CNA License Requirements

There are a number of requirements that need to be adhered to for you to get your CNA License. You will need to complete a certified nursing assistant training course before you can take the examination for licensing.  The duration of your training course will vary depending on the training program you select.  Courses usually last somewhere form 3 or 4 weeks to six months.  Some training courses are more intense than other.  However, there will be minimum requirements for curriculum that each program must meet according to the state regulations.

There are several different requirements that you will need to fulfill if you intend to obtain your CNA license.  Some of the specifics might vary depending on the state where you live and the licensing requirements for that state.

·    High School Education: You will typically need to have a high school diploma or equivalent in order to qualify for a certification program.  It might be necessary to demonstrate that you completed some Biology courses or other particular courses as well.

·    Age: It is necessary to be at least 18 years old if you are going to train to become a certified nursing assistant.  You cannot even enroll in most CNA training courses unless you are 18 years of age.

·    Clinical Experience: You will need to have completed all required clinical training hours during your certification course before you become licensed.  It is usually necessary to complete at least 40 hours of clinical experience. During your clinical experience, you will need to demonstrate your ability to work well with patients.

·    Certification Exam: You must take and pass both segments of the certification exam before you can become a licensed certified nursing assistant.  There will be both a written and a clinical segment of your exam that will test the information you learned and skills you obtained during training.

·    CNA Training Transcripts: The licensing board will want copies of your transcript from the nursing assistant course you completed.  They will verify that you completed your training at a fully accredited program.

·    Criminal Background Check: A criminal background check on you must be completed before you can receive licensing.  Your fingerprints will also be taken to make certain that your prints do not match those of any of the federal criminal database.  It is important that you do not have a criminal record if you want to work as a certified nursing assistant.

·    No Wrongful Actions: It is imperative that you were never found guilty of neglecting or abusing a patient whether in a prior work setting or during your clinical training.  If you have ever committed wrongdoing, you will not be able to receiving licensing.

·    Good communication: You must be able to communicate well with your patients by having a good understanding of the English language.  It will be necessary to demonstrate your ability to speak well.

There might be other requirements for you to become a licensed nursing assistant in your state.  You will need to fulfill all requirements before becoming licensed.