CNA Certification in Michigan

There are two primary ways to become a certified nursing assistant in Michigan.  You can attend a CNA training course and then pass the CNA certification exam, or you can apply to have your certification from another state accepted in Michigan.  In that instance, you will still need to complete and pass a written and skills exam before working as a nursing assistant.

Michigan Training Requirements

In order to qualify to sit for the nursing assistant competency exam in Michigan, you will need to attend a training course.  This course must be approved by the state of Michigan if you wish to start a career as a CNA.  Courses will offer 75 hours of training to prepare you for your career as a nursing assistant.  You will also need to complete 16 hours of supervised clinical experience before you will be eligible to sit for the certification exam.

You must complete all aspects of your training class before you can sit for the certification exam.  The certification exam for nursing assistants highlights both a written and skills portion.  Both parts of this test must be passed before you will be granted your certification.

Michigan CNA Certification Renewal

You will notice that your nursing assistant certification has an expiration date. You will need to renew your license before this date. The process of CNA certification renewal is not difficult. The Nurse Aide Registry in the state will send you a recertification form a couple months before your license is set to expire. You will need to complete and return these forms before the due date.

In order to renew your certification, you will need to work a minimum of 8 consecutive hours as a nursing assistant under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician within the 24 month certification period.

Contact the nursing aide registry to request to be exempt from repeating training if your license has expired. You will need to prove that you have worked for at least 8 hours as a nursing assistant in the last two years. Forms and fees will need to be submitted in order to renew your certification. Information on renewing your license cane be found at: http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-35299_63294_27529_27544—,00.html

Transferring a CNA Certification From Another State to Michigan

If you worked as a certified nursing assistant in another state and hold a current active certification, it is often possible to transfer your certification to Michigan. You will need to contact the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs or visit their website at: http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-35299_63294_27529_27544—,00.html to obtain the Application for Exemption from Training. This form is your request to be excused from taking a nursing assistant training course in Michigan. You will need to provide proof of your active CNA certification from another state. If your certification is accepted, you will still need to take the nursing assistant exam for the state of Michigan before being granted certification.

The steps to transfer your license are as follows:

1. Obtain the Request for Exemption from Nurse Aide Training form at: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/lara/CNA_exemption_pkt_435474_7.pdf
2. Completely fill out the exemption request form and obtain photocopies of all out-of-state CNA certificates whether they are active or inactive. Send all documents to Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs- Bureau of Health Services- P.O. Box 30670- Lansing, MI 48909.

3. Complete the Verification of Nurse Aide Certification in Another State form. There will be a section for you to complete and a section to be completed by the nursing aide registry where you are certified. Refer to the Registry list provided to see if your state is one that Michigan will verify through the Internet. If your state has an address listed, you must submit the form to them. They will fill out their portion and forward it to the state of Michigan.

4. It is necessary to submit employment verification information if your state does not list an expiration date for CNA certification or if your certification has expired. An original letter on company letterhead must be submitted from your past/present employer. It needs to be signed by the Facility/Agency Administrator, Director of Nursing or Assistant Director of nursing. The letter must include when you started and ended employment as a certified nursing assistant. It is necessary to have worked as a CNA for a minimum of 8 hours in the past two years under the supervision of a licensed Registered Nurse.

If you are not sure about how to become certified as a nursing assistant in Michigan, you can contact the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs at: 517-241-0554. You can also talk to instructors at training centers offering state-approved training programs.

FAQ

Q:I live in Dearborn, Mi. and am a certified Nurse’s Aide due to renew her license in this state in one year.. I know one of the requirements for renewal is verification of job experience as an aide…my questions are: 1. How much experience is required? 2. What type of verification is acceptable and 3. Would CNA work in a private home qualify for this experience or must you have worked in a long term care facility or through an agency to qualify?

A: You need to have verification of at least one day of work for pay in the 2 years of your certification period. Agencies can provide this verification but it is almost impossible to get it if you’re working as a HHA.