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CNA Certification in Texas

Texas is the largest state in the United States and has a population of nearly 27 million. The state is known for its arid land and scruffy pine trees interspersed with huge cities, such as Austin, Houston and San Antonio. Texas is proud of its heritage of freedom and conservative government. Points of interest include the Space Center in Houston and the Rio Grande River running along its southern border. CNAs here are a vital part of the health care team, providing much of the hands-on care to the 11 percent of the population over the age of 65. CNAs work at many of the state’s 424 hospitals and 135,000 nursing homes.

About Texas

– Capital: Austin
– Minimum Wage: $7.25
– Number of Hospitals: 424
– Number of Nursing Homes: 135,350

Population

– Total Population: 26,956,958
– Population (ages 45-64): 6,434,039
– Population (ages 65+): 3,099,081
– Population (ages 85+): 361,502

Top Colleges & Unversities

– Rice University
– University of Texas, Austin
– Trinity University

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Texas

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CNA Training Requirements

Taking the Test (Procedure)

Out-of-State Applicants

Renewing & Expired Certification

Contacts & Additional Resources

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services regulates and oversees the state’s CNA training programs. To be eligible to sit for the state’s competency examination, students must attend a state-approved program that has at least 100 hours of training. At least 40 of these hours must be spent practicing CNA skills in a local health care setting under a licensed nurse’s supervision.

Students who have completed a CNA program in another state that gave them at least 100 hours of instruction may be eligible to waive Texas-based training if the program was completed in the past 24 months. In addition, nursing students and graduate nurses may waive training if they have taken and passed basic nursing classes within the past 24 months. Finally, military-trained health care personnel may waive training and instead sit for the competency examination immediately.

Potential CNA students in Texas should be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED. They must have a spotless criminal background check, which is performed using fingerprints. Those who have been convicted of a criminal offense are ineligible for training. Students must be physically fit and must be able to perform the duties of a CNA, such as spending long hours on the feet and lifting at least 40 pounds. This should be proved by a recent doctor’s physical. Students will need up-to-date immunizations and recent negative tuberculosis screenings. Finally, students will need to hold CPR cards prior to enrollment.

Texas uses the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program through Pearson VUE for its CNA competency evaluations. Pearson VUE uses a two-part test designed to test both CNA theory as well as skills. Students will need to complete both parts on the same day.

The first section is called the knowledge test; it can be taken in either a written or an oral format. The oral format is designed for Spanish speakers as well as for anyone who has a documented problem reading English. It uses an MP3 player. The written option has 70 multiple-choice questions while the oral option has 60 multiple-choice questions plus ten basic reading comprehension questions. This section must be completed in two hours or less.

During the skills test, students must demonstrate five CNA skills in front of a Nurse Aide Evaluator using a volunteer acting as a weakened patient. One skill will always be hand washing. The other four skills are randomly chosen on test day although at least one will be taking a measurement, such as a urine output. Students will have 30 minutes to complete this section.

The fee to take both sections is $85.50. Students will learn their scores while at the testing center. Those who fail will need to retake the section that they have failed. Students may have up to three attempts at each section and up to 24 months from the end of training to complete the examination before they are required to retrain.

CNAs moving to Texas from another state can request reciprocity to get onto the Texas Nurse Aide Registry without having to retrain or retest. To be eligible for Texas reciprocity, CNAs must have active certifications and must be in good standing with their prior states without any allegations of patient abuse or neglect. They will also need to submit to a new criminal background check. CNAs will need to fill out Texas’s reciprocity application and send in a copy of their prior certifications to their previous state for verification. They may need to wait up to four weeks for approval. Reciprocity is free except for those who are required to pay a verification fee to their prior states.

Texas CNAs must renew their certifications every two years to remain active. To renew, CNAs must prove that they have worked for pay performing nursing-related duties during the past 24 months and will need to submit an employment history. In addition, CNAs must complete 12 hours of in-services or continuing education every year. Some of these hours must relate to geriatric and dementia care. Renewal fees may vary depending on location in Texas but are approximately $40. CNAs who have not worked for pay in the past 24 months or who have not completed the required continuing education will be required to take both the knowledge and skills tests to become active again. The fees for these tests are $85.50.

Links
Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas Board of Nursing
Texas Nurse Aide Registry
Click here to check your CNA License

Contacts
333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460
Austin, TX 78701-3944
Phone: (512) 305-7400
Fax: (512) 305-7401

Employment Information for TX

Average Salary for CNAs in TX

The income per capita in Texas is $26,019. CNAs come in somewhat below this number at $23,960 annually or $11.52 per hour on average. This matches the national average for CNA salaries quite well. However, because Texas is such a large state with several major metropolitan areas as well as a great deal of rural space, salary can vary widely depending on a CNA’s location in the state.

Job Outlook in TX

Job openings for CNAs in Texas are expected to increase by 28 percent by 2024. Currently, CNA job opportunities here are at 85,130. As the 6.4 million residents between the ages of 45 and 65 age, CNAs will certainly have even more opportunities for growth in Texas or even for moving on to other health care fields, such as licensed practical nursing.

Employment Opportunities

Top Hospitals in Texas
Hospital NameAddressCityStateZipPhoneWebsite
Houston Methodist Hospital6565 Fannin StreetHoustonTX77030713-790-3311Website
Baylor St. Luke'S Medical Center6720 Bertner AvenueHoustonTX77030832-355-1000Website
Baylor University Medical Center3500 Gaston AvenueDallasTX75246214-820-0111Website
Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center6411 Fannin StreetHoustonTX77030713-704-4000Website
Ut Southwestern Medical Center5323 Harry Hines BoulevardDallasTX75390214-645-5555Website
University Hospital4502 Medical DriveSan AntonioTX78229210-358-4000Website
Seton Medical Center1201 West 38th StreetAustinTX78705512-324-1000Website
Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital18220 Tomball ParkwayHoustonTX77070281-477-1000Website
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas8200 Walnut Hill LaneDallasTX75231214-345-6789Website
Medical City Dallas Hospital7777 Forest LaneDallasTX75230972-566-7000Website
Memorial Hermann Northwest Complex1635 North Loop WestHoustonTX77008713-867-2000Website
St. David'S Medical Center919 East 32nd StreetAustinTX78705512-476-7111Website
Christus St. Michael Hospital2600 St Michael DriveTexarkanaTX75503903-614-1000Website
Clear Lake Regional Medical Center500 Medical Center BoulevardWebsterTX77598281-332-2511Website
Plaza Medical Center900 Eighth AvenueFort WorthTX76104817-336-2100Website
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth1301 Pennsylvania AvenueFort WorthTX76104817-250-2000Website
Baylor Regional Medical Center1650 West College StreetGrapevineTX76051817-481-1588Website
Doctors Hospital At Renaissance5501 South McColl RoadEdinburgTX78539956-362-7360Website
Edinburg Regional Medical Center1102 West Trenton RoadEdinburgTX78539956-388-6000Website
Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center921 Gessner RoadHoustonTX77024713-242-3000Website

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