CCHT Clinical Practice Questions
Area I of 4 in NNCC’s CCHT blueprint · 48–52% of the exam
150 questions across all four areas in 3 hours, with a score for Clinical so you know where you stand.
Free Clinical drillWhat is the purpose of access flow monitoring, such as ultrasound dilution measurements?
Clinical on the CCHT exam
Clinical is the largest area of the CCHT exam: 48–52% of the questions, about half the test. NNCC lists 44 clinical activities, from cannulating the access and setting the machine to the prescription, to monitoring the patient, handling complications and responding to emergencies.
- Share of the exam
- 48–52% in NNCC’s blueprint; our mock exam draws 62 of its 125 scored questions from this area
- Our drill
- 10 questions from 195 Clinical questions, untimed, an explanation after every answer; one free attempt, unlimited with a pass
Free vascular access and cannulation drillFree intradialytic complications drill
What Clinical questions test
- Vascular access: evaluating a fistula, graft or catheter by looking, listening and feeling; cannulating, including new, complicated and buttonhole accesses; recognizing stenosis, clotting and infection; and post-dialysis access care
- Starting and ending treatment: setting up the extracorporeal circuit, setting the machine to the prescription, initiating and discontinuing with a fistula or graft, and aseptic technique
- Weights, vital signs and fluid status: target weight, fluid removal goals, signs of volume overload and depletion, and how blood pressure relates to fluid
- Heparin: following the protocol, its purpose and complications, and the risk of bleeding
- Complications and emergencies: hypotension, cramps, orthostatic hypotension, infection, falls, changes in mental status, exsanguination, oxygen and resuscitation
Sit the full exam under the real clock
150 questions across all four areas in 3 hours, with a score for Clinical so you know where you stand.
Free Clinical drillHow to study it
- Learn the access exam first: a healthy fistula has a continuous thrill and a low-pitched, continuous bruit; a high-pitched bruit or a pounding pulse suggests stenosis.
- Practice fluid math until it is quick: 1 kg is about 1 liter, and the removal goal is the weight above target plus the saline given. NNCC says no question needs a calculator.
- For complication questions, the first step is almost always to protect the patient (stop the pump and clamp, or position and slow fluid removal) and then notify the nurse.
- Take the vascular access and complications drills as well as the clinical drill until you score 80% or better.
Common questions
How many clinical questions are on the CCHT?
NNCC’s blueprint puts Clinical at 48–52% of the test, which is 71 to 78 of the 150 questions.
Are cannulation questions on the CCHT exam?
Yes. NNCC’s activity statements include cannulating the access, cannulating a new or complicated access, cannulating a mature buttonhole, evaluating the access before dialysis and identifying access failure by looking, listening and feeling.
150 questions across all four areas in 3 hours, with a score for Clinical so you know where you stand.
Free Clinical drillThe other CCHT areas
Sources
- 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, not NNCC exam questions. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC), C-NET or PSI. CCHT is an NNCC certification.