CNA Certification in Kentucky

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Kentucky

Obtaining CNA certification in Kentucky is simple and easy to do. It requires that a candidate enroll in a state approved training program and then successfully pass the state’s competency exams. In Kentucky, it is Board of Nursing that reviews and approves programs. This group also manages the Nurse Aide Directory in the state. It is, however, the job of the KCTCS (the Kentucky Community and Technical College System) to provide the exams.

Eligibility Requirements

To enroll in a program for CNA training in Kentucky all candidates have to first meet the following list of requirements:

Candidates must be at least 16 years of ageCandidates should have a High School Diploma or GED, but it may not be required.Speak and comprehend EnglishCandidates must pass a criminal background check including fingerprints before enrollmentAny candidate must have a negative TB skin test (within the past year)

Applying for CNA Certification in Kentucky

The vast majority of candidate for CNA certification in Kentucky require enrollment in state approved training, but the following exceptions will allow the candidate to sit for the exam without training or simply apply for listing on the registry:

Inactive or lapsed CNAs who have appeared on the state registry in the past and with 8 hours of paid work in the last 24 months;Student nurses or graduate nurses who have completed 75 hours of study;RNs or LPNs with more than 24 months of certification; orReciprocity candidates with good standing can simply register with the state.

When training programs are required, KCTCS has a useful Study Guide that includes a full of training sites and coordinators.

Any approved courses must feature at least 75 hours, with 59 in the classroom and 16 in a supervised clinical setting. Completion of training allows the candidate to take the competency exam, and as already indicated, this is done through KCTCS. The exam consists of a written and a skills section – the written requires you to answer 75 multiple-choice questions and the skills section asks you to perform five skills randomly selected from a list. After passing, you are added to the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry.

Costs

In Kentucky, the approved programs vary widely in price, and range from $600 to $1000, including books and materials. Courses generally require a few months, and then the student takes the exam.

The exam requires a special application and if the student is in good standing they are provided with a Kentucky Medicaid Nurse Aide Test Roster that allows them to formally apply and schedule the exam. Some schools allow their students to have the exam for free on their first attempt, and then ask for a $75 fee thereafter.

FAQ

For those pursuing certified nursing assistant certification training in Kentucky, the following items are very helpful to know:

Only candidates who have completed Kentucky’s nurse aide training program are eligible to take the Kentucky state competency examination and this often means that an online CNA program cannot be used;Federal laws stipulate that a candidate employed by a licensed or skilled nursing facility may not pay for their own training or certification;  andCandidates can take the exams up to three times within a year of training. If they do not pass, they have to retake their training. Also, they must take the exam within a year of training or retake the program.

Helpful Resources around the Web

Kentucky Board of Nursing
312 Whittington Pkwy
Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40222
Phone: 502-429-3300
Web:http://www.kbn.ky.gov/

KCTCS System Office
300 North Main Street
Versailles, KY 40383
Toll-Free (Kentucky only): (877) 528-274
Web: http://www.kctcs.edu/