Minnesota CNA Program Basics
In the state of Minnesota, those people who wish to become a CNA and work in any health care facility throughout the state must complete one of the two types of training programs. One of the required training courses is offered by the state’s community colleges while the other is offered by the American Red Cross. All hired nurse aides in any health care facility in Minnesota are required to enrol immediately in a training program whether covered or not by their employer. The applicant should pass the state competency assessment to be included in the Nurse Aide Registry of Minnesota within four months of hire.
Minnesota CNA Examination Requirements
- Some aspiring Minnesota CNAs may challenge the state assessment without the need of undergoing a nurse aide training course.
- CNAs from other states that are moving to Minnesota and those who were previously licensed nurses (LPNs or RNs) may be permitted to have their certification transferred.
- All they need to do is to accomplish Minnesota’s Interstate Endorsement Form.
- Having a CNA’s name listed on the state’s Nurse Aide Registry doesn’t cost anything.
- Transferring CNAs must present an active license which must be in good standing and have also paid to work for at least 8 hours in the past 2 years either in a nursing facility or for a private home care company.
Minnesota CNA Training Requirements
- The CNA certification assessment in Minnesota has two portions – a written exam and a manual skills evaluation.
- The test administrator will require the examinees to perform up to five different clinical exercises during the manual skills test portion of the state assessment.
- The hands on exercises or demonstration may be performed with a fellow student or with the test facilitator.
- The student will not be allowed to proceed to the next part of the certification in the event of getting a failing score on either of the two test portions.
- The student, however will be given 2 more chances to pass the exam at another time, but will be required to re-take the entire training course should he or she fail to meet the passing mark after 3 attempts.
- All applicants that have not taken a CNA training course but had taken the certification assessment are required to undergo an approved Minnesota CNA training program after not succeeding on the initial attempt.
Minnesota CNA Certification Renewal
- The CNA must work at least 8 hours during a 24-month period from the time that he or she had been certified to keep a registry entry valid and active.
- The state’s registry must ne notified by the CNA employer regarding the validity of the aide’s employment along with the submission of the CNA’s job description.
- The certification will be considered inactive if the nurse aide fails to acquire employment for more than 24 months.
- The nurse aide may need to retake the training course as well as the certification assessment to regain their registry entry or license.
