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Welcome to the Nurse Aide Practical Skills Assessment

The NAPSA examination is a competency-based assessment designed for individuals who have completed a state-approved nurse aide training program. It is administered in partnership with RW-Education and participating training providers and is officially approved by the Colorado Board of Nursing for use within the state.

 

For detailed instructions and information on how to take the exam, please visit the Candidate page.

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The NAPSA exam is one option to meet the skills requirement for nurse aide certification in Colorado. For information about the required written exam or the NNAAP skills exam, please visit Credentia's website.

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Examination Information

  • All Nurse Aide Training Programs shall comply with the American with Disabilities Act and will provide reasonable accommodations to all with a documented disability. Testing accommodations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by RW-Education, and documentation of disability may be required.  

     

    The candidate must submit a written request to accommodations@RW-education.com with reasonable accommodation being requested at least 5 days prior to the candidate's testing date. Candidates are encouraged to submit accommodation requests as soon as they can. This allows time for the accommodations to be reviewed and additional documentation to be collected as needed.

     

    Approved accommodations will be communicated with the training center and STE at least two business days prior to the testing date. 

  • All grievances must be submitted in writing using RW-Education’s official grievance form, available at RW-Education.com under the Resources tab. Candidates are expected to clearly describe the nature of their grievance and provide as much detail as possible.

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    Grievances must be submitted within 30 days of the candidate’s exam date. Once received, the grievance will be reviewed and thoroughly investigated. Candidates will be notified of outcome within 15 days of their grievance submission.

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    Depending on the nature of the grievance, the STE and/or training program my be asked to collaborate on the investigation.

     

    Upon completion of the investigation, RW-Education will notify the candidate of the outcome via email. If the grievance is found to be in favor of the candidate, the candidate will be permitted to retest at no additional cost.

  • NAPSA cancellations should occur rarely and only in the event of an unforeseeable circumstance. Training programs should provide candidates with as much notice as possible if the NAPSA examination is cancelled.  Notifications of cancellations to candidates and scheduling of alternative testing days is to be managed by the training programs. Alternate testing dates should be provided to the scheduled candidates at the time of cancellation notice. Training programs are required to notify RW-Education group via email, reschedule@rw-education.com, when a NAPSA testing date is cancelled or rescheduled. 

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    If no additional candidates are being added to the newly scheduled testing date, training programs do not need to wait for approval from RW-Education to reschedule.

     

    Example: If a snowstorm causes a testing day to be canceled, but the STE and candidates are available to test the following day, the training program and STE may proceed with administering the NAPSA examination on the rescheduled date. While prior approval from RW-Education is not required in this case, the new testing date must still be reported to RW-Education for record-keeping purposes.

    If some candidates are unable to attend the rescheduled testing day, the training program will coordinate with those candidates to arrange an alternative testing date. The training program must also report the new testing date to RW-Education.

     

    Examples of examination cancellation justifications: 

    1. Severe weather 

    2. Training program closure 

    3. The minimum number of candidates scheduled for the test is not met. The minimum number of candidates is determined by the training program proctoring the skills examination. The minimum number of candidates for a testing day needs to be clearly identified by the training program.  

    4. STE cancellation

      • If an alternate STE is available, the training program may contact RW-Education’s emergency/day-of-test phone number to have the candidates’ scenarios transferred to the alternate STE.

  • Each training program offering the skills examination must determine a candidate reschedule policy that includes required notice, refund policy and approved absences. STEs are required to mark the candidate’s absence in RW-Education APP if an absence occurs.

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    If a candidate needs to reschedule their testing date, the training program must notify RW-Education via email at reschedule@rw-education.com, providing the candidate’s new testing date along with the STE information for that day.

  • Each training program offering the NAPSA Examination is responsible for developing a scheduling process and communicating the process with eligible candidates. RW-Education does not schedule testing dates at training sites. Once Candidates have been scheduled for a testing date, the date should be communicated on the Completion Roster with the candidate's information. 

    Submit Roster of Candidates  

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    Each training program offering the NAPSA Examination is responsible for providing RW-Education with a roster of candidates who successfully completed the training program at that site. Rosters shall be submitted to RW Education Group at least 5 business days prior to the Scheduled NAPSA examination date. Training programs can submit rosters through the NAPSA Roster & Testing Information form on RW-Education.com.

     

    The roster shall include:  

    • Candidate first and last name 

    • Last four (4) digits of the candidate's social security or ITIN number  

    • Candidates email address 

    • Candidates training completion date 

    • Anticipated NAPSA examination date 

    • Name of Skill Test Evaluator (STE) proctoring the examination 

     

    Once the completion roster has been received, the candidates will receive a communication via email with instructions on how to finish setting up their RW-Education account/application at RW-Education.com.  

  • RW-Education Account 

     

    Candidate Accounts 

    Candidates use their RW-education account to provide additional personal information, sign confidentiality agreements, consents, and pay the examination free of $55. Candidates will receive communications in this account and via email regarding the status of their examination. NAPSA examination results will be visible to candidates once the exam is reviewed and scored.  

     

    Skill Test Evaluator (STE) Accounts 

    STEs will use their account to submit compliance items, complete trainings, and view upcoming confirmed NAPSA exams. Additional information can be found in the “Proctoring the NAPSA Examination” section of this handbook.  

    Training Program Requirements 

    Training programs wanting to administer the NAPSA examination at their site must meet the below criteria: 

    • Be in good standing with the Colorado Board of Nursing and Department of Regulatory Agencies as an approved Nurse Aide training center 

    • Agree to the NAPSA examination confidentiality statement 

    • Have a lab or patient room setting that contains all of the supplies required for training programs in the state of Colorado. For a full supply list Click here. 

    • Have an area where candidates can comfortably wait to take part in the examination 

  • A $55 examination fee per candidate is required for the each NAPSA examination attempt and must be paid directly to RW-Education. Training programs may also charge an additional fee at their discretion to cover costs associated with proctoring the exam, including the STEs’ time, supplies, and equipment usage.

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    Payment Collection Process:  

    Payments are made in the candidates' RW-Education account through a secure payment system. Payment must be made at least two (2) business days before the candidates scheduled NAPSA examination date.  

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    Training centers can purchase vouchers to cover the examination cost through the RW-education account or by emailing vouchers@rw-educaiton.com. Vouchers will be applied to the designated candidates' account after payment is received from the training program. 

     

    Refund Policy: 

    NAPSA Examination fees are not refundable. Candidates may be issued a voucher to retake the examination at no cost if extenuating circumstances prevented them from completing it as scheduled, or if a submitted grievance is upheld in their favor. 

  • The skills below can be completed independently or in combination with other skills. The individual skill and associated steps are listed below. Each skill breakdown has a list of required supplies needed to complete the skill, the list of steps, critical safety steps, definitions, setting the skill is being completed, and notes for the individual evaluating the skill in a lab or practice setting.  

     

    The skills below are included in the NAPSA examination. 3-5 skills are combined into a patient scenario. This is NOT a comprehensive list of skills that are required in nurse aide curriculum. Training programs must include all training requirements listed in 3 CCR 716-1, Chapter 11.   

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    1. Handwashing using soap and water 

    2. Assist client to transfer from the bed to a wheelchair 

    3. Assist client to ambulate 

    4. Assist client to reposition on their side 

    5. Assist client who has an affected arm to put on a shirt 

    6. Change bed that is occupied with client 

    7. Assist client with a meal 

    8. Assist client with mouth care 

    9. Measure client’s respiration rate 

    10. Measure client’s pulse rate 

    11. Measure client’s blood pressure using electric blood pressure monitor 

    12. Measure urinary output from bed pan or catheter drainage bag 

    13. Provide perineal care on a male or female client  

    14. Apply a knee-high compression stocking on client  

    15. Clean client's denture 

    16. Change clients brief after an incontinence occurrence  

    17. Provide catheter care on a male or female client  

    18. Provide a bed bath on client 

    19. Assist client to use a bed pan 

    20. Apply and remove personal protective equipment 

     

    The skill steps outlined in this handbook are intended solely for testing during NAPSA examination. The steps provided for each skill do not represent comprehensive care or the full scope of best practices used in real care settings.  

     

    When delivering actual client care, you should follow the skill steps taught in your nursing assistant textbook and training program as the foundation for the care you provide. Different healthcare facilities have a variety of policies, procedures, processes, and equipment that can influence how you deliver client care.  

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