CNA Certification in Minnesota

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Minnesota

In order to become a CNA in Minnesota, you will have to complete approved CNA training. This is done through any program approved by the Minnesota Department of Health. Minnesota-approved curriculums offer Nursing Assistant and Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide programs, but we are looking strictly at the Nursing Assistant Certification.

It is the Department of Health that approves programs, and also manages the state’s Nursing Assistant Registry as well. Along with certified training, a CNA candidate must also pass the state’s competency exam. This is an NNAAP (National Nurse Aide Assessment Program) test that is developed, scored, and reported by Pearson Vue.

Eligibility Requirements

To receive certified nursing assistant certification training in Minnesota requires that the candidate first be qualified for enrollment. The state requires CNA students to:

Be at least 18 years of age;Provide proof of high school graduation or a GED;Undergo a full background check that includes fingerprinting and a felony check; andGet a health screening that includes TB testing, drug screening, and validates that immunizations are current.

After they have submitted this evidence they are enrolled in their training course. They will complete the necessary number of hours and then apply for the exam.

Applying for CNA Certification in Minnesota

Interestingly enough, not all candidates must undergo the training process. Some can just take the exam. For example you can test without training if:

You trained out of the United StatesYou have not worked as a nursing assistant in the last two (2) yearsYou have not taken a nursing assistant training programYou are a student nurse or graduate nurse candidateYou are from out of state and do not qualify for reciprocity

Each of these exceptions requires proper forms and documentation available at the Minnesota Department of Health. For the candidates that must take the training, there is a useful search engine for approved programs available at the Department of Health website.

Certified nursing assistant certification programs in the state must include at least 75 hours of work, with 16 in clinical and the balance in class and lab work. After the student is done with the coursework they can submit their application to Pearson Vue and sit for the CNA exam.

Costs

Your CNA training in Minnesota will cost around $500, and takes roughly four months to complete. This figure does not include the testing fees, and these are:

Both written and practical: $59
Clinical only: $19
Knowledge only: $40

FAQ

Below is a list of some facts that most CNA candidates find very useful:

You have three chances to pass the exam, and if you fail all three times, you must enroll in a state-approved nursing assistant training program, complete the program, and register again for testing;If you are currently participating in an approved training program and employed in a nursing home or certified boarding care home, you have 120 days in which to complete the training;Under federal requirements, certification as a nursing assistant becomes invalid after a lapse of twenty-four consecutive months in the performance of paid nursing-related services;Those employed by, or have offers of employment from, a skilled nursing care facilities cannot be charged for any portion of the program; andYou must successfully finish a state-approved nurse aide-training program and pass both parts of the examination within two years of training.

Helpful Resources around the Web

Minnesota Department of Health
Nursing Assistant Registry
PO Box 64501
St. Paul, MN 55164-0501
Phone: (800) 397-6124 (in Minnesota)
Phone: (651) 215-8705
Web: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fpc/profinfo/narinfo/contactnar.html

Minnesota Division of Compliance Monitoring
Nursing Assistant Registry
PO Box 64501
St. Paul, MN 55164-0501
Phone: 651-215-8705
Web: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fpc/fpc.html

Pearson VUE
Minnesota Nursing Assistant/ Home Health Aide Program
PO Box 13785
Philadelphia, PA 19101-3785
Phone: (800) 274-0504
Web: www.pearsonvue.com