CNA Certification in West Virginia

How to Become a CNA in West Virginia

Some of the hottest and most in demand careers are in the allied medical fields. Due to this, CNAs are always in demand.

Remarkably, CNA certification classes in  West Virginia  do not take long to complete. Most students can finish their training programs in six to eight weeks.

Before you can enroll in CNA classes in this state, you must meet a few requirements. Most educational institutions offering CNA training require their students to be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED. You must also pass a criminal background check and submit to a full medical health screening. This is for patient protection.

Enrollment and Completing CNA Classes

Step 1

Find and enroll in an approved program in your state:

Considering how popular the courses are, there are plenty of approved institutions that offer CNA training in West Virginia. One of the most important things you should consider before choosing a training program is how many hours of training they provide as a whole. In West Virginia, accredited training programs must provide at least 120 hours of coursework.

Step 2

Complete your CNA training which will be split between a classroom and a clinical setting. Your classroom training will be on topics like medical terminology, psychological coping skills, basic anatomy, and CPR certification.

The remaining hours of your training will be spent receiving hands-on training in a clinical setting like a nursing home. During this part of your training, you will likely learn to do basic nurse aide duties like daily patient grooming, changing bed linens, and handling emergency situations of all sorts.

CNA Testing Procedures and CNA Certification

Step 1

Apply to take the West Virginia CNA certification exam, administered by the Professional Health Care Development.

To apply, you must visit the Professional Healthcare Development (PHD) website and download the application. You will then need to send to PHD a $100 test fee with the completed application along with all supporting documents. PHD will then mail you the day and location for your testing.

Step 2

Prepare for the exam by studying and reviewing what you learned in training. We also encourage you to take our practice tests which give you a good overview of where you are and also acclimate you to taking the real test.

Step 3

Take – and pass – the CNA certification exam. 

Don’t forget to take a valid photo ID to the exam as you will not be allowed to take the exam without one.

The written portion of the exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions. You will be allowed two hours to complete this portion.

During the skills assessment portion, you will be required to successfully complete five nursing aide skills in 50 minutes in order to receive a passing score.

PHD will mail your results to you 14 days after you have completed the test. If you pass, you will receive certification as a Long Term Care Aide in West Virginia which will be issued to the facility that is sponsoring you. You will also be listed on the West Virginia Nursing Assistant Registry.

Step 4

Once you pass the certification exam, you should then create your resume and look for a CNA job.

CNA wages are quite good statewide, and the average CNA salary in West Virginia is around $24,000. Your salary will increase with experience and additional training. The city you live in can also play a part in your actual salary, so keep this in mind when applying for a CNA position.

For additional information regarding CNA Certification in West Virginia visit:

West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry
West Virginia Division of Health – Office of Health Facilities Licensure & Certification
1 Davis Square, Suite 101, Charleston, WV 25301-1799
Phone: (304) 558-0688
Fax: (304) 558-1442