The CNA Certification Program

If you want to become a certified nursing assistant, you will need to complete a CNA certificate program.  A CNA certificate program will teach you the theory and procedures that you need to know to be a nursing assistant.  You will have hands on training teaching you how to safely take care of patients.  You might do role playing with other students and depending on the training class, will get the opportunity to work with real patients as well.

You must attend a CNA certification course that is approved by the Board of Nursing in your state.  Make certain that a course if fully accredited within your state and nationally before enrolling in the course.   Courses will be designed to meet the requirements for certification in your state.  They will prepare you not only for a career as a nursing assistant but for the certification exam you must take before working in the field.

The CNA certification exam will test both your skills and your knowledge in terms of working as a certified nursing assistant.  You will first be asked to complete the written portion of the test.  This part of the test will offer multiple choice questions.  Much of what you learned during your lectures and labs will be covered on this portion of the test.

You will then need to demonstrate several nursing assistant skills for the second half of your test.  Some testing programs will ask you to bring someone with you to act as your model patient.  You will be asked to perform about 5 different tasks.  You must complete all aspects of the task to ensure a passing grade.  For example, if you are asked to reposition a patient, you must remember to wash your hands, knock on the patient’s door and to tell your patient who you are and what you are going to be doing.

If you are receiving your CNA certificate training through a healthcare provider, you might be working with actual patients when taking your test.  You will probably have also completed much of your practicum in a live setting by assisting with patients in the facility where you are receiving training.

In order to become certified as a nursing assistant, you will need to receive a passing score on both portions of the test.  After passing the examination, you will become certified and can begin your career as a nursing assistant.  If you do not pass the test, you will need to find out how and when you can repeat the test.

You will be registered with the board of nursing in your state once you receive your nursing assistant certification.  This registration shows that you have all the credentials and have completed all the requirements to work as a nursing assistant.  There are generally continuing education credits that you will need to complete each year in order to maintain your certification.  You will also need to work a minimum number of hours throughout the year to keep your certification active.