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How to Become a Certified Nurse Aide in North Carolina

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(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
  • Step 2: Take Nurse Aide I Training
  • Step 3: Pass the Exam
  • Step 4: Get on the CNA Registry
  • Step 5: Work as a CNA in North Carolina

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

  • Paths to Success in in North Carolina
  • 3 Routes Through CNA Training
  • 2 Routes Through Waiver
  • 1 Route for Certification Renewal
  • 1 Route for CNAs From Another State
  • Proving Competency

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
  • 188 State-Approved Programs
  • Training Providers
  • Instructor Qualifications
  • Curriculum
  • Laboratory and Clinical Training
  • Length and Cost of the Program
  • Refresher Courses

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

CityCountySchoolPhone
AhoskieHertfordRoanoke-Chowan Community College
www.roanokechowan.edu
(252) 332-5921
AhoskieHertfordRoanoke-Chowan Community College - Hertford County High School CCP
www.roanokechowan.edu
(252) 862-1200
AhoskieHertfordRoanoke-Chowan Community College - Northampton High School CCP
www.roanokechowan.edu
(252) 862-1200
AlbemarleStanlyStanly Community College - CCP
www.stanly.edu
(704) 991-0342
AlbemarleStanlyStanly Community College - Crutchfield Education Center
www.stanly.edu
(704) 991-0342
AlbemarleStanlyStanly Community College - Main campus
www.stanly.edu
(704) 991-0342
ArchdaleRandolphRandolph Community College - Archdale Center
www.randolph.edu
(336) 633-3028
AsheboroRandolphRandolph Community College
www.randolph.edu
(336) 633-3028
AshevilleBuncombeAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
www.abtech.edu
(828) 254-1921
AshevilleBuncombeAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College - Goodwill
www.abtech.edu
(828) 254-1921
AshevilleBuncombeAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College - Mission
www.abtech.edu
(828) 398-7332
BattleboroEdgecombeEdgecombe Community College - Incubator Site
www.edgecombe.edu
(252) 446-0436
BelmontGastonGaston College - East Campus
www.gaston.edu
(704) 922-6372
BiscoeMontgomeryMontgomery Community College - CCP
www.montgomery.edu
(910) 576-6222
BoliviaBrunswickBrunswick Community College
www.brunswickcc.edu
(910) 755-7337
BooneWataugaCaldwell Community College and Technical Institute
www.cccti.edu
(828) 726-2242
BrevardTransylvaniaBlue Ridge Community College - Transylvania Center
www.blueridge.edu
(828) 694-1761
BurgawPenderCape Fear Community College
cfcc.edu
(910) 343-0481
BurgawPenderCape Fear Community College - Pender County High School CCP
cfcc.edu
(910) 362-7218
BurlingtonAlamanceAlamance Community College - Goodwill Site
www.alamancecc.edu
(336) 278-2202
BurnsvilleYanceyMayland Community College
www.mayland.edu
(828) 682-7315
ButnerGranvilleCentral Regional Hospital
website
(919) 733-5324
Castle HayneNew HanoverCaring for Life
www.caringforlifenc.com
(910) 989-2273
Chapel HillOrangeDurham Technical Community College
www.durhamtech.edu
(919) 536-7223
Chapel HillOrangeDurham Technical Community College - Hybrid
www.durhamtech.edu
(919) 536-7239
CharlotteMecklenburgAmerican Academy of Healthcare, LLC
americanacademyofhealthcare.com
(704) 525-3500
CharlotteMecklenburgCarolinas College of Health Sciences
website
(704) 355-0975
CharlotteMecklenburgCarWil Learning Academy, LLC
www.caregiversinstitute.org
(704) 373-0034
CharlotteMecklenburgCentral Piedmont Community College - Central Campus
www.cccc.edu
(704) 330-2722
CharlotteMecklenburgChosen Health Care Institute, Inc.
www.chosenhealthcareinstitute.com
(704) 547-1988
CharlotteMecklenburgDivine Health Academy
www.divinehealthacademy.com
(704) 566-2955
CharlotteMecklenburgSerenity Nurse Aide Academy(704) 567-8000
CharlotteMecklenburgUmanah Healthcare Institute
www.umanahinstitute.com
(704) 531-1100
CharlotteMecklenburgUnity Nursing Institute(704) 525-1448
CharlotteMecklenburgVictory Health Career Center
www.victoryhcc.org
(704) 717-7063
CherokeeCherokeeOconaluftee Job Corps
website
(828) 497-8033
ClarktonBladenBladen Community College
www.bladencc.edu
(910) 879-5634
ClaytonJohnstonJohnston Community College - Cleveland Campus
www.johnstoncc.edu
(919) 209-2009
ClintonSampsonSampson Community College
www.sampsoncc.edu
(910) 592-8081
ClydeHaywoodHaywood Community College
www.haywood.edu
(828) 627-2821
ColumbusPolkIsothermal Community College
www.isothermal.edu
(828) 894-3092
ConcordCabarrusCabarrus College of Health Sciences
website
(704) 403-3209
ConcordCabarrusSouthern College of Health Sciences(704) 707-3965
ConoverCatawbaCatawba Valley Community College - Goodwill Site
www.cvcc.edu
(828) 327-7000
CreedmoorGranvilleVance-Granville Community College
www.vgcc.edu
(252) 492-2061
DallasGastonGaston College
www.gaston.edu
(704) 922-6365
DentonDavidsonDavidson County Community College - CCP (Career & College Promise)
www.davidsonccc.edu
(336) 249-8186
DobsonSurrySurry Community College(336) 386-3372
DublinBladenBladen Community College
www.bladencc.edu
(910) 879-5500
DurhamDurhamDurham Technical Community College
www.durhamtech.edu
(919) 536-7223
DurhamDurhamDurham Technical Community College - Hybrid
www.durhamtech.edu
(919) 536-7239
DurhamDurhamGericare Education & Training, Inc.(919) 479-3000
DurhamDurhamHarris Training Institute
www.harristraininginstitute.com
(919) 224-8081
DurhamDurhamIdeal Health Institute, Inc.
www.idealhealthinstitute.com
(919) 957-8311
DurhamDurhamWisdom Health Academy(919) 323-3693
EdentonChowanCollege of the Albemarle
www.albemarle.edu
(252) 482-7900
EdentonChowanCollege of the Albemarle - Chowan County High School CCP
www.albemarle.edu
(252) 482-7900
Elizabeth CityPasquotankCollege of the Albemarle
www.albemarle.edu
(252) 335-0821
Elizabeth CityPasquotankCollege of the Albemarle - Pasquotank County High School CCP
www.albemarle.edu
(252) 335-0821
ElkinSurrySurry Community College - Elkin Center(336) 386-3372
EnfieldHalifaxHalifax Community College
www.halifaxcc.edu
(252) 536-7291
FayettevilleCumberlandCare One Health Training Institute
www.careonehealth.org
(910) 229-3242
FayettevilleCumberlandFayetteville Technical Community College
www.faytechcc.edu
(910) 678-8430
FayettevilleCumberlandFayetteville Technical Community College - CCP
www.faytechcc.edu
(910) 678-9868
FayettevilleCumberlandFayetteville Technical Community College - CDPK
www.faytechcc.edu
(910) 678-8430
FayettevilleCumberlandMiller-Motte College
www.miller-motte.edu
(910) 354-1900
FranklinMaconSouthwestern Community College - Macon Center
southwesterncc.edu
(828) 369-7331
GastoniaGastonApex Health Care Academy, LLC(704) 396-6602
GastoniaGastonUmanah Healthcare Institute
www.umanahinstitute.com
(704) 215-6674
GoldsboroWayneCherry Hospital
website
(919) 731-3200
GoldsboroWayneWayne Community College
www.waynecc.edu
(919) 735-5151
GrahamAlamanceAlamance Community College
www.alamancecc.edu
(336) 578-2002
GrantsboroPamlicoPamlico Community College
www.pamlicocc.edu
(252) 249-1851
GreensboroGuilfordGuilford Technical Community College
home.gtcc.edu
(336) 334-4822
GreensboroGuilfordMount Eagle College
www.mounteag.com
(336) 283-5191
GreenvillePittPitt Community College
www.pittcc.edu
(252) 321-4225
HamletRichmondRichmond Community College
richmondcc.edu
(910) 410-1891
HampsteadPenderCape Fear Community College - Alston Burk Center
cfcc.edu
(910) 362-7218
HavelockCravenCraven Community College
cravencc.edu
(252) 638-6127
HendersonVanceVance-Granville Community College - Vance City Main Campus
www.vgcc.edu
(252) 492-2061
HendersonvilleHendersonBlue Ridge Community College - Health Science Center
www.blueridge.edu
(828) 694-1761
HickoryCatawbaCatawba Valley Community College
www.cvcc.edu
(828) 327-7000
High PointGuilfordGuilford Technical Community College
home.gtcc.edu
(336) 334-4822
HillsboroughOrangeDurham Technical Community College
www.durhamtech.edu
(919) 536-7222
HudsonCaldwellCaldwell Community College and Technical Institute
www.cccti.edu
(828) 726-2200
JacksonvilleOnslowCaring for Life
www.caringforlifenc.com
(910) 989-2273
JacksonvilleOnslowCoastal Carolina Community College
www.coastalcarolina.edu
(910) 455-1221
JamestownGuilfordGuilford Technical Community College
home.gtcc.edu
(336) 334-4822
JeffersonAsheWilkes Community College
www.wilkescc.edu
(336) 838-6204
KannapolisCabarrusRowan-Cabarrus Community College - Research Campus
www.rccc.edu
(704) 216-7281
KannapolisCabarrusRowan-Cabarrus Community College - West Avenue Center
www.rccc.edu
(704) 216-3733
KenansvilleDuplinJames Sprunt Community College
www.jamessprunt.edu
(910) 296-1341
KernersvilleForsythForsyth Tech Community College - Grady Swisher Center
www.forsythtech.edu
(336) 734-7734
KingForsythForsyth Technical Community College - NW Forsyth Center
www.forsythtech.edu
(336) 734-7734
KinstonLenoirLenoir Community College
www.lenoircc.edu
(252) 527-6223
KinstonLenoirLenoir Community College - Lenoir County Off-campus Sites
www.lenoircc.edu
(252) 233-6848
LaurinburgScotlandRichmond Community College - Honeycutt Center
richmondcc.edu
(910) 410-1833
LexingtonDavidsonDavidson County Community College - CCP (Career & College Promise)
www.davidsonccc.edu
(336) 249-8186
LillingtonHarnettCentral Carolina Community College
www.cccc.edu
(910) 814-8999
LincolntonLincolnGaston College
www.gaston.edu
(704) 922-6372
LocustStanlyStanly Community College - Crutchfield Education Center
www.stanly.edu
(704) 991-0342
LouisburgFranklinVance-Granville Community College - Franklin City Campus
www.vgcc.edu
(252) 492-2061
LumbertonRobesonRobeson Community College
www.robeson.edu
(910) 272-3397
ManteoDareCollege of the Albemarle - Dare County High School CCP
www.albemarle.edu
(252) 473-2264
ManteoDareCollege of the Albemarle - Roanoke Island Campus
www.albemarle.edu
(252) 475-9250
MarbleCherokeeTri-County Community College - Technology Center(828) 835-3095
MarionMcdowellMcDowell Technical Community College
www.mcdowelltech.edu
(828) 652-0645
MarshallMadisonAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
www.abtech.edu
(828) 254-1921
MatthewsMecklenburgCentral Piedmont Community College - Levine Campus
www.cccc.edu
(704) 330-2722
MocksvilleDavieDavidson County Community College
www.davidsonccc.edu
(336) 249-8186
MocksvilleDavieDavidson County Community College - CCP (Career & College Promise)
www.davidsonccc.edu
(336) 249-8186
MonroeUnionSouth Piedmont Community College - OCH Campus
www.spcc.edu
(704) 290-5217
MonroeUnionSouth Piedmont Community College - Sun Valley High School
www.spcc.edu
(704) 290-5217
MonroeUnionUmanah Healthcare Institute
www.umanahinstitute.com
(704) 218-2045
MooresvilleIredellMitchell Community College
www.mitchellcc.edu
(704) 878-4368
Morehead CityCarteretCarteret Community College
www.carteret.edu
(252) 247-3097
MorgantonBurkeBroughton Hospital
website
(828) 433-2111
MorgantonBurkeWestern Piedmont Community College
www.wpcc.edu
(828) 448-3532
New BernCravenCraven Community College
cravencc.edu
(252) 638-6127
NewlandAveryMayland Community College
www.mayland.edu
(828) 765-7351
PembrokeRobesonRobeson Community College
www.robeson.edu
(910) 272-3700
Pilot MountainSurrySurry Community College - Pilot Center(336) 386-8121
PinehurstMooreSandhills Community College
www.sandhills.edu
(910) 692-6185
PittsboroChathamCentral Carolina Community College
www.cccc.edu
(919) 542-8042
PolktonAnsonSouth Piedmont Community College
www.spcc.edu
(704) 290-5217
RaefordHokeSandhills Community College - Hoke Center
www.sandhills.edu
(910) 695-3965
RaleighWakeCare One Health Training Institute, Inc.
www.careonehealth.org
(919) 773-7165
RaleighWakeGuiding Lights Nurse Aide I Program(919) 371-2062
RaleighWakeMiller-Motte College
www.miller-motte.edu
(919) 723-2820
RaleighWakeWake Tech Community College
www.waketech.edu
(919) 866-5800
RaleighWakeWake Tech Community College - North Campus
www.waketech.edu
(919) 532-5502
RaleighWakeWake Tech Community College - PSEC
www.waketech.edu
(919) 986-6800
RaleighWakeWake Tech Community College - VMCCA
www.waketech.edu
(919) 747-0065
RandlemanRandolphRandolph Community College
www.randolph.edu
(336) 633-3028
ReidsvilleRockinghamRockingham Community College
www.rockinghamcc.edu
(336) 637-1026
RiegelwoodBladenBladen Community College - East Arcadia
www.bladencc.edu
(910) 879-5500
RobbinsvilleGrahamTri-County Community College(828) 837-6810
Rocky MountEdgecombeEdgecombe Community College
www.edgecombe.edu
(252) 446-0436
Rocky MountEdgecombeEdgecombe Community College - OIC Campus
www.edgecombe.edu
(252) 446-0486
Rocky MountEdgecombeEdgecombe Community College - Tarboro High School CCP
www.edgecombe.edu
(252) 823-5166
Rocky MountNashNash Community College
www.nashcc.edu
(252) 443-4011
RoxboroPersonPiedmont Community College
www.piedmontcc.edu
(336) 599-1181
RutherfordtonRutherfordIsothermal Community College
website
(828) 395-1675
SalisburyRowanRowan-Cabarrus Community College - North Campus
www.rccc.edu
(704) 637-0760
SanfordLeeCentral Carolina Community College - Wicker Center
www.cccc.edu
(919) 777-7703
Scotland NeckHalifaxHalifax Community College
www.halifaxcc.edu
(252) 826-2550
Sea LevelCarteretCarteret Community College - Pruitt Health
www.carteret.edu
(252) 222-6200
ShelbyClevelandCleveland Community College
www.clevelandcc.edu
(704) 484-4000
ShelbyClevelandCleveland Community College - Crest Site CCP
www.clevelandcc.edu
(704) 484-6661
Siler CityChathamCentral Carolina Community College
www.cccc.edu
(919) 542-6495
SmithfieldJohnstonJohnston Community College
www.johnstoncc.edu
(919) 464-2355
Snow HillGreeneLenoir Community College
www.lenoircc.edu
(252) 747-3434
Southern PinesMooreSandhills Community College - St. Joseph of the Pines
www.sandhills.edu
(910) 695-3965
SouthportBrunswickBrunswick Community College - Southport Center
www.brunswickcc.edu
(910) 755-7448
SpartaAlleghanyWilkes Community College
www.wilkescc.edu
(336) 372-5061
Spring LakeCumberlandFayetteville Technical Community College
www.faytechcc.edu
(910) 678-8430
Spruce PineMitchellMayland Community College
www.mayland.edu
(828) 765-7312
StatesvilleIredellMitchell Community College - Goodwill Center
www.mitchellcc.edu
(704) 978-5443
StatesvilleIredellMitchell Community College - GW Site
www.mitchellcc.edu
(704) 878-4368
StatesvilleIredellMitchell Community College - Housing Authority
www.mitchellcc.edu
(704) 878-4368
Surf CityPenderCape Fear Community College - Pender County High School CCP
cfcc.edu
(910) 362-7218
SylvaJacksonSouthwestern Community College
southwesterncc.edu
(828) 586-4091
TarboroEdgecombeEdgecombe Community College
www.edgecombe.edu
(252) 823-5166
TaylorsvilleAlexanderCatawba Valley Community College
www.cvcc.edu
(828) 327-7000
ThomasvilleDavidsonDavidson County Community College
www.davidsonccc.edu
(336) 249-8186
TrentonJonesLenoir Community College - Jones County Center
www.lenoircc.edu
(252) 448-5021
TroyMontgomeryMontgomery Community College
www.montgomery.edu
(910) 576-6222
WarrentonWarrenVance-Granville Community College - Warren County Campus
www.vgcc.edu
(252) 738-3366
WashingtonBeaufortBeaufort County Community College
www.beaufortccc.edu
(252) 946-6194
WeldonHalifaxHalifax Community College
www.halifaxcc.edu
(252) 536-7291
WentworthRockinghamRockingham Community College
www.rockinghamcc.edu
(336) 342-4261
West JeffersonAsheWilkes Community College - Ashe County High School
www.wilkescc.edu
(336) 838-6204
WhitevilleColumbusSoutheastern Community College
sccnc.edu
(910) 642-7141
WilkesboroWilkesWilkes Community College
www.wilkescc.edu
(336) 838-6204
WilliamstonMartinMartin Community College
www.martincc.edu
(252) 792-1521
WilmingtonNew HanoverCape Fear Community College
cfcc.edu
(910) 362-7180
WilmingtonNew HanoverCape Fear Community College - New Hanover County High School
cfcc.edu
(910) 362-7218
WilsonWilsonFast Track Career Prep, Inc.
www.fasttrackcareerprep.com
(252) 243-3276
WilsonWilsonWilson Community College
www.wilsoncc.edu
(252) 291-1195
Windsor BertieMartin Community College
www.martincc.edu
(252) 794-4861
Windsor BertieRoanoke-Chowan Community College - Ashe County High School
www.roanokechowan.edu
(252) 862-1261
Winston-SalemForsythForsyth Tech Community College - Woodruff Center
www.forsythtech.edu
(336) 734-7734
Winston-SalemForsythForsyth Technical Community College - Goodwill Center
www.forsythtech.edu
(336) 734-7725
Winston-SalemForsythForsyth Technical Community College - West Campus
www.forsythtech.edu
(336) 734-7734
Winston-SalemForsythMount Eagle College
www.mounteag.com
(336) 776-0357
WintervillePittPitt Community College
www.pittcc.edu
(252) 355-4293
YadkinvilleYadkinSurry Community College - Yadkin Center(336) 386-3372
YanceyvilleCaswellPiedmont Community College
www.piedmontcc.edu
(336) 599-1181

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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.

For example, Durham Tech offers the following courses to become a nursing assistant:

  • Traditional course – 16-week course requiring students to attend class twice a week to earn hours
  • Fast Track course – 9-week course requiring students to attend classes Monday through Thursday to earn 179.5 hours
  • Hybrid course – approximately 9-week course in which classroom work is completed online but onsite attendance is required one day a week is during the laboratory portion and two days a week during clinical training to earn 179.5 hours
  • Fast Track and Hybrid course – approximately 9-week course in which classroom work is completed online but onsite attendance is required two days a week for the laboratory portion and Monday through Thursday for clinical training to earn 172.5 hours
  • Hospital-based course – course covers the required NC Nurse Aide I state curriculum in the classroom and laboratory, but the clinical rotation is in an area hospital to earn a total of 172.5 hours. This course has special requirements beyond the traditional courses. Students must be 18-years old, pass a criminal background check and drug screening, and be certified in Basic Life Support by the American Heart Association.

The fee for each course is $254, but you must also buy the textbook, supplies, equipment, and a uniform for approximately $200. You also have to provide evidence of a negative TB test. Students must pass a criminal background check through FirstPoint and show proof of immunization to Hepatitis B or decline to receive the vaccine. Students can qualify for financial assistance.

This example gives you an idea of the type of options available for CNA training in North Carolina. In every case, CNA programs online will require physical attendance for laboratory and clinical training per state requirements.

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.

Using Wake Tech Community College as an example, the refresher course costs $150. Payment may be made by check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, or cash. Classes are limited to 10 students. To be eligible to take the refresher course, you must be able to meet certain requirements:

  • Your North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry listing is expired and has no substantial findings, or
  • You have successfully completed a NC Nurse Aide I program in the last five years, or
  • You have a current Nurse Aide I listing from a different state with no substantial findings, or
  • You have an expired out-of-state listing with no substantial findings from an accredited facility, or
  • You have successfully completed a Nurse Aide I program in another state from an accredited institution within the last five years

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

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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
  • Paying for the CNA Exam
  • Test Locations
  • What to Bring to the Exam
  • What to Test
  • Get Results

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.

The following is a list of 22 skills from which the exam demonstrations are pulled:

  1. Hand hygiene
  2. Help a patient or resident ambulate using a transfer belt
  3. Help a patient or resident use a bedpan
  4. Clean a full set of dentures
  5. Count and record respirations
  6. Measure and record blood pressure
  7. Put a knee-high elastic stocking on the resident
  8. Put on and remove personal protective clothing and equipment
  9. Count and record pulse
  10. Weigh resident who can self-assist and record results
  11. Dresses client with a weak arm
  12. Perform modified passive range of motion for the resident’s ankle and knee
  13. Help clients with feeding who are unable to eat or drink unassisted
  14. Give a modified bed bath
  15. Measure urinary output and record results
  16. Assist resident with modified passive range of motion for one shoulder
  17. Position on the side
  18. Deliver catheter care for a female
  19. Care for one foot
  20. Assist with mouth care
  21. Provide perineal care for female
  22. Help resident move from a bed to a wheelchair by using a transfer belt

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.

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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
  • CNA Renewal
  • Lapsed Certification and Reciprocity

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.

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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
  • CNA Duties and Skills
  • Job Outlook for CNAs in North Carolina
  • CNA Salary in North Carolina

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 SalariesEmpl.Hourly mean wageAnnual mean wageWage percent relative std. errorHourly 10th % wageHourly median wageHourly 90th % wageAnnual 10th % wageAnnual median wageAnnual 90th % wage
National144315013.29276500.29.6412.7818.22200402659037900
North Carolina6212011.36236300.58.3711.1714.76174102323030710
Asheville, NC424012.15252702.09.5512.0615.05198602508031300
Burlington, NC107011.49238902.18.5411.1115.20177702310031610
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC1141011.34236001.58.4411.1014.78175602309030750
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC487012.29255703.08.6812.2716.42180602551034150
Fayetteville, NC200011.16232002.58.3510.8614.73173602259030640
Goldsboro, NC53011.43237702.68.7611.2714.59182102343030350
Greensboro-High Point, NC391011.35236201.68.8711.1314.55184502314030260
Greenville, NC178011.83246102.48.6511.7714.93179902448031050
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC353011.73243903.38.4911.9314.82176602481030820
Jacksonville, NC18011.42237502.68.4110.9316.06174802273033400
Mountain North Carolina nonmetropolitan area190011.14231801.98.4510.9414.37175702276029890
New Bern, NC51010.99228704.98.1110.7114.63168602228030430
Northeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area16609.70201802.87.919.3912.10164401954025160
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area588011.18232502.18.2311.2114.29171202332029720
Raleigh, NC494011.73244002.88.8211.3415.37183402359031970
Rocky Mount, NC126010.68222102.38.1410.4714.25169202178029640
Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area639010.33214904.17.909.5513.94164301987028990
Wilmington, NC204010.74223303.28.2110.4714.38170702177029910
Winston-Salem, NC460011.63241901.79.0611.4714.69188502385030550

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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.

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