How to Become a Certified Nurse Aide in Virginia

(found 265 schools, updated in July 2017)

The Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) is a healthcare professional who helps patients in medical facilities, and residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, with daily living activities and delivers basic healthcare care services. The CNA is the person who patients and clients need on a daily basis, meaning they are an important source of information for other medical professionals concerning the condition of the people they monitor and assist.

• 6 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Virginia
• How to Keep CNA Certification Active
• Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in Virginia
• Get Certification in Other States

6 Steps to Becoming a CNA in Virginia

The following steps apply to a person who will be a new Certified Nurse Aide, also known as a Certified Nursing Assistant, and to anyone who must retake training for any reason. There are other paths to CNA certification in Virginia that are described in Step 6.

Step 1: Research Available CNA Programs

There are numerous CNA programs in Virginia offered at different facilities. It is very likely that anyone interested in attending CNA classes in Virginia can find a local program. It is important to choose a state-approved CNA training program. The state-approved nurse aide education programs are offered at community colleges, high schools, career and technical centers, hospitals, healthcare education centers, the American Red Cross, nursing homes, medical centers and long-term care facilities. People who train in nursing homes and long-term care facilities can also work for up to four months before earning CNA certification.

When researching programs, there are a few points to keep in mind:

• Training programs must consist of a minimum of 120 clock hours of training which includes a minimum of 40 hours of skills training
• The actual time it takes to complete CNA training can range from four to eight weeks
• Some programs are college credit programs, while others are certificate programs
• The Virginia Board of Nursing regulates and approves CNA programs and is responsible for the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry, so questions can be directed to the Board concerning valid programs
• There are programs offering day and evening classes, or a mixture
• There are hybrid programs that offer a mix of online training and clinical training (clinical training always involves direct patient care)

Local CNA Classes in Virginia

Virginia has 265 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide programs for you to consider if you are interested in pursuing a Certified Nurse Aide career in the state. You can choose CNA training programs at community colleges, nursing homes, hospitals, high schools or other organizations. The data is updated in July 2017.

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Step 2: Review CNA Training Program Costs

Training program costs will vary. For example, the American Red Cross fee is currently $1,250 (subject to change at any time). A college credit program will charge a per credit tuition and fee rate. In another example, Danville Community College’s CNA training program is a 9-credit course. The current rate (subject to change at any time) for tuition and fees is $148.75 per credit, meaning the CNA course will cost a minimum of $1,338.75.

However, it is important to remember there will be other expenses for things like supplies, uniforms, health exam, immunizations, insurance and possibly other items like textbooks. A credit course may be eligible for federal and state financial aid. There could be scholarships and grants available too. Some programs offer payment plans, while others require full payment up front. The best approach is to discuss payment options with program staff or the financial aid office.

Step 3: Review CNA Program Prerequisites

Every CNA education program has prerequisites. In addition, a school, college or technical center may also have admission prerequisites that must be met before enrolling in the Certified Nurse Aide program in Virginia. Prerequisites include:

• Be 18 years old or older
• May require high school diploma or GED
• Have ability to write and read English
• Pass a medical exam
• Show proof of current immunizations for measles, tetanus, mumps and rubella
• Show proof of a negative TB test
• Pass a criminal background check which includes fingerprinting

Step 4: Attend a State-Approved CNA Training Program

The CNA training program in Virginia addresses many topics and skills typically needed to provide compassionate services to people with a variety of medical conditions and to the elderly and disabled. The program consists of a mix of classroom, laboratory and clinical training.

What to Learn

Students learn, among other topics and skills, the following:

• Infection control
• Communicating with patients and residents
• Take and record critical vital signs like temperature, blood pressure and pulse
• Assist with patient movement and mobility, i.e. positioning in bed, transferring from bed to wheelchair, exercising, walking to the restroom, etc.
• Protecting the rights of patients and residents
• Assisting clients with gaining maximum possible independence
• Maintaining personal and patient safety
• Maintaining quality standards for hygiene
• Recognizing client mental health needs
• Delivering personal care skills, including bathing, feeding, grooming and using a bedpan
• Using assistive devices like a transfer belt

This is just a sample of the type of information students learn and the skills they master during training.

Step 5: Take and Pass the NNAAP Exam

The Virginia Board of Nursing (VBON) contracted with Pearson VUE to administer, score and report CNA exam results. Testing is scheduled and administered through Credentia. The National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) developed the test to ensure CNAs trained in various states meet federal requirements for knowledge and skills training in order to work in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

The exam consists of two parts: Written Exam and Skills Evaluation.

Written Exam

There are 70 multiple-choice questions on the Written Exam in Virginia when it is administered in English, unless the applicant requests and schedules an Oral Examination. The Oral exam consists of 60 multiple-choice knowledge questions and 10 questions that test reading comprehension. The Pearson VUE “Virginia Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook” contains a self-assessment reading test and a sample multiple-choice exam. Since the NNAAP test is used in most states, there are also many free sample exams available online. The questions are all derived from material taught during the CNA training program.

Skills Evaluation

During the Skills Evaluation in Virginia, the exam taker will perform actual caregiving actions mastered during CNA training. A different candidate will volunteer to pretend to be an elderly person who receives the caregiving services. Five skills are tested, and one of them will always be hand-washing. The other four skills are selected randomly.

Step 6: Get Certified as a CNA in Virginia

Successfully completing a state-approved training program and passing the NNAAP exam, or meeting other path requirements, leads to the applicant’s name being placed in the Virginia Certified Nurse Aide Registry. Active Certified Nurse Aides can be found here.

In addition to enrolling in a state-approved training program and taking the CNA exam (Route E1), there are other eligibility routes to get certified as a Certified Nurse Aide in Virginia.

Route E2 – Nursing Students

A student who is currently enrolled, or enrolled in the prior 12 months, in an approved nursing school program to become a RN (Registered Nurse) or LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) can apply to take the CNA exam without additional training. The requirement is that the student has completed a minimum of one clinical nursing program course which requires hands-on client care. The clinical training must be at least 40 hours.

Route E3 – Nurse Graduates

Anyone who has completed the RN or LPN education program can apply to take the NNAAP exam. This applies to domestic and foreign trained students who can provide official school transcripts. However, foreign trained students must also provide CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) documentation to provide verification the completed program meets the requirements of their country.

Route E4 – Lapsed CNA Certification

If a nurse aide completed CNA training in Virginia but allowed certification to expire for any reason, it may be possible to retake the CNA exam. One requirement is that the applicant must have submitted a reinstatement application to the Virginia Board of Nursing within the previous 12 months. Otherwise, it is necessary to retake Certified Nurse Aide training and the exam in the state.

CNAs From Other States

Out of state Certified Nursing Assistants who went through state-approved training in a state other than Virginia, may apply to the Virginia Board of Nursing for certification by endorsement. If approved, the applicant’s name will be entered into the CNA Registry.

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How to Keep CNA Certification Active in Virginia

CNA Certification in Virginia is valid for two years. The period starts from the last certification expiration period. Certification requirements for renewal include working a minimum of eight hours of paid employment as a CNA during the last 24-month certification period. If unable to meet the employment requirement, it is necessary to retake both sections of the CNA exam before applying for recertification in the state.

If a nurse aide can meet the employment requirement but has a lapsed certification that is more than 90 days, it is possible to get reinstatement. To renew CNA certification, the applicant must provide verification of employment during the 24 months prior to the certification expiration date and show proof of having repeated and successfully passed the CNA exam.

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Salary and Job Outlook for CNAs in Virginia

The Certified Nurse Aide in Virginia can work for home health agencies, long-term healthcare facilities, licensed healthcare facilities and adult care programs. The number of CNA jobs is expected to increase by 26.3 percent for the period 2014-2024. This is significantly higher than the national projection for the same period which is 17.6 percent. There are currently thousands of nurse aide jobs available across the state. | See Job Openings

The average CNA salary in Virginia, per the U.S. Department of Labor‘s May 2016 survey was $26,040 or $12.52. However, top earning CNAs with experience earn an average of $34,440 per year. The demand for CNAs in some areas of Virginia is so great that facilities are offering $13 per hour or higher for part-time work to CNAs who have as little as one-year of experience. The facilities are even offering benefits like flexible shifts and enrollment in a 401K. | See Job Openings

CNA Salaries in Virginia

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Get CNA Certification in Other States

• Kentucky
• Maryland
• North Carolina
• West Virginia
• Washington, D.C.