CNA Certification in Florida

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Florida

If you live in the state of Florida, or hope to work as a CNA in this state, you have to take several steps before you can seek employment. What is interesting to many people hoping to work as CNAs is the fact that you do NOT need to take formal training before you sit for the exam.

Eligibility Requirements

Before you are able to enroll in a program that leads to CNA Certification in Florida, or to “challenge” the exam, you must first determine if you meet the state’s eligibility requirements. These are established by the Florida Department of Health and are:

You must be at least 18 years of age;Have a high school diploma or proof of a GED; andComplete a Level II background screening (this includes fingerprinting), which is done at the time you register to take the state CNA certification exam (explained below).

No matter which approach you intend to use to get your certified nursing assistant certification, you must meet the criteria above. If you do you, you can then follow one of the paths explained below.

Applying for CNA Certification in Florida

To obtain CNA Certification you can actually use one of four methods if you already meet the requirements:

Challenge and pass the exam (if you have already attempted this and failed three times, you no longer qualify for this method and must take a state approved program);Attend a state approved program and pass the exam;Take a nursing home’s CNA program and then pass the state exam; orUse “reciprocity” from another state to gain approval by the state’s Board of Nursing.

A complete listing of the approved programs is available at the Department of Health website, or by clicking this link. It is, however, also the responsibility of the student to check that a program is still certified and approved by the state.

The programs follow the National Council of State Boards of Nursing requirements and will have at least 75 hours of training, which is divided between classroom and hands on training. Most take around six to twelve weeks to complete, and as described above, some nursing homes offer on the job training too.

Costs

When the approved program is not done in the workplace, the training for CNA Certification in Florida will cost from $400 to $800, without additional fees for the exam.

The Florida CNA Certification exam is administered by Prometric and is divided into two sections – clinical and written. The written involves 50 multiple-choice questions, while the clinical exam asks the individual to perform three tasks randomly chosen from a group of 19. Practice tests are available at the Prometric site.

Because there is a large population of Spanish speaking residents in the state there is also an option for the tests to be in Spanish, and even an audio option. The costs are the same for English or Spanish, with a $25 processing fee and a $40.50 criminal background check fee. The testing costs $93 for both sections, but when administered with audio the tests cost $97.

When the exam is passed, the individual will register with the Florida Nurse Aide Registry and be able to work as a CNA in all parts of Florida.

FAQ

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

You must pass the exam within 24 months of completing an approved training program;You must perform 12 hours or more of service every calendar year to keep the certified nursing assistant certification active;There are some criminal offenses and misdemeanors that will prevent you from being admitted to the exam. You can also apply for an exemption;You will need to renew your certification prior to the expiration date imprinted on the actual document (it has a two year life span and then expires). Reminders are mailed 120 days prior to expiration;There is a $25 fee for address changes with the registry; andThere are only three reasons you can work as a CNA without a Florida certification, and only for 120 days:
Enrollment or completion of an approved program;You have confirmed that you are valid in another state; orYou passed the exam and have yet to get the certificate.

Helpful Resources Around the Web

Any specific questions about CNA certification in Florida can be addressed to the Florida DOH by contacting them at:

Florida Department of Health, CNA Registry4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin #C-13
Tallahassee, FL. 32399-3263
Phone: (850) 245-4567
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/cna/#

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

Prometric1260 Energy Lane, St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: (888) 277-3500
Fax: 800.813.6670
www.prometric.com/NurseAide