Free CCHT Practice Test (Dialysis Technician)
Dialysis technician practice questions written to the NNCC CCHT blueprint, with an explanation for every answer.
Why does water for hemodialysis need special treatment?
402 original questions · 53 vascular access and cannulation questions · 40 water treatment questions in their own drill
CCHT practice questions by blueprint area and topic
NNCC’s blueprint sets each area’s share of the exam. Each area has a guide with free sample questions, and each area and topic has a free ten-question drill with an explanation after every answer.
Clinical (48–52%)
Area I · 44 activities in NNCC’s blueprint
Cannulation and access checks, setting the machine to the prescription, weights and vital signs, fluid removal, heparin, monitoring during treatment, complications such as hypotension and cramps, lab samples and emergencies.
Technical (21–25%)
Area II · 12 activities in NNCC’s blueprint
Principles of dialysis (diffusion, ultrafiltration), machine alarm tests, conductivity and pH checks, dialysate temperature, mixing concentrates, water treatment, quality control, troubleshooting and lab sample processing.
Environment (13–17%)
Area III · 15 activities in NNCC’s blueprint
Standard and dialysis precautions, cleaning and disinfecting stations and equipment, hepatitis B isolation, body mechanics, falls, fire and evacuation, facility start-up and shut-down, and escalating behavior.
Role Responsibilities (10–14%)
Area IV · 17 activities in NNCC’s blueprint
Privacy, confidentiality and dignity, documentation, professional boundaries, treatment adherence, communication and hand-offs, cultural diversity, the care team’s roles, patient education and precepting.
Vascular Access and Cannulation
53 questions · Clinical
Fistulas, grafts and catheters: look, listen and feel, maturity, needle angle and direction, buttonholes and rope ladder, infiltration, needle removal, recirculation and access infection.
Intradialytic Complications
47 questions · Clinical
Hypotension, cramps, air embolism, hemolysis, dialyzer reactions, disequilibrium, pyrogenic reactions, blood loss, fluid overload and emergencies during treatment.
Water Treatment
40 questions · Technical
Carbon tanks and chlorine testing, softeners, reverse osmosis, deionization and resistivity, contaminants and their effects, cultures and endotoxin, and water system logs.
Infection Control
38 questions · Environment
Hand hygiene and gloves, PPE, station cleaning and contact time, items taken to the station, hepatitis B isolation and testing, sharps, spills and needlestick follow-up.
Ready for the full exam?
150 questions in 3 hours, drawn across NNCC’s four blueprint areas, scored on the 125 that count, with an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free drillThe CCHT exam at a glance
Answer CCHT practice questions written to NNCC’s test blueprint and activity statements, read the explanation for every answer, then take a timed 150-question, 3-hour practice exam in the real format with a score for every area against NNCC’s 74% passing standard.
The CCHT is the entry-level national certification for hemodialysis patient care technicians, the staff who cannulate accesses, run treatments and monitor patients in dialysis units. The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) awards it, and its testing partner C-NET runs the computer-based exam at PSI test sites. NNCC administered 7,091 CCHT exams in 2025. The blueprint in force was adopted in 2018; NNCC repeats its job analysis every five years and has not published a new CCHT blueprint (checked November 2026).
- Exam
- Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT), the entry-level certification for hemodialysis technicians from the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC). Accredited by NCCA (2015) and ABSNC (2016)
- Format
- 150 multiple-choice questions with four choices each. About 25 are new pilot questions that are not scored. No question needs a calculator
- Time
- 3 hours
- Content
- Four areas from NNCC’s blueprint: Clinical 48–52%, Technical 21–25%, Environment 13–17%, Role Responsibilities 10–14%. About two-thirds of questions (63–67%) are application questions
- Passing score
- A standard score of 95, which NNCC says takes about 74% correct. The passing score is set by a panel of technicians (criterion-referenced). Results show on screen when you finish
- Fee
- $225, which includes a $50 nonrefundable processing fee. Fast Track processing is $75 more; a 90-day extension is $125
- Where
- Computer-based, at PSI test sites. You apply to C-NET (NNCC’s testing partner); after approval you have 90 days to schedule and take the exam
- Retakes
- Submit a new application with the full fee. NNCC publishes no waiting period between attempts
- Eligibility
- High school diploma or GED, plus a completed hemodialysis technician training program with classroom and supervised clinical experience. NNCC recommends, but does not require, 6 months (1,000 hours) of experience
- Renewal
- Every 3 years: 3,000 hours of dialysis technician work plus 30 contact hours of continuing education (at least 10 in nephrology), or by retaking the exam
Where the exam fits in becoming a CCHT
- Complete a hemodialysis technician training program with classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience. Under the CMS Conditions for Coverage, the program is approved by the facility’s medical director and governing body and directed by a registered nurse.
- Send the application, a copy of your high school diploma or GED, a photo ID and the $225 fee to C-NET. Standard processing takes about four weeks; Fast Track takes 1 to 3 business days.
- Schedule with PSI using the link in your permit and test within the 90-day window. Scores appear as soon as you finish.
- CMS requires newly hired patient care technicians to be certified within 18 months of hire; your state may add its own rules.
- Recertify every 3 years with 3,000 hours of work as a dialysis technician and 30 contact hours of continuing education, or by exam.
Studying for another healthcare support exam too? Our CCMA practice test covers the NHA medical assistant exam.
How to use this CCHT exam prep
- Take the free mixed drill to see where you stand across all four areas.
- Drill Clinical first: it is about half the exam (48–52%). The vascular access and complications drills cover its two heaviest topics.
- Drill Technical (21–25%) and the water treatment drill until the numbers (0.1 mg/L total chlorine, 1 megohm-cm for DI water) are automatic.
- Clear Environment (13–17%) with the infection control drill, then Role Responsibilities (10–14%).
- Take the full 150-question practice exam under the 3-hour clock, then drill your two lowest areas and take it again. Each new sitting draws questions you have not seen first.
Common questions
How many questions are on the CCHT exam?
150 multiple-choice questions with four answer choices each. About 25 of them are new pilot questions that NNCC is testing; they are not scored, and you cannot tell which ones they are, so answer every question as if it counts.
How long is the CCHT exam?
Three hours for all 150 questions, about 1 minute 12 seconds per question. There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question.
What score do you need to pass the CCHT?
A standard score of 95. NNCC says this is achieved by answering about 74% of the questions correctly. The passing score is set by a panel of technicians who rate each question (a criterion-referenced method), so you are measured against a fixed standard, not against other test takers. If you fail, your result shows your total score and a subscore for each area.
How much does the CCHT exam cost?
$225, which includes a $50 nonrefundable application processing fee. Optional Fast Track processing costs $75 more, and a 90-day extension of your testing window costs $125.
Can I retake the CCHT if I fail?
Yes. NNCC’s application booklet says you submit a new examination application to C-NET with the full fee. NNCC does not publish a waiting period between attempts.
Do I have to be certified to work as a dialysis technician?
Under the CMS Conditions for Coverage, a newly hired patient care dialysis technician must be certified under a state program or a national commercially available certification program within 18 months of being hired. Some states have their own rules and accepted exams; check with your state and employer.
Is there an official CCHT practice test?
Yes. NNCC sells a 50-question online practice exam for $30 with 90 days of access, and publishes a free Certification Preparation Guide with sample questions. Our questions are original practice written to NNCC’s blueprint and activity statements; they are not NNCC questions.
What is the difference between the CCHT and the BONENT CHT?
They are two separate national certifications from two organizations. NNCC awards the CCHT (Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician); BONENT, the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology, awards the CHT (Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician). This page prepares you for the NNCC CCHT exam.
Is this CCHT practice exam the same format as the real exam?
Yes. The mock exam is 150 four-option questions in three hours: 125 scored questions drawn in the middle of each area’s blueprint range, plus 25 unscored pilot questions mixed in. You can skip, go back and mark questions for review. The result shows your score on the 125 scored questions against NNCC’s 74% reference, your score in each area and an explanation for every question.
Ready for test day?
150 questions in 3 hours, drawn across NNCC’s four blueprint areas, scored on the 125 that count, with an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free drillSources
- NNCC: Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT): eligibility, exam length, passing score, fees, references
- NNCC: CCHT Test Blueprint (ideal distribution of 150 items)
- NNCC: CCHT Weights for Blueprint Categories and Activities by Blueprint Area
- NNCC: How the CCHT Examination is Developed (pilot questions, passing score)
- NNCC: Certification Examination Application booklet (revised 7/2026): PSI testing, 90-day window, results, reapplication, recertification
- NNCC: 2025–2026 Annual Report (CCHT exams administered in 2025)
- CMS ESRD Conditions for Coverage, 42 CFR 494.140(e): patient care dialysis technician qualifications
- BONENT: Eligibility and fees (CHT certification)
Original practice questions for exam preparation, written to the NNCC CCHT test blueprint and activity statements; they are not NNCC exam questions. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC), C-NET, PSI or BONENT. CCHT and Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician are NNCC certifications. Follow your facility’s policies, physician orders and manufacturers’ instructions in practice.