Certifications › EMS registry and entry credentials
State credential · Your state nurse aide registry (state agency)
CNA — Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
A CNA has finished a state-approved nurse aide training program, passed the state’s competency exam and is listed on that state’s nurse aide registry. Federal rules set the floor of 75 training hours with 16 supervised practical; each state approves programs and picks its exam, and the NNAAP is one exam some states use.
Named in 1,597 of 29,080 postings on this site as of 11 Nov 2026, mostly Certified Nursing Assistant (1,597), EMT / AEMT (160) and Paramedic (33).
The facts, from the issuer
- Who issues it
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Each state approves nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs; federal rules set the minimum a program must meet.
eCFR — 42 CFR 483.152 Requirements for approval of a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program · checked ·
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“For a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program to be approved by the State, it must, at a minimum-”
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Each state must keep a registry of nurse aides; passing the competency evaluation puts you on it.
eCFR — 42 CFR 483.156 Registry of nurse aides · checked ·
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“The State must establish and maintain a registry of nurse aides”
- What it is
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The NNAAP is an exam used to determine nurse aide competency; it is one exam states can use.
NCSBN — NNAAP & MACE · checked ·
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“The National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Exam is used to determine nurse aide competency.”
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NCSBN says candidates who pass the NNAAP are added to their state’s nurse aide registry.
NCSBN — NNAAP & MACE · checked ·
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“Candidates who pass the exam will be added to their state's nurse aide registry.”
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NCSBN no longer develops or owns the NNAAP content.
NCSBN — NNAAP & MACE · checked ·
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“NCSBN no longer develops and owns the content for the NNAAP and the MACE.”
- Format
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The competency exam is given by the state itself or by an entity the state approves.
eCFR — 42 CFR 483.154 Nurse aide competency evaluation · checked ·
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“The competency examination must be administered and evaluated only by- ( i ) The State directly; or ( ii ) A State approved entity”
- Length
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A state-approved program must have at least 75 clock hours of training.
eCFR — 42 CFR 483.152 Requirements for approval of a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program · checked ·
Quote
“Consist of no less than 75 clock hours of training;”
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At least 16 of those hours must be supervised practical training.
eCFR — 42 CFR 483.152 Requirements for approval of a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program · checked ·
Quote
“Include at least 16 hours of supervised practical training.”
- Find a class or test site
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For NNAAP content and scheduling questions, NCSBN sends you to Credentia.
NCSBN — NNAAP & MACE · checked ·
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“For questions regarding these exams, including content and scheduling questions, please contact Credentia .”
Where to take it
Start with the issuer’s own class or test-site search:
- Issuer page: Your state nurse aide registry or state health agency — Each state approves its own nurse aide programs and exam. The programs listed below come from state approved-program lists.
- Issuer page: NCSBN NNAAP page (for states that use the NNAAP) (ncsbn.org)
State-approved nurse aide training programs: 3,410 listed in 35 states. Pick a state, enter a ZIP, or use your location. Your ZIP and location are not sent anywhere: the page downloads, from this site, the ZIP-area file for the first two digits of your ZIP and the class lists for nearby states, and works out distances in your browser.
Distances are straight-line from the ZIP or city centre (U.S. Census 2024 gazetteer), not drive times. Listings come from state approved-program lists, issuer directories and providers' own pages. A listing is not a partnership; confirm dates, price and seats with the provider.
Related
- Current Certified Nursing Assistant jobs
- Current EMT / AEMT jobs
- Current Paramedic jobs
- NREMT EMR — National Registry Emergency Medical Responder (NREMR)
- NREMT EMT — National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT)
- NREMT AEMT — National Registry Advanced EMT (NRAEMT)
- NREMT Paramedic — National Registry Paramedic (NRP)
- CP-C — Certified Community Paramedic (CP-C)
Every fact above was read on the issuer’s own page on the date shown, with the exact words quoted. Anything the issuer does not publish is left out, so a missing fee means the issuer leaves pricing to the class provider or did not publish one. Employers decide which cards they accept; check the posting.