North Carolina Nursing Assistant / Nurse Aide Guide
Is a License or Certification needed: To get certified and work as a nursing assistant or nurse aide in North Carolina, you need to complete a nursing assistant program and pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam. You must also be listed on the North Carolina State Nurse Aide Registry.
Who Grants Certification: The North Carolina Board of Nursing grants certification to North Carolina nursing assistants and nurse aides.
The Qualifications to become Certified: In order to receive a new nurse aide certification in the state of North Carolina, you must:
- Successfully pass a background check and complete a 75 hour state-approved nurse aide program within the past two years and in just 3 attempts or less.
or - Be enrolled in an LPN or RN program and pass the NNAAP state test for Nurse Aides
How to Apply for Certification: Once you've completed a state-approved training program, you may apply for the NNAAP at the Credentia website. Once your account is activated, you will be able to schedule your test.
How to Apply to Take the Exam: Apply here for the NNAAP test.
Test Content: The NNAAP test has two parts, a Skills Evaluation and a Written (or oral) part. Both parts must be passed to be listed on the North Carolina State Nurse Aide Registry. The written section is 70 questions in length, 60 are multiple choice and 10 are reading comprehension questions. Take two pencils with you. You will have two full hours to complete the exam. (The oral exam if given in place of the written exam is 160 questions in length.) The Skills Evaluation will be a 25 minute time period given to complete 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills. Content topics include:
- Activities of Daily Living – Hygiene, Dressing and Grooming, Nutrition and Hydration, Elimination, Rest/Comfort/Sleep
- Basic Nursing Skills - Infection Control, Safety/Emergency, Therapeutic/Technical Procedures, Data Collection and Reporting
- Restorative Skills – Prevention, Self-care/Independence
- Psychosocial Care Skills – Emotional and Mental Health Needs
- Spiritual and Cultural Needs
- Communication
- Client Rights
- Legal and Ethical Behavior
- Member of the Health Care Team
See the Candidate Handbook for more details.
Certification Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements: In the state of North Carolina, you will automatically receive a postcard in the mail reminding you to renew your CNA license. A license lasts two years from the time you acquire it and expires on your birth month. If your birth month falls a month or so ahead of the two year mark, your license still expires on your birthday. See this information on renewal requirements.
Contact
NC Nurse Aide Registry (Nurse Aide 1)
NC Department of Health & Human Services
Division of Health Service Regulation
2709 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2709
Phone: 919-855-3969
Fax: 919-733-9764
To prepare for your nursing assistant or nurse aide exam, use Tests.com’s Certified Nursing Assistant Exam Practice Test Kit with 300 multiple choice questions, written by nursing experts and educators.
For more information on licensing and exam prep, go to Tests.com's CNA Test Guide.
And take Tests.com's free CNA Practice Test.
For nursing assistant and nurse aide exam preparation products and services, such as study guides, practice tests, flashcards and courses, go to Tests.com's CNA listings.
