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VIRGINIA

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CNA Classes in Virginia

Home to some of the first settlements in America, Virginia’s rich history includes being named after the Virgin Queen of England and being called “the birthplace of a nation.” Virginia is known for being the home of eight U.S. presidents and the location of the Pentagon. It is also the state that over 8 million people call home. CNAs here have great opportunities for success and even for job growth at a much faster pace than numerous other occupations do. Over 13 percent of the population is over the age of 65, and this is the part of the population that most often needs the medical skills of a trained CNA.

About VA

– Capital: Richmond
– Minimum Wage: $7.25
– Number of Hospitals: 93
– Number of Nursing Homes: 32,638

Population

– Total Population: 8,326,289
– Population (ages 45-64): 2,216,880
– Population (ages 65+): 1,146,886
– Population (ages 85+): 138,840

Top Colleges

– Washington and Lee University
– University of Virginia
– College of William & Mary

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in VA

Choose a Topic of Interest

CNA Training Requirements

Taking the Test (Procedure)

Out-of-State Applicants

Renewing & Expired Certification

Applications & Forms

Contacts & Additional Resources

Individuals wishing to become a CNA in Virginia must take a training course that has been approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Individuals who may be waived from taking this training are nursing students who have taken at least one nursing-related course and have completed at least 40 clinical hours providing hands-on patient care. Graduate nurses may also skip directly to the CNA test.

To begin CNA training, individuals must be at least 18 years old and will need to have a high school diploma. They will need a photo ID, two photos and a set of fingerprints on file with the state and must pass a criminal background check. They will also need proof of immunizations, including those against tetanus, measles, mumps and rubella, and a negative tuberculosis test within the past six months. Many training programs require CPR certification and may require students to take a basic English comprehension test. Training programs are located in a variety of vocational schools and even high schools as well as in Virginia nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Before beginning CNA classes, students do not need any previous medical knowledge. They will be taught all they need to know during their classroom theory lectures and their clinical hours. Virginia requires 120 hours of total CNA training, and 40 of these hours must be in providing hands-on patient care. Some programs provide even more hours than this.

Pearson VUE administers the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program in Virginia. This program requires that students take a two-part examination to become a CNA. The first part is the knowledge section, which is typically taken as a written test with 70 multiple-choice questions. An alternate option is an oral version, which consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and ten basic comprehension questions. Those who wish to take this test orally will need to mark this option on the application. Individuals are given two hours to complete this portion.

The skills section is performed in front of an evaluator who will choose four CNA skills at random for the student to perform and will also ask them to take a measurement, such as a blood pressure, on a volunteer. Individuals have 30 minutes to complete their skills.

Applicants will receive their test results on the same day. Those who do not pass will receive instructions about how to schedule another test. Individuals must pass both sections within 24 months of completing CNA training to avoid retraining. However, there is no limit on how many times individuals can take the test in the two-year timeframe. Individuals who are currently working in a nursing home must pass their examination within 120 days to be able to continue working. The fee to take both sections of the test is $94. Those who need to retake only one part will need to pay $25 for the knowledge section or $69 for the skills section.

CNAs moving from another state can apply for endorsement with the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry. These individuals are often not required to retest if they meet the state’s qualifications and are approved. The application can be filled out and submitted online. The application will first be sent to the prior state for certification before being sent back to Virginia. CNAs applying for endorsement must be coming from a state that has similar qualifications for CNAs as Virginia does and must have an active, unencumbered license with no allegations of patient abuse, neglect or maltreatment. They must also have completed a competency examination in the previous state. There is no fee for this service unless the prior state charges a fee for verification.

A Virginia CNA’s initial certification will last one year. After that, certifications will last two years. The Registry sends out renewal notifications approximately a month before the expiration date. CNAs will need to have worked at least eight hours in the previous 24 months. If CNAs do not renew by the expiration date, they will need to apply to the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry for reinstatement. To be reinstated after 90 days of the expiry, CNAs will need to retake the certifications examination. CNAs will also be required to retake the examination if they have not worked the required hours in the past two years. CNAs who renew on time will not be required to pay any fees.

Links

Virginia Department of Health
Virginia Board of Nursing
Vigrinia Nurse License Verification

Contacts

Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico Virginia 23233-1463
Phone: (804) 367-4515
Fax: (804) 527-4455
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:15 to 5:00 (except Holidays)

Employment Information for VA

Average Salary for CNAs in VA

Virginia’s income per capita is $33,493. CNAs make less than this with an average salary of $24,160 as of 2014. New CNAs may make less than this, but those who have been employed five years or more can expect to make more because of their experience. The average hourly wage for CNAs here is $11.62. Of course, CNAs may make more in one of the 93 hospitals than they would in a nursing home.

Job Outlook in VA

Between the 93 hospitals and the 32,000-plus nursing homes in Virginia, CNAs here have plenty of opportunities to find work as well as to grow in their occupations. Currently, over 35,000 people are employed as CNAs in the state, and this number is expected to explode in the coming decade as some of the 1.1 million residents over the age of 65 need increasing amounts of healthcare.

Employment Opportunities

Top Hospitals in VA
Hospital NameAddressCityStateZipPhoneWebsite
Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center1250 East Marshall StreetRichmondVA23298804-828-9000Website
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital600 Gresham DriveNorfolkVA23507757-388-3000Website
Inova Fairfax Hospital3300 Gallows RoadFalls ChurchVA22042703-776-4001Website
University Of Virginia Medical Center1215 Lee StreetCharlottesvilleVA22908434-924-0211Website
Carilion Roanoke Memorial HospitalBelleview at Jefferson StreetRoanokeVA24014540-981-7000Website
Bon Secours St. Mary'S Hospital5801 Bremo RoadRichmondVA23226804-285-2011Website
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Center100 Sentara CircleWilliamsburgVA23188757-984-6000Website
Winchester Medical Center1840 Amherst StreetWinchesterVA22601540-536-8000Website
Centra Lynchburg General Hospital1920 Atherholt RoadLynchburgVA24501434-200-4700Website
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital3600 Joseph Siewick DriveFairfaxVA22033703-391-3600Website
Mary Washington Hospital1001 Sam Perry BoulevardFredericksburgVA22401540-741-1100Website
Memorial Regional Medical Center8260 Atlee RoadMechanicsvilleVA23116804-764-6000Website
Sentara Rmh Medical Center2010 Health Campus DriveHarrisonburgVA22801540-689-1000Website
Sentara Leigh Hospital830 Kempsville RoadNorfolkVA23502757-261-6000Website
Augusta Health78 Medical Center DriveFishersvilleVA22939540-932-4000Website
Inova Mount Vernon Hospital2501 Parker's LaneAlexandriaVA22306703-664-7000Website
Johnston-Willis Hospital7101 Jahnke RoadRichmondVA23225804-320-3911Website
Martha Jefferson Hospital500 Martha Jefferson DriveCharlottesvilleVA22911434-654-7000Website
Virginia Hospital Center1701 North George Mason DriveArlingtonVA22205703-558-5000Website
Bath Community Hospital83 Park DriveHot SpringsVA24445540-839-7000Website

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