State by State Requirements to be a CNA
There is no federal certification to become a CNA, but each state has their own requirements. In general, there are some consistent principles: should have completed high school diploma or a GED, should have a clean criminal background, should have up to date immunizations, etc. However, if you are interested in your state requirements, the list below will link to the actual state requirements, followed by a short summary. This can serve as a starting point for your research.
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State by State
Alabama
- Graduate of an approved CNA program
- Completion of at least 75 clock hours of training, including 16 hours of clinical training and 16 hours of labs
- Take and pass the Nurse Aide Competency Exam, administered by Pearson VUE or Prometric
Alaska
- Completion of an approved CNA program
- Completion of a minimum of 140 training hours, including at least 60 classroom hours and 80 hours of lab/clinical practice
- Submit application for Alaska’s Nurse Aide Certification by Examination
- Sit for the Nurse Aide Examination through Pearson VUE
Arizona
- Attend and complete a board-approved CNA program
- Complete at least 120 CNA training hours
- Pass the state’s written and manual skills exam
- Submit proof of legal residency
Arkansas
- Complete a state-approved program
- At least 90 hours of education/training required
- Pass the Nursing Assistant Competency Exam
California
- Be at least 16 years old
- Successfully complete an approved CNA training program
- Obtain a criminal record clearance
- Successfully pass the Competency Evaluation Examination
Colorado
- Complete a state-approved CNA training program
- Take and pass the NNAAP examination administered through Pearson VUE
Connecticut
- Completion of a board-approved CNA program (within 24 months of the date of application for certification)
- Must take and pass the Connecticut Nurse Aide examination administered by Prometric
Delaware
- Completion of a state-approved CNA training program
- Must take and pass the CNA Competency Exam through Prometric
Florida
- Successful completion of an approved CNA training program (unless the student plans to apply for certification by exam only)
- Achieve a minimum score on the nursing assistant competency examination
Georgia
- Successful completion of a board-approved CNA program
- Pass the NNAAP exam, administered via Pearson VUE
Hawaii
- Completion of an approved CNA training program
- Successfully pass the Hawaii Nurse Aide Competency Exam administered via Prometric
Idaho
- Complete an approved CNA program that includes a minimum of 120 training hours
- Take and pass the Idaho Nurse Aide Exam via Prometric
Illinois
- Successful completion of an Illinois-approved CNA training course
- Pass the written competency test
Indiana
- Complete a state-approved 105-hour Nurse Aide Training Program
- Successfully pass both the written and skills evaluation exam
Iowa
- Successful completion of a 75-hour state-approved CNA training program
- Take and pass the written and skills components of the CNA exam
Kansas
- Complete a 90-hour approved CNA training program
- Earn a score of 75% or higher on the state CNA examination
Kentucky
- Complete an approved CNA course consisting of a minimum of 75 hours (with 16 hours of supervised clinical training)
- Pass the final examination (written/oral and skills demonstration)
- Complete a competency evaluation
Louisiana
- Complete a state-approved CNA training program
- Pass the CNA certification exam
Maine
- Complete 180 hours of training from a state-approved CNA program
- Pass the Maine CNA competency test
- Pass a criminal background check
Maryland
- Complete 100 hours of CNA instruction through a board-approved CNA program
- Pass the CNA competency examination (written and manual skills)
Massachusetts
- Attend and complete a department-approved Nurse Aide Training Program
- Pass the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation (knowledge portion can be taken up to 4 times; clinical portion can be taken up to 3 times)
Michigan
- Complete an approved Michigan training course
- Pass the evaluation test through Prometric to be issued a 2-year certificate
Minnesota
- Successfully complete an approved nursing assistant program in Minnesota
- Successfully pass the competency evaluation exam
- Or, be in good standing on the nursing assistant registry in another state with a minimum of 8 hours of CNA work within the state in the last 24 months
Mississippi
- Complete an approved CNA training program
- Pass the NNAAP examination administered through Pearson VUE
Missouri
- Completion of a state-approved CNA course comprised of 75 hours of classroom training and 100 hours of on-the-job training
- Pass the two-part (written/oral and practicum) final examination
Montana
- Enroll in and complete a state-approved CNA training program
- Take and pass the CNA certification examination
Nebraska
- Must be at least 16 years old
- Successfully complete a minimum of 75 hours of state-approved training or a 21-hour basic resident-care course for intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled
- Successfully complete a one-hour Nebraska-specific abuse/neglect/misappropriation training
- Successfully pass the Nebraska-approved written/oral exam and skills competency exam
Nevada
- Complete a Nevada-approved CNA training program
- Pass the state’s CNA certification exam
New Hampshire
- Complete a state-approved training program
- Pass the appropriate CNA competency evaluation examination
New Jersey
- Enroll in and complete a state-approved nurse assistant training program to include classroom learning and clinical instruction
- Pass the state’s CNA certification examination
New Mexico
- Complete a state-approved CNA training program
- Successfully pass the competency exam administered by Prometric
New York
- Complete a New York state-approved training program
- Pass the nurse aide exams administered through Prometric
North Carolina
- Complete a state-approved nurse aide training program (75 hours or longer)
- Pass the state-approved competency evaluation administered through Pearson VUE
North Dakota
- Complete a state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training program
- Take and pass the state’s CNA competency evaluation
Ohio
- Enroll in and complete a state-approved nurse aide training program
- Successfully pass the state CNA examination
Oklahoma
- Successfully complete an approved Oklahoma Nurse Aide training program
- Pass the state’s competency examination
Oregon
- Complete an Oregon State Board of Nursing-approved nursing assistant training program
- Pass a criminal background check
- Take and pass the CNA exam through Headmaster Testing Service
Pennsylvania
- Complete a Pennsylvania-approved nurse aide training program
- Pass the competency evaluation exam administered by Credentia within 24 months of program completion
Rhode Island
- Complete a state-approved CNA training program that contains 120 hours of training
- Apply for a nursing assistant license
- Take and pass the CNA competency examination
South Carolina
- Completion of a state-approved CNA training program
- Schedule and pass the SC Nurse Aide exam administered through Pearson VUE
South Dakota
- Successful completion of a training program approved by the SD Board of Nursing
- Pass the competency evaluation exam
- Minimum age of 16
Tennessee
- Complete an approved nurse aide training program
- Successfully pass the state competency examination within 24 months of the program’s completion
Texas
- Successfully complete a state-approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program
- Pass the competency evaluation examination
- Or, qualify to be placed on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry through waiver or reciprocity
Utah
- Successful completion of an approved CNA training program
- Pass the state’s CNA competency examination
Vermont
- Verification that you have completed a state-approved nursing assistant program
- Once your application and verification have been received, applicants must sit for and pass the NNAAP examination
Virginia
- Successful completion of a Virginia-approved nurse aide training program
- Take and pass the Virginia Nurse Aide written/oral skills examination and skills evaluation
Washington
- Complete a minimum of 85 hours of training through a state-approved program
- Pass the nursing assistant competency exam
Washington DC
- Complete an approved training program that consists of 45 hours classroom instruction, 30 hours of clinical labs, and 45 hours of nursing home practicums
- Take and pass the nurse aide examination via Pearson VUE
West Virginia
- Completion of a state-approved training program
- Take and pass the nurse aide competency examination
- Complete an approved nurse aide training program that consists of 45 hours of classroom instruction, 30 hours of clinical labs, and 45 hours of nursing home practicums
- Take and pass the nurse aide examination via Pearson VUE
Wisconsin
- Satisfactory completion of an approved nurse aide training program
- Sitting for and passing the competency evaluation
Wyoming
- Complete a state-approved CNA training program
- Send application and fingerprint cards to the Wyoming State Board of Nursing
- Sit for and pass the CNA skills exam via Prometric
Remember: CPN requirements vary by state. Only use this information as a starting point. If you’d like more information on becoming a CNA, then consider the following resources: