CNA Certification in Pennsylvania

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Pennsylvania

If you live in Pennsylvania and want to work as a CNA, or you are coming from another state with pre-existing licensure as a CNA, you will want to discover what is necessary for full CNA certification in Pennsylvania.

There are some very basic requirements for certified nursing assistant certification, but it can be a bit confusing. For example, DASHER is the agency responsible for registration and scheduling of exams. The American Red Cross is responsible for administrating the NNAAP Examination required by the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry is administrated by Pearson VUE, and all courses must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Interestingly enough, a simple method for beginning your training and certification is to head to the Pearson VUE website to use their various applications and forms.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for enrollment in a CNA certification program in Pennsylvania means the following:

You must be 16 years of age or older;You must have proof of high school graduation or a GED;You will have to submit to a criminal background check;You cannot have any exclusionary convictions on your record; andYou will have taken all of your training through a program approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Applying for CNA Certification in Pennsylvania

There are some options for those who have already received their CNA certification in other states, or who have allowed previous licensing in the state to expire. Generally, such candidates need only apply for the test and pass it. If the first attempt at the test is failed, the student is obliged to go through a training program.

For those who must get training, a complete list of approved programs is available from the Pennsylvania Department of Education website at this link.

Programs approved in the state will have four weeks of training that is split evenly between classroom and practical experiences.

Costs

The cost for a CNA certification program is around $800 to $1300, but that does not include the costs associated with testing. The exams are divided into two separate phases – the written and the practical. The costs for these vary according to the manner in which the tests are taken.

Both written and practical: $102
Both written and practical administered orally: $112
Retesting is per section, and written testing costs $41, skills testing costs $61, and either oral exam is $51.

FAQ

There is a lot to know about CNA certification in Pennsylvania, and the following are the issues most people have questions about:

A background check is mandatory. If you are a PA resident for two years or more prior to your training, you need only use a State Police Background check. If you have not lived in PA for that long, an FBI background check is required per PA Act 169 35 P.S. §10225.502(a)(1)&(2) – fees apply;You will need to determine if any prior convictions negate your applicability to a program. The list of offenses that do prevent a student from enrollment is available at this link.When it is time to renew your certification you will have to submit proof that you worked a full day as a CNA (meaning an 8 hour workday) in an approved facility in order for your license to be renewed and your name to remain on the state registry;Those in CNA certification programs will have to take the exam and pass it within 24 months of completion of training;You must have 12 hours of in-service education each year, and this must be documented by the administration of the nursing home or care agency for which the CNA works; andA CNA is allowed to work for four months while participating in a training program, and after that they must have their certification and licensing.

Helpful Resources around the Web

Pennsylvania Department of Health
8th Floor West
625 Forster Street
Harrisburg, PA 1712
Phone: 877-724-3258
Website: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/nurse_aide_registry/14154

DASHER
Competency Evaluation Program
PO Box 60728
Harrisburg, PA 17106-0728
(877) 647-1091

Pennsylvania Department of Education
Bureau of Career and Technical Education
333 Market Street
11th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
www.education.state.pa.us/nurseaide

Pennsylvania Department of Health
Nurse Aide Registry
Managed by Pearson VUE
PO Box 13785
Philadelphia, PA 19101-3785
(800) 852-0518