Qualified certified nursing assistants are in high demand in California. As such, the state takes training of nursing assistants very seriously. They want to ensure that all CNAs are able to provide the best level of care for their patients. Nursing assistants assist patients with activities of daily living, monitor vital signs and provide other basic care services (primarily non-medical).
Training Requirements
The state of California requires more than double the federal mandated number of training hours for nursing assistants. Prospective nursing assistants must complete 160 hours of training before they can sit for the nursing assistant certification test. You will find that some training programs offer even more than 160 hours of instruction.
Courses must be approved by the state of California. The nursing assistant training classes are designed to include classroom and clinical studies. Students must complete a training course in its entirety before sitting for the certification exam. Individuals cannot become certified until they pass the competency exam for nursing assistants.
Transfer of CNA Certification via Reciprocity to California
If you work or worked as a certified nursing assistant in another state, you might be able to become certified without difficulty in California. You can apply for certification through reciprocity. The application from can be obtained from the California Department of Public Health(CDPH)
Some of the reciprocity form will be completed by an official at the Nursing Aide Registry in the state where you are certified. You will need to prove that you worked some hours for pay as a certified nursing assistant in the past 2 years. A background check will be conducted before your certification can be transferred to California.
The nursing aide registry in California will ensure that your certification has not expired in the other state. They will also make sure that you have had no complaints filed against you in your work as a certified nursing sssistant.
The exact steps for for transferring your license are as follows:
(Note: Any forms referenced below can be downloaded from the California Department of Public Health website over at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/forms/Pages/CNA_HHA_HemoTechForms.aspx)
1) Complete a “CNA license verification form” Form no CPDH931. This form has to be filled by yourself AND the Licensing body for nursing assistants in your current state.(where you have your license).
2) Complete the “Request for Live Scan Services” Form no BCIA 8016. This form is to verify that you have a clean criminal record. You will need to be fingerprinted at a facility designated by the DOJ in your area.
3) Complete the “Certified Nursing Assistant Initial Application Form” Form no CPDH 283B. Make sure you fill out the CNA part of the form and indicate that you are applying for reciprocity.
4) Make a copy of your state issued certificate.
5) Show proof of employment in the last two years. (you can use your pay stubs or an official letter from your employer. This is not necessary if your certificate has been issued less than two years ago.
Once you have completed the above documentation, send it over to:
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Licensing and Certification Program (L&C)
Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS)
MS 3301 P.O. Box 997416 Sacramento, CA
95899-7416 (916) 327-2445
FAX (916) 552-8785 cna@cdph.ca.gov
Renewal of Certification
You will receive paperwork when it is time to renew your nursing assistant certification. The form will be used to ensure that you have worked as a nursing assistant or performing nursing related duties for pay in the last 24 months. Some sections of the renewal form will be completed by your employer.
The renewal form and any necessary papers and fees should be submitted to the address provided before your certification is set to expire. Your license will not be renewed if you have committed any felonies or have any charges against you from patients.
It will be necessary to contact the CDPH(Dept of Public Health) in California if you have allowed your license to expire. They will provide you with instructions on how you can start the process to renew your certification. All requirements must be met before you will receive certification again.
Criteria For Renewal
- You will need to have completed at least 48 hours of continuing education units.
- You will need to have “worked for pay” in a facility under the supervision of a licensed professional within the last two years.
If you fail to meet either of the above, you will still need to fill out the renewal form (form CPDH283C from the CDPH website) as well as re take the certification test. (you will be contacted by the CDPH about where to take your exam)
FAQ
M. Jolly asked “Hello I have a current C.N.A. & H.H.A. license through California. It is due to expire in Feb. 2012. I haven’t actively worked any hours since obtaining my licenses. I Manage a staffing company. I did do a lot of number of hours of clinical work prior to being licensed. Is it required to work a minimum of hours to keep my licenses active? I would like to renew prior to it expiring. I also would like to know how I can transfer and keep it active in other states like Arizona. I’m pending acceptance into the nursing program and some schools require active licensures. Yet, again I have not worked actively since obtaining my C.N.A. and H.H.A. licenses”
Answer:
You will need to have worked within the two years prior to expiry of your license to be able to renew it. You can not have licenses active in more than one state. It is however simple enough to transfer your active license to another state. If you fail to meet the working requirements, you will need to re take the CNA exam.
You will find these helpful: Free CNA classes in California and CNA training in California
my cna certified was expired few years ago, I am been taking pre- records for nursing (RN), I graduaded already from college last year, but i would like to renew my certified asap. would you please let me know how to do it
have you contacted the California board of nursing and followed the steps above?
Can a CNA Certificate be renewed online. Also what do you do if you have not received a renewal form by mail prior to expiration time.
You can get the form online but in most cases you’d need to send it over to them by post.
How long after completing the CNA training in California, do I have to take the state certification exam?
Two years.
I am having trouble finding a testing site in CA for my CNA. I finished my course and have the paper to take to the testing site but cannot find anywhere to go take the test.Can anyone help me with this?Also I live in Northern CA so if you know anywhere I could go in San Fransico or Sacramento that would be helpful. Thanks
Hi kris,
I’m not too sure about training sites in California. Normally, the training center you got trained in helps you sign up for the test at a nearby testing facility.
Kris here is a no. for Southern Regional center 714 895 8708 they will give you the day and time. You can ask for their web page as well.
Thank you!
Call the board of nursing they should be able to direct you to get your hands on test done i think you can even take the written and hands on at American river college in Sacramento. Call around
red cross does the testing they have a testing center in rancho cordova ca (outside of sac)
I have taken the CNA training program in phoenix, Arizona. I have completed the 80 hours of theory and 4o hours of clinical the total of 120 hours. I am moving to california within the month or two. Reason says to take the here will be useless for I would have to pay for one in California. My question to you is could I take the test there with this CNA class completion or do I have to take a class there in California? and if so what is the cost for the test or the class? Thank you for your time in reading this.
Hi Judy,
I would advise taking the test in Arizona before you move to California. It is cheaper to transfer your certification to another state rather than having to do the whole training again.
Hello: I want to renew my license as CNA/CHHA in CA. I have not worked as any of both for the lasts two months. Can you tell me how to do it.. My status in the registry list right now is REVOKED.
You can submit the renewal form only if you have worked in some capacity as a CNA in the last two years. You have two years from the date of expiry to apply for renewal. Look up our renewal guidelines above and contact the CDPH using the address given if in doubt.
I got my CNA in Idaho July 2010. I have not not worked yet but I would like to work and transfer it in California. I understand that you have to show a pay stub within two years. Can I still transfer?
Yes, you have to show a pay stub indicating at least 10-20 hours of employment. But, in your case it hasn’t been 2 years since you got your license so you should be able to transfer it without a problem.
I have just been certified in Hawaii through American Red Cross. My husband just received orders to go to California. We are moving in a month and I have not been able to work as a CNA here… What steps will I need to transfer or will I have to take the training program again? And also what is the total amount of hours needed to be able to transfer to another state?
As long as you have a valid license in Hawaii you should be able to transfer it to most states using a process called reciprocity. Contact the CNA registry in California to get a form for reciprocity.
I am a cna – my license expires in 2012, but thus far I have not worked in 2011. The year is almost done and would like confirmation as to the minimum of hours I am required to work a year as a cna in order to retain my license
Hi Tony,
Its around 8 to 12 hours for pay over two years in most states.
Thanks Admin – I am in Florida- hope the same rule applies here
I have done my 12 CNA ceu’s on my own – how do I go about reporting this to Talahassee (I live in Florida) How would they know that I have done them. I previously worked at a facility and they did all the paper work, but this is the first time I am doing this on my own- Confused- please held Admin -
I completed my cna nine years ago and i did not renew it i worked in a hospital in the subacute unit for four years . Can i take the test in another state. I can t do it in california. Can i only take the test and transfer here in ca?
I was originally certified as a CNA in CA and filed for reciprocity to South Carolina approx ten years ago. I am planning on moving back to CA and would like to file for reciprocity.How
long before i move should i file ( i am currently working as a cna and would like to continue to work until I move ), or will i be able to work in CA if I wait until I move to file? As far as I know, my HHA certification was not transferred because it was not required here. What will I have to get to obtain the HHA certification again in CA?
You should file for reciprocity as soon as you’re in the state you’re moving to. You can’t do it before that if you want to continue working. As far as the HHA certification is concerned, you’ll need to get a new one if you haven’t renewed it for the last 10 years. You should be fine with just the CNA certification though.
I need help…I have a CNA license in AZ but is expired, i just moved to CA and i have worked as a caregiver for almost 4 months i did a class to be a caregiver through the San Bernardino county is a caregiver certification…i want to transfer my CNA license to CA, what do i need to do first…should i try and renew it in AZ first even know im living in CA and then transfer it to CA????? i would really aprecciate some help here…thanks…
im nursing graduate at the Philippines and move here at California.. i want to start to be a CNA before taking the board exam for nursing.. my questions is how can i get certification for cna? do i still have to go for a program for CNA? even im already a BSN graduate?