How to Become a CNA in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department of Health certifies all Nursing Assistants in the state. All CNA programs in Rhode Island must include 100 hours of CNA training, include at least 20 hours of clinical hours for practical skills. Your instructors may be: Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) with at least 1 year of nursing experience, as well as dietitians, pharmacists, and physical therapists.

There are many options for CNA training programs. Some can be as short as 4-week CNA classes with accelerated programs and others can be up to a year if you opt for a part-time school. You can also enroll in hybrid programs, with a portion of the classroom training being CNA classes online. You’ll still need to complete clinical training in person, however, with local CNA classes. These hybrid options can be great alternatives to traditional programs for students who are also working or have to commute to a training center.

You can find CNA schools near you by using the Free School Finder tool at the top of the page. Just enter your zip code and start browsing local options. You can even easily request them to contact you for additional information.

Once you graduate from a Rhode-Island approved CNA school, you must submit an application. Part of this application includes a criminal background check from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. You must complete this check within 4 months of submitting your nursing assistant application. If you do have criminal charges, you are still eligible to become a CNA but you must submit detailed explanations about the charges. 

Once you complete your training program, you can register for the test. It’s recommended that you also take practice tests in addition to your training program so you’re prepared for the type of exam questions. You can take a free CNA practice exam on our site. Once you pass the exam, congratulations! You can now be listed on the Rhode Island Nursing Registry as a CNA.

You are now eligible find CNA jobs in Rhode Island. Once you’re hired, you’ll need to complete a monthly evaluation with a licensed nurse for the first 3 months at your job. After the first 3 months of your employment, the evaluations will only be on a quarterly basis.

A Closer Look at CNA Training

A typical CNA program in Rhode Island will take about 143 hours of classes and study time. That includes 75 classroom hours, 24 hours of skill instruction, 40 hours of clinical training in a nursing facility, and a final 4 hour skills lab. Examples of CNA topics you’ll learn include:

• Fluids and Meals

• Basic Restorative Services

• Bathing

• Mental Health

• Dementia & Cognitive Changes

• Safety Emergency Procedures

• Hand Washing

• Infection Control

• Medication

• Recording Vitals

• Patients’ Rights

The CNA Training Program can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000, depending on the program and sometimes registration fees and materials are not included. For example, the Community College of Rhode Island suggests a program will cost $860, which includes a $10 registration fee and textbook, workbook, blood pressure cuff, and stethoscope. You might be able to find free CNA classes through government grants, financial aid programs, and employers. For example, some nursing homes will reimburse you for your training cost if you’re employed within a certain time frame of graduating and passing the exam.

The CNA Test in Rhode Island

Passing the National Nursing Assistant Assessment Program (NNAAP) is a requirement to become a CNA in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Department of Health has partnered with both the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Pearson VUE, a testing company, to administer the state exam. CCRI schedules and administers the test, while Pearson VUE develops and scores the test results. You can access information about both in the Candidate Handbook.

First, you must submit an application to your CNA school called the Application for Licensure As A Nursing Assistant. Your school will then submit this application to the Rhode Island Department of Health. Then, you’ll submit a second application to CCRI called the Application for Registration By Examination. Once CCRI receives this application, you can schedule a time to take the exam.  With this application, you will also send the exam fees to CCRI. 

You must take and pass the CNA test in Rhode Island within one year of graduating from your nursing assistant program. If not, you will need to re-enroll in another CNA school. You can find regional test centers and schedules here. You must also arrive at your testing center 30 minutes before your scheduled exam time and expect to spend the majority of the day at the test site.

The Nursing Assistant test is divided into two sections: written and clinical skills. The written exam consists of 70 multiple-choice questions and you will have two hours to complete it. You may also opt to take the oral version of this section. The questions will be on a cassette tape and includes 60 multiple-choice questions and 10 reading comprehensions questions. The oral examination is also available in Spanish, along with CNA classes en Español as well. The second section is a demonstration of clinical skills. A test administrator will randomly select 5 of the 23 possible skills. You will have 30 minutes to complete this section and must perform all 5 skills correctly in order to pass the manual skills section. You’ll be expected to demonstrate these skills as if you were in a nursing home with a volunteer acting as an elderly person.

If you are a nursing assistant working at a nursing home that supports Medicaid and Medicare programs, your employer must pay for the exam fees and any re-test fees. If you are not employed at a nursing home, you must pay your own exam fees.