How to Become a CNA in Maryland

(found 164 schools, updated in April 2017)

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Maryland enjoys an interesting career providing high quality patient care to people in settings such as assisted living, home health, hospitals and group homes. Maryland has a unique credentialing system since there are several types of nursing assistant certifications. To work in long-term care or nursing home, the CNA must earn certification as a Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA). Those who have earned CNA and GNA credentials can also choose to become a Home Health Aide or a Certified Medication Aide.

6 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Maryland

To understand the steps in becoming a CNA in Maryland as of 2018, it is important to first understand the options. Many states require special training to become a Home Health Aide or Certified Medicine Aide, but Maryland has gone beyond these levels and developed several other certification types. The various types of nursing assistant certifications include the following:

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) – The CNA is the basic level of certification and forms the foundation of all other certifications. In other words, the CNA certification must be earned before a person can choose to become a GNA, HHA, CMA, and/or Dialysis Technician.
• Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) – The student completes additional coursework beyond the CNA and learns specific clinical skills related to geriatric nursing. He or she must pass the GNA examination to become eligible to work in a licensed nursing home or long-term care facility. Many schools offer a joint CNA-GNA program.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) – The student earns a CNA credential and meets federal training requirements for the HHA.
• Certified Medicine Aide (CMA) – The student has a GNA credential and one year of GNA experience, and completes a state-approved 60-hour medicine course offered at community colleges.
• Dialysis Technician (CNA-DT) – The student earns a CNA credential and meets state training requirements which are specific to working with dialysis patients.

The following steps are required to become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Maryland.

Step 1: Decide Which Program is Most Suitable

There are approximately 164 state-approved CNA programs in Maryland. However, not all programs offer GNA, CNA-DT or CMA training.

There are three points to keep in mind when selecting a program:

• First determine the type of employment of most interest because that influences the type of certification the student will need and thus the school choice or the required training.
• The CNA credential must be earned first or in conjunction with other credentials.
• There are different training and/or education requirements for earning credentials beyond CNA.

CNA Classes in Maryland by City

If you want to become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Maryland, find the best state-approved CNA classes from the following school directory. The data is updated in April, 2017.

CNA program providers include high schools, nursing homes, renal care clinics, community colleges, technical colleges, academies, institutes and retirement homes. The American Red Cross also offers CNA classes in Maryland. A good approach is to first narrow the list by city and then by program type. For example, a student wishes to attend a program in Baltimore and become a CNA-GNA so considers only the programs fitting personal needs.

Note that there are many high schools in Maryland offering health sciences career pathway programs that can lead to earning CPR and CNA credentials. For example, students at Paint Branch High School attend the Academy of Health Professions. Students take four courses in the first semester and clinical training in the second semester. In these situations, a student could earn Maryland State Certification as a Nursing Assistant in the 11th grade and continue healthcare studies in the senior year.

Step 2: Assess CNA Program Costs

The costs will vary, depending on the path chosen. For example, the American Health Career Institute offers a Certified & Geriatric Nursing Assistant six-week training program for $1,065. Students for participating in the institute can take CNA classes in the day or evening. Prince George’s Community College offers CNA, CMA, and CNA to GNA training. The CNA program is 8 weeks long with day classes and evening classes, and costs $1,450 for tuition, fees and books. If the student decides to become a GNA, he or she will take an additional course called “GNA Theory” and complete a CNA clinical which will cost an additional amount. The American Red Cross CNA training costs $1,250 and offer day and evening classes. Students can count on there being additional fees in most programs for uniforms, lab fees and supplies.

Financial Aid

Most CNA programs do not qualify for financial aid, unless it is a component of a program leading to a degree. However, students can apply for scholarships and state workforce training funds. Employers will pay tuition and fees for students working in Medicare/Medicaid funded nursing homes or long-term care facilities, making the training free.

Step 3: Research and Meet the CNA Program Prerequisites

Specific prerequisites vary from school to school, but generally they include:

• Must be at least 18 years old (if not attending high school)
• Have a Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number
• Earn a CPR Health Provider certification (many programs allow the student to earn it during CNA training)
• Show proof of a negative TB skin test or negative chest x-ray
• Pass a math and reading test
• Pass a criminal background check
• Complete school and program applications
• Attend an orientation session if required by the program

Step 4: Successfully Complete a Training Program

CNA training programs must offer at least 100 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical training, though many require more than the minimum. Training covers topics like:

• Patient grooming and hygiene
• Elimination
• Changing linens
• Measuring vital signs
• Nutrition
• Restorative skills
• Emotional and mental health
• Infection control
• Data collection and reporting
• Communication
• Legal rights
• Taking and recording vital signs
• Transferring patients
• Improving range of motion

This is just a sample of the major nursing assistant training categories in Maryland. Each program includes this type of information and can add additional requirements. People who completed military training in a healthcare field may be able to get credit for the courses or training completed. The Maryland Board of Nursing decides if the training was substantially equivalent to the required training for non-military people

Step 5: Successfully Pass the CNA Certification Exam

To work as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a hospital or clinic, it is not necessary to take the state CNA exam. However, anyone interested in working in a long-term care facility or nursing home must earn the Geriatric Nursing Assistant credential which requires GNA certification in Maryland. That makes the GNA credential in Maryland the equivalent of the CNA credential in most other states. The nursing assistant training program or the nursing facility employer will give the applicant an exam application form. The applicant must submit the form to MDGNATS which is the acronym for The Maryland Geriatric Nursing Assistant Testing Service. The service is accessed through the Red Cross located in Susquehanna.

NNAAP

To earn the GNA certification in Maryland, applicants must take and pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program Examination (NNAAP). It consists of two sections:

• Written examination – This part of the exam consists of 70 multiple-choice questions. The questions are based on the information learned during nursing assistant training, like dressing and grooming patients, client rights and infection control. Applicants can also choose an oral exam consisting of 60 multiple-choice questions and 10 reading comprehension questions.
• Skills examination – The applicant will perform five CNA skills that are randomly selected. The skills are the same one taught in the classroom and during clinical training. One of the five skills tested will be a measurement skill (i.e. blood pressure, weight, etc.).

There are two test sites for applicants to take the NNAAP examination in Maryland as of 2018:

• Health Focus located in Baltimore
• Center for Career & Technical Education located in Cumberland/Cresaptown

Routes

There are different routes to choose from in order to qualify to take the NNAAP examination in Maryland.

Route 1 – Nursing Assistant Trainee

The applicant has completed a Board of Nursing-approved 100-hour nursing assistant training program within the last 12 months that includes classroom and clinical training in a Maryland licensed nursing Home.

Route 2 – Active or Inactive Student Nurse

The applicant has completed equivalent training while attending a nursing program as a nursing student. Or, the applicant has completed equivalent training while previously in a nursing program in the prior 12 months, even though not enrolled now.

Route 3 –Graduate Nurse

The applicant is a graduate of a U.S. nursing education program.

Route 4 – Foreign Nurse

The applicant is a graduate of a foreign nursing education program, has a current nursing license in the foreign country and are approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing to take the NCLEX Examination.

Route 5 – With an Expired GNA Certificate

If it is less than 24 months since a GNA certificate expired, the applicant must show proof of working at least 8 hours as a Geriatric Nursing Assistant in a Maryland licensed nursing home during the 24 months to the Maryland Board of Nursing. Even if the GNA did not work the minimum 8 hours, he or she must retake the NNAAP examination.

If the CNA license is allowed to expire for more than 24 months, the applicant can submit proof of working as a Geriatric Nursing Assistant for at least 8 hours for each of the two-year period. If unable to show the appropriate proof of employment, it is necessary to retake training and the examination.

NNAAP Exam Results and Retake

The Susquehanna Red Cross will report the examination results to the Maryland Board of Nursing and to the applicant. A handbook is available by contacting the Susquehanna Red Cross at 866-257-6470 or by faxing a request to 866-257-6506.

Certification requirements in Maryland include passing both parts of the exam within 24 months and within four attempts. If unable to do so, the applicant will have to complete a 100-hour nursing assistant training program again and retake the NNAAP examination.

Step 6: Get Certified in Maryland

Maryland maintains a combined CNA and GNA registry. Upon completing a CNA program in the state, the applicant’s name is entered in the CNA Registry by the Maryland Board of Nursing. After passing the GNA exam, the Maryland Board of Nursing is notified and upgrades the person’s status in the Maryland Geriatric Nursing Assistant Registry.

CNAs from Other States

The out of state CNAs in good standing on the CNA registry in their respective states are not required to take the NNAAP examination. First get acknowledgment as a Maryland CNA and then become a GNA by submitting the GNA endorsement application.

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How to Keep CNA Certification Active After Becoming a CNA in Maryland

CNA certification is renewed for a two-year period based on the date of the first renewal. The certification expires on the 28th day of the CNA’s birth month in an odd or even year. If the birthdate is an even year, the expiration is in an even year. If it is in an odd year, the expiration is in an odd year. The same rules apply for GNAs, MAs and HHAs. Maryland may require a new background check when ready to renew CNA certification.

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Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in Maryland

Certified Nursing Assistants are allowed to work in a Maryland licensed nursing home as a Geriatric Nursing Assistant for up to 120 days. Within that time, it is necessary to become a registered GNA in order to continue working.

The average annual CNA salary in Maryland was $29,700 or $14.28 per hour as of May 20, 2016, figures recently updated. This is an increase since the last salary survey the Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted. It is also higher than the national average for Nursing Assistants or $27,650 annually or $13.29 per hour. The projected increase in the number of CNA jobs for the period 2014-2024 is 30.8 percent which is much higher than the projected percent increase for Nursing Assistants in the United States which is 17.6 percent. | See Job Openings

CNA Salaries in Maryland

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Get CNA Certification in Nearby or Bordering States

If you want to take nursing assistant training in another state, click and check state-approved CNA programs in the following states:

• Delaware
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Washington, D.C.
• New Jersey