Licensing Requirements For A Certified Nursing Assistant

So, you are interested in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). A CNA works as a state-licensed medical support provider for patients in medical facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and private homes. They help doctors and registered nurses with patient care by helping the patients with their personal hygiene, vital signs like temperatures or blood pressure, or helping the doctors with reports, and other needed tasks.

CNA License Data

Federal government requirements require CNAs to pass a state exam to be certified. Students who have taken he required 75 hours of CNA classes may take the certification exam. Each state has its own requirements, so check with the ones in the state you plan on working in for more information.

Potential CNAs get their certification through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, which gives the licensing examination that is accepted by 21 states. The test involves written and oral sections that test a student’s academic knowledge and their clinical skills in subject including patient hygiene and nutrition, disease control, rehabilitative therapy, mental health nursing, medical ethics, how to take vital signs and general patient care. Some states require their own certification tests, which then covers comparable topics.

Other Requirements Besides Education/Testing

Some of the other basic requirements for CNA are:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must pass a background check that means your fingerprints are checked against a criminal database.
• Must be proficient in the English language.

Job Availability

Once you have completed your studies and gotten your certification you are ready to apply for a job as a CNA. The availability is predicted to be good for the next few years for openings in this field of work.

The bottom line is that if you like to help people and don’t mind getting your hands dirty once in a while, then you might want to consider becoming a CNA.