CNA Certification in California

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in California

If you live in the state of California, or are about to relocate there, and want to work as a CNA, there are several things to know. The first is that you have to use a CNA certification-training program approved through ATCS (this is the California Department of Public Health’s “Aide and Technician Certification Section“).

ATCS is the group in charge of certified nursing assistant certification, though it is the Department of Public Health that oversees the CNA registry for the state. According to the state guidelines, anyone seeking CNA certification in California has to meet specific eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

According CA Codes hsc:1337-1338.5, (available online at this link), in order to qualify for CNA training, an individual must:

Be at least 16 years of ageHave successfully completed an approved training program, including an exam testing the applicant’s knowledge and skillsObtain a criminal record clearance

Applying for CNA Certification in California

There are also allowances for anyone who has already obtained training through CNA training or certification from other states, who have licensing as a vocational or registered nurse, or who have received training in programs deemed similar to the approved programs and which result in advanced nursing certification such as RNs, etc. Simply contact the ATCS office to request an application.

If you must get training, you can use the complete list of currently approved programs (organized by county) to find nearby sites. This list is freely available from the California Department of Public Health website, or by clicking this link.

Programs approved in California will use the National Council of State Boards of Nursing requirements and will have at least 75 hours of training. Currently, most CNA certification in California has around 150 hours of training divided between classroom and practical learning. Most programs require more than six weeks to complete.

Costs

Training programs for CNA certification in California run between $600 and $1800, without the testing fees.

The California CNA Certification Exam is administered through one of the Pearson Vue facilities. It is split into two segments and uses the NNAAP, or the National Nurse Assistant Assessment Program guidelines. This follows the following protocol (provided by the Pearson Vue website):

“The two parts of the NNAAP Examination process, the Written (or Oral) Examination and the Skills Evaluation, will be administered on the same day. You must pass both parts in order to be certified and listed on the California Nursing Assistant Registry. You must pass both the Written (or Oral) Examination and the Skills Evaluation within two (2) years after course completion and CDPH approval in order to obtain your nurse assistant certification in California.

The Written Examination consists of seventy (70) multiple-choice questions written in English… At the Skills Evaluation you will be asked to perform five (5) randomly selected nurse assistant skills. You will be given twenty-five (25) minutes to complete the five (5) skills. You will be rated on these skills by a Nursing Assistant Evaluator. You must successfully demonstrate five (5) skills in order to pass the Skills Evaluation.”

Tests may be taken in the written form, but oral exams are available for a higher fee as well. The testing costs $90 for both sections, but when administered orally the tests cost $105. The fees for the criminal background check are usually part of your CNA certification training program and not the testing.

When the exam is passed, the individual is then listed on the California Nursing Assistant Registry, and it is the state that issues the license not the Pearson Vue firm.

FAQ

Some useful facts to know about CNA certification in California include:

Though you can apply for an exemption, there are certain criminal offenses and misdemeanors that will prevent you from being allowed to take the exam;Although a reminder is mailed four months before your certification expires, it is up to the CNA to ensure their certification is renewed prior to the expiration date. Most have a two year life span;All potential CNAs are obliged to take and pass their state exam within 24 months of completion of their training program;You must have 48 hours of CE Units during the certification period, and prove that 8 hours of paid employment occurred; andThe only reason you can work as a CNA without CNA certification in California is if you are currently enrolled in an approved program;

Helpful Resources Around the Web

Any specific questions about CNA certification in California can be addressed to the California Dept. of Public Health by contacting them at:

CNA/HHA/Certification UnitP.O. Box 997416, MS 3301
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377
Phone: (916) 327-2445
FAX (916) 552-8785
Email: cna@cdph.ca.gov

A useful handbook for anyone seeking CNA certification in California is available from the Pearson Vue website. They can be contacted at:

California NNAAPPO Box 13785
Philadelphia, PA 19101-3785
Phone: (800) 475-8290
http://www.asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/070500.pdf