How to Become a Licensed Nursing Assistant in New Hampshire

(found 10 schools, updated in November 2017)

The New Hampshire Board of Nursing (BON) is responsible for the entire Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) process, beginning with approving program curriculum to maintaining the New Hampshire Nursing Assistant Registry. New Hampshire is one of the few states requiring mandatory licensing of nursing assistants. The LNA is the equivalent of the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in other states. The LNA can add certification as a Medication Nursing Assistant (MNA) by completing a state-approved Medication Administration Program and meeting all other eligibility criteria. The following sections give an overview of the process for becoming a Licensed Nursing Assistant in New Hampshire.

• 7 Steps to Becoming a LNA in New Hampshire
• How to Keep Licensing Active
• Job Outlook and Salary for LNAs in New Hampshire
• Becoming a CNA in Bordering States

7 Steps to Becoming a LNA in New Hampshire

It is important to carefully follow the state requirements to become a LNA in New Hampshire. Many people choose to become a LNA in order to gain employment opportunities in healthcare in a short period of time. After some experience, they can use their LNA training and experience to pursue a degree in nursing. Following is a summary of the steps to becoming a LNA in the state.

Step 1: Review and Select a Route to New Hampshire Nursing Assistant Licensing

There are multiple routes to earn LNA certification in New Hampshire. Certification requirements vary depending on the person’s status.

New LNAs

Individuals will complete a state-approved LNA Education Program and take a competency evaluation exam in New Hampshire.

Licensure by Comparable Education

Under certain circumstances, some individuals can challenge program completion and/or testing in New Hampshire. Typical individuals who request licensure by comparable education include nursing students, graduate nurses, Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and military-trained personnel. The New Hampshire Board of Nursing determines who must complete a Challenge Program.

There are two possible paths for licensure by comparable education:

• RN and LPN students can show proof they completed a “Fundamentals of Nursing” course within the prior five years, OR
• Show proof of completing a Challenge Program, including testing, within the prior two years, OR
• Show proof of providing 200 hours of nursing or nursing assistant care within the prior two years

A Challenge Program includes the following components:

• Gives individuals information describing the requirements of the theoretical portion of LNA training
• Administers a written/oral and skills LNA test
• Verifies the person earned a score of 70 percent or higher on the written/oral test and passed the skills test
• Issues documentation that the personal completed the Challenge Program

With the appropriate documentation of the successful completion of a Challenge Program, the individual can apply to the New Hampshire Board of Nursing for nurse aide licensing and placement on the New Hampshire Nursing Assistant Registry.

Foreign-Trained Nurses

A foreign-trained nurse can also apply to become a LNA in New Hampshire. The RN degree should have been earned within the five years prior to application. The New Hampshire BON will evaluate the courses to determine if they are equivalent to LNA training courses. The individual must also have worked as a nurse within the last five years.

Licensure by Endorsement (Reciprocity)

Out of state nursing assistants who hold an active Nursing Assistant certification, license or registration can apply for a nursing assistant license by endorsement. The person must:

• Be in good standing on the other state’s Nurse Aide Registry, AND
• Be free of felony convictions, AND
• Be able to show proof of at least 200 hours of employment as a nursing assistant within the prior two years under the supervision of an APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse), RN or LPN, AND
• Be able to show proof of completing at least 24 continuing education hours within the prior two years, OR
• Show proof of having successfully completed written and clinical competency testing in the prior two years

Step 2: Review and Select One of the LNA Programs in New Hampshire

If it is necessary to complete Licensed Nursing Assistant training, students will find there are several locations for LNA training programs. Training can be completed through the American Red Cross and New Hampshire Job Corps, and at technical schools, nursing facilities and community colleges. Each program sets its own tuition and fees rates, course length and required hours. These features can differ among programs.

10 Approved LNA Classes in New Hampshire by City

Find the best state-approved LNA classes in New Hampshire. We’ve listed the top nursing assistant programs in New Hampshire to help you prepare for the Licensed Nursing Assistant certification exams in the state. The program list is updated in November, 2017.

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American Red Cross Nursing Assistant Training

The American Red Cross Nursing Assistant Training Programs are held in a variety of New Hampshire cities, so there is a program easily accessible by most state residents. The Red Cross program is 9-weeks long and requires 150 hours of classroom and clinical training. It costs $1,400 for the course, CPR and AED training (Automated External Defibrillator), and textbook. Students will also have to purchase uniforms and some supplies. There is financial aid available for qualified individuals.

For comparison purposes, the Lakes Region Community College Licensed Nursing Assistant Program consists of 106 hours of classroom and clinical training. The course fee is $1,362 and includes tuition, student fees and a drug testing fee. Students also have to purchase or rent a textbook, buy a uniform, and pay health and background check fees. Though the course is not eligible for financial aid, the school can direct students to possible funding sources, including Workforce Investment funds.

Step 3: Meet School and Program Prerequisites

All state-approved training programs in New Hampshire have prerequisites that will meet minimum state requirements. They are as follows:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Pass federal and state criminal background checks with fingerprinting
• Show proof of a negative tuberculin skin test that is no more than 10 months old
• Show proof of immunizations for chicken pox, MMR and Hepatitis B
• Obtain liability insurance through the program and on your own
• Meet school admission requirements

Step 4: Complete State-Approved LNA Training

All state-approved LNA classes in New Hampshire will meet federal standards for topics that should be covered in classroom and clinical training. The state requires students to complete a minimum of 100 hours of nursing assistant training. The major areas of learning are as follows:

• Activities of daily living – hygiene, grooming, nutrition, rest and sleep, etc.
• Basic nursing skills – infection control, safety, emergency procedures, therapeutic procedures, data collection and reporting, etc.
• Restorative skills – self-care, maintaining independence, etc.
• Psychosocial skills – meeting emotional, mental, spiritual and cultural needs
• Communication
• Client legal rights
• Working as a health care team member
• Hands-on clinical training

LNA courses prepare students to fulfill typical job responsibilities and to deliver high quality and ethical services.

Step 5: Pass a Written and Clinical Competency Test (Exam)

After completing Licensed Nursing Assistant training in New Hampshire, the applicant will take a state exam to assess learning and skills competency. The state requires the individual to pass the test within two years of completing LNA training. There are three testing organizations to choose among:

• Pearson VUE
• Excel Testing
• American Red Cross New Hampshire & Vermont Region

The competency evaluation state exam has two parts. The number of questions and skills the test contains depends on the testing organization utilized. For example, Pearson VUE’s exam has 70 multiple choice questions and five skills. Excel Testing’s exam has 60 multiple choice questions and four skills. The two parts of the state exam are:

• Written/Oral Exam – answer multiple choice questions and earn a score of 70 percent or higher
• Skills Evaluation – complete randomly selected nurse aide skills with handwashing and critical skills always included

Step 6: Get Name Placed on the New Hampshire Nurse Aide Registry

After successfully completing LNA training and passing the competency evaluation test in New Hampshire, the person’s name is place on the Registry. The state recommends that all LNAs personally check the Registry to ensure they are listed correctly.

Step 7: Become a MNA, if Desired

New Hampshire allows Licensed Nursing Assistants to add a Medication Nursing Assistant (MNA) certification. The person gets one listing in the Registry with two designations. The minimum requirements for eligibility are:

• Have an active and unrestricted nursing assistant license
• Show proof of employment as a LNA for an equivalent of two years of full-time employment within the prior five years
• Be proficient in basic math and English
• Have no felony convictions
• Provide two character references
• Complete a minimum of an additional 60 hours of training consisting of 30 hours of theory and 30 hours of clinical training

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How to Keep Licensing Active

To renew LNA certification (licensing), the Licensed Nursing Assistant needs to complete a minimum of 24 hours of continuing courses during the certification period (12 hours per year). A renewal application is sent to the New Hampshire Board of Nursing. The form includes employer verification of the hours worked. If the LNA is medication certified, at least 8 hours of the 24 hours (4 hours per year) must be in medication administration.

To keep the license active, a nurse aide must also have worked at least 200 hours as a nurse aide during the certification period. The LNA who is also a MNA must work a minimum of 50 hours as a medication nursing assistant during the certification period.

A lapsed nursing assistant license can be reinstated by completing the 24 hours of continuing education courses, and retesting and passing the LNA competency exam.

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Job Outlook and Salary for LNAs in New Hampshire

The New Hampshire LNA can work in any type of healthcare and long-term nursing facility. They include hospitals, clinics, hospice facilities, assisted living facilities, residential care homes, physician offices and rehabilitation facilities. They can also work for home health agencies, for private employers and even for family members. However, no matter where they work, Licensed Nursing Assistants must always work under the supervision of a LPN or RN. | See Job Openings

The average annual salary for a New Hampshire Licensed Nursing Assistant is $30,390 or $14.61 per hour, per the Department of Labor. This is 9.9 percent higher than the national average annual salary of $27,650. The number of jobs for New Hampshire LNAs are projected to increase by 17.3 percent for the period 2014-2024. | See Job Openings

LNA Salaries in New Hampshire

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Becoming a CNA in Bordering States

• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Vermont