How To Register For My Cna Board Exam

Nursing assistants (NAs) go by many titles, including licensed nursing assistant (LNA), state-tested nursing assistant (STNA), and — most commonly — certified nursing assistant (CNA). Regardless of their championship, they play a meaningful role in helping patients undergo handling, recover from injuries, and live full and comfortable lives.

According to the U.South. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were about ane.6 million NAs in 2019, and in 2020, NAs earned an average salary of $32,050.

Due to the disquisitional need for health intendance workers, the government often reimburses grooming costs for you lot to become a CNA or NA. This funding makes it more than affordable than a bachelor of scientific discipline in nursing, which can cost several thousand dollars a year.

Read on to learn more about condign a CNA — and get some advice from a vet in the manufacture.

What Does a CNA Do?

CNA Career Basics

CNAs and NAs provide intendance to patients in long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and hospices. Their responsibilities range from helping patients with daily needs, such as bathing, getting dressed, and using the bathroom to monitoring vital signs.

Steps to Becoming a CNA

Step 1

Get familiar with your state'south requirements

CNA requirements beyond the land vary — from job championship to hours of training required. It'southward essential to determine how the following basic steps to becoming a CNA, LNA, or other NA apply to your state.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) keeps a directory of each state's nursing aide registry with information most who to contact and links to land government websites.

Step 2

Earn your high school diploma or GED

Not all states require a high school diploma or GED to become a CNA. For instance, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) requires CNAs to be 16 years former, pass a criminal tape cheque, complete CNA grooming, and pass the land exam.

But many CNA grooming programs do seek applicants with a diploma or equivalency credential. In many states, you tin can schedule and consummate the GED examination in ane to four months for $80 to $140.

If you are currently a high school student, there may be options in your expanse to brainstorm your preparation now at a career academy.

Step 3

Complete a state-approved training program

The National Clan of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) states that CNA training programs tin can last iv to 12 weeks and combine classroom learning with clinical experience.

Based on 2017-2018 data from the National Center for Didactics Statistics, programs at public technical colleges can cost as little every bit $500 to $3,000 to attend. Training programs at individual schools can toll as much as $twenty,000 to $25,000.

In some states, the American Red Cantankerous offers training programs that culminate in a certifying test. Cheque their website to see if there are whatever available programs in your area.

The training requirements to become a CNA or NA vary by state, so brand certain you cheque your local regulations before enrolling in a programme.

Step 4

Pass the state-specified exam

After completing a state-approved training program, yous volition need to laissez passer the exam that your land requires.

In whatsoever country, the exam covers your training in the program, including:

Daily care
Ideals
Infection management
Recording and reporting medical data

The examination costs around $100.

Step 5

Land your first CNA job

After you laissez passer the exam for your state, yous tin can start working as an NA/CNA. Y'all must just exercise under the supervision of licensed nurses, pregnant it is illegal to offering services as an independent provider.

Stride half dozen

Proceed learning to stay certified

As a professional person NA/CNA, you volition need to maintain your qualifications through recording your work feel or completing education credits.

In many states, you must complete at least 12 didactics credits a year. Some states require more than. In California, CNAs must consummate 48 credits every two years. Other states crave none at all. For instance, the Louisiana Section of Health (LDH) automatically renews your CNA certification as long every bit you record your piece of work history.

In any state, continuing didactics courses let you to gain specialized learning in fields related to patient care, including:

Alzheimer'south and dementia
Cultural competency
Diabetes
PTSD
Wound handling

CNA Salaries and Task Growth

CNA Salaries

The Five Highest Paying States for CNAs

Alaska ($42,500)
New York ($40,620)
California ($39,280)
Hawaii ($39,280)
Massachusetts ($37,160)

CNA Task Outlook

Elevation 10 places with the highest job growth for CNAs:

Puerto Rico: 39.7%
Colorado: 24.8%
Utah: 23.8%
Arizona: 22.2%
Nevada: xx.two%

Career Paths for CNAs

According to the BLS, skilled nursing facilities are the number 1 employer of nursing assistants, employing more than half a million NAs in 2020.

Many NAs first their careers in Medicaid-funded nursing facilities considering the federal regime reimburses these employers for their NAs' preparation costs. The details vary based on the land, only yous can find an instance of how registered nursing banana reimbursement works from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

Aggrandize Your Experience, Knowledge, and Network

Exterior of your workplace, there are national professional organizations dedicated to helping NAs grow in their careers.

The NAHCA and the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants make several resource available to members to develop skills and proceeds accolades in the industry. These opportunities include:

Workshops
Conferences
Recognition for accomplishments or years of service
Celebrations similar planned events for National Nursing Assistants Calendar week in June

These associations also organize NAs to advocate for staffing shortage solutions and workplace safety.

After gaining feel as a CNA in a long-term care facility, you can have additional coursework to become an Advanced CNA, also known as a CNA-II or CNA-two. This title can help you get a job in more intense or acute settings, like hospitals.

Later gaining years of feel, y'all may decide to educate others in the field. Through the American Red Cross, you can train to become a nursing banana instructor.

Teaching others tin can earn you more than income. According to the BLS, top-paying industries for CNAs included junior colleges and other colleges and universities.

Become a Licensed Applied Nurse

Licensed practical nurses or licensed vocational nurses (LPN/LVNs) supervise NAs and piece of work directly under registered nurses. While some of their tasks overlap with NAs, they provide more specialized care. LPN/LVNs also earn college pay than NAs.

You can earn a certificate or diploma, qualifying yous for the LPN/LVN licensure exam in nether two years. Most document programs at public colleges and technical schools cost from $2,000 to $10,000, and the U.S. licensure exam costs $200. LPNs earned an average salary of $fifty,090 in 2020.

Become a Registered Nurse

If your ultimate goal is to go a registered nurse or a neonatal nurse, you lot will need to earn an associate'south degree or a bachelor of scientific discipline in nursing (BSN).

Associate degrees for nursing typically price $2,000 to $12,000 just can cost more than than $25,000 at some individual colleges. BSNs usually range in cost from $vii,000 to $40,000 a twelvemonth.

After the upfront cost of didactics, this is a career that tin pay off. In 2020, registered nurses earned an boilerplate almanac salary of $80,010.

CNA Training Programs

Where can I have CNA classes?

In improver to vocational and technical schools and customs colleges, several hospitals and other long-term care facilities provide relevant training opportunities. The American Blood-red Cross likewise offers training in some states.

All state-approved training programs must follow federal guidelines for curriculum. In addition, each land has its own curriculum standards. This list is non exhaustive of all the topics covered in a programme.

	Vocational / Technical Schools	Community Colleges	Health Care Facility	The Blood-red Cross
Curriculum Focus	Clinical feel and classroom learning, covering: Anatomy Nutrition Patient safety Infection control	The fundamentals of nursing and patient personal care experience	Attitudes, behaviors, relationship-building, and clinical experience	Communication and interpersonal skills, plus the elements of intendance covered on the certification exam
Typical Duration of Programme(s)	four-12 weeks	6-16 weeks	6-12 weeks	4-8 weeks
Learning Format	Online, in-person (classroom), and onsite (clinical) experience	Online, in-person (classroom), and onsite (clinical) experience	Depending on the facility, your learning may combine online, cocky-paced grooming with in-classroom learning and volition always include on-the-job training.	The Red Cross offers 2 formats: Blended learning, combining videos and online testing with feel 100% Instructor-led 24-hour interval classes
What's Unique?	Expect shorter, highly focused programs, so yous can enter the job marketplace apace.	These programs may be part of some other general allied health professional person programme or a medical assistant program, so you would study alongside students pursuing slightly unlike paths.	Many of these programs offer training reimbursement if you lot commit to working there after your grooming.	The Crimson Cross boasts a 90% graduation rate and an 80% pass rate for the country exam. However, its training programs are simply available in some states.

What's the Process for Taking the Certification Exam?

Each country has different CNA requirements, but all require you to laissez passer an exam. Here are some steps to keep in mind for preparing for your state'due south required exam:

Begin Preparing While You lot're in Training

Many programs offer students practice tests or written report guides. Review a practice exam while you're however in your program, so you lot tin ask your instructor specific questions.

Work With Instructors to Schedule the Exam

Your instructors can assistance you detect the closest exam heart. Brand sure to schedule your exam as before long as possible after completing your coursework, so the data is still fresh.

The exam has 2 parts: writing and clinical. On the written test, you'll answer questions roofing what you learned in your training programme. In the clinical exam, you lot will demonstrate your skills — from proper handwashing to communicating with a stand-in patient, taking their vital signs, and more interactions.

If y'all practise not pass the exam on your first try, states have individual rules about how frequently yous can retake the test.

Online CNA Classes

Today, many NA training programs include some online and video learning. Withal, the nearly meaning part of your training volition be in person. You volition practice on mannequins in lab settings, and in existent clinical settings, yous will piece of work under shut supervision.

In any programme, make sure to inquiry the following before committing to a prospective school:

States crave you to graduate from a land-approved program to sit down for the exam. Check your school'southward approval status or consult the rules for your country.

Since exam questions are country-specific, information technology's all-time to discover a program in the state where you want to work.

Faculty With Extensive and Relevant Nursing Feel

Quality education starts with fantabulous instructors with extensive and electric current experience, both in the virtual classroom and professional globe. Many CNA training programs will post faculty biographies, so you tin get to know your teachers' resumés.

Pro Tips on Condign a CNA

Editor's Note: We've edited this Q&A for clarity and length.

Genevieve Gipson

Genevieve Gipson, RN, ME.d, RNC, director of the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants, shared industry information most what helps people in hands-on caregiving roles remain in long-term intendance positions.

What makes a good CNA? Nosotros do know why people stay. Across the lath, there are several characteristics. The almost important indicator is that they had a human relationship with an older person when they were immature, and it was positive. Other indicators include:

They are their family's get-to person for wellness care advice.

They can bond with people and show support.

They can follow directions closely.

They effectively sequence many tasks.

What tasks tin an NA expect in their job? The skills you'll meet listed in job postings include bathing, feeding, and toileting, but there's much more to being a nursing assistant. Nursing assistants e'er need to see the person at the heart of the intendance. It'due south not just about feeding. It can hateful remembering how they like to hold their fork or if they mix their veggies with other foods.

What is one thing new NAs should practice? Many of our patients were shaped past the events of the '30s, '40s, and '50s. Recall about what was happening in 1935. Think near who was on the radio. You tin can utilize facts like this equally memory cues for patients with Alzheimer's. You need to go with the patient to where their mind is and understand their frame of reference. Otherwise, it can atomic number 82 to harmful assumptions, similar 'she doesn't make whatsoever sense today, she's so confused.'

What about the emotional aspects of the job? There are many reasons why families may disconnect or not be available to the older person. Regardless of the reason, this disconnect tin leave the patient feeling isolated and can contribute to poor appetite and subtract interest in life. The pandemic was an extremely isolating time for both patients and for people in the profession. Many lost their favorite patients, colleagues, and members of their family. They worked shift subsequently shift to provide stability. Now, at that place is so much more piece of work to exist done to thank and back up our career nursing assistants and wisdom keepers.

Getting Financial Help with Your CNA Program

Scholarships for CNA Programs

Goodwill CNA Preparation Program

Search for Goodwill CNA programs in your state.
What it covers: Many local Goodwill chapters partner with technical colleges to provide complimentary or significantly discounted CNA training. The availability and deadlines for each program vary. Here is an case from the Goodwill of Upstate and Midlands South Carolina.

United Way Scholarship Programs

Search for United Way CNA scholarships in your state.
What it covers: In many areas, local United Way chapters partner with community colleges to partially fund tuition. For example, the United Mode of Plymouth County covers 75% of tuition for some CNA students at Massasoit Customs College in Brockton, Massachusetts.

Federal Grants for CNA Programs

Job Corps Training Program

Who qualifies: People between the ages of 16-24 who come across low-income requirements and other Workforce Innovation Opportunity Human action requirements.
What it covers: Costs of training, room, and board
Deadline: Rolling. Visit Jobcorps.gov to connect with an admissions counselor.

Nursing Assistant Certified Reimbursement via Medicare and Medicaid

Come across your country'southward regime website.
Who qualifies: CNAs who work at a Medicaid-funded nursing facility
What it covers: The cost of your preparation programme, examination, and even textbooks.
Other important information: The regime offers funding to the nursing facility to reimburse you; it does not requite you money directly. Make sure you check with your employer and your state for more data.

Companies with Tuition Reimbursement Incentive Programs (TRIPs)

Many skilled nursing and long-term care facilities will reimburse your grooming costs in full through federal funding. Here some examples from around the land:

Compass Health (California)
Northeast Medical Institute (Connecticut)
ProMedica Senior Care (Nationwide)

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