CNA Certification in Pennsylvania
CNA Certification begins with a CNA training in Pennsylvania Department of Health approved program. From there, you must complete a state Nurse Competency Exam and pass it with efficiency. After passing the state test, you will be place on the Pennsylvania State Nurse Aide Registry as required by federal law in order to be employed at a health care facility in the state of Pennsylvania. You many find that working in a facility as a CNA can be very exciting as you get to work closely and learn with registered nurses whose main goal is to provide care to patients and ensure their safety. Also, the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics reports a national rapid, positive growth rate of phenomenal proportions for the certified nurse aide which means this will be a very promising career to be involved with for years to come.
You can get an approved CNA training in Pennsylvania program list from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It will be necessary for you to obtain a criminal background investigation from the Criminal Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and a physical checkup in which you will be tested for infectious illnesses prior to being registered with any program. Although some program coordinators have a set age limit of 18, the age limit under state law is 16 for programs and test eligibility. Other requirements include proficiency in English and basic math. The course must contain a federal set minimum of 75 class hours and an additional state added 45 hours which will include a portion of both in-class teaching and clinical skills teaching in a medically supervised facility. Find a school or Program that fits your needs.
CNA CLasses in Pennsylvania will teach a nurse aide how to care for patients on a daily basis including how to recognize choking and administer CPR, feeding, bathing and changing patients’ bedding, patient interaction and maintaining a clean and safe environment for the patients.
The testing process that follows training completion is done through Pearson Vue, and you will need to apply within 24 months of completing your training to take the test. Fees are associated with registering for the licensing examination, so be prepared to deal with those financial aspects. On the day you are assigned to take the test, arrive a bit early for paperwork processing, and bring along your state issued photo ID.
The exam is made up of a written knowledge exam and a manual skills exam. You will have 70 questions and a time limit of 90 minutes on the written portion. There are also 24 basic nurse aide skills in which you will be tested on 5 that are chosen by randomly by your evaluator. Four of the five tested skills must be passed with 100% accuracy in order to pass the skills test. CNA certification and addition to the Pennsylvania registry is immediate with passing scores. Your certificate will be mailed to you within a reasonable time frame.
According to the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, now could not be a better time to start a CNA career in Pennsylvania with a reported job acceleration rate of 14% and a current yearly average CNA salary at $25,000.
For additional information about becoming a nurse aide in Pennsylvania contact:
Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry
Pennsylvania Department of Health – Division of Nursing Care Facilities
Room 526, Health & Welfare Building, 7th and Forster Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: (800) 852-0518 or (717) 787-1816
The online Nurse Aide Registry is managed by Pearson VUE.
Phone: (800) 852-0518
Fax: (610) 617-9398
6 total views, 1 today