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Arizona

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Nurse Aide in AZ

Known for its hot summers and very pleasant winters, Arizona is filled with long-term residents who love the sunshine and with “snowbirds” who only come during the winter months. Arizona is a top attraction for outdoor lovers because it is home to such places as the Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Park and the red rocks of Sedona. As home to numerous older individuals who come to the state to retire, Arizona is an excellent choice for individuals looking for CNA work. In fact, over one million people are above the age of 65, and another 124,000 are over the age of 85 not counting snowbirds who are not permanent residents.

About AZ

– Capital: Phoenix
– Minimum Wage: $8.20
– Number of Hospitals: 72
– Number of Nursing Homes: 16,607

Population

– Total Population: 6,731,484
– Population (ages 45-64): 1,633,417
– Population (ages 65+): 1,070,217
– Population (ages 85+): 124,772

Top Unversities

– University of Arizona
– Arizona State University
– Northern Arizona University

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in AZ

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CNA Program Requirements

Taking the Exam

Out-of-State Applicants

Renewing & Expired Certification

Applications

Contacts & Additional Resources

Arizona has no minimum age to begin training although some facilities do not hire people who are under the age of 18. In addition, Arizona mandates that people under the age of 16 cannot provide direct care to patients in licensed facilities. This allows people to begin CNA training while in high school. Of course, some training programs require students to have a high school diploma or GED. Other prerequisites to training include being a U.S. resident or being eligible to work in the U.S., having a clean driver’s license and criminal background check and having a fingerprint report. Students will also need to have a clean bill of health from a doctor, up-to-date immunizations, and negative tuberculosis screening within the past six months.

Arizona CNA training programs are required to include 120 hours of training altogether. At least 80 hours must be spent in the classroom learning CNA theory, and the other 40 hours must be spent in a clinical setting, which is typically a local nursing home, providing hands-on care to patients. Some programs offer more than the minimum required hours. Students can find CNA programs across the state at community colleges and vocational schools, nursing homes and hospitals and through the American Red Cross. Students are required to pay their way except in the case of those who already work at a licensed health care facility or who have received an offer of employment there. These cases require the employer to pay for training.

The Arizona Board of Nursing contracts out the CNA test to D&S Diversified Technologies who run the Nursing Assistant Competency and Evaluation Program. Before taking the test, applicants must register with the Board of Nursing. Most of the time, the training program will register its students for the CNA test.

This test consists of two parts, which cost $113. The written knowledge examination has 75 multiple-choice questions that must be completed in 90 minutes or less. Individuals can take the test orally although they must request this ahead of time. There is an additional $10 fee for an oral test. The skills section examines four CNA skills. One skill is either perineal care or providing a bedpan and measuring output. The other three skills will be randomly chosen on the day of the test by the evaluator. Applicants are given 40 minutes to complete this.

The knowledge section must be passed at 75 percent or higher, and the skills section must be passed at 80 percent or higher. Those who fail either section will only be required to retake the part that they failed. The knowledge retest costs $28, and the skills retest costs $85. Applicants must pass both sections of the test within two years from the end of CNA training to avoid having to retrain; however; they can take the test as often as necessary within those two years. Those who fail the knowledge section three times will have to wait 45 days before testing again.

CNAs moving to Arizona from another state may be able to transfer their certifications to Arizona quite quickly. To do this, they must fill out an application and prove that they have worked at least 160 hours as a CNA for pay within the past two years or that they completed a CNA program in their previous state with at least 120 hours of training. If they no longer have an active license, they will need to complete Arizona-approved CNA training and the CNA examination. Applicants for Arizona endorsement will also need to have a criminal background check, have an unencumbered license with no complaints of patient abuse or neglect and proof of their active license. The fee for endorsement is $50.

Arizona CNAs must renew their licenses every two years. CNAs must work at least 160 hours for pay every two years to renew. The Board of Nursing sends out renewal notices approximately two to three month before expiration. The cost for renewal is $50 if CNAs wish to receive a paper certificate. Online renewal also allows CNAs to print off their new certificates. Those requesting a paper certificate via mail can expect it to arrive within 30 days. Otherwise, renewal is free. An additional fee of $10 per year applies to CNAs who have worked with an expired license.

Links
Arizona Department of Health Services
Arizona State Board of Nursing

Contacts

Arizona State Board of Nursing
4747 N. 7th St. • Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85014-3655
602-771-7800

Employment Information for AZ

Average Salary for CNAs in AZ

Arizona CNAs enjoy an excellent yearly wage well above the state’s per capita income of $25,358. With an average hourly wage of $13.53, which is determined by experience and by the facility where one is employed, CNAs typically make over $28,000 per year. Of course, this income does not include any additional benefits CNAs may receive at certain facilities, such as health and dental insurance.

Job Outlook in AZ

There are currently 14,870 CNA positions in Arizona scattered among its 72 hospitals, 16,000-plus nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. CNAs here have great job security because the state has over 1 million residents over the age of 65 and another 1.6 million residents between the ages of 45 to 65. Indeed, many of these individuals will soon be requiring the type of hands-on healthcare that is provided by CNAs.

Employment Opportunities

Some of the best healthcare facilities in Arizona
Hospital NameAddressCityStateZipPhoneWebsite
Mayo Clinic5777 East Mayo BoulevardPhoenixAZ85054480-515-6296Website
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center1111 East McDowell RoadPhoenixAZ85006602-239-2000Not Available
Banner - University Medical Center Tucson1501 North Campbell AvenueTucsonAZ85724520-694-0111Website
St. Joseph'S Hospital And Medical Center350 West Thomas RoadPhoenixAZ85013602-406-3000Website
Flagstaff Medical Center1200 North Beaver StreetFlagstaffAZ86001928-779-3366Website
Banner Estrella Medical Center9201 West Thomas RoadPhoenixAZ85037623-327-4000Website
Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center9003 East Shea BoulevardScottsdaleAZ85260480-323-3000Website
Yavapai Regional Medical Center1003 Willow Creek RoadPrescottAZ86301928-445-2700Website
Banner Gateway Medical Center1900 North Higley RoadGilbertAZ85234480-543-2000Website
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center5555 West Thunderbird RoadGlendaleAZ85306602-865-5555Website
Banner Desert Medical Center1400 South Dobson RoadMesaAZ85202480-412-3000Website
Arizona Orthopedic Surgical Hospital2905 West Warner RoadChandlerAZ85224480-603-9000Website
Arizona Spine And Joint Hospital4620 East Baseline RoadMesaAZ85206480-832-4770Website
Arizona State Hospital2500 East Van Buren StreetPhoenixAZ85008602-244-1331Website
Arrowhead Hospital18701 North 67th AvenueGlendaleAZ85308623-561-1000Website
Aurora Phoenix Hospital6015 West Peoria AvenueGlendaleAZ85302623-344-4400Website
Banner Baywood Medical Center6644 East Baywood AvenueMesaAZ85206480-321-2000Website
Banner Behavioral Health Hospital7575 East Earll DriveScottsdaleAZ85251480-941-7500Website
Banner Boswell Medical Center10401 West Thunderbird BlvdSun CityAZ85351623-832-4000Website
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center14502 West Meeker BoulevardSun City WestAZ85375623-214-4000Website

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