Every state has its requirements to obtain a CNA License. Some are stricter than others. However, the United States has passed their own guideline that all states must follow in their governance of CNA certification. The federal requirements are listed directly below, while you can scroll to the bottom to find your specific state’s process to obtain a license.
Regardless of state, there are a few things you can expect in your journey to obtain your certificate. You will need to take a course that will last roughly one school semester. There will be a portion of lab work that will be “hands-on.” At the completion of the course, you will be eligible to take your state’s CNA exam. This is exam will most likely include two parts; multiple choice and demonstration. Once you pass the test, you will be included in the state’s registry of CNA’s, and will be able to practice legally from 1 to 2 years before you will need to renew your license.
Federal Requirements for a State CNA License Program
To make things as uniform as possible, the US government has compiled a baseline list of rules that every state must adhere to. These are the bare minimums, and many states go above and beyond these requirements.
- According to the American Health Care Association, the federal law requires that every nursing assistant program provide at least 75 hours of training. Most states require their courses to provide 100 or more.
- This course must include at least 16 hours of lab activity or practical (hands on) training.
- Though there are no explicit requirements for the exam, federal rules state that a state’s exam can only be taken a maximum of three times within a given period. To take the test a fourth time, the student must retake the training course.
- Until the student obtains their CNA license, their healthcare facility cannot employ them full time for more than four months.
- 16 hours combined in the following categories:
- Communication skills.
- Restorative and emergency procedures, including the Heimlich maneuver.
- Promoting residents’ independence.
- Understanding and respecting residents’ rights.
- Basic nursing skills and infection control.
- Personal care skills.
- Mental health and social services of residents.
- Care of cognitively impaired residents.
- Federally, 24 months is the maximum time that a state can let its license last. After that time has run out, the CNA must demonstrate that they remain competent in those skills.
Outside of these restrictions listed above, individual states can be as loose or restrictive as they want to those hoping to obtain their CNA certificate. Nearly every state has additional requirements that you can read in the links below. In addition, your CNA license will rarely travel across state lines. If you move to a new state, you will need to take that state’s exam to obtain their license. Luckily, many of the tests are similar.
If you don’t see your state yet, please be patient. Return to the page in a few days and it may be included then.