Get CNA Certified in Nevada
Want to become a CNA in Nevada?
Job Growth:
CNA jobs are projected to grow 11% by 2026, and Nevada has a high level of employment with 88,000 registered nurse aids.
Salary:
Nevada is ranked top 5% for CNA wages, which average at $17/hour, but the top 10% of the nation’s nurse aids earn $50,000.
Requirements:
To become a registered CNA, you must graduate from an accredited course, some as short as 4 weeks, and pass the state exam.
What are the CNA requirements in Nevada? Here’s how to prepare for your CNA state exam and how to become a Certified Nurse Assistant in Nevada.
What is a Certified Nurse Aide?
Have you ever wondered who was taking care of you during a hospital stay? The nurse who took your vitals and most often checked on you was likely a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA). Also known as a Certified Nursing Assistant, they are responsible for the general care of patients. It’s one of the most important roles on the healthcare team because they contribute to the everyday well-being of patients, offering them a chance to live their lives to the fullest.
CNA Requirements in Nevada
Be at least 18 years old
Be in good physical health
Up-to-date immunization record, including TB test
Pass a criminal background check
Graduate from a Certified Nursing Assistant School in Nevada
Pass the State Exam
Register as a Certified CNA
A high school diploma or the equivalent
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How to Become a CNA in Nevada
To become a CNA in Nevada, you must first complete a CNA Training Program. The Nevada State Board of Nursing must approve the CNA Training Program, currently Nevada offers roughly 30 state-approved CNA training programs, with many located in the city of Las Vegas.
Each program must include a minimum of 75 training hours, in which a minimum of 16 hours must include clinical hands-on training. However majority of the programs exceed the minimum hours. The Certified Nurse Aide training programs are offered at institutions such as local community colleges or trade schools.
The CNA training program can be completed in as little as 6 weeks, or as long as a year. There are many different providers that offer these programs, some even begin at the high school level, with completion of the CNA training program commencing at the time of graduation. All CNA training programs require students to be under direct supervision during training and their program instructors must be licensed for nursing in Nevada, have a minimum of 1 year of nursing experience, and must have either completed a course on how to teach adults or have verifiable experience teaching adults or supervising nurse aides.
Once the training is complete, you are eligible to apply for CNA certification, which allows you to sign up to take the official CNA examination. It’s recommended you take a free CNA practice exam to prepare. You must take the exam at a certified testing center such as one of the certified test centers provided through D&S Diversified Technologies. To create a Candidate Login, and have access to CNA Test Sites, visit their website or call 1-800-393-8664.
Below you can also find city-specific information within Nevada on how to become a CNA:
A Closer Look at CNA Training
A typical CNA training program in Nevada must facilitate a minimum of 75 hours in the classroom and lab. The classroom offers a chance for students to study basic competencies required for their roles as nurse assistants before putting those skills into action in a clinical setting. Before you can move on to the clinical training, you must complete 16 hours of training covering essential topics such as communication and interpersonal skills, controlling infections, residents’ rights and emergency procedures. You can expect to take CNA classes that cover topics such as:
Patient Movement
Social Service
Mental Health
Healthcare Teamwork
Emergency Procedures
Dressing & Bathing
Anatomy
Infection Control
Basic Nursing Care
Workplace Safety
Patients’ Rights
During the clinical training you can expect to spend at least 16 hours under the direct supervision of a nurse. The CNA Training Program typically costs anywhere from $500 to $2,500, depending on the program. The Nevada State Board of Nursing offers a list of approved nursing training programs, that also includes options for high school students .
The CNA Test in Nevada
Nevada partners with Headmaster LLP/D & S Diversified Technologies LLP to provide tests and scoring services for the NA competency evaluation program. The CNA state exam is distributed by Headmaster LLP and they provide a multitude of information to help you succeed in the examination process, including a free CNA practice test, applications, and test site locations and times.
The CNA test in Nevada is comprised of 2 portions: a multiple choice knowledge test and a clinical skills evaluation. Both are administered on the same day. The written exam has multiple choice questions in English and you will have 2 hours to complete it. The oral exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and 10 reading comprehension questions. The skills examination requires the nurse aide evaluator to supervise you performing 5 skills randomly selected from a list of 34 skills in 30 minutes or less. You must perform 4 of the 5 skills correctly to pass. You can schedule your examination with Headmaster LLP by calling 1-800-393-8664. If you have a disability, you may request special arrangements for the test that must be approved in advance. If you don’t pass the exam on your first try, it is possible to retake the exam twice. If you fail the test three times, you must re-train at an approved program before attempting the test a fourth time.
Once you pass the exam, Congratulations! Your certificate will arrive in the mail 4-6 weeks later. You can check on the status of your certificate on the Nevada State CNA Exam Report Login.
Nevada CNA Exam Fees Broken Down:
$52.50 - Multiple Choice
$97.50 - Clinical Skills
$150 - Multiple Choice and Clinical Skills Exam
$45 - Cancellation
No Show = No Refund
On the Day of the Exam:
Plan to be at the test site for up to 6 hours
Arrive to confirmed test site between 20-30 minutes before your test is scheduled to start
Bring a signed, non-expired, US government issued photo I.D.
Your first and last name on I.D must match names on record with Headmaster
You are required to take the knowledge and the skill test on the same day, unless you are retesting.
You will not be admitted if you are not dressed in your certified training program uniform and/or scrubs, with non-skid, closed-toe shoes
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CNA Jobs in Nevada
Nevada has one of the highest CNA employment rates, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are more than 88,000 CNAs currently employed. Nevada is also ranked 3rd in the nation for top-paying metro area jobs at nearly $17/hour.
The top 10% of CNAs can make $50,000 annually, and nursing assistant jobs are relatively easy to find. Due to the ability for increased training opportunities and further career advancements, there is a high turn-around rate for CNAs, as many use their work experience to start the accreditation process needed to become Registered Nurses. Working as a CNA is not only rewarding, but also offers job stability and immense growth opportunities.
Nearly 50% of CNAs work in Nursing Care Facilities, and there are 2,500 registered nursing facilities in the state of Nevada that offer employment.
The remainder jobs are at hospitals, medical offices, facilities for elderly, mental health clinics, outpatient care centers, and even film and television housing facilities. CNAs play a such vital role in patient care, that the growth of CNA jobs is projected to grow 11% by 2026. An aging population will significantly increase nurse aide jobs. You may also work at a nursing facility for a maximum of 4 months while you are enrolled in your training program.
CNA Job Advancement
An entry-level position in the medical field, CNAs are given many opportunities to reach that next level. CNAs work with a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and directly under a Registered Nurse (RN), so they are rewarded by seeing firsthand what it looks like to reach that next level. To become a LPN, a CNA can apply for a bridge course that can be found at a community college or a vocational training school that can either be offered online or on-campus. Typically this training includes a 6-24 week class with 75 hours of training, however many current CNAs are able to use their work hours to apply to training, making it very easy to promote. Nevada has such a turnaround in CNA jobs advancement, that thousands of CNA jobs will open annually because of it. You may also join an association for resources and to help advance your career, such as the Nevada State Board of Nursing.
Renew a CNA Certification in Nevada
The state of Nevada requires you to renew a CNA license every 2 years. There is no expiration date printed on your certificate, but you are responsible to renew the certificate on your own. Within 2 years, you must complete 24 hours of in-service training and provide proof of qualifying employment in order to maintain an active status as you renew your CNA license in Nevada. Twelve of the 24 required hours must be completed at a facility that is licensed or certified by Nevada Health and Human Services, the Nevada Department of State Heath Services, or the Nevada Board of the Nursing. The remaining 12 hours can be completed at any healthcare facility. The Health & Services department actually offers 6 classes, each valued at 2 hours of in-service education. They’re available for free for renewal certificates here.
You must start the renewal process 3 months before your license expires. If you fail to complete renewal, your nurse aide license will expire and you will not be legally employable until it is active again. If you cannot verify employment, you will also have to re-train and re-test. If you are out-of-state and already a CNA, such as a military exemption, you can obtain a license and CNA recertification in Nevada. All nurse aides and nurse aide candidates must register in the Credential Management System, where a nurse’s certification status is available.
The state’s Department of Public Health also has a Nurse Aide Registry in Nevada. A registered CNA must graduate from an accredited program and have an active license.
For additional information about state licensing, renewal, and certification contact:
Nevada State Board of Nursing
Las Vegas Office
4220 S. Maryland Pkwy., Building B, Suite 300
Las Vegas, NV 89119-7533
(702) 486-5800
nursingboard@nsbn.state.nv.us
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State-Approved Nursing Assistant Programs in Nevada
Great Basin College
1500 College Pkwy.
Elko, NV 89801
(775) 753-2216
(additional campuses located in Battle Mountain, Ely, Lovelock,
Pahrump, Tonopah, and Winnemucca)
Majen, LLC
1005 Terminal Way. Suite 145
Reno, NV 89502
(775) 762-8039
Milan Institute
950 Industrial Way.
Sparks, NV 89431
(775) 348-7200
Mount Grant General Hospital
P.O. Box 1510
Hawthorne, NV 89415
(775) 945-2461
Ormsby Post Acute Rehab
3050 N Ormsby Blvd.
Carson City, NV 89703
(775) 841-4646
Sierra Nevada Job Corps
14175 Mount Charleston St.
Reno, NV 89506
(775) 789-0800
South Lyon Medical Center
P.O. Box 940
Yerington, NV 89447
(775) 463-2301
Truckee Meadows Community College
7000 Dandini Blvd. RDMT 417
Reno, NV 89512
(775) 673-7115
Western Nevada College
2201 W. College Pkwy.
Carson City, NV 89701
(775) 445-3295
(additional campus located in Fallon)
Battle Mountain High School
425 Weaver Ave.
Battle Mountain, NV 89820
(775) 635-5436
Fernley High School
1300 Hwy 95 South
Fernley, NV 89408
(775) 575-3400
White Pine County School District
1800 Bobcat Dr.
Ely, NV 89301
(775) 289-4811
Yerington High School
114 Pearl St.
Yerington, NV 89447
(775) 463-6822
College of Southern Nevada
6375 W. Charleston Blvd. W2K
Las Vegas, NV 89146
(702) 651-5690
Milan Institute
710 S. Tonopah Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 671-4242
Perry Foundation Academy of Health
2920 Green Valley Pkwy. Bldg 8 Suite 821
Henderson, NV 89014
(702) 550-4666
Saint Therese Learning Institute
6600 W. Charleston Blvd. Suite 134
Las Vegas, NV 89146
(702) 395-1802
Standards of Excellence
1931 Stella Lake Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 367-4348
Desert Rose High School
444 W. Brooks Ave.
N. Las Vegas, NV 89030
(702) 799-6240
East Career and Technical Academy
6705 Vegas Valley Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89142
(702) 799-888
Southeast Career and Technical Academy
5710 Mountain Vista
Las Vegas, NV 89120
(702) 799-7500
Southwest Career and Technical Academy
7050 W. Shelbourne Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89113
(702) 799-5766
West Career and Technical Academy
11945 W. Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89135
(702) 799-4340
Western High School
4601 W. Bonanza Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89107
(702) 799-4080