CNA Certification in Montana

Planning for a CNA certification in Montana? It is certainly one of the most desired employment opportunities in Montana due to the ever increasing need of qualified medical professionals like Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA). But do you what it takes to get CNA certification in Montana? You must first get enrolled into a CNA training program in Montana. There are around 70 certified CNA training programs in Montana which are regulated by the Department of Public Health & Human Services. You could find one of these programs from the Department of Health & Human Services. Once you complete the CNA program of your choice, you are required to challenge and pass the State Certified Nurse Assistant exam. You must challenge the exam within one year of completing the CNA training. After passing this exam your name gets registered on the Montana Nursing Assistant Registry which allows you to work as a CNA in Montana.

The state approved CNA classes must constitute a minimum of 75 hours of training with a minimum of 16 hours spent in both a classroom and hands-on clinical setting. Clinical component is where the student practices the skills in a hands-on medical setting with real life patients. But prior to enrollment in such CNA programs, you must undergo a mandatory criminal background check. You are also required to undergo a negative TB test within the past 6 months and show immunization proof. Another requirement is to show a high school diploma or GED.

The curriculum of the CNA training program includes the basics of nursing and other related skills like interacting with the patients, monitoring and reporting the vital signs, to read and write in medical terms and monitor and maintain the safety, cleanliness of the patient. The active skills learnt in this course would be the skills found in the active portion of the exam too. The exam constitutes of 2 components primarily the written part and the skills part. The skills part is designed to test your 5 nurse aide skills which you must perform actively in a real life medical setting. It is to be noted that the CNA certification must be renewed every 24 months with proof of a minimum 8 hours of employment as a CNA over the same time period.

What is the expected CNA salary in Montana? It is encouraging to know that the average salary of a CNA working in Montana is approximately $25,000 a year plus benefits.