CNA Certification in Idaho

You can work in a career where you help patients with activities of daily living, take vital signs and perform other basic nursing care services.  If this is something you are interested in doing, you should consider becoming a certified nursing assistant.  CNAs do need to receive training and pass an examination before being granted certification.

Training Hours and Requirements

You will need to spend 120 hours training to become a certified nursing assistant in Idaho.  There are some training programs that will include even more hours of training.  Of the 120 hours, you will need to spend at least 80 hours in the classroom.  The rest of the hours will be spent on clinical training.  This will be your opportunity to work directly with patients in a healthcare setting.

Transfer of Nursing Assistant Certification to Idaho

You might be a certified nursing assistant who has recently moved to Idaho.  You cannot simply apply for a job as a CNA in this new state.  Instead, you will need to apply to transfer your certification from the other state.  You can request an application for transfer with the Board of Nursing in Idaho.  They will send you a form that you must complete.

The form will ask you to provide verification that you attend a state-approved training program in your former state.  You will also need to prove that you did take and pass the state certified nursing assistant competency exam.  Employment verification will also be a part of the nursing assistant application process. Your application will be considered to determine if you meet the requirements to work as a CNA in Idaho.

The Steps for reciprocity to idaho are very simple. You need to download the form from the Prometric website over at http://www.prometric.com/nurseaide/id or http://www.cnaregistry.dhw.idaho.gov

Then, Mail the form to:
IDAHO NURSE AIDE PROGRAM 3232 Elder Street PO Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0036
Unlike other states, you will not need to provide any further documentation. The Idaho Nurse Aide registry will simply check your license status in other states and verify that it is active. They will then contact you to let you know if your application has been successful.

Transferring from Montana or Iowa

You will need to fill out a separate form from http://www.prometric.com/nurseaide/id (the one that says Iowa, Montana applicants) and ATTACH the relevant training program documentation. They will need to verify that the place you received your training from meets the the Idaho requirements.

Certification Renewal in Idaho

A CNA certification must be renewed every 24 months.  You will see a date for renewal on your certification paperwork.  A form will be mailed to you in advance of this date.  You will need to complete the form and send it as instructed to the address provided.  The form is used to verify that you are working as a certified nursing assistant or in a position where you are providing nursing related services.  Some of the renewal form will be completed by your current employer (or a previous employer if you are not currently working).  The Nurse Aide Certification Renewal form can also be found at: http://www.cnaregistry.dhw.idaho.gov.

You cannot renew your certification if you have not worked for more than 24 months as a nursing assistant or providing related duties.  You will need to contact the Board of Nursing to determine what you need to do in order to renew your certification and begin working as a certified nursing assistant again.

FAQ:

Q: I took my training in Montana and as it turns out it does not meet the requirements of the idaho Nurse Aide Registry. What do I have to do to be able to work as a CNA in Idaho? Will I need to take the training again or can I just do the certification exam?
A: Unfortunately you will need to attend an Idaho approved training program as well as do the certification test to be able to get a license to work. If you need to retake the classes, check out our guide on how to get free CNA classes in Idaho. It might end up saving you money.

Other helpful resources: CNA training classes in Idaho