How to get a Certified Nurse Aide (C.N.A.) license in Virginia

Virginia nursing assistant licenses

Virginia issues 4 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 Virginia 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 4)

Renewal

Renew online

dhp.virginia.gov⁹

2. Every license level except Advanced Certified Nurse Aide

Renewal

How often

Every year¹⁶

Renewal fee

$30⁵⁶

3. Every license level except Registered Medication Aide (RMA)

How to apply

Apply online

dhp.virginia.gov³¹⁰

4. Certified Nurse Aide (C.N.A.) and Advanced Certified Nurse Aide

Requirements

Background check

The Board may deny or discipline for grounds in Va. Code § 54.1-3007; applicants with convictions upload certified court records. Approved nurse aide programs must give students Virginia law on criminal record checks for employment in certain health care facilities and the list of barrier crimes.⁵

5. Registered Medication Aide (RMA) and Advanced Certified Nurse Aide

How to apply

Processing time

30-45 business days.⁷¹¹

6. Registered Medication Aide (RMA) and Advanced Registered Medication Aide (A-RMA)

Renewal

Continuing education

At least 4 hours each renewal period⁶

7. Advanced Certified Nurse Aide and Advanced Registered Medication Aide (A-RMA)

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, license.dhp.virginia.gov)¹¹⁸

Who needs a Certified Nurse Aide (C.N.A.) license

Virginia certifies the title: only Board-certified aides may use "Certified Nurse Aide"/"C.N.A." or be employed as a certified nurse aide. Practice beyond nurse aide duties or nurse delegation rules is unprofessional conduct.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Unpaid care of friends or family, and paid caregivers who do not call themselves certified nurse aides, are outside the certification law.¹

Requirements for a Certified Nurse Aide (C.N.A.) license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3 and group 4 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 140 clock hours²
Complete a Board-approved nurse aide education program: at least 140 clock hours, including at least 20 hours of skills lab, 24 hours of instruction before any client contact, and at least 40 hours of direct client care in clinical settings (observation and facility orientation do not count). The statute sets a 120-hour floor.²
Who may teach it: Programs must be approved by the Board of Nursing; the Board does not approve out-of-state programs.⁵
Alternative: Nursing students: one clinical nursing course with at least 40 hours of direct client care in the past 12 months in an RN or LPN program, or completion of an RN/LPN program.⁵
Alternative: Military training: the Board may accept nurse-aide-related practical experience and education from service in the armed forces.¹

Exam

Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Test ("State Board"): skills and written (or oral) portions; pass rates are reported as NNAAP³
Given by: Credentia³
Passing score: Set by the Board (minimum passing standard); the number is not printed on Board pages.⁵
When you can take it: After completing the approved program (or qualifying nursing coursework).⁵
Skills evaluation⁵
Written (or oral) examination¹
Retakes: Three attempts; after three failures you must complete another approved program.⁵
Time limit: Take both portions within two years of finishing training, or retrain.⁵
Exam waived: No Virginia exam for endorsement applicants already certified in another state.¹

Also required

Wear a visible identification badge with your Board title while giving direct patient care; report address changes within 30 days.⁵

How much a Certified Nurse Aide (C.N.A.) 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.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Credentia³, when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Complete a Virginia Board-approved nurse aide education program (at least 140 hours).²
2. Schedule and pass the Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Test (skills and written) through Credentia within two years of training.³
3. On passing, you are certified and placed on the Virginia nurse aide registry; initial certification lasts two years.⁵
4. Check your listing with DHP License Lookup.¹³ dhp.virginiainteractive.org¹³

Processing time

Endorsement applications may take 30 business days; reinstatement 30-45 business days. Applications are kept for one year.⁴

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Renew every year: submit the renewal application and $30 fee with an attestation that you did nursing-related work for pay in the two years before the expiry date. If you did not, you must repeat and pass the state exam first. DHP mails a renewal notice and PIN about 45-60 days before expiry.⁵

Required topics

Work requirement: nursing-related activities for pay within the two years before expiry.⁵

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $30¹⁴ (certification lapsed more than 90 days)

If it expires

Lapsed more than 90 days: apply online for reinstatement ($30) with proof of paid nursing-related work in the two years before expiry and within two years of the Board receiving the application, or proof you retook and passed the state exam. Aides with an abuse, neglect or misappropriation finding cannot reinstate (except removal of a single-occurrence neglect finding after one year).¹⁴

Moving to Virginia with a license from another state

These are the routes VBON publishes for the Certified Nurse Aide (C.N.A.) license. The other nursing assistant licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Military service members, veterans and spouses: The Board may count nurse-aide training and experience from U.S. armed forces service toward the education requirement; see also the Board's Military Service Applicants page.¹

Registered Medication Aide (RMA)

Gives medications to residents of assisted living facilities licensed by the Department of Social Services, following prescriber orders. May not transmit verbal orders, assess clients, mix/dilute/reconstitute drugs (except insulin or glucagon), give IM or IV drugs or drugs by NG/PEG tube, or give subcutaneous drugs other than insulin, glucagon or auto-injectable epinephrine.¹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 68 clock hours⁶
Complete a Board-approved medication aide training program of at least 68 hours (at least 40 hours classroom, 20 hours supervised skills practice in an assisted living facility, and an 8-hour insulin module) within the past two years, or an RN/LPN program.⁷
Who may teach it: Programs need Board approval ($500 program fee) and use the Board curriculum.⁶
Alternative: RN or LPN education program instead of the medication aide program.⁶

Education or training

At least 40 clock hours⁷
Prerequisite: a DSS-approved direct care staff training program (40 hours per the Board instructions), an approved nurse aide program, a nursing program, or a clinical nursing course with 40 hours of direct care in the past 12 months.⁶
Who may teach it: DSS-approved or Board-approved programs.⁶

Exam

Medication aide written examination (PSI) plus a clinical skills evaluation by the training program⁶
Given by: PSI¹⁵
Passing score: Set by the Board (number not printed).⁶
When you can take it: After the 68-hour program; apply online by examination, then schedule with PSI. Results within seven days.¹⁵
Clinical skills evaluation (one-on-one with a qualified instructor, during training)⁶
Written examination⁶
Retakes: Three attempts, then retrain.⁶
Time limit: Within two years of completing training.⁶

Background check

Explain each conviction and send certified court orders and proof court requirements were met.⁷

Fees

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, PSI¹⁵, when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Complete the prerequisite direct care training (DSS 40-hour program or nurse aide program).⁷
2. Complete a Board-approved 68-hour medication aide program, including the skills evaluation and 5-page performance record.⁷
3. Apply online by examination and pay $50; you may work as a "provisional medication aide" for up to 120 days after the Board acknowledges your training.¹⁵ license.dhp.virginia.gov³
4. Schedule and pass the PSI written exam.¹⁵

Apply online

license.dhp.virginia.gov³

Temporary or provisional license

Provisional medication aide for up to 120 days; stop immediately after three failed written exams.⁶

Renewal

When it expires

Renew every year by the last day of your birth month, with the fee and a CE attestation; the registration lapses automatically if not renewed, and giving medications while lapsed is illegal practice.⁶

Required topics

Population-specific medication administration training in your assisted living facility, or a refresher course from an approved program.⁶

Approved courses

Employer facility training or an approved program's refresher module.⁶

Exemptions

Extension up to one year for good cause, requested in writing before the deadline.⁶

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $15¹² (lapsed less than one renewal cycle (plus renewal fee))
Reinstatement fee: $90¹² (lapsed more than one year)
Reinstatement fee: $120⁶ (after suspension or revocation)

If it expires

Lapsed less than one cycle: pay renewal + late fee and attest to CE. Lapsed over one year: reinstatement application and fee, CE since last renewal (up to 8 hours), and retake the written and practical evaluations. After revocation, wait at least three years.⁶

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 5 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.

Advanced Certified Nurse Aide

A career-advancement certificate showing enhanced competence in patient care tasks, so that more duties can be delegated to the aide.¹

Requirements

Education or training

Complete an approved advanced certification training program that includes a competency evaluation acceptable to the Board.⁵
Who may teach it: Advanced programs must be Board-approved and must also be approved basic nurse aide programs.²

Experience

At least 3 years⁵
At least three years as a Virginia CNA, with a recommendation from a licensed nurse who supervised your direct patient care for at least six months in the past year; no abuse/neglect/misappropriation finding ever and no Board discipline in the past five years.⁵
License you must hold first: Current Virginia CNA certification.⁵

Exam

Competency evaluation within the approved advanced program (written test and manual skills assessment)²
Given by: The approved advanced certification program (program-developed evaluation submitted to the Board)²

Fees

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

How to apply

1. After at least three years as a Virginia CNA, complete an approved advanced training program with its competency evaluation.⁵
2. Get a recommendation from a licensed nurse who supervised you for six months in the past year.¹¹
3. Apply through the Board's online wizard (Advanced CNA) or the instructions checklist, with the $25 fee and verification of advanced training.³

Renewal

When it expires

Renew with your CNA certificate: renewal form, $20 fee and attestation of at least 3 contact hours a year of CE in the advanced competency areas. You must stay eligible to renew as a CNA.⁵

Renewal fee

$20⁵

Continuing education

At least 3 hours each renewal period⁵

Required topics

Any competency area of the advanced certification training program.⁵

Exemptions

The Board may grant an extension or waiver for good cause.⁵

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $30⁵ (not renewed within 90 days after expiry)

If it expires

Late renewal allowed for 90 days after expiry; after that, reinstate with a current CNA, a reinstatement application by mail, the $30 fee and proof of all CE.⁵

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 3, group 4, group 5 and group 7 under Applies to every license level.

Advanced Registered Medication Aide (A-RMA)

Gives medications to stable long-term care residents in Department of Health-licensed nursing homes (and may also work in assisted living). May not give IV drugs, drugs by NG/PEG tube or IM drugs (except vaccinations and auto-injectable epinephrine), or subcutaneous drugs other than insulin, glucagon, GLP-1, vitamin B12 or anticoagulants; may not assess residents or transmit verbal orders.¹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 60 clock hours⁶
At least 60 hours of advanced training in a nursing facility, including population- and medication-specific training.⁶
Who may teach it: Training is completed in a nursing facility; submit a certificate of completion.⁸

Experience

Must hold both a current Virginia CNA certificate and a Virginia RMA registration (or be eligible for RMA endorsement).⁶
License you must hold first: Current Virginia CNA and RMA.⁸

Exam

Not required⁶

Background check

Board may deny or discipline for grounds in § 54.1-3007.⁶

Fees

How to apply

1. Hold current Virginia CNA and RMA credentials.¹⁰
2. Complete at least 60 hours of advanced training in a nursing facility.¹⁰
3. Apply through the Board's A-RMA application with the $100 fee and certificate of completion.¹⁰

Processing time

About 30 business days.⁸

Renewal

When it expires

Renew every year with the fee and an attestation of the RMA CE plus 4 hours of nursing-facility population- and medication-specific training; you must remain eligible to renew as a CNA.⁶

Required topics

Nursing facility population- and medication-specific training (4 hours) plus RMA CE.⁶

If it expires

Lapses automatically if not renewed; after 90 days unrenewed, reinstate with a current CNA, application, fee and proof of CE.⁶

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 6 and group 7 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Advanced Certified Nurse AideNo local license: statewide Virginia Board of Nursing credential.⁵

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

dhp.virginiainteractive.org¹³

File a complaint

dhp.virginia.gov¹³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Va. Code §§ 54.1-3022 to 54.1-3028.1 (Article 4, Certification of Nurse Aides)
• 18VAC90-25 Regulations Governing Certified Nurse Aides
• 18VAC90-26 Regulations for Nurse Aide Education Programs
• Va. Code §§ 54.1-3041 to 54.1-3043 (Article 7, Medication Aides)
• 18VAC90-60 Regulations Governing the Registration of Medication Aides
• Va. Code § 54.1-3025.1
• 18VAC90-25-110, -120; 18VAC90-26-80, -90
• 18VAC90-60-130 to 18VAC90-60-160; fee 18VAC90-60-30 A 3

Common questions

Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states

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