All About CNA Certification

You are a people person. You love paying attention to other people’s needs and you are very good at making people feel loved, valued and care for. Your favorite game when you were younger was caring for sick patients; however, you did not want to be a doctor. You opted instead to become a nursing aide.

You enrolled in a CNA training course in your local college and studied really hard for the examination and you passed. After completing the course and passing the exam, you are then given a CNA certificate. So now you have a CNA license and you are looking forward to working as a full pledged nursing aide.

The CNA certificate is given out by the state registry of the state where you want to work in as a CNA. If you are already a CAN and you need to obtain a copy of your certificate, these are the things which you should do.

Every state has its own CNA registry. Look for the address and the telephone number of your local state registry. The Internet is a very useful tool for this. Utilize it. You can also check your state registry’s website. Some state registries allow people to get a copy of their CNA certification online. Nebraska, for one, does this. If the registry is near, you can just drive and go to it. If it is very far from where you live, call them.

It also helps if you have your information handy before doing any of this. When we say information, we mean your certification number and other things relating to your certificate. Most of the local registries have an automated system which will answer calls so just make sure to follow the prompts correctly and you should not have any problem.

There are fees and fees will vary from one state to another so make sure that you have your credit card ready. Be sure to enter all the correct information when you are asked to do so. You will know when to expect the certificate. Do not forget to only contact the registry where you received your certificate because other states will not have your information.

If your CNA certification has already lapsed, you will need to renew it. Here is how you can renew your CNA certification. Keep in mind that renewing your CNA certification and getting an original copy are two different things.

You need to check your license and find out when your certification lapsed. Some people do not know this but the amount of time which has passed since your certification lapsed is a major factor when it comes to renewing. It makes a big difference. If you cannot recall when you got your CNA license, you can contact your local health department and ask them. They will be more than willing to provide you that information.

Submitting an application for renewal is the next thing you should do. Renewal forms can be obtained by contacting your local health department. Fill out the form correctly and send it back. There is a certification fee that needs to be paid. This renewal fee must be sent together with the application form for it to be processed. This fee will go to the state department of health.

People who have waited more than three years to renew their certificates after it has lapsed will be asked to retake their CNA training. However, this does not apply to all states. Be mindful of your CNA certificates and renew them as soon as they lapse to prevent delays and problems.