Texas Nurse Aide (CNA) Testing & Certification Process

Testing & Certification Process Walk-Thru

Official Texas Nurse Aide (CNA) Testing Resources

Texas Uniformed Licensure Information Portal (TULIP)
Official Texas HHSC Resource for TULIP relative questions and information.

Schroeder Measurement Technologies Prometric (SMT)
Official SMT Prometric Resource for Texas state exam relative material and information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding the Texas Exam Testing Process

How does Texas’s Nurse Aide Certification (CNA) testing process work?

What happens after graduation? Where do I go next? These are both very valid questions.

Texas’s state testing process includes working with two different companies/agencies.

Texas Uniformed Licensure Information Portal (TULIP)

TULIP is a new system implemented by Texas Health and Human Services(TXHHSC) to track and maintain certain state licenses and certifications.

Schroeder Measurement Technologies Prometric (SMT)

SMT is the company Texas has contracted with to evaluate it’s nurse aide candidates for certification.

You will see these two mentioned at multiple times throughout this page. Now you know who they are. The important distinction is to remember that they are both responsible for completely different aspects of your testing process.

Your TULIP Account.

Texas’s Nurse Aide Certification process begins with first creating your new account through Texas’s Uniformed Licensure Information Portal (TULIP). The link to the TULIP website is available below.

(TULIP) Texas Uniformed Licensure Information Portal

“It is very important to enter your information into the system correctly during account creation!!!
Making changes to your information after account creation can be a tedious process!!!
Also be sure the name you use on your account matches your State or Federal identification!!!
It will very likely lead to issues during the testing process if they do not match.”

Further information on completing this step can be found in the following PDF.


TULIP: NA Examination Application User-Guide

This same PDF will also guide you through the rest of the process for submitting your initial testing application.

Submitting your application, awaiting approval and receiving your invite email.

Once you have completed the account creation process you can then use your account to submit an application requesting to take Texas state exam. This process is done through the Applications tab found under the NA/MA/NFA menu section of the TULIP website. This same tab can be used to submit many different applications relevant to your Texas Nurse Aide registry account.

Once you have submitted your initial testing request application it will take TULIP and SMT 4 to 5 business days to process and approve your request. Please be patient, you will receive correspondence from TULIP multiple times throughout this process, however you are looking for an email from SMT Prometric inviting you to schedule your exams.

If you have any issues during this process call TULIP tech support.
TULIP Tech Support: (512)-438-2584

Await Prometric Scheduling Email

If you never received your SMT email. Firstly we recommend you search your email for “SMT”. It tends to hide itself in junk or spam folders frequently. If you are still not seeing your invite email we recommend you call TULIP tech support to verify they sent it to SMT. If it was sent to SMT then you may need to call SMT and verify they processed it.

Scheduling Your Exams

Your SMT invite email will contain your login and password used to access your SMT account. Do Not Delete This Email!!! Until you are done with the testing process remember to keep this email.

Click the link provided within the email to access the test scheduling website.
If you deleted your email then you can use the link below to access the site. You will need to reset your password as well if you do not remember it.

SMT Prometric – Exam Scheduling Portal

The exam scheduling process through SMT Prometric starts by prompting you to update and verify your basic information first and then it will ask you to select a preferred exam type and language.
Once your exam type and language have been submitted changing it will have to be done by contacting SMT Prometric at (800) 488-5787. This process may take up to 24 hours to complete.

What type of exams do we have to take?

Texas requires Nurse Aides to pass both a knowledge based Written/Oral exam and a Clinical Skills exam in order to attain their certification.
Written exams are administered in either a lab setting via computer while supervised by a state appointed examiner or in a home setting via computer while supervised remotely.
Should you choose to use the Remote Proctor option for your exam we do recommend that you read and understand Prometric’s requirements prior to scheduling.

SMT Prometric – Candidate Information Page

Prometric practice tests are available.

SMT Prometric – Texas Nurse Aide Practice Exam

Why is Emerald Nursing School not showing up as an available testing option?

Please check your zip code setting and set it to 79924 to see us as a testing option. If this does not work then all of our available testing days may be full, please call our office at (915) 751-3378 for further information.

The Clinical Skills exam can be completed on site at any Texas approved state testing facility.
This test is comprised of multiple skills, to be tested randomly, chosen by the State Examiner and performed on either a partner or a mannequin.

The system will prompt you to schedule for your Clinical Skills exam first.
After scheduling your Clinical Skills exam you will need to log back into your account and schedule your Written/Oral exam separately.

Please be sure to print & keep your admissions letter, as well as, read all of the materials & instructions it includes!!!

Be sure to have your exam letter with you when you arrive to take your exam. Your admission letter contains important information that is necessary for you to complete your testing process.

You should receive your results early morning next day from SMT.

How many chances do we have to pass the exam?

Candidates have three (3) attempts to pass the written and three (3) attempts to pass the skills.

What happens if we fail the exam three (3) times?

If you fail either the written or the skills exam 3 times you must re-take the course at an approved Nurse Aide Training Center.

Print your Texas Nurse Aide Certification from TULIP

Upon completing your Texas State Exam, SMT Prometric will notify you of your results through email next day. Please give SMT & TULIP 4 to 5 business days to update their systems and prepare your final license once you have passed both of your state exams!

When you are ready to print out your License, you can do so by visiting TULIP. You will find your printable license under the Licensing tab in the NA/MA/NFA section of the system, so you simply need to log in to your account and print your new Texas Nurse Aide Certification.
Your license is available in PDF format for download under the Licenses tab of your TULIP dashboard. It does not have a clearly noted file for you to click so you just need to click the Print License Button and it will allow you to both download and print your license.

(TULIP) Texas Uniformed Licensure Information Portal

Do we have to pay for our TULIP application?

At this current time their is no payment required for application submission through the TULIP system. Payment becomes a necessity when scheduling your Texas State Exam through SMT Prometric.

Additional TULIP Resources

The following items are also done through the TULIP system.

  • Waiver of NA Training and Competency Evaluation
  • Certificate for Military Spouse Stationed in Texas
  • Request for Entry on the Texas NA Registry through Reciprocity
  • NA Request to Retest
  • NA Renewal Application
  • NA Renewal Military Extension for In-Service Education

For additional information on these options or for user-guides that will walk you through the processes please visit

(TULIP) Texas Uniformed Licensure Information Portal: Available User-Guides

Where can I find my CEU’s for my renewal?

You can find the CEU’s freely available on the following website.

Texas Health and Human Services- NA CEU’s

Contact Information

Please Note! Emerald Nursing School is in no way responsible for your experience with the testing process nor any of its entities!

For any issues, comments or concerns please refer to the following.

For questions regarding licensing contact the Texas Nurse Aide Registry.

Texas Nurse Aide Registry- Texas health and Human Services

(512) 438-2050

For questions regarding issues with TULIP’s website contact TULIP Tech Support.

Texas Nurse Aide Registry- Texas Uniformed Licensure Information Portal- Tech Support
(512) 438-2584

For questions regarding your state exam scheduling or results please contact SMT Prometric.

SMT Prometric: Texas Nurse Aide Candidate Information
(800) 488-5787

Home » Nursing Assistant: State Testing & Certification Process