How to Become a Certified Nurse Aide in North Carolina

(found 188 schools, updated in March 2017)

As required by law, North Carolina follows the terms of the federal Nursing Home Reform Act, referred to as OBRA ’87. This ensures that your training fully prepares you to offer a high quality of care to patients and residents in any type of healthcare facility. The following is a guide through the five major steps you must take to become certified and registered as a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) in North Carolina.

SHOW ME SCHOOLS

Step 1: Choose the Right Path to Becoming a Nurse Aide I

Congratulations! You want to learn how to become a Nurse Aide I in NC. There are two levels of nurse aides in North Carolina: Nurse Aide I and Nurse Aide II. The first step is to become a Nurse Aide I by choosing a training and testing path that fits your situation and leads to CNA certification in North Carolina.

Paths to Success in North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) maintains the NC Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR). The Division is responsible for approving Nurse Aide I training programs and for maintaining the Health Care Personnel Registry. To work as a Nurse Aide I, you must be in good standing on the North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry. That requires completing a Nurse Aide I training program and/or a competency evaluation program.

There are three possible paths to becoming a Certified Nurse Aide I in the state of North Carolina:

1. Complete a state-approved Nurse Aide I training program and competency test.
2. Obtain a training waiver and complete the Nurse Aide I competency test at a facility offering a state-approved program.
3. If you are already an RN (Registered Nurse) or an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), you must meet the state licensing requirements.

Within these three paths are seven (7) routes you can choose between to become eligible to take the competency examination and apply to be placed on the NC Nurse Aide I Registry.

3 Routes Through CNA Training

You can take the state Nurse Aide I exam if you are eligible through one of the following routes:

• Route E1 – Candidates are eligible to take the state CNA exam after successfully completing a North Carolina state-approved Nurse Aide I program.
• Route E3 – Candidates are eligible to take the exam after completing a Nurse Aide I refresher course at a NC state-approved community college or proprietary school.
• Route E5 – Candidates that are currently enrolled in a NC-approved nursing education program to become a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse can take the Nurse Aide I exam within two years of completing the NC-approved portion of the nursing education program.

The rules of the state CNA examination for candidates following Route E1, E3, and E5 are:

• You must pass both portions within two (2) years after completing a refresher course or within three (3) attempts.
• If you fail to pass the test within three attempts or do not take the exam within the two-year time period, you will have to complete the training program again and take both sections of the exam.
• If you fail to take and/or pass both exam sections within two years of training, and you change your eligibility route, then you are required to take both portions of the examination.

CNA EXAMS

2 Routes Through Waiver

The following candidates must submit a Training Waiver request to the NC DHHS in order to take the state NA I exam:

• Route E8 – Emergency Medical Technicians or EMTs, nurses with expired or inactive Registry listings, military medics, and unlicensed nursing school graduates
• Route E9 – Individuals who was trained out of the state in the past 24 months but are not listed on another state’s registry

If you are eligible to take Route E8 or Route E9, you must take and pass both sections of the CNA state exam within two (2) years of the waiver approval date or within three (3) attempts. If you do not meet the requirements of passing both sections within three attempts or the two-year time frame, or you change your eligibility route, then you will have to complete a NC state-approved training program and retake both portions of the exam. Anyone who decides to change eligibility routes will have to take both portions of the examination.

1 Route for Certification Renewal

You can follow Route E10 to renew your CNA certification in North Carolina if your work requirements are not met for renewal:

• Submit a Training Waiver request to the DHHS
• If the waiver is approved, complete and pass the exam before the Registry expiration date within three (3) attempts.
• If you fail to pass both exam sections within the three attempts, you will have to complete training at an NA I training program approved by the state and retest.
• If you decide to change your eligibility route, you will have to take both portions of the CNA examination.
• If the Registry expiration date has passed, applicants will have to take a state-approved training program or complete a refresher program, and then test under route E1, E3, or E5.

1 Route for CNAs From Another State

Out-of-state candidates who are active on another state registry are eligible through Route E11:

• Complete testing before the out-of-state registry expiration date
• Submit a Training Waiver request to the NC DHHS
• Apply for testing within 45 days of the NC DHHS waiver approval date, or prior to Registry expiration, or within three (3) attempts, whichever comes first
• If you do not pass both portions of the NC exam as required, you will have to complete training at an NC state-approved training school and retake the state exam.
• You must take both parts of the NNAAP CNA examination if you change your eligibility route.
• If the Registry expiration date has passed, applicants will have to get training at an NC state-approved training program before taking the exam again.

Proving Competency

Competency is proven by passing the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) which was developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. Pearson VUE is the state-authorized examination administrator in North Carolina. Pearson VUE offers both parts of the exam which includes a written examination and a skills evaluation. You can request an oral examination in lieu of a written examination, and it is offered in English or Spanish. You will need to pass both sections of the competency exam to qualify for applying to the NC Nurse Aide I Registry. In Step 3 of this guide, you will get more detailed information about the NNAAP examination in North Carolina.

Applicants for the North Carolina Nurse Aide I Competency Exam should be aware of a new rule that went into effect on March 1, 2016 (Rule 10A NCAC 130.0301). The new rule says that anyone interested in taking the exam must complete a state-approved training program before being eligible to register or schedule an examination through Pearson VUE. As you will also read in Step 2 on Nurse Aide I training, there are requirements as to when the training is completed, including a refresher course. It is important to know and understand the CNA certification requirements so you can get certified as quickly as possible.

Back to Top

Step 2: Take Nurse Aide I Training

Training to become a CNA in North Carolina is an educational process that teaches students how to complete certain CNA tasks as an employed Nurse Aide I. The curriculums may vary from program to program, but they all include a minimum level of instruction and hands-on skills training so you can deliver competent care to patients and residents.

Requirements to Enroll in Nurse Aide Training

To enroll in a CNA training program in North Carolina, you must be able to:

• Prove you are 17 years old or older
• Pass a drug test
• Produce a negative TB test
• Pass an FBI criminal background check
• Pass a health test showing you are physically fit and have no communicable diseases
• Produce proof of immunizations for Hepatitis B, varicella, TDaP, two-step PPD, and any others the program requires

Each school can add additional requirements to their program. For example, Wake Tech Community College requires students to have advanced English language skills. When you locate training programs of interest, the first thing you should do is call the school and get specific information on their requirements to sign up for a Certified Nurse Aide program.

188 State-Approved Programs

The most important tip to adhere to when searching for a training program is to only consider the North Carolina state-approved Certified Nurse Aide I programs. There is a list of 188 state-approved Nurse Aide I training programs on this site (updated in March 2017). The list is also available online at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Health Service Regulation (Health Care Personnel Education and Credentialing Section). These state-approved programs prepare you to earn CNA certification.

SHOW ME SCHOOLS

City	County	School	Phone
Ahoskie	Hertford	Roanoke-Chowan Community College www.roanokechowan.edu	(252) 332-5921
Ahoskie	Hertford	Roanoke-Chowan Community College - Hertford County High School CCP www.roanokechowan.edu	(252) 862-1200
Ahoskie	Hertford	Roanoke-Chowan Community College - Northampton High School CCP www.roanokechowan.edu	(252) 862-1200
Albemarle	Stanly	Stanly Community College - CCP www.stanly.edu	(704) 991-0342
Albemarle	Stanly	Stanly Community College - Crutchfield Education Center www.stanly.edu	(704) 991-0342
Albemarle	Stanly	Stanly Community College - Main campus www.stanly.edu	(704) 991-0342
Archdale	Randolph	Randolph Community College - Archdale Center www.randolph.edu	(336) 633-3028
Asheboro	Randolph	Randolph Community College www.randolph.edu	(336) 633-3028
Asheville	Buncombe	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College www.abtech.edu	(828) 254-1921
Asheville	Buncombe	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College - Goodwill www.abtech.edu	(828) 254-1921
Asheville	Buncombe	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College - Mission www.abtech.edu	(828) 398-7332
Battleboro	Edgecombe	Edgecombe Community College - Incubator Site www.edgecombe.edu	(252) 446-0436
Belmont	Gaston	Gaston College - East Campus www.gaston.edu	(704) 922-6372
Biscoe	Montgomery	Montgomery Community College - CCP www.montgomery.edu	(910) 576-6222
Bolivia	Brunswick	Brunswick Community College www.brunswickcc.edu	(910) 755-7337
Boone	Watauga	Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute www.cccti.edu	(828) 726-2242
Brevard	Transylvania	Blue Ridge Community College - Transylvania Center www.blueridge.edu	(828) 694-1761
Burgaw	Pender	Cape Fear Community College cfcc.edu	(910) 343-0481
Burgaw	Pender	Cape Fear Community College - Pender County High School CCP cfcc.edu	(910) 362-7218
Burlington	Alamance	Alamance Community College - Goodwill Site www.alamancecc.edu	(336) 278-2202
Burnsville	Yancey	Mayland Community College www.mayland.edu	(828) 682-7315
Butner	Granville	Central Regional Hospital website	(919) 733-5324
Castle Hayne	New Hanover	Caring for Life www.caringforlifenc.com	(910) 989-2273
Chapel Hill	Orange	Durham Technical Community College www.durhamtech.edu	(919) 536-7223
Chapel Hill	Orange	Durham Technical Community College - Hybrid www.durhamtech.edu	(919) 536-7239
Charlotte	Mecklenburg	American Academy of Healthcare, LLC americanacademyofhealthcare.com	(704) 525-3500
Charlotte	Mecklenburg	Carolinas College of Health Sciences website	(704) 355-0975
Charlotte	Mecklenburg	CarWil Learning Academy, LLC www.caregiversinstitute.org	(704) 373-0034
Charlotte	Mecklenburg	Central Piedmont Community College - Central Campus www.cccc.edu	(704) 330-2722
Charlotte	Mecklenburg	Chosen Health Care Institute, Inc. www.chosenhealthcareinstitute.com	(704) 547-1988
Charlotte	Mecklenburg	Divine Health Academy www.divinehealthacademy.com	(704) 566-2955
Charlotte	Mecklenburg	Serenity Nurse Aide Academy	(704) 567-8000
Charlotte	Mecklenburg	Umanah Healthcare Institute www.umanahinstitute.com	(704) 531-1100
Charlotte	Mecklenburg	Unity Nursing Institute	(704) 525-1448
Charlotte	Mecklenburg	Victory Health Career Center www.victoryhcc.org	(704) 717-7063
Cherokee	Cherokee	Oconaluftee Job Corps website	(828) 497-8033
Clarkton	Bladen	Bladen Community College www.bladencc.edu	(910) 879-5634
Clayton	Johnston	Johnston Community College - Cleveland Campus www.johnstoncc.edu	(919) 209-2009
Clinton	Sampson	Sampson Community College www.sampsoncc.edu	(910) 592-8081
Clyde	Haywood	Haywood Community College www.haywood.edu	(828) 627-2821
Columbus	Polk	Isothermal Community College www.isothermal.edu	(828) 894-3092
Concord	Cabarrus	Cabarrus College of Health Sciences website	(704) 403-3209
Concord	Cabarrus	Southern College of Health Sciences	(704) 707-3965
Conover	Catawba	Catawba Valley Community College - Goodwill Site www.cvcc.edu	(828) 327-7000
Creedmoor	Granville	Vance-Granville Community College www.vgcc.edu	(252) 492-2061
Dallas	Gaston	Gaston College www.gaston.edu	(704) 922-6365
Denton	Davidson	Davidson County Community College - CCP (Career & College Promise) www.davidsonccc.edu	(336) 249-8186
Dobson	Surry	Surry Community College	(336) 386-3372
Dublin	Bladen	Bladen Community College www.bladencc.edu	(910) 879-5500
Durham	Durham	Durham Technical Community College www.durhamtech.edu	(919) 536-7223
Durham	Durham	Durham Technical Community College - Hybrid www.durhamtech.edu	(919) 536-7239
Durham	Durham	Gericare Education & Training, Inc.	(919) 479-3000
Durham	Durham	Harris Training Institute www.harristraininginstitute.com	(919) 224-8081
Durham	Durham	Ideal Health Institute, Inc. www.idealhealthinstitute.com	(919) 957-8311
Durham	Durham	Wisdom Health Academy	(919) 323-3693
Edenton	Chowan	College of the Albemarle www.albemarle.edu	(252) 482-7900
Edenton	Chowan	College of the Albemarle - Chowan County High School CCP www.albemarle.edu	(252) 482-7900
Elizabeth City	Pasquotank	College of the Albemarle www.albemarle.edu	(252) 335-0821
Elizabeth City	Pasquotank	College of the Albemarle - Pasquotank County High School CCP www.albemarle.edu	(252) 335-0821
Elkin	Surry	Surry Community College - Elkin Center	(336) 386-3372
Enfield	Halifax	Halifax Community College www.halifaxcc.edu	(252) 536-7291
Fayetteville	Cumberland	Care One Health Training Institute www.careonehealth.org	(910) 229-3242
Fayetteville	Cumberland	Fayetteville Technical Community College www.faytechcc.edu	(910) 678-8430
Fayetteville	Cumberland	Fayetteville Technical Community College - CCP www.faytechcc.edu	(910) 678-9868
Fayetteville	Cumberland	Fayetteville Technical Community College - CDPK www.faytechcc.edu	(910) 678-8430
Fayetteville	Cumberland	Miller-Motte College www.miller-motte.edu	(910) 354-1900
Franklin	Macon	Southwestern Community College - Macon Center southwesterncc.edu	(828) 369-7331
Gastonia	Gaston	Apex Health Care Academy, LLC	(704) 396-6602
Gastonia	Gaston	Umanah Healthcare Institute www.umanahinstitute.com	(704) 215-6674
Goldsboro	Wayne	Cherry Hospital website	(919) 731-3200
Goldsboro	Wayne	Wayne Community College www.waynecc.edu	(919) 735-5151
Graham	Alamance	Alamance Community College www.alamancecc.edu	(336) 578-2002
Grantsboro	Pamlico	Pamlico Community College www.pamlicocc.edu	(252) 249-1851
Greensboro	Guilford	Guilford Technical Community College home.gtcc.edu	(336) 334-4822
Greensboro	Guilford	Mount Eagle College www.mounteag.com	(336) 283-5191
Greenville	Pitt	Pitt Community College www.pittcc.edu	(252) 321-4225
Hamlet	Richmond	Richmond Community College richmondcc.edu	(910) 410-1891
Hampstead	Pender	Cape Fear Community College - Alston Burk Center cfcc.edu	(910) 362-7218
Havelock	Craven	Craven Community College cravencc.edu	(252) 638-6127
Henderson	Vance	Vance-Granville Community College - Vance City Main Campus www.vgcc.edu	(252) 492-2061
Hendersonville	Henderson	Blue Ridge Community College - Health Science Center www.blueridge.edu	(828) 694-1761
Hickory	Catawba	Catawba Valley Community College www.cvcc.edu	(828) 327-7000
High Point	Guilford	Guilford Technical Community College home.gtcc.edu	(336) 334-4822
Hillsborough	Orange	Durham Technical Community College www.durhamtech.edu	(919) 536-7222
Hudson	Caldwell	Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute www.cccti.edu	(828) 726-2200
Jacksonville	Onslow	Caring for Life www.caringforlifenc.com	(910) 989-2273
Jacksonville	Onslow	Coastal Carolina Community College www.coastalcarolina.edu	(910) 455-1221
Jamestown	Guilford	Guilford Technical Community College home.gtcc.edu	(336) 334-4822
Jefferson	Ashe	Wilkes Community College www.wilkescc.edu	(336) 838-6204
Kannapolis	Cabarrus	Rowan-Cabarrus Community College - Research Campus www.rccc.edu	(704) 216-7281
Kannapolis	Cabarrus	Rowan-Cabarrus Community College - West Avenue Center www.rccc.edu	(704) 216-3733
Kenansville	Duplin	James Sprunt Community College www.jamessprunt.edu	(910) 296-1341
Kernersville	Forsyth	Forsyth Tech Community College - Grady Swisher Center www.forsythtech.edu	(336) 734-7734
King	Forsyth	Forsyth Technical Community College - NW Forsyth Center www.forsythtech.edu	(336) 734-7734
Kinston	Lenoir	Lenoir Community College www.lenoircc.edu	(252) 527-6223
Kinston	Lenoir	Lenoir Community College - Lenoir County Off-campus Sites www.lenoircc.edu	(252) 233-6848
Laurinburg	Scotland	Richmond Community College - Honeycutt Center richmondcc.edu	(910) 410-1833
Lexington	Davidson	Davidson County Community College - CCP (Career & College Promise) www.davidsonccc.edu	(336) 249-8186
Lillington	Harnett	Central Carolina Community College www.cccc.edu	(910) 814-8999
Lincolnton	Lincoln	Gaston College www.gaston.edu	(704) 922-6372
Locust	Stanly	Stanly Community College - Crutchfield Education Center www.stanly.edu	(704) 991-0342
Louisburg	Franklin	Vance-Granville Community College - Franklin City Campus www.vgcc.edu	(252) 492-2061
Lumberton	Robeson	Robeson Community College www.robeson.edu	(910) 272-3397
Manteo	Dare	College of the Albemarle - Dare County High School CCP www.albemarle.edu	(252) 473-2264
Manteo	Dare	College of the Albemarle - Roanoke Island Campus www.albemarle.edu	(252) 475-9250
Marble	Cherokee	Tri-County Community College - Technology Center	(828) 835-3095
Marion	Mcdowell	McDowell Technical Community College www.mcdowelltech.edu	(828) 652-0645
Marshall	Madison	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College www.abtech.edu	(828) 254-1921
Matthews	Mecklenburg	Central Piedmont Community College - Levine Campus www.cccc.edu	(704) 330-2722
Mocksville	Davie	Davidson County Community College www.davidsonccc.edu	(336) 249-8186
Mocksville	Davie	Davidson County Community College - CCP (Career & College Promise) www.davidsonccc.edu	(336) 249-8186
Monroe	Union	South Piedmont Community College - OCH Campus www.spcc.edu	(704) 290-5217
Monroe	Union	South Piedmont Community College - Sun Valley High School www.spcc.edu	(704) 290-5217
Monroe	Union	Umanah Healthcare Institute www.umanahinstitute.com	(704) 218-2045
Mooresville	Iredell	Mitchell Community College www.mitchellcc.edu	(704) 878-4368
Morehead City	Carteret	Carteret Community College www.carteret.edu	(252) 247-3097
Morganton	Burke	Broughton Hospital website	(828) 433-2111
Morganton	Burke	Western Piedmont Community College www.wpcc.edu	(828) 448-3532
New Bern	Craven	Craven Community College cravencc.edu	(252) 638-6127
Newland	Avery	Mayland Community College www.mayland.edu	(828) 765-7351
Pembroke	Robeson	Robeson Community College www.robeson.edu	(910) 272-3700
Pilot Mountain	Surry	Surry Community College - Pilot Center	(336) 386-8121
Pinehurst	Moore	Sandhills Community College www.sandhills.edu	(910) 692-6185
Pittsboro	Chatham	Central Carolina Community College www.cccc.edu	(919) 542-8042
Polkton	Anson	South Piedmont Community College www.spcc.edu	(704) 290-5217
Raeford	Hoke	Sandhills Community College - Hoke Center www.sandhills.edu	(910) 695-3965
Raleigh	Wake	Care One Health Training Institute, Inc. www.careonehealth.org	(919) 773-7165
Raleigh	Wake	Guiding Lights Nurse Aide I Program	(919) 371-2062
Raleigh	Wake	Miller-Motte College www.miller-motte.edu	(919) 723-2820
Raleigh	Wake	Wake Tech Community College www.waketech.edu	(919) 866-5800
Raleigh	Wake	Wake Tech Community College - North Campus www.waketech.edu	(919) 532-5502
Raleigh	Wake	Wake Tech Community College - PSEC www.waketech.edu	(919) 986-6800
Raleigh	Wake	Wake Tech Community College - VMCCA www.waketech.edu	(919) 747-0065
Randleman	Randolph	Randolph Community College www.randolph.edu	(336) 633-3028
Reidsville	Rockingham	Rockingham Community College www.rockinghamcc.edu	(336) 637-1026
Riegelwood	Bladen	Bladen Community College - East Arcadia www.bladencc.edu	(910) 879-5500
Robbinsville	Graham	Tri-County Community College	(828) 837-6810
Rocky Mount	Edgecombe	Edgecombe Community College www.edgecombe.edu	(252) 446-0436
Rocky Mount	Edgecombe	Edgecombe Community College - OIC Campus www.edgecombe.edu	(252) 446-0486
Rocky Mount	Edgecombe	Edgecombe Community College - Tarboro High School CCP www.edgecombe.edu	(252) 823-5166
Rocky Mount	Nash	Nash Community College www.nashcc.edu	(252) 443-4011
Roxboro	Person	Piedmont Community College www.piedmontcc.edu	(336) 599-1181
Rutherfordton	Rutherford	Isothermal Community College website	(828) 395-1675
Salisbury	Rowan	Rowan-Cabarrus Community College - North Campus www.rccc.edu	(704) 637-0760
Sanford	Lee	Central Carolina Community College - Wicker Center www.cccc.edu	(919) 777-7703
Scotland Neck	Halifax	Halifax Community College www.halifaxcc.edu	(252) 826-2550
Sea Level	Carteret	Carteret Community College - Pruitt Health www.carteret.edu	(252) 222-6200
Shelby	Cleveland	Cleveland Community College www.clevelandcc.edu	(704) 484-4000
Shelby	Cleveland	Cleveland Community College - Crest Site CCP www.clevelandcc.edu	(704) 484-6661
Siler City	Chatham	Central Carolina Community College www.cccc.edu	(919) 542-6495
Smithfield	Johnston	Johnston Community College www.johnstoncc.edu	(919) 464-2355
Snow Hill	Greene	Lenoir Community College www.lenoircc.edu	(252) 747-3434
Southern Pines	Moore	Sandhills Community College - St. Joseph of the Pines www.sandhills.edu	(910) 695-3965
Southport	Brunswick	Brunswick Community College - Southport Center www.brunswickcc.edu	(910) 755-7448
Sparta	Alleghany	Wilkes Community College www.wilkescc.edu	(336) 372-5061
Spring Lake	Cumberland	Fayetteville Technical Community College www.faytechcc.edu	(910) 678-8430
Spruce Pine	Mitchell	Mayland Community College www.mayland.edu	(828) 765-7312
Statesville	Iredell	Mitchell Community College - Goodwill Center www.mitchellcc.edu	(704) 978-5443
Statesville	Iredell	Mitchell Community College - GW Site www.mitchellcc.edu	(704) 878-4368
Statesville	Iredell	Mitchell Community College - Housing Authority www.mitchellcc.edu	(704) 878-4368
Surf City	Pender	Cape Fear Community College - Pender County High School CCP cfcc.edu	(910) 362-7218
Sylva	Jackson	Southwestern Community College southwesterncc.edu	(828) 586-4091
Tarboro	Edgecombe	Edgecombe Community College www.edgecombe.edu	(252) 823-5166
Taylorsville	Alexander	Catawba Valley Community College www.cvcc.edu	(828) 327-7000
Thomasville	Davidson	Davidson County Community College www.davidsonccc.edu	(336) 249-8186
Trenton	Jones	Lenoir Community College - Jones County Center www.lenoircc.edu	(252) 448-5021
Troy	Montgomery	Montgomery Community College www.montgomery.edu	(910) 576-6222
Warrenton	Warren	Vance-Granville Community College - Warren County Campus www.vgcc.edu	(252) 738-3366
Washington	Beaufort	Beaufort County Community College www.beaufortccc.edu	(252) 946-6194
Weldon	Halifax	Halifax Community College www.halifaxcc.edu	(252) 536-7291
Wentworth	Rockingham	Rockingham Community College www.rockinghamcc.edu	(336) 342-4261
West Jefferson	Ashe	Wilkes Community College - Ashe County High School www.wilkescc.edu	(336) 838-6204
Whiteville	Columbus	Southeastern Community College sccnc.edu	(910) 642-7141
Wilkesboro	Wilkes	Wilkes Community College www.wilkescc.edu	(336) 838-6204
Williamston	Martin	Martin Community College www.martincc.edu	(252) 792-1521
Wilmington	New Hanover	Cape Fear Community College cfcc.edu	(910) 362-7180
Wilmington	New Hanover	Cape Fear Community College - New Hanover County High School cfcc.edu	(910) 362-7218
Wilson	Wilson	Fast Track Career Prep, Inc. www.fasttrackcareerprep.com	(252) 243-3276
Wilson	Wilson	Wilson Community College www.wilsoncc.edu	(252) 291-1195
Windsor	Bertie	Martin Community College www.martincc.edu	(252) 794-4861
Windsor	Bertie	Roanoke-Chowan Community College - Ashe County High School www.roanokechowan.edu	(252) 862-1261
Winston-Salem	Forsyth	Forsyth Tech Community College - Woodruff Center www.forsythtech.edu	(336) 734-7734
Winston-Salem	Forsyth	Forsyth Technical Community College - Goodwill Center www.forsythtech.edu	(336) 734-7725
Winston-Salem	Forsyth	Forsyth Technical Community College - West Campus www.forsythtech.edu	(336) 734-7734
Winston-Salem	Forsyth	Mount Eagle College www.mounteag.com	(336) 776-0357
Winterville	Pitt	Pitt Community College www.pittcc.edu	(252) 355-4293
Yadkinville	Yadkin	Surry Community College - Yadkin Center	(336) 386-3372
Yanceyville	Caswell	Piedmont Community College www.piedmontcc.edu	(336) 599-1181

Back to Top

Training Providers

The various types of facilities offering Nurse Aide I training include:

• Community colleges
• Long-term care facilities
• Hospitals
• Nonprofit sites (i.e. Goodwill)
• Training institutes
• Private training centers and institutes
• High schools

Since the age limit for CNA training programs is 17 years old, North Carolina allows high schools to offer CNA training programs that are managed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). The high school-based programs meet the same strict training standards as programs offered in other facilities.

North Carolina schools of nursing can also offer students a certificate of completion for taking Nurse Aide I training while working on an RN or LPN degree. The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) assesses the Nurse Aide I component and notifies DSHR as to whether it meets Nurse Aide I training requirements. When the RN or LPN obtains the certificate of completion, it qualifies the person to apply for competency testing.

Some nursing homes also offer state-approved nurse aide training to employees. The nursing home has to be approved through the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation/Health Care Personnel Registry Section/Center for Aide Regulation Education (DHSR CARE).

Instructor Qualifications

CNA classes in North Carolina that are state-approved have gone through a credentialing process. The Division of Health Service Regulation’s Health Care Personnel Education and Credentialing Section approves these programs. The school or facility submits a Nurse Aide I Training Program Application Packet (DHHS/DHSR-4510 – Rev 2-2015) which provides the program details, including the clinical sites.

There are a number of forms that are submitted during the credentialing process, and one is the Faculty Approval Request Form for each faculty member. The Nurse Aide I Training Faculty Requirements Worksheet delineates the requirements for approval to teach a state-approved CNA I training program. Two important positions in a Nurse Aide I training faculty are Program Coordinator and Instructor.

According to the Worksheet, both a Program Coordinator and an Instructor must:

• Be a registered nurse with a valid license
• Be licensed to practice nursing in North Carolina
• Have at least two years of experience as a Registered Nurse in the U.S.

There are additional requirements for each of the two roles. A Program Coordinator must also have at least one year of RN experience in a long-term facility either working in the facility or supervising/teaching students in a skilled nursing facility. An instructor must also meet at least one of three conditions: completed a course in adult instruction, has experience teaching adults, or has experience supervising nurse aides.

Curriculum

The Nurse Aide I training program curriculum must meet the minimum requirements set by the state of North Carolina. The curriculum must consist of at least 75 hours of combined classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction. A minimum of 16 hours of combined clinical and laboratory training must also be included in the 75 hours.

A state-approved curriculum covers the core content found in 23 modules. Each module represents knowledge in a particular area that Nurse Aide I students must know. The curriculum also meets federal requirements for those who will work in a federally certified long-term care facility.

The instructional modules are as follows:

• Module A: Nurse Aide I
• Module B: Infection Prevention
• Module C: The Resident’s Environment: Safety and Emergency
• Module D: Communication
• Module E: Law and Ethics
• Module F: Dignity
• Module G: Basic Restorative Care
• Module H: Body Systems
• Module I: Body Mechanics
• Module J: Nutrition and Fluids
• Module K: Restraint Elimination, Reduction, Appropriate Use
• Module L: Communicating with the Health Care Team
• Module M: The Nursing Process and Nursing Care Plan
• Module N: Incident Report
• Module O: Critical Thinking
• Module P: Family and Family Support
• Module Q: Person Centered Care
• Module R: Cognitive Changes Due to Aging
• Module S: Psychological Effects of Aging
• Module T: Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
• Module U: Mental Health and Mental Illness
• Module V: Pain
• Module W: End of Life Care

Laboratory and Clinical Training

Laboratory and clinical training has three components:

• Demonstration of skills by the instructor
• Student practice of the skills
• Proficiency check-off

Each student will perform a minimum of the 15 skills starred on the Performance Skills Checklists Summary in Appendix A of the “State-approved Curriculum Nurse Aide I Training Program” in a proficient manner under instructor supervision as part of their clinical training. These direct patient or resident care skills are performed after the student has demonstrated proficiency in the laboratory setting.

The starred skills include:

• Personal care – providing complete or partial bed bath, dressing and undressing, perineal care, making an occupied bed, foot care, fingernail care, mouth care for a conscious or unconscious person, and denture care
• Infection Prevention and Control – providing hand hygiene and putting on and taking off Personal Protective Equipment like gowns and masks
• Measurements – measuring and recording vital signs and measuring and recording height and weight
• Elimination – collecting urine specimens, assisting with bathroom use or elimination requiring bedpans or urinals, measuring and recording urinary output, providing catheter care, and emptying urinary drainage bags
• Hydration and nutrition – assisting with resident dining/feeding needs when they are unable to feed themselves and recording their intake
• Mobility – perform range of motion (ROM) exercises, transfer from bed to wheelchair or chair, position a person in bed, assist with ambulation, and apply restraints
• Treatment – Apply anti-embolism stockings

Length and Cost of the Program

The length of the Nurse Aide I or Nursing Assistant I course is 9 to 16 weeks, depending on how many times the class meets. Some schools offer different options.

CNA Refresher Courses

There are two groups of people who may need to take a CNA refresher course in order to get or remain on the registry.

• A Nurse Aide needs to refresh their skills before re-taking the competency exam. For example, you got a Training Waiver, but the registry expiration date has passed so you are required to complete a refresher course.
• EMTs, medical office assistants, and paramedics who need to master additional skills to pass the Nurse Aide I Competency Evaluation Exam, but do not need to repeat the training program, can also take a refresher course.

The refresher course for the nursing assistant is a basic review of the Nurse Aide I curriculum and the performance skills competency exam. It does not include clinical training.

Any North Carolina state-approved Nurse Aide I refresher course will have similar requirements.

Back to Top

Step 3: Pass the Exam

Pearson VUE administers the written (or oral) exam and the skills evaluation portions of the competency exam. You can apply to take the CNA exam if you meet one of the eligibility routes described in Step 1.

Applying for the Exam

Pearson VUE has an online registration process that requires creating an account. The account creation process creates an ID and assigns a password. It is important to accurately complete all the required fields which are asterisked.

Paying for the CNA Exam

You are required to schedule both parts of the exam (written and skills evaluation) the first time you test. The current fee schedule (subject to change) is as follows:

• Written examination and skills evaluation – $101
• Oral examination and skills evaluation in English or Spanish – $101
• Retest the written examination only – $24
• Retest the oral examination only in English or Spanish – $24
• Retest the skills evaluation only – $77

There are several payment methods accepted:

• American Express
• Visa
• MasterCard
• Electronic Voucher

Fees are non-refundable, so if you are unable to keep the appointed exam time, you will have to pay the required fees again when re-scheduling. The fees are also non-transferrable, meaning they cannot be applied to the new exam registration or used for any other purpose.

You are responsible for paying the fees unless you are working as a nurse aide in a nursing home that participates in Medicaid/Medicare programs. Per federal and state law, if there is a signed written commitment or employment agreement on file in a Medicaid-certified nursing home, the employer must pay the examination and re-test fees. If you are employed as a nurse aide by a Medicare/Medicaid facility within 12 months of passing both parts of the test, the facility may reimburse you for the cost of the test.

Test Locations

There are two types of testing locations: regional testing sites and in-facility testing sites. People with documented disabilities can request special accommodations.

Regional Testing Site

These are sites located in various locations around the state where anyone can test. A list of these sites is available on the NC Nurse Aide website and is accessible through Pearson VUE. You will register for a specific test date of your choosing based on the route you chose as explained in Step 1. The scheduling guide is located here.

In-facility Testing Site

The in-facility testing sites are only available to those who chose route E1, E3, or E5 in Step 1. The instructor will give you an INF code and a test date.

What to Bring to the Exam

It is important to arrive at least 30 minutes before the exams start. You need to bring a few items to the exam:

• Two forms of current identification with the following stipulations:
  • It is official and signature-bearing
  • Includes a U.S. government-issued social security card that is signed and not laminated
  • Applicants in the armed services can use their U.S. Military I.D. instead of a social security card
  • Second I.D. may be a non-expired driver’s license, state-issued identification card, passport, non-expired federally-issued Employment
• Authorization Document (EAD), or Alien registration card
• Three sharpened No. 2 pencils
• Eraser
• Watch with a second hand

Nothing else is permitted in the exam room, so do not bring any devices like a cell phone or beeper. Testing will begin on time. If you are late, there are no refunds.

What to Test

There are two parts to the North Carolina NNAAP test: a written (or oral) examination and a skills evaluation. These two parts are quite different because one is a multiple-choice exam and the other is a hands-on skills demonstration.

Written (Or Oral) Exam

This part of the CNA exam consists of 70 multiple-choice questions that must be completed in two (2) hours. The oral version is offered in English or Spanish and has 60 general multiple-choice questions and 10 multiple-choice questions that test your ability to speak a minimum amount of English, including commonly used nurse aide words.

Both exams test for knowledge of:

• Physical care skills – activities of daily living, basic nursing skills, and restorative skills
• Psychosocial care skills – emotional and mental health needs as well as spiritual and cultural needs
• Role of the Nurse Aide – communication, client rights, legal and ethical behavior, and member of the health care team

It is wise to review the practice exam of sample questions that Pearson VUE offers on its website or to find a longer test online. The more you practice, the easier the exam will be.

Skills Evaluation

This part of the CNA test in NC is designed to test applicants as if they were in an actual caregiving situation. The test is administered by a Nurse Aide Evaluator, and all of the equipment is provided. Candidates volunteer to play the role of a patient/resident.

There are a number of skills that you may be asked to demonstrate, but some are called a “Critical Element Step”. Everyone must be able to perform these “Critical Element Step” skills, along with the other randomly selected skills, to pass the exam. The randomly selected skills will include a measurement skill.

Get Results

Upon completion of the Nurse Aide I examination, the Nurse Aide Evaluator will fax the answer sheets for the written examination and the results of the skills evaluation to Pearson VUE. The official score results are available within ten (10) minutes. If you pass, you are on your way to certification. If you fail, you will have to re-test one or both parts, depending on your results.

Back to Top

Step 4: Get on the CNA Registry

Getting listed on the GA CNA Registry, and remaining listed, is required to continue working as a Nurse Aide I in North Carolina. It is up to the applicant to ensure all the information remains current and that all requirements are met for renewing the Registry listing.

CNA Certification and Registry in North Carolina

Once you pass both the written (or oral) examination and the skills evaluation of the NNAAP competency evaluation test, your name is sent to the State Nurse Aide I Registry. It takes approximately 2-5 days for your name to be listed, and it is free. Once your name is listed in the Registry as being in good standing, you are certified to work.

At any time you or an employer can verify the Registry listing either by calling 919-3969 or by going online. The site is updated regularly. Employers who check the site for verification of your status will get a confirmation number, proving a search was conducted to ensure employees have valid CNA certification. The Certified Nurse Aide Registry verification process is required by:

1. Nursing homes hiring nurse aides
2. Nursing homes hiring medication aides
3. All health care facilities

CNA Renewal

A Nurse Aide I maintains active CNA Registry in North Carolina by working at least eight (8) hours as a paid nursing assistant every two years. Your duties must be those of a nurse aide which are the 22 skills listed previously. Your duties must also be supervised by a Registered Nurse.

The CNA renewal in NC process works as follows:

• Complete the scannable renewal form the Registry sends to nursing assistants three months before certification expires
• Report employment on the form
• Have the supervising RN sign the form, verifying the nurse aide performed the duties
• Send the renewal form to the Registry
• The Registry then renews the listing for 24 months from the last qualified work date reported on the form

You should take special note that the renewal date is from the last qualified work date and not the date you send the form in. For example, if you last worked a year ago, your renewal will be for 24 months but will expire in another year. Registry listings expire at the end of the month.

Lapsed Certification and Reciprocity

What happens if the certification lapses because you did not work at least eight paid hours of nurse aide duties, or you let your listing expire? You must take the North Carolina Nurse Aide I examination. Once you are registered to test, you must complete testing within two years of registration.

North Carolina does not have reciprocity and will not allow anyone to transfer their Nurse Aide listing from another state. The only way to get a NC Registry listing is to pass both parts of the competency exam.

Back to Top

Step 5: Work as a CNA

Once you get CNA certified, you can be fully employed in North Carolina. However, the supervising RN or LPN will validate your competence to perform specific duties. Your supervisor is also responsible for assigning you duties for the care of each patient and resident and for regularly monitoring the care you provide for the patients or residents.

Where to Work as a CNA in North Carolina

The Nurse Aide I can work in a variety of health care and long-term care facilities and provide in-home care. CNA jobs are found in:

• Hospitals
• Specialty medical centers
• Clinics
• Rehabilitation centers
• Nursing homes
• Long-term care facilities
• Assisted living facilities
• Hospices
• Private companies, i.e. doing medical exams for insurance companies or providing home-based caregiving
• Private duty
• Employment services

CNA Duties and Skills

The skills that are included in the required training curriculum reflect the typical work duties of a Nurse Aide I. The specific tasks will all fall within the 22 skills categories discussed earlier. The North Carolina Board of Nursing groups Nurse Aide I tasks under six broad categories. They are personal care, body mechanics, nutrition, elimination, safety, and special procedures like taking vital signs and changing dressings.

The following are some of the specific duties you will be completing on a regular basis:

• Giving a complete or partial bed bath
• Dressing and undressing individuals
• Making an occupied bed
• Peri care
• Fingernail care
• Foot care, including skin and toenail care
• Mouth care, including the oral cavity, teeth, and dentures
• Handwashing per cleanliness standards
• Putting on and taking off personal protective equipment
• Measuring and recording vital signs
• Measuring and recording height and weight of ambulatory and bedridden people
• Collecting urine specimens
• Assisting patients or residents with using the bathroom, including measuring and recording urinary output
• Transferring people from a bed to a wheelchair
• Assisting with ambulation
• Positioning and repositioning the patient in bed
• Assisting with range of motion exercises
• Applying restraints
• Applying anti-embolism stockings
• Changing dressings
• Applying bandages
• Applying and removing an EKG monitor
• Postmortem care

Job Outlook for CNAs in North Carolina

Drawing from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) reports the national job outlook for the 2014-2024 period indicates a 17% growth rate, which is must faster than average. In North Carolina, the most recent projections are for the 2012-2022 period, and the jobs are projected to grow by 27%, far exceeding the national trends. North Carolina anticipates 2,480 new job openings annually. | See Job Openings

Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 62,120 CNAs employed in NC as of May 2016. Greenville, NC is one of the nation’s top ten metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of CNA jobs. The Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area and the Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area are both in the top five nonmetropolitan areas in the U.S. with the highest employment of Nursing Assistants. There are also many CNA jobs available around the state. | See Job Openings

CNA Salary in North Carolina

The U.S. Occupational Employment Statistics for May, 2016 say the national average annual wages for CNAs is $27,650, or $13.29 per hour. In North Carolina, the average annual salary is $23,630, or $11.36 per hour. Average annual wages around the state range from a high of $25,570, or $12.29 per hour in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC to a low of $20,180, or $9.70 in Northeast Coast North Carolina Nonmetropolitan area. For the state, the wages range from $17,410 at the 10th percentile to $30,710 at the 90th percentile. | See Job Openings

NC 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
North Carolina	62120	11.36	23630	0.5	8.37	11.17	14.76	17410	23230	30710
Asheville, NC	4240	12.15	25270	2.0	9.55	12.06	15.05	19860	25080	31300
Burlington, NC	1070	11.49	23890	2.1	8.54	11.11	15.20	17770	23100	31610
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	11410	11.34	23600	1.5	8.44	11.10	14.78	17560	23090	30750
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	4870	12.29	25570	3.0	8.68	12.27	16.42	18060	25510	34150
Fayetteville, NC	2000	11.16	23200	2.5	8.35	10.86	14.73	17360	22590	30640
Goldsboro, NC	530	11.43	23770	2.6	8.76	11.27	14.59	18210	23430	30350
Greensboro-High Point, NC	3910	11.35	23620	1.6	8.87	11.13	14.55	18450	23140	30260
Greenville, NC	1780	11.83	24610	2.4	8.65	11.77	14.93	17990	24480	31050
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	3530	11.73	24390	3.3	8.49	11.93	14.82	17660	24810	30820
Jacksonville, NC	180	11.42	23750	2.6	8.41	10.93	16.06	17480	22730	33400
Mountain North Carolina nonmetropolitan area	1900	11.14	23180	1.9	8.45	10.94	14.37	17570	22760	29890
New Bern, NC	510	10.99	22870	4.9	8.11	10.71	14.63	16860	22280	30430
Northeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area	1660	9.70	20180	2.8	7.91	9.39	12.10	16440	19540	25160
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area	5880	11.18	23250	2.1	8.23	11.21	14.29	17120	23320	29720
Raleigh, NC	4940	11.73	24400	2.8	8.82	11.34	15.37	18340	23590	31970
Rocky Mount, NC	1260	10.68	22210	2.3	8.14	10.47	14.25	16920	21780	29640
Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area	6390	10.33	21490	4.1	7.90	9.55	13.94	16430	19870	28990
Wilmington, NC	2040	10.74	22330	3.2	8.21	10.47	14.38	17070	21770	29910
Winston-Salem, NC	4600	11.63	24190	1.7	9.06	11.47	14.69	18850	23850	30550

Back to Top

Conclusion

Anyone who wants to find employment in the healthcare industry can get CNA certified in North Carolina in a short period of time. After a period of employment, many CNAs decide to continue their education and become an RN or an LPN. Being a CNA is a rewarding job that brings a higher quality of life to patients and residents and a personal satisfaction that comes from helping others in need.