CNA Certification in Colorado

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Colorado

The State Board of Nursing in Colorado is the agency in charge of reviewing and approving training programs for CNAs. They have contracted with the Pearson Vue group to handle the certification testing. The testing is done according to the standards of the NNAAP, (National Nurse Aide Assessment Program) which ensures an appropriate level of skill and knowledge before the CNA works with patients.

Those who pass the exam (after receiving training) are placed on the state’s CNA registry. Those who want to obtain CNA certification in Colorado must meet specific eligibility requirements for both the training and the testing.

Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility requirements for students entering into the approved training program include:

You must have a high school diploma or proof of a GED;You will need a current CPR card;A criminal background check is mandatory and done through the American Data Bank. There are criminal offenses that will negate your ability to enroll;You will need a full physical exam that includes a TB test, drug screening, and proof of all immunizations;You have submitted the appropriate forms to DADS and have your approval letter.

Applying for CNA Certification in Colorado

Certified nursing assistant certification in Colorado is also available for those not using the “new nurse aide” method. For example, an LPN or an RN without previous CNA licensing can apply to take the exam and get licensed, and a LPN, RN, or LPT student with a license from another state can apply for examination; a nurse with training outside of the U.S. can take the exam; nurses from other states without CNA certification can take the exam; and a CNA with an expired license can use the exam to become active.

The state’s Board of nursing  website offers a lot of excellent resources, including a list of approved education programs at the Nurse Aide Training Education page.

Programs approved in Colorado range from 90 to more than 160 hours divided between classroom and clinical learning. Most of the approved programs require six weeks or more to complete.

Costs

The fees for approved programs in Colorado range from a few hundred dollars to more than one thousand. There are some options for those who are training while working and this may be a way to get free education. You can find out more by using the various resources at the state’s Nurse Aide Training Education website.

The costs do not include the Pearson Vue testing fees that are as follows:Written and Skills: $95
Skills and Oral in English: $95
Skills and Oral in Spanish: $95
Written Only: $25
Oral English: $25
Oral Spanish: $25
Skills Only: $70

This site also makes a student guide available which contains some sample test questions that can be an invaluable resource when preparing for the exam. You can find this guide by following this link.

FAQ

The most useful facts to know about CNA certification in Colorado include:

If you are attending an approved program in the state, you have 120 days to do the training and pass the exam. If you do not appear on the registry within that time, you will be terminated or removed from service. If there is no enrollment in a program, you cannot work as an aide;You must take and pass both the written or oral examination and the skills testing within a twenty-four month period to be placed on the Nurse Aide Registry;To renew your license you must contact the state CNA registry. You can wait to receive an renewal form by mail, which is sent around two to three months prior to expiration; andThe CNA certification in Colorado will remain valid for two years from the date of issue or previous renewal and if you have had more than two years without employment in Colorado there is no fee to renew your license in this state.

Helpful Resources around the Web

NACES Plus Foundation, Inc.Colorado NNAAP
7600 Burnet Road, Suite 440
Austin, TX 78757-1292
Phone: (866) 393-1181

State Board of NursingNurse Aide Registry
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 894-2430

Pearson VUE®Colorado NNAAP®
3131 South Vaughn Way
Suite 205
Aurora, CO 80014
(888) 274-5050
Website: www.pearsonvue.com