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North Dakota

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CNA Courses in North Dakota

While North Dakota may only be a state of 739,000 residents, it has much to offer in the way of wide open spaces, plains and even rugged hilly areas. The eastern part of the state dips into the Red River Valley around the cities of Fargo and Grand Forks. West of Bismarck and Minot, however, lies the Badlands, famed for Teddy Roosevelt’s ranch. Today, people flock to Medora every summer for family fun and Roosevelt-themed musicals. While the state is renowned for its country-western feel, it is also a great place for CNAs to call home. CNAs care mainly for the 105,000 residents over the age of 65 in the state’s hospitals and long-term care facilities.

About North Dakota

– Capital: Bismarck
– Minimum Wage: $7.25
– Number of Hospitals: 40
– Number of Nursing Homes: 6,138

Population

– Total Population: 739,482
– Population (ages 45-64): 181,961
– Population (ages 65+): 104,998
– Population (ages 85+): 17,959

Top Colleges & Unversities

– University of North Dakota
– North Dakota State University

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in North Dakota

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CNA Training Requirements

Taking the Test (Procedure)

Out-of-State Applicants

Renewing & Expired Certification

Applications & Forms

Contacts & Additional Resources

Individuals wishing to become CNAs in North Dakota must usually take a state-approved training program. The programs are offered at a variety of locations throughout the state, such as in community colleges, state colleges, nursing homes and even high schools. The state currently has 57 approved programs. All programs are required to have at least 75 hours of training, of which 16 must be spent practicing hands-on care in a local health care setting. This is the minimum federal requirement. Also, 16 hours of classroom training must be completed before students can participate in hands-on care with patients.

The North Dakota Department of Health oversees all aspects of CNAs in the state. Most training programs take just three or four weeks to complete the required hours. Individuals who have already been hired by a licensed health care facility will have their training costs covered by their employers. Those who are hired within 12 months of completing training are also required by law to have their training costs covered.

North Dakota does not impose any age minimums or educational level requirements for individuals applying for CNA training. However, schools may give potential students without high school diplomas or GEDs basic assessment examinations to test reading and math skills. Students must have state and federal criminal background checks performed with fingerprints. They will need photo IDs and two additional photographs on file with the state. They must also have up-to-date immunizations and recent negative tuberculosis screenings.

The North Dakota Department of Health requires aspiring CNAs to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program administered by Pearson VUE. The Board has also approved Headmaster through D&S Diversified Technologies to administer the test. This two-part test is administered at nine North Dakota locations and tests both CNA knowledge as well as clinical skills. The cost for the test is $120 for the Pearson VUE option or $68 for the Headmaster option. Headmaster charges an additional $10 for candidates who choose the oral version.

The Pearson VUE test begins with the knowledge examination, which has 70 multiple-choice questions to be completed in two hours or less. The skills examination must be completed in 30 minutes or less, and students are asked to perform five CNA skills. One skill is always hand washing, and the other skills are chosen randomly.

The Headmaster test also begins with the knowledge examination, which has 72 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 90 minutes or less. Students will then complete a skills section with five randomly chosen tasks, which they will have 30 minutes to complete.

With both tests, students have up to three chances to pass each section. Both sections must be passed within two years from the end of training. Those who do not pass in this time will have to retrain. Headmaster sends test results by mail within five days of the test; Pearson VUE sends test results by mail within ten days of the test.

Because North Dakota goes by the federal minimum for a number of training hours required for CNAs, it is easier to transfer one’s certificate here through endorsement than it is in many other states. To be eligible for endorsement, CNAs must be listed as active and in good standing on their former state’s registry with no accusations of patient abuse, neglect or maltreatment. Individuals must fill out an endorsement application, including questions related to disciplinary history and felony charges, before sending it into North Dakota. North Dakota will then check the certification with the former state. Individuals who take care to fill out the application completely and accurately should hear back from the state within a few days. The endorsement is free in North Dakota.

North Dakota CNAs must renew their certifications every two years to remain active on the state’s registry. The state sends out renewal notifications approximately two months before expiration. CNAs will need to renew online. To be eligible to renew, CNAs must have worked at least eight hours for pay performing nursing-related duties in the past 24 months. These hours do not have to be consecutive. They will also need to be in good standing with the state with no complaints of patient abuse or professional misconduct. Those who allow their certifications to lapse will need to retake the competency examination with all of the associated fees. Renewal is free.

Links
North Dakota Department of Health
ND Board of Nursing
Nurse Aide Registry
Verify your North Dakota CNA license

Contacts
CNA Registry
600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 301
Bismarck N.D., 58505-0200
Phone: 701-328-2353
Fax: 701-328-1890
Email: [email protected]

Employment Information for North Dakota

Average Salary for CNAs in ND

The average salary for CNAs is surprisingly good for a Midwestern state. North Dakota’s income per capita is $29,732, and CNAs make an average of $28,860 per year or $13.88 per hour. CNAs who get further certifications, such as Medication Assistant, can expect to make even more than this as can those who work in the larger cities, such as Bismarck or Fargo.

Job Outlook in ND

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 6,700 job opportunities for CNAs in North Dakota. The North Dakota Department of Health states that there are over 13,000 individuals on their registry. Needless to say, CNAs here have plenty of opportunities to find jobs and to advance in their work as they practice at the 40 hospitals and 6,138 nursing homes across the state.

Employment Opportunities

Top Hospitals in North Dakota
Hospital NameAddressCityStateZipPhoneWebsite
Chi St. Alexius Health900 East BroadwayBismarckND58501701-530-7000Website
Sanford Fargo Medical Center801 Broadway NorthFargoND58102701-234-2000Website
Sanford Medical Center300 North Seventh StreetBismarckND58501701-323-6000Website
Altru Hospital1200 South Columbia RoadGrand ForksND58201701-780-5000Website
Ashley Medical Center612 North Center AvenueAshleyND58413701-288-3433Website
Carrington Health Center800 North Fourth StreetCarringtonND58421701-652-3141Website
Cavalier County Memorial Hospital909 Second StreetLangdonND58249701-256-6100Website
Community Memorial Hospital220 Fifth AvenueTurtle LakeND58575701-448-2331Website
Cooperstown Medical Center1200 Roberts AvenueCooperstownND58425701-797-2221Website
Fargo Veterans Affairs Health Care System2101 Elm Street NorthFargoND58102701-232-3241Website
First Care Health Center115 Vivian StreetPark RiverND58270701-284-7500Website
Garrison Memorial Hospital407 Third Avenue SEGarrisonND58540701-463-2275Website
Heart Of America Medical Center800 Main Avenue SouthRugbyND58368701-776-5261Website
Innovis Health3000 32nd Avenue SouthFargoND58103701-364-8000Website
Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center601 East Street NorthElginND58533701-584-2792Website
Jamestown Hospital2422 20th Street SWJamestownND58401701-252-1050Website
Kenmare Community Hospital317 First Avenue NWKenmareND58746701-385-4296Website
Linton Hospital518 North BroadwayLintonND58552701-254-4511Website
Lisbon Area Health Services905 Main StreetLisbonND58054701-683-5241Website
Mckenzie County Healthcare System516 North Main StreetWatford CityND58854701-842-3000Website

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