How to get a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate in Nevada

Nevada nursing assistant licenses

Nevada issues 2 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 every Nevada nursing assistant license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

How to apply

Apply online

nvbn.boardsofnursing.org²⁷

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹

Renewal fee

$50³⁸

Continuing education

At least 24 hours each renewal period³⁸

Renew online

nvbn.boardsofnursing.org³⁷

Who needs a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate

Under the direction of a licensed nurse, performs basic restorative and basic nursing services directed at patient safety, comfort, personal hygiene, basic mental health and protection of patients and their rights; the Board publishes CNA Skills Guidelines.¹

Work that does not need this license:

• A nursing assistant trainee (enrolled in training or awaiting exam results) may work without a certificate, but not as a trainee for more than 4 months.¹

Requirements for a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Minimum age

16 years old¹

Education or training

75 clock hours¹
Complete a Board-approved nursing assistant training program of 75 hours of instruction, including no less than 60 hours of theory and skills learning in a laboratory setting; at least 16 hours of classroom/lab must come before any resident contact. Programmes run in skilled nursing facilities, private schools (also licensed by the Commission on Postsecondary Education), Nevada System of Higher Education colleges and high-school CTE programs.¹
Who may teach it: Programmes must be approved by the Board and administered through NSHE, a State Board of Education CTE program, a public school, or another nationally recognized accrediting body; the Board publishes a list of approved programs.⁹
Alternative: A transcript showing completion of "nursing fundamentals" is accepted instead of a training-program certificate.²

Exam

Nevada nursing assistant certification examination (knowledge/written test and clinical skills test)²
Given by: Headmaster¹⁰
When you can take it: After completing a Board-approved training program (and passing the program's own theory test at 80% and skills test); apply to the Board within one year of finishing training.¹
Knowledge (written) examination²
Clinical skills examination²
Retakes: If you fail one part (knowledge or skills), you retake only that part; after failing one or both parts three times you must repeat an approved training program, then may reapply.¹
Time limit: Apply for certification within one year of completing the training program, or retrain.²
Exam waived: Certification by endorsement for nursing assistants certified in another state who passed an exam the Board finds equivalent.¹

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required¹
The Board may deny a certificate for fraud or for offenses involving moral turpitude or related to the duties of a certificate holder; applicants certified by examination or endorsement must not have committed acts that are grounds for discipline unless the Board finds restitution made or the act not substantially related to nursing. A permanent certificate is not issued until the Department of Public Safety and FBI reports are received (up to four months).¹
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply¹¹

Social Security number

A valid US Social Security number or ITIN is required.²

Also required

Good moral character and good physical and mental health (sworn statement).¹

How much a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate 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.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Headmaster¹⁰, when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Complete a Board-approved nursing assistant training program (75 hours).¹
2. Create a Nevada Nurse Portal account and submit the CNA-by-examination application with the $50 fee within one year of finishing training; upload your training certificate. Read the CNA Skills Guidelines and the Hours of Employment advisory opinion first.²
3. Submit fingerprints (livescan in Nevada, or an FD-258 card mailed with the $40 processing fee).²
4. Schedule and pass the knowledge and clinical skills exams with Headmaster.²
5. Check status in the Nurse Portal (about one week per document); the permanent certificate issues after the DPS and FBI reports arrive. No card is mailed; print proof from the Board site.²

Temporary or provisional license

A one-time temporary certificate valid six months may be issued to qualified endorsement applicants while fingerprints are pending; it cannot be extended or reissued (statute: one temporary certificate per 12 months for holders of another jurisdiction's certificate in good standing).⁵

Processing time

Applications and documents are processed in about one week; fingerprint results can take up to four months, and the permanent certificate waits for them.²

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Renew in the Nurse Portal within 60 days before your birthday expiry: $50 fee, 24 hours of CNA-related continuing training and at least 40 hours of practice as a CNA in the previous two years. The Board does not send expiry notices.¹

Required topics

Any course that improves CNA knowledge, skill or ability within the CNA scope, from an academic institution, a Nevada CE provider, another nursing/health board, or listed national bodies; in-service training counts hour for hour.³
The bioterrorism course is not required for CNAs but is encouraged and counts toward the 24 hours.³

If it expires

No late fee for CNAs (the late fee is RN/LPN only); an expired certificate can be renewed at any time once all renewal requirements are met, but you may not practice while expired.³
No CNA practice in the last two years: retake the whole state-approved training program or retake and pass the skills and written exams (there is no refresher course).³
Fingerprints again every five years (or as directed); if required you receive a six-month renewal until results arrive.³

Moving to Nevada with a license from another state

These are the routes NSBN publishes for the Certified Nursing Assistant certificate. The other nursing assistant licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Medication Aide - Certified (MA-C)

A certified nursing assistant certified by the Board to give authorized medications in Board-designated facilities, under supervision of an APRN or RN, by oral, topical, eye/ear/nose drop, vaginal, rectal, transdermal or oral-inhaler routes; no controlled substances, injections, tube feeding medications or dose calculation.¹

Requirements

High school diploma or GED

Required¹

Education or training

At least 100 clock hours¹
Board-approved MA-C training course of at least 100 hours (at least 60 hours of theory and laboratory skills and at least 40 hours of supervised clinical experience), after a Board-approved literacy and reading comprehension screening.¹
Who may teach it: The course must be approved by the Board; running an unapproved MA-C course is unlawful.¹

Experience

At least 1 year¹
At least 1 year of continuous full-time employment as a nursing assistant in a Nevada medical facility, and current employment at a medical facility.¹

Exam

Medication aide - certified examination¹
When you can take it: After graduating from a Board-approved MA-C program; the Board tells the testing service who is eligible, and you apply to the testing service and pay its fee.⁸
Retakes: A graduate of an approved MA-C program may take the competency evaluation test no more than three times.⁸
Exam waived: Endorsement applicants who passed an exam the Board finds equivalent.¹

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required¹
The Board may deny a certificate for fraud or deceit in obtaining it, or for an offense involving moral turpitude or related to the qualifications, functions or duties of a certificate holder.¹
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply¹¹

Social Security number

SSN required on applications for any certificate under NRS 632.¹

Also required

Must hold a Nevada nursing assistant certificate.¹

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Work at least 1 year full time as a CNA in a Nevada medical facility and stay employed at one.¹
2. Pass the Board-approved literacy and reading comprehension screening and complete a Board-approved MA-C course of at least 100 hours.¹
3. Pass the MA-C examination and apply to the Board.¹

Renewal

When it expires

Renew biennially on your birthday with the $50 fee and an attestation of 24 hours of continuing training in the previous 2 years and at least 200 hours of work as a medication aide - certified under APRN or RN supervision in the previous 2 years.¹

If it expires

Failure to renew forfeits the right to practice unless you qualify for a new certificate.¹

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Board fee reduction of 50% for military members, veterans and spouses applies to applications generally.¹²

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Certified Nursing Assistant (certificate to practice as a nursing assistant)No local license: certification is statewide through the Nevada State Board of Nursing.¹

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

nvbn.boardsofnursing.org⁷

File a complaint

nvbn.boardsofnursing.org¹³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• NRS 632.0166, 632.0168, 632.285 to 632.2858 (nursing assistants), 632.291 to 632.296 (medication aides - certified), 632.300, 632.342, 632.344, 632.345
• 42 CFR 483.35(d), 483.151-483.156
• NAC 632.166-632.169, 632.190, 632.193
• NAC 632.166-632.168, 632.190, 632.193, 632.830

Common questions

Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states

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