The certificate in nurse assisting prepares students for employment as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). The program combines classroom instruction with clinical laboratory practice and long-term and/or acute care experiences. As part of this curriculum, students have the opportunity to learn foundational skills in the healthcare field and take a written and hands-on skills examination to become certified as a CNA.
The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL) maintains the Direct Care Worker Registry. Students who complete the CNA certificate and pass the state exams are eligible to be placed on the registry. DIAL does not have direct reciprocity agreements with other states and recommends contacting other states directly for licensing information: https://dial.iowa.gov/licenses/medical/direct-care/how-do-i-transfer-tofrom-iowa-dcw-registry.
| State/ Territory |
Meets Licensure Requirements | Does Not Meet Requirements | Additional Information |
| Alabama | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved training program 75 hours, including 16 hours clinical and 16 hours laboratory, and pass the state nurse aide competency exam. https://dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry/(S(2x3lnwz2mjmswbnzxjlxx5b5))/FAQ |
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| Alaska | X | Individuals must complete an approved CNA program with a minimum of 140 training hours, including at least 60 classroom hours and 80 hours of lab/clinical practice, and pass the Nurse Aide Examination. https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/NurseAideRegistry.aspx |
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| Arizona | X |
Individuals must complete an approved CNA program with a minimum of 140 training hours, including at least 60 classroom hours and 80 hours of lab/clinical practice, and pass the Nurse Aide Examination. Can supply evidence of a 75-hour nursing assistant training in another state with proof of 45 hours of working as a nursing assistant. |
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| Arkansas | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved program with at least 90 hours of education/training and pass the Nursing Assistant Competency Exam. https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/provider-services-quality-assurance/occupational-licensing/cna-nha-training-program/ |
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| California | X | Individuals must be at least 16 years old, successfully complete an approved CNA training program, obtain a criminal record clearance, and successfully pass the Competency Evaluation Examination. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/CNA.aspx |
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| Colorado | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the NNAAP examination. https://dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing/CNAApplications | |
| Connecticut | X | Individuals must complete a board-approved CNA program with 100 hours of clinical/classroom training and must pass the Connecticut Nurse Aide examination. https://portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/nurseaide/nurse-aide-registration |
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| Delaware | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the CNA Competency Exam. https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhcq/cnareg/ | |
| District of Columbia | X | Individuals must complete an approved training program that consists of 45 hours classroom instruction, 30 hours of clinical labs, and 45 hours of nursing home practicums, and pass the nurse aide examination. https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/certified-nurse-aide | |
| Florida | X | Individuals must successfully complete an approved CNA training program (unless the student plans to apply for certification by exam only) and achieve a minimum score on the Florida nursing assistant competency examination. Electronic fingerprinting is also required. https://floridasnursing.gov/certified-nursing-assistant/ | |
| Georgia | X | Individuals must successfully complete a board-approved CNA program and pass the NNAAP exam. https://www.mmis.georgia.gov/portal/ResourceProxy.aspx?iCProxyTo=MS1OQVRQTWVudS5hc3B4 | |
| Guam | X | Individuals must complete the 180-hour training course and pass the NNAAP Exam. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, complete a criminal background check, and obtain AHA BLS certification. https://guamhplo.org/gbne |
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| Hawaii | X | Individuals must complete an approved CNA training program and successfully pass the Hawaii Nurse Aide Competency Exam. https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/programs/nurse/ |
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| Idaho | X | Individuals must complete an approved CNA program that includes a minimum of 120 training hours and pass the Idaho Nurse Aide Exam. https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/providers/certified-nurse-assistant/about-certified-nurse-assistant-registry |
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| Illinois | X | Individuals must successfully complete an Illinois-approved CNA training course and pass the written competency test. https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/health-care-worker-registry/cna-facts |
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| Indiana | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved 105-hour Nurse Aide Training Program and successfully pass both the written and skills evaluation exam. https://www.in.gov/health/ltc/aide-training-and-certification/cna/how-do-i-become-a-cna/ |
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| Iowa | X | ||
| Kansas | X | Individuals must complete a 90-hour approved CNA training program and earn a score of 75% or higher on the state CNA examination. https://www.kdads.ks.gov/licensing-policy/health-occupations-credentialing/certification-policies-faqs |
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| Kentucky | X | Individuals must complete an approved CNA course consisting of a minimum of 75 hours (with 16 hours of supervised clinical training), pass the final examination (written/oral and skills demonstration), and complete a competency evaluation. https://kbn.ky.gov/state-registered-nurse-aide/Pages/default.aspx |
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| Louisiana | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the CNA certification exam. https://ldh.la.gov/page/2257 | |
| Maine | X | Individuals must complete 180 hours of training from a state-approved CNA program and pass the Maine CNA competency test and criminal background check. https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/dlc/cna-registry |
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| Maryland | X | Individuals must complete 100 hours of CNA instruction through a board-approved CNA program and pass the CNA competency examination (written and manual skills). https://health.maryland.gov/mbon/pages/nursing-assistant-certification.aspx |
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| Massachusetts | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved nurse aide training program and pass the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/learn-how-to-become-a-certified-nurse-aide-in-massachusetts |
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| Michigan | X | Individuals must complete an approved Michigan training course and pass the evaluation test. https://www.michigan.gov/en/lara/bureau-list/bchs/nurse-aide-registry | |
| Minnesota | X | The CNA program at Southwestern Community College does meet the requirements provided individuals are listed on the Iowa Direct Care Registry and have a minimum of 8 hours of CNA work in the last 24 months. https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/providers/nursingassistant/index.html | |
| Mississippi | X | The CNA program at Southwestern Community College does meet the requirements provided students are listed on the Iowa Direct Care Registry and pass the NNAAP exam. https://msdh.ms.gov/page/30,10669,83,74.html | |
| Missouri | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved CNA course comprised of 75 hours of classroom training and 100 hours of on-the-job training and pass the two-part final examination. CNAs working in other states may apply for reciprocity. https://health.mo.gov/safety/cnaregistry/cna.php | |
| Montana | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved CNA training program and take and pass the CNA certification examination. https://dphhs.mt.gov/qad/certification/cna | |
| Nebraska | X | Individuals must be at least 16 years old, successfully complete a minimum of 75 hours of state-approved training or a 21-hour basic resident-care course for intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled. They must also successfully complete Nebraska-specific abuse/neglect/misappropriation training, and successfully pass the Nebraska-approved written/oral exam and skills competency exam. English language proficiency is also required. https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Nurse-Aide.aspx | |
| Nevada | X | Individuals must complete a Nevada-approved CNA training program and pass the state’s CNA certification exam. https://nevadanursingboard.org/faq-2/ | |
| New Hampshire | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved training program and pass the appropriate Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) competency evaluation examination. https://www.oplc.nh.gov/applications-lna | |
| New Jersey | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved training program and pass the appropriate CNA competency evaluation examination. https://www.nj.gov/health/healthfacilities/certification-licensing/nurse-aide-pc-assistant/ | |
| New Mexico | X | Individuals must complete a 75-hour state-approved CNA training program that includes lab hours and a clinical rotation and pass the competency exam. https://www.hca.nm.gov/certified-nurse-aide-registry/ | |
| New York | X | Individuals must complete a New York state-approved training program and pass the nurse aide exams. https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/consumer_information/nurse_aide_registry/ | |
| North Carolina | X | Individuals can request a training waiver if they completed a training program in another state within the last 24 months. Passing the North Carolina competency evaluation is still required. https://ncnar.ncdhhs.gov/ncna.html | |
| North Dakota | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training program and take and pass the state’s CNA competency evaluation. https://www.hhs.nd.gov/certified-nurse-aide-information | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | X | Individuals must complete a training program and pass the NNAAP exam. https://nmibon.info/certified-nursing-assistants/ |
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| Ohio | X | Individuals must enroll in and complete a state-approved nurse aide training program and successfully pass the state CNA examination. https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/nurse-aide-registry/resources/nurseaideregsitryrequirements | |
| Oklahoma | X | Individuals must successfully complete an approved Oklahoma Nurse Aide training program and pass the state’s competency examination. https://oklahoma.gov/careertech/testing-center/health-professional-certifications/nurse-aide.html |
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| Oregon | X | Individuals must complete an Oregon State Board of Nursing-approved nursing assistant training program, pass a criminal background check, and pass the CNA exam. https://www.oregon.gov/osbn/pages/index.aspx |
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| Pennsylvania | X | Individuals must complete a Pennsylvania-approved nurse aide training program and pass the competency evaluation exam within 24 months of program completion. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/business-registration-and-regulation/nurse-aide/nurse-aide-testing | |
| Puerto Rico | X | Individuals must take an approved CNA course. Hours of instruction include 45 class hours and 90 lab/clinical hours in local health care facilities. Clinical facilities may require criminal background screening and designated immunizations. https://www.salud.pr.gov/juntas_examinadoras | |
| Rhode Island | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved CNA training program that contains 120 hours of training, apply for a nursing assistant license, and pass the CNA competency examination. https://health.ri.gov/licensing | |
| South Carolina | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved CNA training program (100 hours) and pass the SC Nurse Aide exam. https://credentia.com/test-takers/sc/ | |
| South Dakota | X | Individuals must still pass the state-approved competency exam. https://www.sdbon.org/NursingAssistants/CNA_Initial_Requirements.asp | |
| Tennessee | X | Individuals must complete an approved nurse aide training program (40 hours of classroom learning and either 35 or 60 hours of supervised clinical instruction) and successfully pass the state competency examination within 24 months of the program’s completion. https://www.tn.gov/hfc/division-of-licensure-and-regulation/nurse-aide-information.html | |
| Texas | X | Individuals must successfully complete a state-approved nurse aide training (at least 100 hours) and competency evaluation program and pass the competency evaluation examination or, qualify to be placed on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry through waiver or reciprocity. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/business/licensing-credentialing-regulation/long-term-care-credentialing/nurse-aide-registry | |
| Utah | X | Individuals must successfully complete an approved CNA training program (80 hours) and pass the state’s CNA competency examination. https://utahcnaregistry.com/ | |
| Vermont | X | Individuals must verify they have completed a state-approved nursing assistant program (at least 75 clock hours in length with at least 59 hours of curriculum instruction and 16 hours of supervised practical training with a live person in a laboratory or another setting). They must also pass the NNAAP examination. https://sos.vermont.gov/nursing/apply-renew/ | |
| Virgin Islands | X | Individuals must complete a 120-hour training program and become CPR certified. https://vibnl.vi.gov/applications/ | |
| Virginia | X | Individuals must successfully complete a Virginia-approved nurse aide training program and pass the Virginia Nurse Aide written/oral skills examination and skills evaluation. https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/ApplicantResources/ApplyforLicense/NurseAide/ | |
| Washington | X | Individuals must complete a minimum of 85 hours of training through a state-approved program and pass the nursing assistant competency exam. https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/nursing-assistant | |
| West Virginia | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved training program (120 hours) and pass the nurse aide competency examination. https://ohflac.wvdhhr.org/Programs/NA.html | |
| Wisconsin | X | Individuals must complete an approved nurse aide training program and passing the competency evaluation. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/caregiver/nurse-aide/index.htm | |
| Wyoming | X | Individuals must complete a state-approved CNA training program (85 hours), send application and fingerprint cards to the Wyoming State Board of Nursing, and sit for and pass the CNA skills exam. https://health.wyo.gov/aging/hls/certified-nurse-aides/ |