How to Become a CNA in Kansas

If you want to be certified as a nurse’s assistant in the state of Kansas, you must first take a CNA training course which will teach you all the skills you will need in order to succeed in a CNA career. In order for you to qualify for the state licensing exam and to be listed on the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry, you must take a course that is approved or accredited by the Kansas Department of Health. Most nurse aide training programs only take a few weeks from start to finish. Within weeks, you can be on your way to hosts of employment options as this career is in high demand.

Enrollment and Completing CNA Classes

Step 1

Find a CNA Training Program

When you enroll for your CNA classes in Kansas, be sure that the program meets the requirements of the state health department and governing bodies of nursing careers to ensure that you qualify for the exam. When you have passed your nurse aide training program, you will need to preregister to take the licensing test so you can be listed on the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry.

Step 2

It is important for you to enroll in a program that meets the minimum guidelines of the state department of health as they will qualify you for the licensing examination. Kansas requirements state that you have to be in attendance for a minimum of 90 hours. 45 hours will be spent in a classroom receiving instruction and learning medical terminology, strategies for sanitation, and how to emotionally support patients in a medical setting.

The second 45 hours might be the most essential as they will be spent receiving hands-on training in a medical environment. Here, you will be performing in a practical fashion on real patients and test subjects. Courses often will also include receiving your CPR certification, learning to change bedding and patient clothing, and learning how to help groom elderly or disabled residents in your care. It’s important to retain what you learn as some of them will be included in the licensing exam.

Step 3

The Training will be rigorous but will only last several weeks. You will have acquired a new skill set and will be able to start looking for a new job. Your next step is going to be to sit for your board exam and become a certified CNA.

CNA Testing Procedures and CNA Certification

Step 1

You will be ready to sit for the Kansas state nursing exam once you successfully finish your CNA training. You will have to show your certificate of the completed class to register. There also are often fees associated with the test. The test is given in two sections– a written test and also a skills evaluation. You have to score at least a seventy percent on each section to pass and be added to the Kansas State Nurse Aide Registry.

Step 2

Some training schools are also approved as testing sites which simplifies the process; however, you will need to visit an alternate location if your training school is not an approved testing site. There are exam fees and these are often due at the time of registration. You will be informed of these by the agency when you set up your testing date. Take your state-issued ID, graduation certificate, and fingerprint ID cards with you to your exam.

Dress comfortably for the exam as it tends to take several hours. You might also want to arrive early to allow yourself plenty of time to settle in and to process your registration. The exam will be given to you in two parts. The first section you will need to pass is the practical skills portion which consists of five or six hands-on skills you will know from your CNA training. You must pass these before you move on to the second section.

In the second section, you will take a 50-60 question multiple choice examination. You will need to earn a 70 percent mark in order to pass the test. If you pass, you will then be officially declared a certified nurse aide and your name will be included on the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry.

Step 3

A brimming workforce will be awaiting you as the demand for nurse aides is high in Kansas. This trend is projected to continue for the next decade.

As a nurse aide, you can find jobs in retirement communities, hospitals, clinics, blood donation centers, and many other medical services areas. Many people with CNA training in Kansas opt for hospice care where they can work one-on-one with patients in their homes. Start by creating a job profile and applying to jobs in our career database.

According to the Kansas Labor Department, the average yearly CNA salary in Kansas is around $22,000 for newly certified staff members. Graduates can expect to see an 18 percent increase in the demand for nurse aides statewide over the next decade.

Step 4

In order to further your education once you are a CNA, consider becoming a RN or LPN. You will find that your salary will double if not triple in these career fields.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry at:

Kansas Nurse Aide Registry
Curtis State Office Building
1000 SW Jackson
Topeka, Kansas 66612
Phone:(785) 296-1500
Fax:(785) 368-6368