Wisconsin CNA Program Basics
The state of Wisconsin has a minimum hourly requirement of 120 hours for all CNA training programs. No Internet- based course will qualify any aspiring nurse aide as all training programs must be either a college-based or employer/in-facility based program. In order to receive free or low cost training, the aspiring CNA should seek a CNA course which is offered by a local health care facility. These long term facilities offer a real world aspect to the training course as students during the final training sessions will be required to work with and get to know patients or residents of the facility.
Wisconsin CNA Training Requirements
- The first 16 hours of the training course will involve learning how to handle some of the mentally challenging aspects of the job.
- The training includes topics such as patient rights, infection control, emergency response, fire training and HIPPA laws, just to name a few.
- Some of the clinical skills covered in the training program include transferral of patients physically, mechanical lift training, toileting, and other skills that assist patients in their everyday activities.
Wisconsin CNA Examination Information
- By the time the trainees have completed the course, they will be eligible to challenge the CNA final examination.
- Like training, the assessment includes two portions – a written/oral and a manual skills assessment.
- The written or oral assessment includes a 72-question multiple-choice exam.
- In case the examinee has difficulty in reading or understanding the questions, the test administrator may read the exam to him or her.
- The manual skills evaluation part of the test will require each of the students to perform up to five of the skills that have been taught during the training period.
- Certification will only be issued to the student if he or she passes both portions of the assessment.
- Students that fail to pass the exam after three tries will need to retake course before they will be eligible to challenge the Wisconsin CNA final assessment again.
Wisconsin CNA Certification Reciprocity
- Reciprocity may be granted to a nurse aide who is relocating to Wisconsin if the training he or she had acquired is in accordance to the state’s training requirements.
- Also, the certification must be active and in good standing.
- All reciprocity applicants must submit to a criminal background check for them to be allowed to work in any of the state’s long term care facilities.
Wisconsin CNA Certification Renewal
- License renewal in Wisconsin is required every two years.
- Nurse aides must complete all of the paperwork sent to their employer or home address and present proof of employment for at least 8 hours during the past 24-month period.
