The certified nurse assistant (CNA) training program is required by the Omnibus Nursing Home Act and Section 198.082, RSMo, 1994.
The CNA training program prepares individuals for employment in a long-term care facility. The program teaches skills in resident care under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
The program consists of 75 classroom hours and 100 on-the-job training hours. Some of the topics covered include: basic nursing skills; fire safety; disaster training; resident safety and rights; and social and psychological problems of residents and the methods of caring for the mentally confused residents, such as those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Challenge means that individuals who meet special criteria are not required to take the entire certified nurse assistant course and will be allowed to take the final examination to become a CNA in Missouri
- Individuals enrolled in an RN or LPN program and who have successfully completed a Fundamentals of Nursing course that included a clinical rotation within the last five years (submit the following documentation: a copy of transcript) or;
- RN or LPN nursing licensure candidates who have failed state licensure examination (submit the following documentation: a copy of nursing program certification of completion and notice of fail from Board of Nursing) or;
- Individuals who are listed as active on another state’s CNA register and who are in good standing on that register (submit the following documentation: a copy of out-of-state certificate. If active status is not tracked on your state’s register you must submit proof of employment beginning in October, 1993) or;
- Students who have completed a nursing program outside the United State and who are awaiting licensure in this country (submit the following documentation: a copy of out of country license or certificate, copy of school transcript translated to English and a copy of out of country criminal background check translated to English) or;
- Individuals who were trained in a long-term care unit of a hospital and who have been employed there for at least twelve (12) months (submit the following documentation: a copy of hospital training and a letter verifying dates of employment and position held) or;
- Any other persons whose background, education and training in gerontology and health occupations includes the components of the approved training curriculum may challenge the examination after taking those portions of the course as determined to be necessary based on evaluation of their credentials by the supervisor of Health Education, Division of Senior Services and Regulation or;
- Individuals listed on the Missouri State Certified Nurse Assistant Register on inactive status (submit the following documentation: a copy of Missouri certificate) or;
- Individuals trained in acute care sections of hospitals as nursing assistants or persons trained as psychiatric aides may challenge the examination after
- completing the orientation module with special emphasis on geriatric residents’ needs and orientation to the facility, and;
- completing the one hundred (100) hours of on-the-job training in a long-term care facility or long-term care unit of a hospital. (submit the following documentation: a copy of hospital training and a letter verifying dates of employment and position held and/or copy of psychiatric certificate.)
Individuals meeting any of the above requirements must submit a written request to the DHSS to this address. Each request must include a clear copy of the individual’s social security card; return address, a daytime telephone number and all additional documentation.