Complete Information on CNA Certification in California

Certified Nursing Assistants are the lifeline to ageing Californians who are living with chronic or disabilities conditions. They assist these elderly citizens with Personal Cares and Basic Nursing Cares and help them with clinical tasks and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Before 1987, nursing assistants were allowed to practice in varied health care settings, but after the passage of federal Nursing Home Reform Act (OBRA-87), nursing homes throughout the United States and healthcare facilities under the Medicaid and Medicare programs were directed to implement minimal quality standards. These facilities were further ordered to employ only these certified nursing assistants who prove their competency through CNA Certification Test, and complete state and federal approved 75 hours or more Nurse Aide Training program (NATP).

In the state of CA, the responsibility for overseeing the OBRA provisions and education standards in NATP are vested to the CA Department of Public Health's Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS). The state offered NATP is 150 hours in length and consists of 50 hours classroom education and 100 hours clinical hand-on experience in a long-term care facility. The successful completion of NATP allows nursing assistants to sit for the state competency evaluation test for a CNA Certification.

CA CNA Exam is a tool through which direct patient care competencies of nursing assistants are evaluated. The Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges System (COCCO) has tied up with a nationally recognized testing agency Pearson VUE to assess the competency level of nursing students. The testing agency, design, score and report the Certification Test for the CA Nurse Aide Registry.

NNAAP Exam Overview and Process

Pearson VUE's NNAAP Examination is made up of two independent parts, a Written Test, and Skills Test. The sole aim of the exam is to evaluate knowledge, and skills of the entry-level nursing aides for the safe performance of routine nursing jobs in a health care setting.

Person VUE administers both Written (and Oral) Test and Skills Tests on the same day. The Written Test consists of 70 multiple-choice questions, of which 10 questions are reading comprehension questions. The Skills Evaluation Test requires demonstrating 5 nursing care skills in 25 minutes. A Nursing Assistant Evaluator rates the candidate on the basis of skills. The candidate has to perform 5 skills successfully to pass the test. The successful candidates are "certified" and receive a CNA Certification in California. They are also allowed to work legally in varied health care settings throughout the state.

CNA Certification remains valid for 2 years before it is expired. CNAs must renew their Certification within the prescribed time limit to continue practicing. If the Certification is not renewed within 2 years and expires, nursing assistants will have to sit for the nurse aide exam again to earn a Certification.

If you also have a passion and wish to enter entry-level nurse aide field to make a difference in caring ageing population, get thorough cna certification California knowledge because prior information will help you in understanding the complete process of certification. Even cna certification Alaska details is immensely valuable for nursing students, who aim for a noble deed by serving patients in most difficult terrain and conditions of Alaska