What Are the Qualifications to Receive Your CNA License?

The details of the qualifications for a CNA, or certified nursing assistant, vary by state. Generally they require a certain number of hours of both academic training and practical hands-on training, followed by an examination and a practical skill demonstration. Some states use their own examination, but others use the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program, or NNAAP test, developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. This is the same organization that developed the NCLEX, the national boards for nurses.

Training, Testing and Reciprocity

Licensing requirements vary in each state. Regardless of the examination that a state uses, the requirement for 75 hours of classroom training applies in only 17 states. In the other 33, an aspiring CNA need to only pass the test or present documentation of prior experience. In Tennessee, a candidate can present a previously held license or a military discharge – DD Form 214 showing training as a medic -- for licensing. Some states, such as North Carolina, don't offer reciprocity based solely on former employment, unless you've passed the competency test approved by that state. North Carolina is one of 22 states that uses the NNAAP test, and the state will issue a license if you passed the NNAAP in another state.

Written Examination

In states where an examination is required, the test may consist of both a written element and a practical demonstration of skills. States that use the NNAAP exam tests the CNA's physical care skills, her skills related to a patient’s daily living activities, basic nursing skills, and psychosocial care skills. The examination also covers the role of the nurse aide in patient communications and client rights. One section of the examination includes legalities and ethics for the CNA as a member of the health care team.

Practical Demonstration

In addition to the contents of the written examination, a potential CNA must demonstrate practical skills. Examiners cannot test all the skills a CNA uses in patient care, so examiners ask the candidates individually to demonstrate a group of skills selected from a list that a CNA must possess to show competency. For the practical test, candidates complete a series of tasks, such as checking temperature, pulse and respiration of a patient or making a patient’s bed.

Training Aids

A variety of private resources offer examination-preparation packages, including representative questions and answers, flash cards and other training materials. These aids simply teach how to pass the CNA examination.