(found 9 schools, updated in January 2018)
In most cases, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Maine requires completing a state-approved training program and passing a skills competency test. Individuals can work after being listed in the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants. There is also a temporary Registry listing provision for people training as CNAs at nursing facilities and out of state CNAs who complete certain requirements. The Maine Division of Licensing and Certification maintains the Registry. CNAs in Maine ensure, under the supervision of a registered professional nurse, continuity of basic client nursing care services in long-term care facilities and other healthcare settings.
- 6 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Maine
- Renew CNA Certification in Maine
- Job Outlook and Salary for CNAs in Maine
- Becoming a CNA in Nearby State
6 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Maine
The different paths to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Maine are designed to accommodate people who have or have not had previous nursing assistant training.
Certification requirements for new CNAs include completing a state-approved CNA program in Maine and taking a competency exam. The first step is deciding which route fits an individual’s personal situation. If CNA training is not required, the person will skip the training steps and go right to the competency exam step or Registry step.
Step 1: Determine the Best Path to Becoming a CNA in Maine
A Certified Nursing Assistant is also called a Certified Nurse Aide by various employers. A person authorized to work as a CNA is listed in the Maine Registry for Certified Nursing Assistants & Direct Care Workers (Registry). A new CNA will complete CNA programs in Maine and pass the Maine CNA competency test before requesting Registry listing. The application for Registry listing must be submitted within two years of completing nursing assistant training.
However, there are two time-limited Registry provisions for getting a temporary listing so the person can work. Anyone meeting one of the exceptions can apply to the CNA Registry. The provisions are:
- Individuals training in a nursing facility can work for up to four months in a nursing facility, if the Registry receives documentation indicating participation in a training program
- Certain individuals can submit a Bridge Examination application and request temporary approval to work as a CNA if they:
- Show proof of completion of an out of state CNA training program that meets federal laws and is the equivalent of a Maine training program, and
- Submit documentation showing employment as a Certified Nursing Assistant for a minimum of 32 hours per week for three of the past five years, and
- Have completed at least through the ninth grade of high school, and
- Are proficient in reading and writing English
The CNA Bridge Examination is a competency test composed of a set of multiple-choice questions and a clinical skills test. For both exceptions, a temporary listing in the CNA Registry is only valid for four months and cannot be renewed. Without a temporary Registry listing, an out of state CNA cannot work until the application to become a CNA in Maine is approved. If unable to prove completion of an out of state CNA training program, the individual will have to complete a Maine CNA training program and Maine competency test.
Military Applicant
A military individual who trained as a nursing assistant or military equivalent while in the service can apply for Registry listing by providing documentation of equivalent CNA training. The individual must take and pass the Maine CNA competency test.
Nursing Student
Nursing students can apply for Registry listing by submitting documentation of equivalent CNA training, i.e. completion of basic nursing course and clinical training.
RN or LPN
A Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can also apply for Registry listing. The RN or LPN must have a current and active license.
Foreign-Trained Nurses
Foreign-trained nurses can apply for Registry placement by providing proof of equivalent training or the earned degree.
Step 2: Select a CNA Training Program in Maine
CNA classes in Maine are located in various educational institutions around the state at adult education centers and technology schools. Students can also train in long-term care facilities by completing online classes and clinical training in the facility.
9 Local CNA Classes in Maine
| City | CNA Program | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | Augusta Adult and Community Education | hemery@augustaschools.org | (207) 626-2475 |
| Augusta | MaineGeneral Health | kari.bickmore@mainegeneral.org | (207) 621-4212 |
| Bar Harbor | Mt. Desert Island Adult & Community Education mdi.maineadulted.org | apatterson@mdirss.org | (207) 288-4703 |
| Bath | Morse High School | jbreau@rsu1.org | (207) 443-8255 |
| Gorham | Gorham Adult Education gorham.maineadulted.org | barbara.quinn-gagnon@gorhamschools.org | (207) 222-1095 |
| Gray | Gray-New Gloucester Adult & Community Education | tboynton@sad15.org | (207) 657-9612 |
| Rockland | Mid-Coast School of Technology | adulted@mcst.tec.me.us | (207) 596-7752 |
| Scarborough | Piper Shores | adulted@scarboroughschools.org | (207) 730-5040 |
| South Paris | Oxford Hills/Buckfield Adult Education | adulted@msad17.org | (207) 743-8842 |
CNA Program Length and Costs
The length of CNA programs in Maine varies from two months to approximately 17 weeks. The tuition and fees also vary from $600 to over $1,300. However, some program costs posted online include expenses for books and lab fees, while others do not. The total costs of CNA training typically include tuition, fees, textbooks, supplies, uniforms, health exam fees and certification exam fees. Be sure to include all costs in the total amount needed for training.
Financial Aid and Free CNA Training
Individuals who qualify for financial aid usually obtain funding in the form of scholarships, private grants or Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Free training is available to individuals who train and work in a long-term care facility. The student’s training costs are paid by the employer, and the student earns money while working. The law allows a person to work for up to 120 days without certification as a nurse aide.
The other way to get all or some training costs covered is to find employment in a nursing facility within 12 months of completing training and earning certification. The employer will reimburse training expenses on a prorated basis. For example, if an individual is employed six months after CNA training and certification, the employer will reimburse half of the training costs.
Step 3: Meet Training Prerequisites
The prerequisites for CNA courses in Maine that an individual must meet in order to enroll in the CNA training program of choice are established by federal and state laws. The prerequisites include the following:
- Student must be at least 16 years old or older (some schools require students to be at a minimum of 18 years old)
- Pass a designated English reading test, like the CASAS Reading Test, to demonstrate a minimum proficiency level
- Demonstrate ability to write English
- Show proof of completing at least the ninth grade of high school (Some schools require a high school degree or proof of GED completion)
- Get a health physical exam
- Submit to a drug test
- Show proof of immunizations
- Pass background check for criminal history
Step 4: Complete a Maine State-Approved Training Program
The Maine Board of Nursing, working with the Department of Education, is responsible for prescribing the curriculum for a CNA training program. The state requires significantly more training hours than federal law requires. A Maine Nursing Assistant training program must include 90 hours of classroom instruction, 20 hours of laboratory training and 70 hours of clinical practice for a total of 180 hours.
CNA Training in Maine covers a variety of subjects and skills that include:
- Caring for people in various stages of life and with different physical and mental medical conditions and disabilities
- Infection control
- Safety principles and practices for the CNA and patients or residents
- Communication skills
- Mobility skills and body mechanics
- Assisting clients with personal grooming and daily living needs
- Assisting clients with nutrition and feeding
- Understanding the role of the Certified Nursing Assistant is assisting clients with common health problems
- Taking vital signs and keeping appropriate documentation
- Clinical practicum
Certified Nursing Assistant-Medications
A CNA with a minimum of one year of full-time nurse aide work experience can take a state-approved medication course and become a Certified Nursing Assistant-Medications (CNA-M). To enroll in the course, the Certified Nursing Assistant must also demonstrate at least a tenth-grade competency level on a TABE test or equivalent test. A CNA-Medication Aide can administer designated non-injectable medications in long-term care nursing facilities, county jails, state mental health institutions, assistive living facilities and state correctional facilities.
Step 5: Take and Pass the Two-Part Maine State Certification Examination
The Maine CNA examination is administered at test sites located in Career and Technical Education Centers. The testing process consists of two parts.
Written Test
The Written Test is a multiple-choice exam that has 60 questions. The questions are drawn from the material taught during a state-approved training program. A passing grade is 72 percent.
Skills Test
The Skills Test requires an individual to complete 10 nurse aide tasks. To pass this part of the exam requires passing a minimum of 7-out-of-10 CNA skills.
Step 6: Get certified as a CNA in Maine
Once an individual has completed CNA training and passed the nurse aide certification exam in Maine, he or she can submit an application to be placed on the CNA Registry. The application explains required documentation.
Renew CNA Certification in Maine
CNA Certification is active for two years in Maine. To stay active on the Registry, individuals must work at least eight (8) hours as a Certified Nursing Assistant during the 24-month certification period. The renewal date is based on the individual’s birth date. The employer provides verification of employment to the CNA Registry.
The first certification cycle may be less than 24-months, depending on when the person’s birth date falls, but after that renewal is required every two years. All CNAs are required to complete in-service education, but only those employed by long-term nursing facilities are required to submit documentation to the Maine CNA Registry when renewing certification.
Lapsed CNA
If CNA certification lapses, the individual will need to contact the Maine Registry which is part of Licensing and Regulatory Services. The Registry will determine the steps an individual must take to renew certification. It may require retraining, retesting, both or neither. In some cases, individuals are required to take a refresher course. It depends on the circumstances and the reasons for the inactive certification.
Job Outlook and Salary for CNAs in Maine
With CNA certification in Maine, individuals can work in nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, hospice facilities, facilities for the mentally disabled, adult care facilities, state correctional facilities, mental health institutions and other long-term care institutions. They can also work for home health agencies and in a home care setting. However, no matter where the Certified Nursing Assistant works, the individual must always be working under the supervision of a registered professional nurse, like a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). | See Job Openings
According to the latest salary report from the BLS, the average hourly wage for Maine CNAs is $12.60, and the average annual salary is $26,220. The yearly salary range for Certified Nursing Assistant is $20,300 for entry level positions to $33,740 for people who have significant employment experience. The number of nursing assistant jobs in Maine are expected to grow by 9.2 percent for the period 2014-2014. | See Job Openings
CNA Salaries in Maine
| ME CNA Salaries | Empl. | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage | Wage percent relative std. error | Hourly 10th % wage | Hourly median wage | Hourly 90th % wage | Annual 10th % wage | Annual median wage | Annual 90th % wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | 1443150 | 13.29 | 27650 | 0.2 | 9.64 | 12.78 | 18.22 | 20040 | 26590 | 37900 |
| Maine | 9050 | 12.60 | 26220 | 0.9 | 9.76 | 12.42 | 16.22 | 20300 | 25840 | 33740 |
| Bangor, ME | 1340 | 11.98 | 24930 | 2.1 | 9.82 | 11.67 | 14.74 | 20430 | 24270 | 30650 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 1000 | 12.83 | 26680 | 2.3 | 10.00 | 12.68 | 16.56 | 20800 | 26380 | 34440 |
| Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | 1460 | 12.37 | 25720 | 1.8 | 9.86 | 12.23 | 15.07 | 20510 | 25440 | 31350 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 2390 | 13.85 | 28800 | 1.6 | 10.72 | 13.68 | 17.77 | 22300 | 28440 | 36960 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 2770 | 11.85 | 24640 | 2.4 | 8.95 | 11.64 | 15.09 | 18620 | 24220 | 31390 |
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