CNA Certification in Virginia

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Virginia

To begin learning about CNA certification in Virginia is very simple. You need only meet the requirements for enrollment as established by the Commonwealth and the Virginia Board of Nursing. The group reviews and approves the CNA certification training programs in the state, and then works with Pearson Vue to ensure 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

As already established there is a need to qualify first for training, and then to qualify for the examination. The CNA certification in Virginia requires that students meet the following criteria:

They are over the age of 18;They can provide proof of a high school diploma or proof of a GED;The candidate will have to submit to a complete criminal background check that reviews fingerprint data at the state and federal level, any child support issues, taxation data, and felony offenses that can make the candidate unemployable according to state law; andThe candidate has a health screening that considers TB, drugs, and general health. Immunization is necessary too.

Applying for CNA Certification in Virginia

Eligibility for certified nursing assistant training is also available for those not in the “new” category. For example, the following candidates may be able to skip training and head straight into the exam:

Nursing students with 40 hours of clinical experience;Nursing graduates with licensure; andLapsed CNAs with expired certificates from other states.

Full details about CNA programs for those who do need training are found at the Virginia Board of Nursing website. The training itself requires around 75 hours of clinical and classroom work, and when done, the exam can be scheduled.

Costs

The costs for approved programs in Virginia vary according to location, and while a self-paying student can anticipate between $400 and $1000 for the course, there are also some employers who cover the cost of the program and testing. The testing following the completion of the program is split into written and practical skills, with 70 multiple choice questions and five randomly selected nurse aide skills required for completion. Students can book both exams on the same day, and that is highly recommended.

The fees for the approved training do not include the Pearson Vue testing fees. These may be paid by the candidate, but some instances require that the employer cover any of the associated charges. They are as follows:
Written and Skills: $94
Skills and Oral: $94
Written Only: $25
Skills Exam: $69
Oral Exam: $25

FAQ

When planning for any certified nursing assistant certification training in Virginia, the following facts are very useful:

People enrolled in an approved CNA program are allowed to work as a nurse aide for up to 120 days before receiving their license. If they have not trained and been certified in that time span they cannot serve as an aide or CNA;There is no limit on the number of times you can sit for the exam, but you are obliged to complete the skills and written exam within two years of the completion of your training or you will have to re-train;To renew your CNA certification you will have to wait for your renewal notification (which comes 60 days prior to the expiration date) once each year. Should the license expire you have 90 days to renew, and then you have to get a reinstatement application from the Board of Nursing website at http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Nursing/nursing_forms.htm#CNA, or phoning the office at (804) 367-4569.The state requires employability assessments with no exceptions made for certain felony offenses;

Helpful Resources around the Web

Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Service (NACES)VA NNAAP
7600 Burnet Road
Suite 440
Austin, TX 78757-1292

PEARSON VUEVirginia NNAAP
PO Box 13785
Philadelphia, PA 19101-3785
(888) 204-6183

Virginia Department of Health Professions
Virginia Board of Nursing
Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233-1463
(804) 367-4569
www.dhp.virginia.gov/nursing