CNA Certification in Louisiana

How to Become a CNA in Louisiana

As required by Louisiana state regulations, you must be listed as certified on the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry prior to practicing as a CNA in a  healthcare facility. The Louisiana Department of Health has approved CNA training programs that will help you become certified as a nurse aide. You will take a test after attending a CNA training program that you must pass prior to working in a medical setting.

Enrollment and Completing CNA Classes

Step 1

Find an approved program in your state:

Under the supervision of a practicing RN, you will learn how to efficiently and safely perform the duties of caring for patients both in classroom and clinical environments. This hands-on experience will be instrumental to taking your CNA certification exam, so be sure that you get the most out of your training while in your clinical rotations.

Step 2

There is a required 80 hours for CNAf training. The first 40 hours will be spent in the classroom while the remaining 40 hours will be spent actively training in a hands-on precept position. The state determines and stipulates the curriculum. You must be at least 18 years old in order to enroll in a nurse aide training program. You must also submit to a full physical that includes a two-part TB test. In accordance with federal laws, you will also be required to undergo a criminal background check before enrolling.

CNA Testing Procedures and CNA Certification

Step 1

When you are ready to take the state exam at the end of your program, you will need to register at one of the locations approved by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. 

Step 2

You must pre-register to take the exam which is issued by the state and managed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. You can take the test at a number of testing sites including Red Cross. Many CNA training schools are also authorized as testing sites. It’s a good idea to show up for the test a few minutes early to give yourself time to sign in, show your photo ID, and get your settled in before the test begins.

Step 3

There are two parts to the test: a written multiple-choice test and a skills test that must be passed with at least a 70 percent score. The written test contains 60 questions, 10 of which are designed to test your reading comprehension. You typically have two hours to complete the test. You must also pass a skills test before you are certified. The clinical skills test will require the nurse aide candidate to display the proper way to care for a patient. The 5 tests are picked in a randomized process. After passing the test, you will then be automatically registered with the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry. You can get a copy of proof of certification from this agency at your discretion. Your certification is valid for 2 years after registration and you will need to renew certification every 2 years.

Step 4

Once you have passed the exam and are now on the state registry it is time to look for a job. We offer an extensive database of jobs in many different local areas around the country. Please be sure to visit our jobs page and fill out a resume.

The Louisiana Workforce states that there will be a 30% growth for CNA jobs until the year 2016. As a certified nurse aide in Louisiana, you will make a median CNA Salary of $22,052 a year. There is room for salary growth as you gain experience and other certifications.

Step 5

We encourage you to continue your education after getting your CNA certification.  While becoming a CNA is fantastic, it does not have a lot of room for advancement. You might consider applying to RN programs or LPN Programs in your area.

For additional Information please visit:

Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry
Louisiana State Board of Examiners for Nursing Facility Administrators
5647 Superior Drive
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
Phone: (225) 295-8575
Fax: (225) 295-8578