To become a CNA in the State of Alabama, you must be listed on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry.
Steps to Certification
FIRST: Complete a state approved Nurse Aid Training program. These courses are offered through most community colleges, some private schools, and through employment at a nursing home. To find available nursing home jobs, check out our job board.
SECOND: Pass the National Nurse Aid Assessment Program (NNAAP) for Alabama within 24 months of completing the training program. The test consists of both practical and oral/written components, and the cost of the test will vary depending on what form of the test you take:
- Written Examination and Skills Evaluation – $95
- English or Spanish Oral Examination and Skills Evaluation – $115
If you do not pass, you have the opportunity to retake the test up to three times during the 24 months following the completion of your training program. The costs for retests are:
- Written Examination only – $40
- English or Spanish Oral Examination only – $60
- Skills Evaluation only - $55
If you do not pass after three tries, or do not take the test within 24 months of completing your training, you will have to take the training course again.
The examination will cover skills that you learned during your training program. The areas of knowledge tested on the oral/written examination include:
- Physical Care Skills, such as basic hygiene, grooming, and how to keep the client comfortable.
- Psychosocial Skills, like how to deal with the emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of the client.
- Role of the Nurse Aide, which deals with client rights, communication, and ethics.
The practical component will test several of 24 possible tasks, which are listed in the Alabama Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook.
THIRD: Confirm that you are certified by searching the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry.
Resources
For more information about the Alabama NNAAP, check out the Pearson VUE Test Taker Services site. This is an extremely helpful site, with links to the test application, a candidate handbook, a practice exam, and more.
Additional information about the exam can be found at NACES Plus Competency Evaluation site.
To find available positions at a Nursing Home in your area, follow this link to our job board.