Any individual who plans to work as a Nurse Aide in an Alabama Nursing Home must take the steps required for placement on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry and remain in good standing. The individual must complete a state-approved nurse assistant training program and pass both the knowledge and clinical skills components of the CNA exam to qualify for placement on the Registry. The state gives each candidate a maximum of three attempts within 24 months of completing the nurse aide training to pass the exam. Further attempts to take the exam will require retraining. To maintain certification, Alabama’s CNAs must work at least 8 hours every 24 months in a nursing home, hospice agency, home health agency, or hospital. The practice must be for paid compensation as volunteer service does not count. CNAs who fail to meet the minimum practice requirements must retrain and retest to be eligible for employment. Pearson VUE and Prometric are approved by the Alabama Department of Health to administer the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation.
CNA Classes in AL:
- CNA Class Mobile, AL
- CNA Classes Bessemer, AL
- CNA Classes Birmingham, AL
- CNA Classes Huntsville, AL
- CNA Classes McCalla, AL
- CNA Classes Montgomery, AL
How to Apply for the Alabama CNA Exam – Pearson VUE
Through a contract with the Alabama Department of Health, Pearson Vue develops, scores, and reports the results of the NNAAP exam required for certification and placement on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry.
According to the guidelines defined by Alabama State, you must have completed an approved nurse aide training program to be eligible to take the certification exam. Students enrolled in an approved licensed nursing program are also eligible to take the exam after successfully completing the Fundamentals of Nursing and the respective clinical. All prospective candidates must take and pass the exam within 24 months of completing the required training.
The Eligibility Routes are:
- Graduates of a State Approved Training Program
- Graduates of a Training Program at an Approved Long-Term Care facility
- Nursing Student or Graduate
- Lapsed Nursing Assistant
Submitting the exam application:
- Secure an application from the nurse aide training provider, facility employer, or download it online at the Pearson VUE website.
- Include your social security number, mailing address, and correct name on the application.
- Indicate the type of examination you’re applying for. If you’re taking the test for the first time, you must apply for both exams.
- Provide the training program name and code, your graduation date, and signature of the instructor. Nursing students must provide the training program completion date and official transcripts showing completion of the Fundamentals of Nursing course.
- Provide Sponsor information if your employer is your sponsor.
- Choose a location for the exam and sign and date the application.
- Submit the appropriate exam fee with the completed application. Exam fees are non-refundable and must be submitted with the completed application. Fees are payable using company check, certified check, or money order only.
- Include a copy of your training program’s certificate of completion.
After receiving your application, documents, and fee, NACES will schedule a test date and mail notice of the Authorization to Test to the address you provided. The ATT is a yellow postcard that contains important information about the exam.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Pearson VUE provides candidates with full access to the test by providing reasonable and appropriate accommodations to candidates with documented disabilities who request and demonstrate the need for accommodations. Requests for special accommodations should include supporting documentation from a professional who diagnosed the condition and a description of past accommodations received.
You can reschedule the exam if you’re unable to attend on the scheduled date. Reschedule requests must be made at least five business days before the examination. Your fee will not be refunded if you do not call NACES at least five business days in advance of the test.
Exam Costs
Under Federal Law, the long-term care facility must pay your testing and retesting fees if you’re employed at a facility that participates in the Medicaid/Medicare program. If you’re unemployed, but receive an offer of employment within 12 months of certification, the long-term care facility must refund your expenses on a prorated basis. Keep all your receipts to submit as proof of payment.
- $100 – Written Examination and Skills Evaluation
- $120 – English Oral Examination and Skills Evaluation
- $120 – Spanish Oral Examination and Skills Evaluation
- $40 – Written Examination (retake)
- $60 – English Oral Examination (retake)
- $60 – Spanish Oral Examination (retake)
- $60 – Skills Evaluation
- $15 – Duplicate Score Report
CNA Exam Overview Alabama – Pearson VUE
There are two parts to the exam, the Written (or Oral) Exam and the Skills Evaluation. Both exams will be administered on the same day if you’re taking the test for the first time. You must pass both exams to become certified and receive a listing on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry.
The Written Exam
The written exam contains 70 multiple-choice questions. You’ll have a maximum of two hours to complete the exam. Only the answers marked on the answer sheet will be scored. Markings on the test booklet are not valid. Ten questions from the written test are considered pretest (non-scored) items used to collect statistical information. The distribution of questions across the three main categories are as follows:
Physical Care Skills
- Activities of Daily Living – 14%
- Basic Nursing Skills – 39%
- Restorative Skills – 8%
Psychosocial Care Skills
- Emotional and Mental Needs – 11%
- Spiritual and Cultural Need – 2%
Role of the Nurse Aide
- Communication – 8%
- Client Rights – 7%
- Legal and Ethical Behavior – 3%
- Member of the Health Care Team – 8%
Sample questions with answers are available in the Candidate Handbook.
The Oral Test
The oral alternative to the written exam is available in English or Spanish for persons who have difficulty reading English. The exam contains 60 multiple-choice questions and 10 multiple-choice reading comprehension questions delivered on an audio cassette tape. You must pass both parts of the oral exam to pass the test. For the Spanish Oral exam, the 10-multiple choice questions are recorded and written in English to test your ability to speak a minimum amount of English and recognition of common words used in the long-term care setting. Like the written exam, the oral exam takes two hours to complete. Your request for the oral exam must be submitted with the application.
The Skills Exam
The 25-minute skills evaluation lists five skills you must perform. Skills are selected at random, and a Nurse Aide Evaluator will rate your performance. You must perform all five skills correctly in order to pass the exam. The exam area will resemble an actual care setting with all the equipment needed to perform the assigned skills. Another candidate will volunteer to play the role of the client. To volunteer as a client, you must wear a loose-fitting top with short sleeves, loose-fitting pants, and flat, slip-on, non-skid shoes.
For a list of skills that may be included in the evaluation, see the Candidate Handbook or the NNAAP Skills List. Each skill is broken down into a series of steps, which you must perform. If you neglect a Critical Element Step, you will fail the exam. Four of the skills will be selected at random and hand-washing will be the final skill. You can redo a step to make corrections. However, you cannot go back to make corrections once you begin a new skill.
What to Bring to the Exam
Arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time for both the written and skills test as check-in is required for both exams. You must be able to identify yourself at the test center.
Take the following:
- Two forms of proper identification
- Three # 2 pencils sharpened
- An eraser
- A watch with a second hand
Other materials will not be allowed. One of the IDs must have a current photo and valid date. Examples of proper ID include a driver’s license, passport, library card, credit card, alien registration card, or a social security card with your signature.
The name on the ID must match the name used to register for the exam. You will not be allowed to take the exam if you arrive late or bring inappropriate identification.
Receiving Your Scores
The Nurse Adie Evaluator will fax your answer sheet for scoring after you complete the exam. The official score report, distributed at the test center, will indicate whether you passed or failed the exam. In the event of technical difficulties at the test center, you will receive your report on the same day. However, Pearson VUE will mail the official report to the address provided within 5 to 7 business days.
If you fail one or both parts of the exam, you will need to repeat the part(s) you failed. The score report will provide complete information on reapplying for the portion you failed. You’ll have three attempts within 24-months to pass both parts of the exam. If you do not pass the exam within the stipulated time/attempts, you must complete another state-approved training program.
If you pass the exam, you can check online to verify that your name has been added to the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry.
How to Apply for the Alabama CNA Exam – Prometric
To be eligible to take the CNA exam through Prometric, you must have completed an approved nurse aide training program within the past 24 months. Testing must be successfully completed within the stipulated two-year period. If you fail one or both parts of the exam three times, you must retake a state-approved training program to be eligible to retest.
Applying for and scheduling your CNA Exam:
Prometric administers the CNA exam in nursing homes and qualified facilities in Alabama. If your training program or nursing facility is an approved test site, they will make the arrangements for you to take the exam at their facility. Approved Regional test centers in Alabama are also available for scheduling and taking the exam. Current test sites are the Community Empowerment Training Center, Saad’s CNA School, and Northeast Alabama Community College. Contact the test center directly for the procedures for scheduling.
Candidates with documented disabilities can apply for reasonable testing accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests for special accommodations must be submitted at least 30 days before the desired test date. Submit a specialist’s note on official letterhead and a description of the accommodations being request with the application.
Exam Costs
The exam costs at the regional testing centers are as follows:
- $35 – Clinical Skills Test
- $30 – Knowledge or Oral Test
- $40 – Test Site Administration Fee
Exam fees are not refundable. If you do not take the exam within the eligibility period, you will lose your payment and must pay to schedule another appointment. Fees are payable using a credit card, money order, or cashier’s check payable to the test site. Your employer must pay your fee, by federal law, if you’re employed with a Medicaid/Medicare funded facility.
CNA Exam Overview Alabama – Prometric
There are two parts to the Nurse Aide Competency Exam. One test is the written (knowledge) test, and the other is a hands-on clinical evaluation. You can take the test in any order, but if you’re taking the test for the first time, you must take both on the same day. It is important that you pass both parts to receive certification in Alabama.
The Written Exam
Prometric’s exam is administered as a computerized test. However, you don’t need computer experience to take the exam. A brief tutorial before the test starts will cover the critical areas for taking the test and submitting your responses. You’ll learn how to move the mouse and use it to select answers, mark a question for later review, view a summary of questions including answered and unanswered questions, and submit your test for scoring. If you wish, you can take the free or paid practice tests on Prometric’s website to prepare for the exam. The 90-minute written test contains 55 multiple-choice questions in the following categories:
- Role of the Nurse Aide – 18%
- Promotion of safety – 18%
- Promotion of Function and Health of Residents – 24%
- Basic Nursing Care Provided by the Nurse Aide – 26%
- Providing Specialized Care for Residents with Changes in Health – 14%
The Oral Test
The oral test is a replica of the written test and is helpful to candidates who consider English as a second language or have difficulty reading. The questions will be read on the computer with the options to play, rewind, and pause. To take the oral exam, you must indicate your preference on the application you submit to the regional test site.
The Skills Exam
A Nurse Aide Evaluator will provide a copy of General Instructions for the Nurse Aide Clinical Skills Test that you should read while you wait to take the exam. The timed exam is approximately 31 to 40 minutes based on the skills you’re asked to perform. There will be a total of five skills score; three of them will be assigned randomly, and the other two skills, Handwashing and Indirect Care, will be scored during your execution of the other three skills. You must pass all five skills to pass the exam. Although you’re not required to perform the skills perfectly, you must complete the critical steps for each skill. You can make corrections but not after you’ve moved on to a new skill on the list. Dress appropriately for the clinical as you will be expected to volunteer for the role of the client for another candidate. Appropriate clothing includes loose-fitting scrub top and pants and flat, non-skid, closed-toe shoes. For a list of skills you may be asked to perform and the critical steps, check the Candidate Handbook.
What To Bring To The Exam
Late arrival could jeopardize your admission to the exam. It is necessary that you arrive 30 minutes before the exam starts for check-in and instructions.
Exam personnel will verify:
- Your two forms of ID. One of them should be a photo ID with your signature and name exactly as it appears on the appointment. Examples include a passport or driver’s license. The second ID should have your name and signature. A library card, credit card, or signed social security card are some examples.
Dress appropriately or you will not be admitted to the exam. Scrubs, facility uniform, and flat, non-skid shoes are examples of appropriate wear.
Receiving Your Scores
Exam results are confidential and not issued over the phone. The score report will be available at the test center after you take the exam. The report will indicate whether you passed or fail. It will also include your percentage for each section of the test. This will help you to strengthen your weak areas if you must retest. Site employees cannot answer questions about the exam content. Prometric will send your results to the Nurse Aide Registry if you pass the exam. Your name should be listed within 2 to 4 business days thereafter.
Instructions for retaking the exam will be outlined in the score report if you fail a component of the exam.
NACES Plus Foundation, Inc.
Alabama NNAAP
8501 North Mopac Expressway, Suite 400
Austin, Texas 78759
Phone: (877) 889-0939
Fax: 1 (866) 95NACES
Pearson VUE
Alabama NNAAP
P.O. Box 13785
Philadelphia, PA 19101
Phone: (888) 204-6185
Prometric
AL Nurse Aide
7941 Corporate Dr.
Nottingham MD 21236
Phone: 800.805.9128
Alabama Nurse Aide Registry
1000 N.E. 10th Street, Room 1111
Alabama City, OK 73117
Phone: (405) 271-4085 or toll-free 800-695-2157
E-Mail: nar@health.ok.gov