Becoming a CNA in Kentucky

Many students of all ages are pursuing this highly in-demand career path because of the endless job options and good pay. However, a number of people pursue CNA certification in  Kentucky simply because they enjoy helping others and making a difference in people’s lives.

Becoming a certified nurse aide can be rewarding in that it allows you to work in long term facilities where you can help with the ongoing care of the elderly; however, these are not the only types of jobs open to people with  a CNA certification in Kentucky.

The state regulations involving the certification of a nurse aide are specific, so it is essential that you choose your training program carefully. For a nurse aide to be certified by the state and listed on the state registry, they have to meet a minimum number of hours.

Enrollment and Completion of CNA Classes in Kentucky

Step 1:

Find an approved program in your state:
Find a CNA Training Program

Before enrolling in a CNA training program in Kentucky, you will need to meet a few requirements and be prepared to undergo a few tests. Students need to be 18 years old, minimum, and need to have a GED or high school diploma to get started. Because of the nature of working in a medical environment, you will have to submit to a two-part TB test, a complete physical, and have a clean criminal background. This is to ensure patient safety, as well as to prevent infection from spreading.

Step 2:

When choosing your CNA classes in Kentucky, you need to find a school that meets all of the guidelines and regulations that have been set forth by the state health department. Choosing a non-accredited school could leave you out in the cold when it comes time to sitting for the exam. Within the state of Kentucky, nurse aide training programs need to provide students with a bare minimum of 16 hours worth of training in a nursing facility getting hands-on experience in addition to 59 hours of structured classroom learning.

Step 3:

When your coursework is complete, then you will be ready to take the two part examination for CNA certification in Kentucky. One section will be written, while the second part is a practical skills examination. Both sections must be passed in order to receive your license to work as a nurse aide.

CNA Testing Procedures and Applying for CNA Certification in Kentucky

Step 1:

Once you have completed an accredited training program you will be ready to sit for the CNA Certification exam.   Be sure to take the test as soon as you finish your  program so that the information you have learned is fresh in your head.  Also please feel free to use our Practice test section on the website to brush up on your knowledge base.

Step 2:

The CNA certification test is regulated by KCTCS and can be taken at many approved local schools or health centers.  The state evaluation test consists of two parts. One part of the examination is multiple question and the second is designed to test your practical hands-on skills. A passing test result will have at least 70 percent of the answers correct on both sections in order to pass and become certified. However, illness control portions of the testing requires a hundred percent accuracy to earn a passing grade. Kentucky does not issue a certificate but rather, the nurse aide can obtain written proof of certification from the registry.

Step 3:

Once you have completed the test successfully you all now be considered a certified CNA.  Be sure to check  that you have been added to the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry prior to becoming employed anywhere.   It is law that you are on that registry before you can practice your skills.

We do however recommend that you start applying for jobs now through our Job database.

The average  CNA salary in Kentucky is between $22- 25,000 a year, but this can vary drastically depending on which part of the state you choose to live and work. The CNA position is predicted to have a rate of growth equal to 23 percent over the next ten years, so now is a great time to get the ball rolling.

Step 4:

Lastly don’t stop your education there!  Becoming a CNA in Kentucky is oing to be wildly rewarding, but if you can… explore all of your options, for instance nursing or LPN school.  

For Additional Information Regarding CNA Certification in Kentucky Visit:

Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry
Kentucky Board of Nursing
312 Whittington Parkway, Louisville, KY 40222
Phone: (502) 329-7047
Fax: (502) 696-3955