CNA Certification in Kentucky

How to Become a CNA in Kentucky

Students of all ages are pursuing this highly in-demand career because of the endless job options and good pay. Of course, some people also pursue CNA certification because they enjoy helping people and making a difference in people’s lives.

Becoming a certified nurse aide can be rewarding because it allows you to work in long-term facilities where you can help with the ongoing care of the elderly; however, there are other available positions for CNAs.

State regulations for CNA certification are specific, so it is essential that you choose your training program carefully. To be certified by the state and listed on the state registry as a CNA, you have to meet a minimum number of hours.

Enrollment and Completing CNA Classes

Step 1

Find a CNA Training Program

Before enrolling in a CNA training program in Kentucky, you must first meet certain requirements and pass several tests. Students need to be at least 18 years old and must have a GED or high school diploma before enrollment in a CNA traning. Because you are preparing to work in a medical environment, you will have to submit to a two-part TB test and a complete physical and must have a clean criminal background. This is for overall patient safety.

Step 2

When choosing your CNA classes, you must find a school that meets all of the guidelines and regulations that have been set forth by the state health department. Choosing a non-accredited school could leave you out in the cold when it comes time for the exam. In Kentucky, nurse aide training programs need to provide students with a bare minimum of 16 hours of hands-on training in a nursing facility in addition to 59 hours of structured classroom learning.

Step 3

When your coursework is complete, then you will be ready to take the two-part CNA certification exam. The first section will be a written exam while the second section will be a practical skills exam. Both sections must be passed in order to receive your CNA license.

CNA Testing Procedures and CNA Certification

Step 1

Once you have completed an accredited training program you will be ready to sit for the CNA Certification exam. We advise you to take the test as soon as you finish your  program so that the information you learned is still fresh.  Also please feel free to use our CNA Practice test section on the website to brush up on your knowledge base.

Step 2

The CNA certification test is regulated by KCTCS and can be taken at many approved local schools and health centers. The state evaluation test consists of two parts. The first part has multiple-choice questions, and the second part is designed to test your practical hands-on skills. While you must get at least a 70 percent on each test section in order to pass and become certified, illness control portions of the testing require a hundred percent accuracy to get a passing grade. Kentucky does not issue a certificate; rather, the nurse aide can obtain written proof of certification from the registry.

Step 3

Once you have passed the test, you will be a certified CNA.  Be sure to check  that you have been added to the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry prior to seeking employment. By law, you must be on that registry before you can legally practice as a CNA.

We recommend that you apply for jobs through our Job database.

The average CNA salary in Kentucky is between $22- 25,000 a year, but this can vary dramatically depending on the part of the state in which you choose to live and work. The CNA position is predicted to have a rate of growth equal to 23 percent over the next ten years, so if you are considering or want a CNA career, then there is no time like the present.

Step 4

Lastly, we encourage you to not discontinue your education after getting your CNA certification!  While becoming a CNA in Kentucky is going to be wildly rewarding, you can also explore other options such as nursing or LPN school.  

For Additional Information Regarding CNA Certification in Kentucky Visit:

Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry
Kentucky Board of Nursing
312 Whittington Parkway, Louisville, KY 40222
Phone: (502) 329-7047
Fax: (502) 696-3955