CNA Certification in New Jersey

New Jersey CNA Certification Prerequisites

To become a Certified Nurse Aide in New Jersey you must obtain CNA certification. But what are the requirements you must meet to get CNA certified in New Jersey? A nurse aide is required to enroll and complete one of the state approved CNA training programs in New Jersey regulated by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. After the completion of training, nurse aide must challenge and pass the state competency exam and then get listed on the New Jersey State Nurse Aide Registry in good standing. When all these have been accomplished, the nurse aide gets officially certified and is allowed to work in any extended care and nursing facilities throughout the state of New Jersey.

Every CNA course in New Jersey must contain a minimum of 90 hours of training, which includes 50 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of hands-on clinical training. Typical duration of CNA classes in New Jersey is 2-6 months. You must get criminal background verification and show proof of immunizations, submit two fingerprint cards, photo id and two passport size photos in order to attend the CNA training. These requirements might slightly vary with the different training providers. The CNA training curriculum prepares you with the skills and knowledge necessary for the nursing career. The typical nursing basic skills include changing bedding, delivering meals, knowing how to spot signs of abuse and caring for patients, how to report vital signs, providing safe and disease free conditions.

The state competency exam is administered by Pearson Vue and costs you $86. It contains a written/oral and skills component. The written/oral part contains multiple choice questions while the skills performance component tests your efficiency in the 5 nursing aide skills. Once you have the passing score, you receive CNA certification in New Jersey and your name gets listed on the state’s nursing aide registry. You must remember to apply for the CNA certification renewal once in every 24 months along with proof of a minimum of 8 hours of employment as a CNA over the same time period.

If you are willing to do what it takes to become a CNA in New Jersey then it would encouraging for you to learn that the current annual median wage for a CNA in New Jersey is $32,000 plus benefits, which is 9% more than the national average.