CNA Certification Colorado

How to Become a CNA in Colorado

There are abundant opportunities in Colorado for certified nursing assistants. If you are considering pursuing a CNA certification in Colorado, we believe you would be pursuing a rewarding career. There are, of course, requirements you have to meet before you can qualify as a certified nurse aide. Nurse aide students in Colorado must complete a training program accredited by the Colorado Board of Nursing.  The student must then take the required licensing examination to possess CNA certification in Colorado.

Enrollment and Completing CNA Classes

Step 1

You first need to find a state-accredited CNA training program in your area. It is important for you to research your program before you spend your hard-earned money. Truly, not all programs are created equal and, naturally, you want to find one that is going to properly prepare you for a role as a certified nursing assistant.

Find an Approved CNA Training Program in Colorado

Some of the standard subjects that you will be taught in CNA training are monitoring and  recording patient vital signs, medical terminology, patient safety, patient rights, and how to recognize and report changes in the residents’ health and overall well-being. More comprehensive programs will cover the basics of feeding patients, clothing and bathing patients, dealing with emergency situations, safety precautions, and properly interacting with patients who are mentally disabled.

Step 2

Schools that provide training are located throughout the state at designated colleges, training centers, hospitals, and other establishments. Courses cover several topics over a period of several weeks and include 107 hours of in-class training and at least 16 hours of hands-on clinical training. You must have a high school diploma or GED to attend a CNA program in the state of Colorado. You can also begin your training as early as high school.

Step 3

Before you get your CNA certification, you must submit to a criminal background check and fingerprint live scan before you can take the exam. Many CNA classes require you to complete the background check and live fingerprint before you can enroll, so be sure you get all the information about the guidelines from the institution of your choice. Prior to working with real-time patients, you must also prove that you are  physically capable of performing nursing aide job skills.

Once you have completed the course you can move on to become a certified CNA by taking and passing the state board exam.

CNA Testing Procedures and CNA Certification

Step 1

After completing your training program, you can begin to prepare for the exam which begins by applying for the CNA exam at Colorado Division of Registration.

Also use our Colorado cna practice test section to prepare for your exam.

Step 2

You can attempt the NNAAP examination with a Pearson Vue training center at the end of the program.   This test is offered at many different test sites approved by the Board of Nursing throughout Colorado.   There is a $95 test fee. This test  is made up of  70 written questions and is then followed by a skills exam. You will have 2 hours to take the written test and an additional 25 minutes for the skills portion. Testing scores will be sent to you by postal mail. You must get all 5 skills right in order to pass the skills portion. The written portion is graded with a pass or fail score.

Step 3

Once you have passed the test, you will receive your CNA Certification by the Colorado State Nursing Board. Check their website to make sure you have your certifications before you begin to apply for a job.

Begin building a Resume and Profile in our job database. This is where you can get in contact with employers and start marketing yourself and your new skill sets.

Step 4

And finally, we encourage you to continue with your education after you get your CNA because you might want to consider becoming a nurse or an LPN. Look at our webpage for how to apply for an RN Degree or LPN Degree. 

For more information regarding CNA certification contact the Colorado Nurse Aide registry:

Colorado Nurse Aide Registry
Colorado Board of Nursing
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 894-2430