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
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.