Getting a CNA License

A certified nursing assistant job is a stepping-stone to more career opportunities in the medical field. So it is vital to prepare for it by getting the right training and passing the certification that comes at the end of the training. What’s great about a CNA license is that it qualifies one to study further and become a registered nurse.

To become a certified nursing assistant, one needs to take the CNA training at a nursing school or community college. The CNA courses are available at these institutions. There are also courses available online but they are without the clinical component of the training. The CNA courses comes in theoretical and practical training segments that run from a month to three months. It is very important to get both components of the training, as these will be the qualifiers for the certification examination.

Passing the certification exam will also be an assurance for long- term employment and career growth. It is important to note that there are practicing nursing assistants without certification. Although they do almost the same duties as the CNA, these orderlies do no have the assurance of job security and career growth, as one would have as a certified nursing assistant.

To get a CNA License, one has to complete the CNA course and take the licensing examination. The CNA certification exam consists of the theoretical and clinical parts. The clinical part involves practical and hands-on examination that will test one in putting to practice the theories that have been learned during the training. It might even involve the assistance of a volunteer in the process of the demonstrating acquired knowledge and application. A state examiner will be handling this examination to make sure that one is ready for the real practice in the real world.

During the practical exams, one will be asked to demonstrate five practical skills that one has learned during the CNA training courses. What is likely to happen during the course of this exam is that the state examiner will watch one’s every move. This includes washing one’s hands and drying them off in front of the state examiner. Apparently, this simple demonstration will exhibit one’s value for cleanliness, which extends in the way he does his job with other people especially the patients.

The theoretical part of the CNA license exam is very direct to the point. Sample questions of this part of the exam are even available online.

Written By: Maye Fegi. Last Modified: 08 June 2011