How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Oregon

(found 65 schools, updated in November 2017)

The Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) is responsible for approving Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) programs and maintaining the CNA Registry. There are two levels of certification for a nurse aide: CNA 1 and CNA 2. Each level requires meeting state training requirements. The CNA 1 must also pass a competency evaluation examination. Students interested in becoming a CNA 2 or a Certified Medication Aide (CMA) must first meet the CNA 1 requirements and be in good standing on the Oregon Nurse Aide Registry. The following sections offer an overview of the process for becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Oregon.

• 7 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Oregon
• How to Keep CNA Certification Active
• Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in Oregon
• Get Certification in Bordering States

7 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Oregon

Oregon’s nurse aide certification requirements consist of training and competency evaluation. Once the training and testing requirements are met, the individual’s name is place on the Registry.

Step 1: Review Paths to Certification in Oregon

There are several paths to earning active status in the Oregon Nurse Aide Registry as a CNA 1.

New CNA 1 Certification

The initial certification process requires completing an Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) CNA 1 training program and passing the CNA 1 competency evaluation examination.

Out of State Nurse Aides who are not Certified

Applicants who completed a state-approved nurse aide training program in a state other than Oregon, but are not certified, may apply to take the CNA 1 examination. The out of state training program had to require a minimum of 75 hours of training, and the student must have completed training within the prior two years.

Out of State CNAs

An individual who is a Certified Nurse Aide in good standing on an out of state Nurse Aide Registry can get certified in Oregon through endorsement if able to meet the following requirements:

• The out of state training program met federal training standards
• Can provide verification of 400 hours of paid employment as a CNA in the other state in the prior two years
• Worked the 400 hours under the supervision of a nurse
• Pass a criminal background check
• Provide a copy of the training program document showing successful program completion
• Obtain written verification of certification from the state in which the person obtained the certification

Graduate Nursing Students (RN or LPN)

Individuals who graduated from a state-approved nursing education program within the last three years can apply to take the competency evaluation examination.

Nursing Students Who Trained Outside the U.S.

Foreign trained nursing students can submit a school transcript to the OSBN for review. If approved, the person can take the state exam for nurse aide certification.

Military Medic or Corpsman

Individuals who completed military medical training, and can show proof of paid employment in a nursing related position for at least 400 hours within the prior two years, can apply to take the competency evaluation examination.

CNA 2

To earn active status in the Oregon Nurse Aide Registry as a CNA 2, the following requirements must be met:

• Have active status in the Registry as a CNA 1 with no findings
• Successfully complete a state-approved CNA 2 training program
• Take and pass the training program’s competency evaluation

Step 2: Select CNA 1 Training Program, if Training is Required, or CNA 2 Training Program

Schools and other training facilities in Oregon offer nursing assistant level 1 and/or level 2 training programs. Many also offer state-approved medication aide training for CMA certification. The student must already be a CNA 1 to enroll in a CNA 2 or CMA training program.

Where to Get Training

Oregon has many training programs offered in various cities around the state. It is important to select a state-approved program to ensure the curriculum meets federal and state requirements. The CNA programs in Oregon include on-campus training at community colleges, private educational and training facilities and long-term care facilities. There are also opportunities for online training with clinical training completed at the care facilities. You can find state-approved CNA 1, CNA 2 and CMA programs in the following 3 tables. The data is updated in November 2017.

Local CNA 1 Classes in Oregon

Local CNA 2 Classes in Oregon

Local CMA Classes in Oregon

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The federal government requires CNA programs to deliver a minimum of at least 75 hours of training. Oregon’s requirements are higher. CNA classes in Oregon for the nursing level 1 training must be a minimum of 80 hours of classroom training and 75 hours of clinical training. A program can require additional training hours beyond the minimum.

As an example, the Portland Community College (PCC) CNA 1 curriculum requires completing 80.5 classroom instruction hours and 75 hours of clinical training. The tuition is $1,600 (subject to change) and covers the cost of classroom, laboratory and clinical training. Other costs the student will incur are for a background check and drug screen, CPR certification, textbook, uniforms and medical supplies.

PCC also offers CNA 2 training. The curriculum requires 60 hours of lecture and lab training and 28 hours of clinical training. The tuition is $1,095. Once again there are additional costs for the background check, drug screening, textbook, uniforms, supplies, CPR certification, 2-stage tuberculosis test and possibly immunizations.

PCC’s CNA training programs are representative of programs offered at other community colleges.

Another option is to complete training at an approved nursing facility. Students are employed by the facility while they train. The law allows a student to work for up to 120 days in the facility without certification. The student must earn certification as a CNA 1 by the end of the four months in order to continue working.

Step 3: Covering CNA Training and Examination Costs

When assessing the costs of training, be sure to include all the expenses mentioned in the previous section plus exam fees in the total budget. Unless the CNA program enables the student to earn college credits, it is not eligible for financial aid. Most programs offer options like installment payment plans. Students should discuss their financial needs with the financial aid staff who may know of external funding sources. Another option is to contact WorkSource Oregon and ask about workforce training funds.

Step 4: Fulfill the Training Program Prerequisites

It is not necessary to have a high school diploma or GED to register for many of the CNA 1 classes in Oregon. Also, the school sets the minimum age requirement. Following are minimum prerequisites to register for most CNA training programs.

CNA 1 and CNA 2 prerequisites:

• Be proficient in English
• Show proof of a negative TB skin or blood test within one year of registering for the CNA class
• Pass a criminal background check
• Pass a ten-panel drug test
• Show proof of two doses of MMR vaccine or proof of immunity via blood titer
• Earn a current CPR card before starting clinical training

Step 5: Successfully Complete CNA Training in Oregon

Students enrolled in CNA training in Oregon will attend classes, complete lab work and do clinical training. The information and skills taught are directly related to the various job responsibilities of a typical nurse aide position.

What to Learn in CNA 1 Training

The major subject areas for the CNA 1 program are:

• Infection control
• Mental health
• Safety
• Personal care
• Client rights
• Care impaired
• Data collection
• Role and responsibility
• Communication
• Basic nursing skills
• Growth and development across the ages
• Disease process
• Hands-on clinical training in an intermediate, long-term care or skilled nursing facility

Within each of these subject areas are taught numerous activities, like taking and recording blood pressure or positioning a resident in bed. During clinical training, the nurse aide student will work with real patients or residents in an intermediate or long-term care facility, or a skilled nursing facility.

What to Learn in CNA 2 Training

CNA 2 training builds on the information learned during CNA 1 training concerning duties in an intermediate, long-term care or skilled nursing facility. CNA 2 training covers information relevant to working as a nurse aide in a hospital, like the following:

• Cast removal
• Blood glucose testing
• Disease processes and management
• Additional information concerning body systems
• Documenting patient behavior
• Additional technical skills, i.e. running an EKG, testing stool for occult blood, bladder scanning, etc.
• Crisis intervention
• Hands-on clinical training in a hospital

Step 6: Pass the CNA 1 Competency Evaluation Examination

The Oregon State Board of Nursing contracted with Headmaster LLP to manage the certification examination process for the CNA 1, including scoring exams. Testing consists of two parts.

Knowledge Test

The Knowledge Test has 80 multiple-choice questions that come from the information delivered during training. A score of 73 percent or higher is required to pass this part of the exam.

Skills Test

The Skills Test consists of 4-5 tasks. One of the tasks involves hand washing. The remaining skills are randomly selected from all the skills taught during training. The Headmaster Candidate Handbook contains a complete list of all the skills. The test taker must score a minimum of 80 percent on each task and pass all 4-5 skill tasks in order to pass the Skills Test.

A total score of 75 percent for the CNA exam is the minimum passing grade. Applicants are allowed three attempts to pass both parts of the exam. Oregon also requires the individual to pass both sections of the competency evaluation within two years. If an individual does not pass both parts of the CNA exam within three attempts and/or within two years from the date of training completion, retraining and retesting is required.

Step 7: Get Name Placed on the Oregon Nurse Aide Registry

Headmaster will send exam results to the OSBN. If the applicant meets the training requirements and passes the competency evaluation examination, his or her name is placed on the Registry as a CNA 1.

After an individual passes a CNA 2 training program in Oregon, the information in the CNA Registry is revised to reflect the upgrade from CNA 1 to CNA 2. The program will submit the person’s name to the Oregon State Board of Nursing.

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How to Keep CNA Certification Active

CNA certification in Oregon is valid for two years. It expires the day before the person’s birth date. To renew CNA certification, the following requirements must be met:

• Work at least 400 hours for pay as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the two years prior to the expiration date on the CNA certificate
• Perform authorized CNA duties under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Lapsed Certificate

If certification lapses (expires), it can be reinstated by submitting a renewal form and fees to the OSBN. If the certification is expired for more than 60 days, the nurse aide will have to reactivate the certificate by paying a fee and completing a criminal background check. If CNA 1 or CNA 2 certification is expired for more than two years, the person must retrain, and the CNA 1 will also have to retest.

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Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in Oregon

The CNA 1 can work in intermediate care facilities, assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities. The CNA 2 has more employment opportunities and can work in the same facilities as the CNA 1 but also in hospitals and other acute care facilities.

Oregon nursing assistants earn an average annual salary of $31,660, and that is significantly higher than the national average salary of $27,650. Employers pay higher salaries to the CNA 2 than to a CNA 1. The number of jobs are projected to increase by 16.5 percent for the period 2014-2024. | See Job Openings

CNA Salaries in Oregon

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Get Certification in Bordering States

• California
• Idaho
• Nevada
• Washington