Maine CNA Program Basics
All aspiring nurse aides in the state of Maine are required to complete an extensive training course of 180 hours, well over the 75 training hours mandated by the federal regulation. The training program includes classroom discussions, lab exercises and clinical training. CNA courses are widely offered throughout the state by numerous nursing facilities and colleges. Students need to make sure that the training course that they are undergoing is a state-approved program. This is to ensure their qualification for the state’s certification assessment.
Maine CNA Examination Requirements
- The state assessment exam is composed of two portions: the written and clinical test.
- The instructor or test administrator will require the examinee to perform some clinical exercises to rate their skills.
- Prior to proceeding to the manual skills test, the student must pass the written exam first.
- These two sections of the assessment must both receive a passing score to obtain certification.
- The examination is usually held in a state-approved location like in the training facility especially if the course is offered by an employer or nursing facility.
- Unless an employer had offered sponsorship, the applicant must pay for the course fees.
Maine CNA Transfer Reciprocity
- As long as the CNA who is transferring his or her certification is from a state where it requires the same amount of training hours as Maine, reciprocity can be processed.
- In any case that the previous state offers a different training program for CNAs, the nurse aide must take a test called “bridge” in order for the reciprocity request to be granted.
- All CNA applicants must follow all regulations set by the state’s DOH and Human Services in terms of certification transfer.
Maine CNA Certification Renewal
- The requirements and procedure for license renewal in Maine are quite similar to that of other states in the US.
- CNAs must have worked for at least 8 hours in a for-pay environment during the past 2 years and had received 12 hours of annual in-services.
- These in-services are provided by employers.
- Renewal forms are mailed to all CNAs in the state who need re-certification 2 months prior to the expiration of the license.
- Forms must be filled out by CNAs while some sections of the form may need to be accomplished by a current or previous employer.
- The renewal form must be mailed back prior to the license’s expiration date.
- If the certification had lapsed due to human error, the CNA can still possibly renew his or her certification without undergoing the training course again or retaking the state assessment.
- The CNA with this kind of situation should contact Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services for the review of his or her case.
