Working as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) in California is a very rewarding and fulfilling job.
But knowing how to get there may be a problem.
There are a lot of requirements and considerations that differ from state to state, and it can get pretty confusing.
But that is precisely why we are here!
We are going to guide you through the process using 4 simple steps.
And we will also answer some of the most common questions connected to how to become a CNA in California, such as:
- How do I apply for CNA reciprocity in California?
- What’s the difference between renewal and reactivation of my CNA certificate?
- Does In-Home Support Services meet the work requirement for renewal?
- How do I reactivate my CNA certificate?
We have a lot to discuss.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
How to Become a Certified Nurse Assistant in California: A Simple 4-Step Guide
Here are the 4 steps on how to become a CNA in California:
- Pursue Proper Training to Become a CNA in California
- Get Your CNA Certificate from the California Department of Public Health
- Find Your First Job as a CNA in California
- Keep Your California CNA License Active
Let’s look at each step more closely.
How to Become a CNA in California Step #1: Pursue Proper Training to Become a CNA in California
To become a Certified Nurse Assistant in California, you need to have proper training first.
But how do you get proper training?
There are 2 main ways that we will discuss – enrolling in a state-approved CNA program or getting training equivalent to a CNA program.
Enroll in a State-Approved CNA Program
CNA programs are offered in many community colleges, allied health institutes, career colleges, stand-alone CNA training centers, healthcare facilities, and even the American Red Cross.
You have a lot of options to choose from, but make sure to enroll in a state-approved program.
It is the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that certifies and approves the CNA programs.
Here is a list of approved CNA training programs in California from the CPDH website.
The CPDH has also provided a list of approved facility-based CNA programs.
As well as a list of approved online CNA training providers.
Requirements for Enrollment
The requirements for enrollment may differ from institution to institution, but some of the most basic requirements include:
- At least 16 years of age
- High school diploma or GED
- Criminal background check
- Good physical health
- Up-to-date immunization
Program Length and Curriculum
The length or duration of CNA programs can range from 6-15 weeks but usually lasts about 12 weeks.
It depends on the institution you are enrolled in and the pace that you are going.
Some schools offer some of their courses online to allow more flexibility for their students.
However, the minimum requirement set by the California Department of Public Health is 160 hours of training.
This is divided into 60 hours of classroom instruction, and 100 hours of supervised clinical training (usually under the supervision of an LPN or RN).
Some of the topics that are included in the classroom instruction are:
- Interpersonal Skills
- Anatomy
- Social Service
- Mental Health
- Cognitive Impairment
- Emergency Procedures
- Personal Care & Hygiene
- Infection Control
- Basic Nursing Care
- Restorative Services
- Patient’s Rights
You will also be trained on how to care for patients with mental health problems, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The 100 hours of supervised clinical training is usually done in nursing homes, living care facilities, and hospitals.
Program Cost
Program costs vary but usually range between $500-$1,800.
You may also need to spend on uniforms, textbooks, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Get Training Equivalent to a CNA Program
Enrolling in an approved CNA program isn’t the only route you can take to become a CNA.
If you already received training in another health care field or setting, your training may be counted as equivalent to a CNA training, or may at least be given some credit.
Those who are enrolled in or have graduated from an LPN, ADN, BSN, or LPT may receive equivalency or credits.
Relevant military training may also be considered. However, for military training to count, you must have received recent pay in the healthcare field.
If you would like to apply based on equivalent training, you need to directly contact the CDPH for them to evaluate your previous training and experience.
How to Become a CNA in California Step #2: Get Your CNA Certificate from the California Department of Public Health
California is one of the states that uses the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) to certify their nursing assistants.
The exam has two main parts which are both administered on the same day.
It used to be administered by Pearson Vue but is now administered by Credentia.
The Two Main Parts of the Exam
Written/Oral Exam
The written exam has 70 multiple choice questions in English.
If English is not your first language, you can request to take this part of the exam orally.
You can also request to take it in Spanish.
If you take the oral exam, you are given 60 multiple choice questions and 10 multiple choice questions on comprehensive reading.
Clinical Skills Evaluation
The clinical skills exam requires you to perform 5 skills of a nurse assistant.
The 5 skills you will perform are randomly selected, and you will need to perform them in 25 minutes or less.
How to Apply for the Exam
For Those who Enrolled in a CNA Training Program
When you enroll in a state-approved CNA program, you will be given two forms that you have to fill out.
This includes an Initial Application form as well as a Request for LiveScan Service.
You will submit these to the CDPH. Some schools or training institutions do this for you.
Once you have completed the state-approved CNA program and once your application and criminal background check are approved by the CPDH, then you will receive information regarding your examination.
You will need to take and pass the Competency Evaluation Examination.
Make sure to take the exam within 2 years after completing the training program. Otherwise, you will need to take the training again.
If you pass the exam, you need to wait about 30 days for CDPH to receive your exam results from the one who administered the exam.
For Those who Applied through Equivalency
If you are applying through equivalency, you will also need to fill out the Initial Application form as well as the Request for LiveScan Service.
In addition, you will need to submit an official, sealed transcript of training or a sealed official school letter (listing equivalent training and the completion of at least the “Fundamentals of Nursing” course).
If you are from the military, however, you can substitute the official transcript with a copy of the DD-214.
Aside from these, you will need to submit proof of work showing that you have provided and had been compensated for your nursing services under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional within the last two years.
You do not need to submit proof of work, however, if you are currently a nursing student or if the degree was obtained within the last two years.
What to Bring on the Exam Day
On the day of your exam, you should bring the following to your testing center:
- Two forms of identification, one with a photo I.D.
- Original Social Security Card
- Non-skid, closed-toe shoes for the clinical evaluation
- Two No. 2 pencils and an eraser
- A watch with a second hand
- Application for Nurse Assistant Certification (HS 283B) and CDPH approval letter
What to Do if You Fail the Exam
If you fail both parts of the exam, you can retake the whole exam.
You are allowed 3 attempts within two years, but you will need to pay the exam fees each time.
If you still do not successfully pass after 3 attempts, then you will need to retake the whole CNA training program before being allowed to retake the exam.
If you fail only one part of the exam (written/oral, or clinical skills), then you will only need to retake the part in which you failed.
You are also only allowed 3 attempts to pass the part of the exam you failed in, within the two-year period.
You will also need to pay the examination fees for the particular part of the exam that you are retaking.
How Much the Exam Costs
The exam costs vary, depending on whether you are taking the whole exam or just one part of the exam.
There is an option to take the written exam or the oral exam (for those who do not have English as their first language). However, the oral exam is more expensive than the written exam.
Here is a breakdown of the costs:
- $90 – Written & Skills Evaluation
- $105 – Oral & Skills Evaluation
- $35 – Written Exam re-tests
- $50- Oral Exam re-tests
- $55 – Skills Evaluation re-tests
How to Become a CNA in California Step #3: Find Your First Job as a CNA in California
Once you have been certified as a nursing assistant, you can start trying to land your first job.
Thankfully, there are a lot of job opportunities for you in California!
Job Opportunities for a CNA in California
California has the highest employment rate of CNAs among the other states.
You can see this table on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
Most CNAs in California get hired in nursing care facilities and hospitals.
You can also look into other healthcare facilities, such as children’s hospitals, cancer centers, and rehabilitation facilities.
Other than these, you can also try to find a job in nursing homes, assisted living centers, or even in private homes.
Mean Average Salary of a CNA in California
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, California is the third top-paying state for nursing assistants in the US, with a mean annual wage of $39,760.
However, in terms of top-paying metropolitan areas, California ranks first with an annual mean wage of $ 47,690.
Cities with the Highest Employment and Pay of CNAs in California
The cities with the highest employment levels in California are Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Anaheim.
The cities with the highest pay in the US and California are San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara, followed closely by San Francisco, Oakland, and Hayward.
How to Become a CNA in California Step #4: Keep Your California CNA License Active
After you become certified and land your first job as a CNA, the journey doesn’t end.
You need to keep yourself viable and updated by pursuing continuing education.
Remember that you will need to renew your certification every 2 years.
Requirements for Renewal of CNA Certification
For you to be able to renew your certification:
- You must have been compensated for providing nursing or nursing-related services in a facility under the supervision of a licensed health professional in the past 2 years.
- You must have forty-eight (48) hours of In-Service Training or Continuing Education Units.
- You cannot take all 48 hours in just one year. You should have a minimum of 12 of the 48 hours completed each year.
- You can only have a maximum of 24 of the 48 hours from the CPDH-approved online computer training program.
If you are not able to renew your certificate within two years after the expiry date, you can no longer renew your certificate. You can only reactivate it.
Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a CNA in California
We’ve already talked about how to become a CNA in California, but you may still have a few more questions in your mind.
Here, we will address some of the common questions:
- How do I apply for CNA reciprocity in California?
- What’s the difference between renewal and reactivation of my CNA certificate?
- Does In-Home Support Services meet the work requirement for renewal?
- How do I reactivate my CNA certificate?
How do I apply for CNA reciprocity in California?
If you are a CNA in good standing in another state, you may seek to gain CNA certification in California through reciprocity.
You will need to submit a copy of your out-of-state certificate to the CDPH, as well as a ‘Verification of Current Nurse Assistant Certification’ form.
You can download the ‘How to Complete Your Reciprocity Package’ from the CDPH website.
What’s the difference between renewal and reactivation of my CNA certificate?
All CNAs need to renew their certification every 2 years.
To renew your certificate, you only need proof of 1 day of compensated nursing service in a facility under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional, as well as 48 hours of in-service training.
If you fail to renew your certification within 2 years of receiving your certification, you still have a chance to reactivate it within 2 years after it expires by taking the Competency Evaluation exam.
Does In-Home Support Services meet the work requirement for renewal?
No, it does not.
In-Home Support Services is considered private duty care.
Only work done in an approved facility under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional will qualify for the work requirement.
How do I reactivate my CNA certificate?
To reactivate your CNA certificate, you need to fill up the Renewal Application form.
Make sure to check the “yes” box for question number 6 in the “Reactivation” section.
If the CDPH approves your application, you will receive a Competency Evaluation approval letter with information on your examination schedule.
You must complete the evaluation within 2 years from your certificate’s expiration date.
If you pass the exam and maintain clear criminal records, you will be issued a current CNA certificate from CDPH.
Conclusion
And there you have it!
We have given you a simple 4-step guide on how to become a CNA in California.
We’ve also answered some common and relevant questions related to CNAs in California.
We hope that this was helpful to you and that you can now take your first steps to pursue your passion.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave us a message.