CNA Certification in Wyoming

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Wyoming

Becoming a CNA in Wyoming involves several steps. First, you must take state approved programming and then pass the mandatory test. The Wyoming Board of Nursing approves the programs available for training, the exams are given cooperatively by the American Red Cross and Pearson Vue, and the state registry is managed by the Wyoming Department of Health. All of the testing meets the NNAAP standards.

Candidates who pass the exam are placed on the state registry and maintain their licensure for a period of one full year. This too is administrated by the Pearson Vue group, and all forms can be loaded from the website. Before they can take the exam they may require state approved training, and to enter into this they must meet the following requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

Before the testing, however, the student must first qualify for the training. The certified nursing assistant certification process in Wyoming demands that students meet the following criteria:

They are 16 or older;They have a high school diploma or proof of a GED;The meet the physical requirements connected to lifting and general health;They have all of the appropriate immunizations, including the hepatitis B vaccine series;They undergo the Board of Nursing background check and fingerprinting. This check also includes any  healthcare related reports and other issues that could deem the candidate unemployable – even with training; andThe candidate undergoes a full health screening that includes TB and drug testing.

Applying for CNA Certification in Wyoming

Not all candidates for CNA certification or testing in Wyoming need formal training. The following people can just apply for testing:

Those with good standing on the Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry or a registry in another state;Anyone who has previously completed an approved training program or an out of state OBRA program; andThose who can meet the terms of the BON Form CNA-EX 109 or 102.

If you do need training in an approve program, the Wyoming Board of Health website make the complete list available. The training requires around 36 hours of clinical and 64 in classroom work, and when this is completed the student can then apply for the testing. There are two applications necessary:

Application for Nurse Assistant Examination Registration – used for scheduling an examination with the American Red Cross; andApplication for Wyoming Nursing Assistant Certification by Examination – related to your certification and must be sent to the Wyoming Board of Nursing.

A confirmation letter comes from the ARC application and is required on the day of testing. The testing fees are in addition to the training.

Costs

The costs for approved programs in Wyoming vary according to the status of the student. If you work in a nursing home that is underwriting the training, you will pay no fees. If you are self-paying for the training it is going to cost around $250 to $400. The testing following the completion of the program has a range of fees. One group is sent to ARC and the other to the WSBN. The fees for the testing are:

Written and Skills in English or Spanish: $98
Skills and Oral in English or Spanish: $98
Written Only: $33
Skills Exam: $65
Oral Exam in English or Spanish: $33

The fees associated with certification are as follows:
Application fee: $60
Criminal Background fee: $60

FAQ

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

If you are employed by (or have an offer of employment) from a nursing home at the time of your training, you cannot be charged for training, certification testing, books or other course materials;If you go to work for a nursing home within twelve months of completing the nurse aide training program, some or all of your expenses will be reimbursable.Candidates enrolled in an approved CNA program are allowed to serve as aides up to 120 days before receiving their license. If, in that time, they have not trained and been certified they cannot serve as a CNA;Candidates must complete the skills and written exams within 24 months of the completion of training or will have to re-train. They can try ten times on each test, and must re-train if they still do not pass; andCNA certificate expire 12/31 of every even year and it is up to the CNA to ensure they renew in timely manner.
Helpful Resources around the Web

Wyoming Board of Nursing
1810 Pioneer Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 777-7601
Web: http://nursing.state.wy.us

Wyoming Department of Health
Office of Healthcare Licensing and Surveys
400 Qwest Bldg
6101 Yellowstone Road
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: (307) 777-7123
Web: http://www.health.wyo.gov/ohls/index.html

Pearson VUE®
Wyoming NNAAP®
PO Box 13785
Philadelphia, PA 19101-3785
Phone: (888) 274-1212
Web: www.pearsonvue.com

American Red Cross (ARC)
Wyoming NNAAP
PO Box 5875
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: (866) 257-5238