The CNA Certification Process

For those looking for a step in the career as a nursing assistant, getting your CNA certification is the first step. The job of a nursing assistant is demanding, and therefore you need to be ready for anything. This is not something that everyone feels comfortable doing, but for those who have a passion for helping people, this can be something very rewarding. You are going to be working under the supervision of a licensed nurse and you will be doing various things for patients. This can vary depending where you work, and the most common things are going to be taking vital signs and helping patients with activities of daily living, or ADLs.

One of the first steps of the process is to choose an institute to train at. Each institute can vary, but the state has requirements that must be met before you can become certified. Choosing a school or institute can be hard as you may not know what to look for. You need to get anywhere between 50-120 hours of training and this varies from state to state. Always ensure that the school you are interested in is approved by the state and is legit. This ensures that you are going to learn everything that is needed to become certified. There are certain skills you are going to need to learn so getting adequate education is essential.

Your training for CNA certification will typically last an average of 3 months, and there are going to be specific skills that you are going to learn. You are going to need a minimum of 50 hours of theory skills and an added 100 hours of your hands on training. When you have finished training, your school or institute you trained at may give you a certificate, but this does not mean you can begin working. You are going to have to continue on to take the state test which is how you get your license.

Passing the test can be hard for some, and if you have paid attention in class and have studied, you should have no issues passing the test. You will have to take 2 parts of the test. The first is a written test and the second part is a practical exam where you will show your knowledge of certain skills. You are going to learn knowledge from videos as well as hands on skills and other class work from your instructors.

If you find that you fail the test the first time, you have another chance to retake it and improve your score. Typically, a majority of the states will give you 3 tries to pass the exam within 2 years after you have completed training. Once you become certified, you are going to have to maintain renewing it every two years as well as having 48 hours of continued education.

CNA certification can allow you to open new doors and opportunities to those interested in the medical field. You can work in hospitals as well as private agencies where you will be visiting patient homes.


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