The license renewal for a CNA is discussed after this overview of the licensing process. In order to become a certified nursing assistant, you will need to enroll in and complete a training course. After passing the training course and completing all requirements, you will need to take the certification exam. There are two portions of this exam, both of which must be passed in order to receive your certification. Tests can be repeated if necessary for you to pass.
The CNA Exam
There will only be two sections of the exam. One section is referred to as the theoretical test; the other is called the clinical test. The theoretical test will test you on patient procedure, safety techniques, privacy issues and other information you learned throughout the course. This part of the test is a written exam with multiple choice questions. If you study your notes and exams from your course, you should be well prepared for the test. You can also find samples questions online that will help you to understand what you need to know for the written portion of the test.
You will then need to demonstrate three (sometimes four) or more clinical CNA skills for the examiner. This is your opportunity to show that you will be able to complete nursing assistant tasks when working with patients. It is often necessary to bring a friend with you who will act as your patient for the clinical portion of the test. The examiner will be watching you closely throughout completion of each task. Do not forget to do things like washing your hands and knock on a patient’s door before entering the room (even if there is no actual door and separate room in the testing area).
licensing Requirements
You will need to follow all instructions by the licensing board in your area in order to receive your license upon completing and passing the exam. You will need to pay for your examination and license. The cost will differ depending on the state where you live and can easily cost a few hundred dollars. Once you have completed all requirements to become a nursing assistant who is licensed, you will be registered with the nursing aid registry and employers can verify your certification.
CNA License Renewal
Your nursing assistant license is not good for life. The renewal will need to be done again on a regular basis. Many states will require renewal each year. In order to continue working as a certified nursing assistant, you will need to meet certain requirements as set forth by your state. Some states will make you complete a specified number of continuing education credits each year. You might also need to work in your field for a certain number of hours each year in order to be able to renew your license.
Shortly before it is time to renew your license, you should receive written notification from the licensing board. This notice should provide information on how to complete the renewal process. There will be a fee for renewing your license which will be listed on this paperwork.
Hi! I have CNA certificate and working at residential facility.
I have received letter for renewal of the license from the State of California. My expire date is 5/31/10.
I need 48 hrs of CE hours for renewal of my license.
Could you give me information of the class for that?
If it is possible, I want to take the class through online.
Thank you.
Mary John Shin
Hi Mary, thank you for visiting my blog.
You can check out this website http://doh.state.fl.us/MQA/cna/cna_ceu.html
They have a small list of centers that offer CEU’s. Many of them offer online classes as well.
It is advisable to check with your state CNA board to make sure these classes are accredited in your state.
Ms Mary,
go to RN.org. My friend does her CEUs through them very impressive site you can down load the study material, take the test get results in seconds then print your certificates. Recommend it good luck!
Dave
Hi, I had a C.N.A. license and worked in a Ltc-Facility for some time years ago. I bought my own business and let my license expire. I’m currently enrolled in a new CNA training and certification class. I have completed all my classroom instruction hrs., taken my midterms and passed w/ a 94%. However according to this particular course curriculum, we are not allowed to miss a day during the 7-wk program for ANY reason or you must retake the course. I’m already scheduled to take the state exam and unfortunately had to miss a clinical day do to an unavoidable child-related emergency. So I’m wondering if I would be able.to use previously worked he’s. as a licensed C.N.A. toward my needed clinical requirements and still take the state exam?
I used to be a CNA in a nursing home. I let my license expire by accident but I have been working as a Personal Care Asst through a campany. I’m wanting to get my CNA license reinstated but I need a video for the clinical section. I was told through our comapny RN that I can order the clinical video but have no idea what or where to look for it to order. Can you help me or direct me to the website to order the video. The one our RN had was called Avanza CNA Certification Handbook Skills.
I need the clinical skills video
I graduated high school in 2004 with a CNA license, but have yet to use. I have since graduated from college and the job market is terrible in my field. How hard do you think it will be for me to renew my license and can you give me any information on how to look locally in indianapolis, in
Thank You,
Katie
Hi Katie,
You’ll need to retake classes as well as the certification exam since there has been a lapse of over two years since you worked as a CNA.
I Just Currently Got A Job Working As A CNA. I Got My License Back In 09′ And Just Started Working As A CNA today. I Was Wondering What I Would Need To Do To Renew My CNA License And If I Could Do It Online. I Can’t Find It On The Department Of Nursing Website. Please Help…..Thanks Stephanie
Hi Stephanie, For CNA License renewal I’ll need to know which state you’re certified in. You can then look up the nursing board website of that state and get links to the renewal form.
i had my cna lic. in georgia and accidently let it lapse.i have worked as a private care provider the required amount of hours and can prove it.however it has been around 2 years and maybe a little over since my lic. lapsed.can i still renew my licenses by retaking the exam.or what do i need to do to get renewed.
Tanya, it depends on the laws in your state. You will need to retake the CNA certification test to get your license renewed.
In Florida when you renew your CNA of LPN license do you have to take a test every time?
Melissa,
You only have to take the test once. You can renew it every couple years provided you fulfill their minimum working hours requirements.
I received a cna license in 2005 and never used it. I still remember everything but wondering how can i obtain renewal if not are there any rapid classes i could take to gain renewal? Or what steps do i need to take to proceed in this field?
Since its been 5 years now, you will need to do the training again as well as take the CNA certification test to renew your CNA license
I received my CNA licence in CA and it will expire in March 2011. I never used or worked as a CNA as I just needed it to have a CNA lic to get into the LVN program. My problem is that my CNA lic will expire before I get into the LVN program in Sept 2011.
I think I am getting conflicting advice for the CEU credits. I was told that I can use my anatomy class units for the 48 ceu needed to renew the license, is that true?
Also can I work for a private individual in their own home for the required one day pay for renewnal?
Hi Nora, Thank you for commenting.
Firstly, all laws differ from state to state.
As far as your CEU credits are concerned, the nursing board in your state will have to accept them as relevant before counting them towards the 48 hour requirement.
You can not work as a CNA without the direct supervision of a nurse. You’ll have to work in a hospital or nursing home to fulfill the working hours requirement.
Hi I used to have a CNA License here in Oregon,I worked as a CNA from Nov 08-June of 09. I received a notice to renew last November 2009 but I let it lapsed since we moved to the state of Washington. My questions is can I renew my license without retaking the class or test? Thank you.
You’ll have to contact the Washington Nursing board and see what they say. In most cases however, if your certification has lapsed you’ll need to retake the test again.
I had a CA CNA license that expired 4/8/08 I have been working as a medical assistant. How would I go about renewing my license just to keep it current if possible? Thank you
Hi, can I renew my CNA/CHHA/CPR certificates even if I did not work to a facitlity? But I completed the hours required.
Thank you
You’ll need to show proof that you worked as a CNA at a facility for the required number of hours in your state.
My California CNA expired in a month (March 20,2011) and last time I worked was an RNA (Restorative Nursing Assistant) 3 years ago.
I finished my BSN March 2010 ( a year ago) I wonder if I can use my nursing college transcript as a renewal for continue education. Is nursing college degree is okay for CNA renewal without working as a CNA? Please advice…
Hi, As part of the regulations you must have worked as a CNA to be eligible for renewal of your license. State laws can however be different so you can contact the California nursing board and see what they say.
My cna certification will expire this month ( march 2011). I work in a hospital as a patient escort and we get pay a little extra if we have our cna certicate active. Can this help to get my certification renew?
Hi Wendy,
Which state are you in. CLick on the CNA certification FAQ button at the top and then select your state from the right navigation to see the renewal process.
I got my certification in 1995 and worked in a convalescent hospital as well as take care of my grandma who was a total care patient. when she passed in 2000 I let my certification expire as she was the main reason I kept it up but I been pondering on seeing what I need to renew it or if I needed to go through the whole thing over again. I was certified through Beverly Enterprise. But have not found them here in San Jose California. Can someone help me so I know where to go please.
Since its been more than 2 years since your certification expired, you will need to retake the training and do the certification exam again.
I passed my CNA certification back in 2005 and within that year or the next I got a job in a nursing home. I stayed there for a year and then wound up going into another field. I am not looking to get back into health care so I went on the Illinois registry site and looked myself up. I was able to find myself but there was nothing there to state that my certification was expired or still active. How would I go about finding out that information?
You’d need to personally contact the NA registry to find your status. Use the contact info on the registry website to give them a call.
I received my CNA in high school in 1991 I have been working as a medical assistant for 15 years and a CNA in a hospital for 5 years now and I would like to renew my cna how do I go about it and would it be a new licence or a renewal?
It would be a renewal if you had an active CNA license. You would need to submit verification of employment in the hospital to get it renewed. Go to your state nursing board website to get the relevant renewal forms.
Hi, Ive been working as a direct care attendant for the last few years and my CA CNA certificate expired. Im still doing CNA work just under a different title. What can I do to renew my CNA cert. in California?
Check out http://cnatraininghelp.com/cna-certification/california/
I had my cna license in Massachusetts i got it in a technical high school. I had my daughter after so i dint get a chance to work. it expired 5/2010, Is there a way i can get it back. Also i recently moved to ri so could they mail it to me here? and transfer it to ri.
You will first need to renew your certification in MA. You might have to pay a late fee as well since its been more than a year since it expired. Provided you’ve worked as a CNA in the last two years and fulfilled your CEU requirements renewal shouldn’t be a problem. AFter you get it renewed, you have to contact the RI CNA registry to start the transfer process from MA.
i took the cna class in august of 2008 and passed. but now my license needs to be renewed and i am not sure where to go to get it renewed. could you please let me know what i can do to get this done? I do want to get this completed cause i would like to get a job as a cna. thank you.
You normally receive your license renewal form in the mail. If you haven’t gotten one, you can print one from your state’s CNA registry/nursing board website.
I was an CNA back in 1992 for 2 yrs at nursing home Then went on to Medical Assistant 94 and in 2005 recieved Associates Degree in 2005 completed 1500 hours of Occ Therapy ( Massage Therapy0 can I Test out for a Physician Assistant in a Hospital in the state of Mo
Hi! I’ve been working as a CNA here in california and it’s time to renew my certificate.. I’ve been working in a hospital(med surg). Prior to mailing my renewal form it says there that i have to give proofs of CEU’s but i havent done it before.. I’ve been a CNA/working as a CNA for 9 years.. Do i really have to give proofs of my CEU’s. It’s expiring in a month and i have’nt taken any CEU classes except for the in services they gave us at work. Hope you could reply soon. Thanks!
The Inservices they gave you at work count towards the state requirements. Ask your supervisor to help you fill out the renewal form.
If I do my own private care as a cna will that count towards my license in the state of north carolina
No, you need to be working for an employer under the supervision of a registered nurse.
I am a CNA and would like to renew my license. When it was time to renew I was not working as a CNA. I have been working back in the field now 6 months to a year after license expired. Please help me I am not trying to start all over with classes and paying for training. Is there anyway you can help me know my options or anyway I can do this process without starting over.
I have not worked as c n c for 2yrs it expired oct 31 2012 how can I take the test no has called me back please help me and I want to renewel my c n a with out starting over
I got my CNA license in Georgia i worked a year in an assisted living nursing home back in 2010 . I now sit with an elderly lady in her home in 2012. How do I keep my license going for my CNA
My CNA renewal is up in a few weeks and i have not received any renewal form to fill out. I work in California and for a company that gives in home care and all the employees are CNA’s. What should i do?
If you haven’t received it, you can download it online from the CPDH website. Here is the link to the form: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/forms/CtrldForms/cdph283c.pdf
If you’re unsure on the requirements for renewal, please read our guide at http://cnatraininghelp.com/cna-certification/california/
my certificate expired since 2009,and i haven’t work as a cna since then. how do i renew my cna certificate? do i need to go back to school for a month?
Hi!
I have a similar question to Caroline (above). My license expired in 2009, and I did not renew and I can’t figure out how to renew it–and if I need ceu’s. I am in California.
Hi , I am a CNA active in NY. I have worked 8 hours but the nursing home that I worked at requires 12 hours of inservice time , I am working for an agency that doesn’t keep my license active and was wondering (before my license expires) if there is a place that I can do inservice time without actually working at a nursing home ?
I have been a CNA for 8 years now and I also went to school to become a Respiratory Therapist. I have my ACLS and BLS. Would the CEUs I got for my ACLS renewal count towards my CNA renewal?
My cna license is still active but have only been working as home health aide through and employer. I don’t work under a register nurse. what do i need to do to keep my cna license in state of indiana
i got my CNA license in TN in 2006 and i never worked as one, and i live in IL now, is it possible to renew my license somehow?
How much is it going to be for me to renew my CNA license for Tennessee?
I work as a teacher asst. with special needs children . i won’t to be a cna again. what do i need to do?
My ex boss is giving me the run around on renewal my licence she said that she send it a voided check to start the process that was like 2weeks ago and I been calling to check my status and they haven’t received anything yet I was wondering for I have proff that I worked can I renewal it myself
I live in Washington I was wondering how long you can let a cna liscence laps before you have to take the class and exams over again ?
I was a CNA for 9 years and I didn’t renew my license. I would like to but do not know how to do it, or how to get started. Do I need to go back and take classes and the test again, I am not working and do not know how much that will be. When I had my CNA lic. I lived in California, I moved to Washgtion About 5 years ago.
I need to renew my CNA license by Sept. 2, 2013. I haven’t received any forms yet.
ATTENTION EVERYONE: it seems that in the state of California the rules or laws have been changed to renew your CNA certification. My certification is about to expire on October 2013 and I just found out that the state of California is doing extensive checks on all certifications. In California it use to be that you had to complete a total of 48 hours of inservice before you can renew your certification. Like most plp I use to get them all in 2 or 3 months before my certification expired but now it seems that when I went to do my inservice in Orange County. My instructor told the entire class that your inservice has to be done in parts. Meaning that it is now required that you complete a total of 12 HOURS in the first year of your license and another 12 in the second year of your license. The remaining 24 hours of your inservice can be completed when ever possible but must be completed before it expires or else you would have to check the “REACTIVATE” your license by taking the skills in front of the state again. Which isn’t very pleasant for those who aren’t good test takers. I know it sounds crazy but contact your local red cross or any school offering the inservice for more info. I THOUGHT I SHOULD LET EVERYONE KNOW. Does that mean that if I don’t do my 12 hours in the first year that I lost my chance to renew my license without taking the skills all over again???? I don’t know exactly I just know that everyone in the class is worried a ……. Even the instructor dosent know exactly but I hope I get my certification. if I don’t the hospital im working at will take me off the schedule and place me on leave till I get my certification. SUCKS FOR ME. I hope this was informative to some out there
Im having the same problem, my wife just started to work last may 2013 and her cna license will expire on march 2014. I think she only have less than 15hrs inservice. What should we do?
I need to renew my cna license for the state of Florida. Can this be done from my home computer? Looking for help and step to make this happen my FL. license expires 12/31/13 please Help me Sincerely Thank you,Paulette v Canta