Oregon CNA Program Basics
In the state of Oregon, residents must undergo an approved training course in order to be allowed sit for the state’s final CNA1 examination. As with most states in the US, the training course must meet or exceed the federal recommendation of 70 hours total training duration that includes both classroom and manual skills or hands on instruction. Upon completion of the training program, a student may sit for the CNA1 assessment.
Oregon CNA Training Requirements
- Some individuals may qualify to take the state’s final assessment without taking any training course as long as they have completed one of the following:
- Training as a military medic and have worked at least 400 hours in the past 24 months, a 75-hour training course in another state that can be validated as consistent with the programs in Oregon, or a nursing student who had completed a training in the past 3 years.
- These people may opt to file an application to challenge the Oregon CNA exam without undergoing a training course first.
Oregon CNA Examination Information
- The CNA final assessment may be taken after the state’s nursing board authorizes an application for one of the situations described above or after a training program is completed.
- The final examination includes a multiple-choice portion or written test and a manual skills evaluation.
- During the manual or clinical skills portion, the examinee will perform five hands on exercises on students who would act as patients.
- Failure to pass either portion of the assessment will result in the certification being withheld until the student retakes the test and passes.
- Failure to pass the entire assessment after three attempts will require that the student retake the training course.
Oregon CNA Certification Reciprocity
- All CNA applicants must pass a criminal background check.
- All nurse aides that wish to transfer their license to Oregon from another state must submit to a background check and must present proof that they have worked at least 400 hours in the past 24 months as a certified nurse aide and that those 400 hours were under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
- The certificate to be transferred must be in good standing with no charges of patient abuse or neglect.
- The training course that has been completed in the previous state must comply with Oregon’s standards.
- Any convictions or charges of patient neglect or abuse will automatically disqualify the reciprocity applicant from obtaining a CNA certification in Oregon.
Oregon CNA Certification Renewal
- The state of Oregon implements stricter rules when it comes to renewal of certification.
- Every 2 years, on the day prior to the CNA’s birthday, his or her license expires.
- During this 24-month period, the nurse aide must have worked a minimum of 400 hour (or 3 months) in a for pay setting to qualify for renewal.
- Private caring may be included as long as all payments are recorded.
- As of 2010, renewal of certification costs about $60.
