CNA Certification – How to Get Your CNA Certification

For many people, becoming a certified nursing assistant is an excellent career move. Certified nursing assistant positions typically see a lot of turnover. This is due in large part to a high degree of challenge and relatively low pay. However, the job is infinitely rewarding with a lot of potential for patient interaction as well as job growth. Because of the high turnover involved in certified nursing assistant positions, this creates a high demand and a constant need for new certified nursing assistants in many parts of the country. To become a certified nursing assistant, you will need to get your CNA certification.

The federal government requires that all medical facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and other such care facilities, that receive Medicare reimbursements hire only certified nursing assistants who have a CNA certification. The state requirements for certification vary state by state. All states will require you to have either a high school diploma or a GED. From this point, the CNA certification process varies by state.

States require that you get some type of training, which may include from 50 to more than 150 hours of training. Nursing home cna training may include a component of classroom instruction as well as practical or clinical application with hands-on, patient interaction that is supervised by a licensed medical professional. The CNA certification programs are most often taken through a community college or specialty school. However, you can also take an online program in some states, provided you can get the clinical portion of your training requirements satisfied elsewhere. Some states also provide for on-the-job training, and employers who offer these jobs typically will cover the cost of the training program provided you work for them for so many months after getting certified.

After the cna training is complete, most states will require that you take a CNA certification licensing exam. Most exams will include both a written and clinical skills portion, and students must pass the test to become licensed. After passing the licensing exam, some states will immediately add you to the licensing registry while others may require additional documentation. Some states require a background check to be completed, as well as a set of fingerprint cards, a valid photo ID, recent photos, a negative tuberculosis test and proof of immunizations. After you are licensed, states will require you to renew your license every two years. Most states don't require additional education for renewal, provided you have worked in the industry for some portion of the last two-year period.

Certified nursing assistants can expect to enjoy hands-on interaction with patients. This care can include helping patients to eat, bathe, change clothes, move throughout the facility, and more. A certified nursing assistant may also help with taking vitals and aid nurses with ambulatory care and therapeutic procedures. These are just a few of the many areas in which a certified nursing assistant can help.

Often, those with a CNA designation will work in the job while working toward becoming a registered or licensed nurse. So in this way, the CNA designation is used as a stepping stone on a medical career path.