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A nurse assistant, or certified nursing assistant (CNA), helps patients with daily tasks and personal care. They do things like bathing, feeding, dressing, and other personal hygiene tasks.

The job of a CNA can be physically demanding, so it’s important to have the right training before you begin working in this field. A CNA course will teach you how to work independently with patients and how to provide safe care for them during their recovery period.

An applicant for certification as a CNA shall comply with each of the following:

1. Be at least sixteen (16) years of age.
2. Have successfully completed a training program approved by the department in California, which includes an examination to test the applicant’s knowledge and skills related to basic patient care services.
3. Obtain a criminal record clearance. You must complete and submit the following to CDPH: an Initial Application (CDPH 283B), upon enrollment in the training program and a copy of the Request for Live Scan Service (BCIA 8016) form. Please also download the Request for Live Scan Service Sample (BCIA 8016 Sample), which will show you how to correctly complete the BCIA 8016 form. Once you have completed the CDPH-approved training program, you will need to successfully pass the Competency Evaluation Examination. If you successfully pass the Competency Examination, you must allow at least sixty (60) days for CDPH to receive your examination results from the testing vendor.

In order to transfer your out-of-state certificate to California, you must complete and submit the following to CDPH:

1. Certified Nurse Assistant Equivalency/Reciprocity Application (CDPH 283 E).
2. Obtain your fingerprints in California utilizing a Live Scan Agency and submit a copy of the completed Request for Live Scan Service (BCIA 8016). Please also download the Request for Live Scan Service Sample (BCIA 8016 Sample), which will show you how to correctly complete the BCIA 8016 form.
3. A copy of your out-of-state CNA certificate.
4. Proof of work showing that you provided nursing or nursing-related services in a facility to residents for compensation under the supervision of a licensed health professional within the last two (2) years. Acceptable forms of proof of work are a copy of a paystub or W2. If you have received your initial out-of-state CNA certificate within the last two (2) years, you do not need to submit proof of work.
5. The Verification of Current Nurse Assistant Certification (CDPH 931). Part I of the CDPH 931 is to be completed by the applicant and Part II is to be completed by the endorsing state agency (the state you are coming from).

CNA certificates must be renewed every two (2) years. You may renew your certificate any time within two (2) years after the expiration date of your certificate if by the time your certificate expires you will have completed the following:

1. You have previously received and maintained criminal record clearance for CNA, HHA, Intermediate Care Facility- Developmentally Disabled (ICF-DD), DD Habilitative, or DD Nursing and a criminal clearance is granted.
2. You have provided nursing or nursing-related services in a facility to residents for compensation (under the supervision of a licensed health professional) within your most recent certification period.
3. You have successfully obtained and submitted documentation of forty-eight (48) hours of In-Service Training/CEUs within your most recent certification period. A minimum of twelve (12) of the forty-eight (48) hours shall be completed in each year of the two (2) year certification period. A maximum of twenty-four (24) of the forty-eight (48) hours may be obtained only through a CDPH-approved online computer training program listed on our website. If you are unable to meet renewal requirements and your certificate has not been expired for more than two (2) years, you may reactivate the certificate by taking the Competency Evaluation examination. To reactivate the CNA certificate, please submit the completed Renewal Application (CDPH 283C), making sure to check the “yes” box for question number six (6) in the “Reactivation” section. If approved, a Competency Evaluation approval letter will be sent to you, along with information needed to schedule the examination. You must complete the examination within two (2) years from your certificates expiration date. Once you have successfully passed the examination, maintained criminal record clearance, and the results from the testing vendor have been received, CDPH will issue a current CNA certificate.

You must be at least 16 years old. You will also need a negative TB test result and COVID-19 immunization. These are requirements from the skilled nursing facilities where the clinical classes are going to take place.

In order to take part in our virtual theory classes, you will require certain equipment, including a desktop or laptop computer, a tablet, an iPad, or a smartphone, as well as a built-in or USB camera and microphone, either a built-in speaker or a headset, and Zoom application, which can be downloaded for free from either the AppStore or Google Play, for the synchronous video meeting.

Tuition and Fees (Institutional Charges):

Supplemental Fees (Non-Institutional Charges):