How to get a State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) license in Kentucky

Kentucky nursing assistant licenses

Kentucky issues 3 nursing assistant credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the Kentucky nursing assistant licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 3)

How to apply

Apply online

kybn.boardsofnursing.org⁹¹⁰

Renewal

Renew online

kybn.boardsofnursing.org⁹¹⁰

2. Every license level except State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)

Requirements

High school diploma or GED

Required⁸

Also required

Must be currently employed to apply for the CMA credential.¹⁰

Fees

Renewal

How often

Every year⁸

When it expires

Expires one year from initial certification or last recertification; renew on the KBN Nurse Portal.⁸

Renewal fee

$25⁸ (Yearly)

Continuing education

At least 4 hours each renewal period⁸

Required topics

Medication-specific education; also needed: a yearly evaluation and competency validation signed by the supervising nurse, and at least 40 hours worked before expiration.⁸

Approved courses

Any provider; KBN lists sample sites but does not endorse them. Employer medication CE transcripts are accepted if they show provider, course, hours and date.¹¹

Who needs a State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) license

Nursing or nursing-related services to residents of nursing facilities and other health care settings; a nursing facility may not use someone as a nurse aide for more than 4 months full time unless they have completed the training and competency evaluation.²

Work that does not need this license:

• Excluded from the definition: licensed health professionals, unpaid volunteers, and sitters hired by the resident or family who do not perform nursing or nursing-related services.²

Other rules on who may do this work:

• New aides may work up to 4 months full time in a nursing facility while completing an approved training and competency evaluation program.²

Requirements for a State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 75 clock hours²
Complete a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program approved by the Department for Medicaid Services (programs are approved and overseen by KCTCS under an agreement with CHFS).¹²
Who may teach it: Approved providers: KCTCS, the Office of Career and Technical Education, nursing facilities, community colleges, universities, licensed proprietary schools, licensed health facilities training their own staff, and nonprofit/church/tax-supported programs. Instructor must be an RN with 2 years' experience (1 in long-term care), with LPNs supplementing.²
Alternative: Nursing students may apply to KCTCS to challenge the SRNA exam.⁶

Exam

Kentucky nurse aide competency evaluation (written or oral exam plus skills performance exam)³
Given by: Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), testing platform by TMU/Headmaster (ky.tmutest.com)¹
When you can take it: After completing an approved training program; candidates schedule themselves on the TMU/Headmaster site once the course is completed and must bring unexpired photo ID and a non-laminated Social Security card.⁶
Written exam or oral (audio) exam³
Skills performance exam, administered by an RN²
Retakes: Candidates who fail are told which areas they failed and get two additional opportunities to take the exam (three attempts in all).²
Exam waived: Aides active on another state's registry transfer by reciprocity without the Kentucky exam.⁷

Background check

Background check required⁴
Long-term care facilities, staffing agencies supplying nursing facilities and assisted living communities may not knowingly employ a direct-care worker convicted of a felony related to theft, illegal drugs, adult abuse/neglect/exploitation, or a sexual crime; facilities must also check the nurse aide abuse registry and the Adult Caregiver Misconduct Registry.⁴

Social Security number

Exam candidates must show a non-laminated Social Security card (or a DHS employment authorization document if the card is restricted); renewals and reciprocity ask for SSN.²

Other requirements and options

Nursing students may challenge the SRNA exam by applying to KCTCS for the SRNA Challenge.⁶

How much a State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) license costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Complete a state-approved nurse aide training program (at least 75 clock hours, incl. 16 hours supervised practical training). Ask your local KCTCS nurse aide (KNAT) coordinator about classes.²
2. After the course, schedule and pay for the written/oral and skills exams on the KCTCS TMU/Headmaster site (ky.tmutest.com).⁶ ky.tmutest.com⁶
3. Bring unexpired photo ID and your non-laminated Social Security card to the test; names must match on all documents.²
4. KCTCS sends passing results to KBN, which adds you to the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry. Create a KBN Nurse Portal account to check status; KBN no longer mails certification letters.¹

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary SRNA credential; a nursing facility may use a trainee in an approved program for up to 4 months.²

Processing time

KCTCS sends scores to KBN; results are usually available within 30 days of the exam, and the regulation requires registry entry within 30 days of completion.¹

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 2 years⁵

When it expires

Two years from the date you passed the competency exam; the renewal appears on the Nurse Portal dashboard no sooner than 60 days before expiration.⁵

Required topics

Work requirement: at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related work as an SRNA in each 24-month period, proved by pay stub, W-2 or employer letter (private-duty aides use the notarized SRNA Private Duty Form).⁵

If it expires

Lapsed: reinstate on the Nurse Portal with proof of 8 paid hours for every two years lapsed; without proof of work, retake the SRNA classes and test.¹³

Moving to Kentucky with a license from another state

These are the routes KBN publishes for the State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) license. The other nursing assistant licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Certified Medication Aide I (CMA I)

Gives oral or topical medications under a nurse's delegation (e.g. in long-term care). KCTCS lists limits: no dose conversions, no injections, nothing through tubes, no antineoplastic drugs, no verbal/phone orders. The KCTCS KMA counts as CMA I.⁸

Requirements

Education or training

At least 40 clock hours⁸
Board-approved CMA I training program: didactic course work (KCTCS KMA programs are deemed compliant; didactic may be by distance learning). Didactic and skills lab must take at least two weeks.⁸
Who may teach it: Board-approved long-term care facility (own employees), Kentucky college or university, or Kentucky proprietary school; KCTCS KMA programs need no separate approval for CMA I.⁸

Education or training

At least 20 clock hours⁸
Skills laboratory⁸

Education or training

At least 40 clock hours⁸
Direct patient contact with a clinical instructor⁸

Education or training

At least 60 clock hours⁸
Precepted hours⁸

Experience

At least 6 months⁸
Before admission: read, write and speak English, basic math, and at least 6 months' continuous work as an SRNA in a nursing facility (or be direct-care staff of a non-certified long-term care facility, a Department of Juvenile Justice facility, or a CHFS-licensed residential facility).⁸
License you must hold first: State Registered Nurse Aide (for the SRNA route; direct-care staff of the listed facility types are an alternative)⁸

Exam

Medication Aide Competency Examination (MACE) or other board-approved CMA I exam (KCTCS KMA/CMA I exam for KCTCS students)⁸
Given by: NCSBN MACE (Credentia for out-of-state candidates who must take it) or KCTCS for KCTCS programs¹⁰
When you can take it: On completing CMA I training.¹⁴
Retakes: Two attempts within 60 days of finishing training; after that, repeat the CMA I training to retest.⁸
Time limit: Within 60 days of completing CMA I training.⁸
Exam waived: Out-of-state medication aides: KBN reviews their education; if their state used a board-approved exam or the MACE no new exam is named, otherwise they must pass the MACE. Ohio CMAs trained after Oct. 31, 2024 must complete a Kentucky program.¹⁰

Fees

How to apply

1. Meet the entry rules (English, basic math, high school diploma/GED, 6 months' continuous SRNA work in a nursing facility or qualifying direct-care job) and complete a board-approved CMA I or KCTCS KMA program.¹⁵
2. Pass the MACE or other board-approved exam within 60 days of finishing training.¹⁵
3. While employed, submit the CMA I application on the KBN Nurse Portal; your program coordinator sends KBN the certified list of graduates.¹⁰ kybn.boardsofnursing.org¹⁰

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Certified Medication Aide II (CMA II)

Everything a CMA I may do, plus insulin by preloaded insulin pen only, under a nurse's delegation.⁸

Requirements

Education or training

At least 16 clock hours⁸
Kentucky-approved CMA II program: didactic training in insulin by prefilled pen⁸

Education or training

At least 8 clock hours⁸
Clinical training under continuous, direct, on-site nurse supervision, within 60 days of the didactic work⁸

Education or training

Documented insulin injections by prefilled pen, directly supervised by a nurse, within 60 days⁸

Experience

Must already hold CMA I (completed CMA I training and passed the CMA I exam).⁸
License you must hold first: Certified Medication Aide I in Kentucky¹⁰

Exam

Board-approved CMA II competency examination⁸
Given by: KCTCS (for KCTCS programs) or another board-approved exam¹⁴
When you can take it: On completing CMA II training.¹⁴
Retakes: Two attempts within 60 days of finishing training; after that, repeat the CMA II training to retest.⁸
Time limit: Within 60 days of completing CMA II training.⁸

Fees

How to apply

1. Hold a Kentucky CMA I and complete a Kentucky-approved CMA II program (16 h didactic, 8 h supervised clinical, 20 supervised pen injections).¹⁰
2. Pass the board-approved CMA II exam within 60 days of training.¹⁵
3. Submit the CMA II application on the KBN Nurse Portal.¹⁰ kybn.boardsofnursing.org¹⁰

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Certified Medication Aide I (CMA I)No local license: the CMA credential is a statewide Kentucky Board of Nursing credential.¹⁴

State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)No local license: the SRNA is a statewide Kentucky Board of Nursing credential.¹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a nursing assistant in Kentucky, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Kentucky is on the Kentucky license lookup page.

Look up a license

kybn.boardsofnursing.org¹⁶

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• 42 CFR 483.150-483.158 (nurse aide training, competency evaluation and registry)
• 907 KAR 1:450 Nurse aide training criteria and registry
• KRS 216.789 Prohibition against employing certain felons at long-term care facilities
• KRS 314.133 Administrative regulations -- Medication aides -- Requirements
• 201 KAR 20:700 Medication aide training programs and credentialing of medication aides

Rule changes since January 2024

• July 1, 2024: KBN took over the medication aide registry from KCTCS; CMAs registered with KCTCS before 7/1/2024 must apply to KBN for the CMA I credential.¹⁰

Common questions

Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states

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