You can start a career as a certified nursing assistant in Nebraska by receiving state-approved training and passing the necessary certification exam. Nursing assistants provide basic nursing care (non-medical) to patients in healthcare and home health settings.
Minimum Training Requirements
You will not be able to sit for the nursing assistant certification exam until you complete a nursing assistant training program. The program must be a state-approved program and as such include at least 75 hours of training. You will have some classroom training as well as clinical training under the supervision of a registered nurse. After completing the course in its entirety (and successfully), you can sit for the nursing assistant certification exam.
Transferring CNA Certification to Nebraska
You might be exempt from taking CNA training or the exam if you are a certified nursing assistant from another state. If you are moving to Nebraska, you can apply for certification through endorsement. Contact the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for an interstate endorsement form or visit their website at: http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/crl_nursing_na_na.aspx. Complete the form as instructed providing all necessary proof and verification.
If you are certified as a nursing assistant in another state but have not worked for two years or more, you will need to sit for the CNA certification exam in Nebraska before receiving certification. If you were not required to complete an in-service on Abuse and Neglect in your prior state, you will need to complete a one hour training course before receiving certification.
There are some other individuals who are eligible to challenge the nursing assistant certification exam in Nebraska without first completing a training program. Some examples include individuals who trained as nurses in another state or country, nurses who have an expired license and individuals who served as nursing assistants in the military.
Steps For Transfer
- Check with the state registry for CNAs where you hold a certification to make certain it is still active and in good standing.
- Obtain the application by interstate endorsement at: http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Documents/na%20endorse.pdf
- Complete the application in its entirety and provide copies of all nurse aide certificates or licensure cards you have.
- Provide your personal information (such as name, social security number and address), your certification details and your CNA employment history.
- Complete the required one hour of training in the steps and procedures to follow if you suspect that a patient is being neglected or abused. You will need to attend this training in Nebraska. A prospective employer can often provide the training or you can complete it on-line. The on-line course is given through Providence Health Career Institute at: www.providencehealthcareer.com (click on the On-line Abuse Section). Another provider of the course is through Southeast Community College. You must send an e-mail to: jgreen@southeast.edu in order to complete the course on-line.
- Please know that you will need to sit for the nursing assistant certification exam in Nebraska if you have not worked as a CNA in the last two years. This does not apply if you sat for the certification exam in your former state less than two years ago.
Submit your application and all other required paperwork to:
Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry
ATTN: Wanda Vodehnal
PO Box 94986
Lincoln NE 68509-4986
FAX: 402-471-1066
CNA Certification Renewal
Every two years, you will need to renew your nursing assistant certification. This can be done by completing the renewal form that you have been sent and submitting before the date of expiration for your certification. Please keep in mind that your certification will lapse if you go two years or more without working as a nursing assistant or in a related job position. In a case such as this, you will need to sit for the certification exam again. Contact the Nursing Aide Registry if your license has expired or visit their website at: http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/crl_nursing_na_na.aspx#Maintaining.
Helpful Resources: Free nurse aide training in Nebraska and Accredited CNA classes in Nebraska
I have worked as a CNA in the past. The first time was back in the early 90’s and the my license expired.I was told I could take the exam again instead of taking the 75 hr class. So I went ahead and took the whole class over. Well again my license has expired. I didnt know I was to re-new my license every 2 yrs. I never recieved anything in the mail to do that. So could you tell me what I should do? I loved my job as a CNA and would love to do it again. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Jody Hancock
Hi Jody,
If you’ve let your certification lapse but have worked as a CNA in the last two years then you will need to fill out an employment verification form from the Nebraska CNA registry http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/crl/nursing/na/empverify.pdf If you have not worked as a CNA BUT your license expired within the last 5 years then you will need to take the state certification test. You will again have to contact the Nebraska NA registry to get the relevant form. The link to the registry website is http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/crl/nursing/na/na.htm#Reinstatement (it will take you directly to the part relevant to your question)
I recently got my license to be a CNA in Nebraska. However I was considering moving to Kansas this summer to work as a CNA there. Is it possible to transfer my NE license to KS?..and if so, then how do I do that?
I worked as a CNA but had to quit to help the family business over the last few years. In August it will be two years since i have worked as a CNA. Is there anything i can do to prevent it from lapsing? And if it does lapse can i just take the test to renew it or do i have to take the class as well.
I worked as a CNA in 2005 but had to stop because of health reasons. I would like to return to the career again but do not know what steps are required. I don’t know if I have to go through the entire course again. I have been an EMT-B since 2004 so I have been in the health field since. Could I just test out?
I have worked in the past as a CNA for 15 years full time. I changed jobs and was hired at Region V services. I was doing CNA work for the past 6 years for this company. Also I have a med aid license that did not lapse. My CNA did lapse, but since I was doing CNA work, do I still need to take the test, course again or can I just have Region V Services send you a letter to verify I was doing CNA like work.
I am a registered medical assistant but got my CNA in hopes to start nursing school in the spring. There is a chance i may not start nursing school in the spring but i’d like to make sure to keep my CNA current so for when/ if i do go back to school and so i dont have to pay to retake the class. is it possible to keep CNA current working as a registered medical assistant?
I worked as a CNA and a med aide from 2019-2020. Since then both certifications have expired. Do I have to retake both classes again, or can I just retake the exams? Is there a cost to retake them?