Before you undertake the duties of a nurse aide in a nursing home – whether part-time or full-time – you must first complete the minimum training and competency requirements, as defined by federal and state regulations, and be listed on the state’s Nurse Aide Registry.
Start by completing an NYS-approved nurse aide training program, comprising of a minimum 100 hours of didactic and practical instruction, as a first step to becoming a certified nursing assistant. The Competency Exam, which includes a clinical skills evaluation and a written (or oral) exam, is available to graduates of an approved program within two years of graduation. After you’re successful on both components of the Competency Exam, your name will be added to the Nurse Aide Registry. Prometric administers the exam to qualifying candidates at various testing centers across New York.
CNA Classes in NY:
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How to Apply for the New York CNA Exam
Certification Routes
New York State has seven routes for establishing your eligibility to take a certification exam to become a nurse aide.
Certification Route 1 – New Nurse Aides
Select this certification route if you have never been a nurse aide.
To complete route 1, you must:
- Complete a NYS-approved nursing home nurse aide training program within the last 24 months (your training program coordinator must complete Section 3 of the application form).
- Complete the application for testing. If you are currently employed by a NYS nursing home, your employer must complete Section two of the application form.
- Submit the completed application form and the required exam fee to your training program coordinator or employer. If you are employed in a nursing home, your employer must pay your exam fee. If you are not able to take your exam at your nursing home or training program, mail your application and fees to Prometric. You will be scheduled at a regional exam site.
- Pass the Clinical Skills exam and the Written or Oral exam within two years of completing your training. You will have three attempts to pass the Clinical Skills exam and three attempts to pass the Written or Oral exam.
Certification Route 2 – Reciprocity/CNA from Another State
Select this certification route if you are a nurse aide listed in another state’s Registry and would like to become certified in New York.
To complete route 2, you must:
- Complete and submit the application for testing
- Provide a copy of your current out-of-state nurse aide certificate(s).
- Pay the appropriate fees.
If the state in which you are currently certified does not provide expiration dates on its registry, you must provide proof of employment. This must be at least on facility letterhead from your employer. It must indicate that you have worked seven hours for pay in the past 24 months. The letter must state that you have performed nurse aide duties and must be signed by your supervisor.
Certification Route 3 – Graduate Nursing
Select this certification route if you are a U.S.-trained graduate nurse. You will not be required to complete further training but you must take the exam.
The items that must be submitted in order to determine your eligibility to take an exam under route 3 include:
- A completed application form
- A copy of your nursing program diploma
Certification Route 4 – RNs and LPNs Licensed in the U.S
Select this certification route if you are a currently active RN or LPN licensed in the United States. You will not be required to complete further training or take the exam.
To complete route 4, you must:
- Complete and submit the application form. If you are employed in NYS as a nurse aide in a nursing home, your employer must complete Section two of the application form.
- Provide a copy of your current RN/LPN license.
Certification Route 5 – Foreign Trained Nurses
Select this route if you are a foreign-trained nurse. Before you can take an exam under route 5, you must first receive approval from the NYSDOH. You must submit your application materials to the New York State Department of Health.
The items that must be submitted in order to determine your eligibility to take an exam under route 5 include:
- A completed application form
- A copy of your Social Security card
- A copy of your nursing license
- A copy of your nursing school diploma
- Documentation of your nursing school coursework.
- A copy of your admission letter or score report if you have taken or will take the NYS RN or LPN examination.
Certification Route 6 – Trained and Lapsed
Select this certification route if your certification is currently lapsed and you successfully completed a NYS-approved nursing home nurse aide training program on or after July 1, 1989. Your certification is considered lapsed if you have not worked for pay as a NYS nurse aide in the last 24 months at a NYS nursing home or other approved facility.
To complete route 6, you must:
- Complete and submit the application form
- Provide your NYS certification number on your application form
- Pass the Clinical Skills exam and the Written or Oral exam within two years of submitting your application. You will have three attempts to pass the Clinical Skills exam and three attempts to pass the Written or Oral exam within two years.
Certification Route 7 – Lapsed – Other
Select this certification route if your nurse aide certification is currently lapsed and was obtained through Deeming, Waiving, Reciprocity, or if you completed training before July 1, 1989.
To complete route 7, you must:
- Complete retraining. Your training program coordinator must complete Section 3 of the application form
- Complete and submit the application form
- Submit the appropriate exam fees
- Provide your NYS certification number on your application
- Pass the Clinical Skills exam and the Written or Oral exam within two years of
the new training completion date
Once your application is processed, you will receive an admission letter. The letter has the time, date and location of your exam. Prometric will send your admission letter to your email address. If you are taking an exam at a regional exam site, you must bring this letter with you when you take your exam.
If the scheduled exam date will not work for you, contact Prometric immediately to have your exam rescheduled. You may reschedule up to five full business days before your scheduled exam date. Fees are forfeited for appointments cancelled or rescheduled within five business days of the exam date and you will be required to pay the exam fees again.
Exam Costs
If you’re employed or become employed within 12 months of certification, the nursing home will cover the cost of your training and exam fees. Keep copies of your receipts for reimbursement of your costs.
Prometric accepts payment in the form of cashier’s check, money order, credit card or nursing facility check. Testing fees are as follows:
- $115 – Clinical Skills and Written Examination (first time)
- $135 – Clinical Skills and Oral Examination (first time)
- $68 – Clinical Skills Retest
- $57 – Written Retest
- $67 – Oral Retest
- $50 – Reciprocity/CNA from Another State and RNs and LPNs
- $15 – Duplicate certificate
- 40 – Recertification (to be paid by employer)
CNA Exam Overview New York
Successful passage of both parts of the New York State Nursing Home Nurse Aide Competency Examination is essential for placement on the Nurse Aide Registry. Your training program may administer the test at their facility, providing an opportunity for you to take the exam in a familiar environment. Otherwise, you may have to apply to Prometric to take the test at one of the 23 regional sites in the state.
The Written Exam
The Written exam is a 90-minute exam that contains 60 multiple-choice questions. The exam format and scoring is as follows:
Role of the Nurse Aide – 18%
- Personal responsibility
- Nurse aide as a member of the health care team
Promotion of safety – 18%
- Potential hazards in the healthcare environment.
- Common injuries of residents
- Risks related to common injuries
- Safety and comfort
- Safety devices
- Infection prevention and control
- Emergencies
- Fire prevention and safety
Promotion of Function and Health of Residents – 24%
- Personal care skills
- Health maintenance/ restoration
- Age-related changes
- Psychosocial needs of residents
Basic Nursing Care Provided by the Nurse Aide – 26%
- Routine, chronic, non-life threatening situations
- Acute emergency situations
- Providing Specialized Care for Residents with Changes in Health – 14%
- Physical problems
- Psychological problems
- Care of the dying resident and post-mortem care
Practice exams are available online at Prometric. They follow the same format and question type as the actual exam to help you become familiar with the test. The Practice Exam provides immediate feedback to both correct and incorrect responses and overall feedback at the end of the session.
The Oral Exam (Alternative)
The written exam is available in oral format, particularly helpful if you have a reading disability or if English is your second language. If you want to take the oral exam, you must request it at the time of application and pay the appropriate fee. You cannot request the exam at the testing center. You’ll use a headset and CD player to hear the prerecorded questions. The test has an additional section, which tests your reading comprehension with 16 additional questions. There will be an extra 30 minutes assigned to complete this section.
The Skills Exam
The timed skills exam will score your ability to perform five assigned skills. While performing three assigned skills, the Nurse Aide Evaluator will score your Handwashing and Indirect Care ability. The time for the evaluation will depend on the skills assigned. The NAE will tell you how much time you have to complete the assignment. It can be anywhere from 31 minutes to 40 minutes. Your demonstration of competency and attention to key checkpoints will determine whether you pass or fail. Prepare to serve as a resident actor to another candidate and vice versa. If you’re unable to participate as an actor in any of the skills, inform the NAE when you check-in at the test site. A full list of skills you should prepare for is available in Prometric’s Candidate Handbook.
What To Bring To The Exam
Arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time to sign in and allow staff to verify your identification. You must take:
- Two valid forms of identification – one with your current photo and signature. The photo ID must be a government-issued ID, official employment ID, or official school ID. The second ID must have your signature. The names of both IDs must match one another and the name you used to register.
- The admission letter if you’re taking the exam at a regional test site.
- Non-skid, closed-toe, flat shoes for the clinical evaluation
- A watch with a second hand
Electronic items, books, and reference materials are not permitted in the exam area.
Receiving Your Scores
Prometric releases the results directly to the NYSDOH and to the sponsoring nursing home or training program. If you pass both the clinical skills and written or oral exam, you’ll receive an NYS Certificate and wallet card within 10 business days after passing the exam. You can check the registry online to verify that you passed as it will be updated before the certificates are mailed out.
If you fail the exam, you’ll receive an official score report along with information on how to apply for a retest.
Contact the Registry
Prometric
NY Nurse Aide
7941 Corporate Dr.
Nottingham MD 21236
Phone: 800.805.9128
New York State Department of Health
Bureau of Professional Credentialing
875 Central Avenue
Albany, New York 12206
Phone: (518) 408-1297
Fax: (518) 408-1632
E-mail: profcred@health.state.ny.us