based questions that test judgment, not just memorization.
| Feature | Free Online Guides | TestReadyUSA |
|---|---|---|
| Practice questions | ✗ Limited, inconsistent quality | ✓ 105+ questions |
| Answer explanations | ✗ Rarely explained | ✓ Every question |
| South Dakota-specific facts | ✗ Generic content | ✓ Real South Dakota vendor and training facts |
| Drill by topic | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
Practice one topic at a time. Start with Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care Skills, the most heavily tested areas on the CNA exam.
Study Guide: South Dakota
About the real test in South Dakota
60 questions, 70% to pass, administered by D&S Diversified Technologies, dba Headmaster LLP (scheduling coordinated via SDHCA). Certification renews every 2 years (24-month period).
About the CNA (Nursing Assistant), nationwide
The CNA written competency exam is administered state by state, most commonly through Credentia (NNAAP), Prometric, or D&S/Headmaster, but the underlying content domains, basic nursing skills, personal care skills, residents' rights, and infection control, are set nationally and tested everywhere.
Basic Nursing Skills and Personal Care Skills carry the most weight combined
Vital signs, positioning and transfers, and activities of daily living make up the largest share of most state exams. These are also the skills tested again on the hands-on skills portion, so mastering them pays off twice.
Residents' Rights questions have a clear, correct pattern
The right answer almost always favors dignity, privacy, choice, and informed consent. When in doubt between two options, choose the one that respects the resident's autonomy.
Know your state's specific vendor and renewal requirements
Testing vendor, question count, and renewal periods vary by state, some renew every 2 years, others require registry renewal on a different cycle. Confirm your state's specific process before test day.
Why TestReadyUSA works for the CNA (Nursing Assistant)
TestReadyUSA's CNA practice covers the national knowledge domains used by every state nurse aide registry, with real per-state testing-vendor, question-count, and renewal facts for wherever you're getting certified.