Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training & certification requirements vary considerably across the U.S. In some states, the requirements go beyond the federal minimum while in other states requirements are nearly identical to the federal standards.
This page displays North Carolina CNA Requirements as of February 2023.
To see requirements in other states, visit nursinghome411.org/cna-reqs.
North Carolina CNA Requirements
- Eligibility/Screening Requirements
- For all programs except those offered as career and college promise tract programs admission requirements shall include:
- (I) completion of nurse aide I DHSR course or DHSR-established equivalent and active nurse aide I listing on DHSR Registry;
- (II) High School or High School Equivalency diploma; and
- (III) other admission requirements as identified by the course provider; or
- For all career and college promise tract programs admission requirements shall include:
- (I) completion of a nurse aide I DHSR course or DHSR-established equivalent;
- (II) active nurse aide I listing on DHSR Registry after the first attempt to pass nurse aide I test and within no more than five calendar days from enrollment in the nurse aide II course;
- (III) expected High School diploma or High School Equivalency diploma not more than three months from completion of the nurse aide II course; and
- (IV) other admission requirements as identified by the course provider.
- Education & Training Requirement
- Individuals must complete a state approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program.
- Testing Requirement
- Individuals must pass both a written and skills test.
- Every North Carolina’s Nurse Aide I competency exam candidate shall have the opportunity to take the exam at maximum three times before being required to retake and pass a Nurse Aide I training program.
- Renewal & In-Service Requirements
- The facility must complete a performance review of every nurse aide at least once every 12 months, and must provide regular in-service education based on the outcome of these reviews.
- Renewal requires 8 hours of nursing or nursing-related duties every 24 months.
- For all programs except those offered as career and college promise tract programs admission requirements shall include:
- Hours
- 75 hours of combined classroom and practical (laboratory and clinical) instruction. A minimum of 16 hours of practical (combined laboratory and clinical) training must be accomplished.
- Curriculum
- Measurement
- The Nurse Aide I
- Infection Prevention
- The Resident’s Environment: Safety and Emergency
- Communication
- Law and Ethics
- Dignity
- Basic Restorative Care
- Body Systems
- Body Mechanics
- Nutrition and Fluids
- Restrain, Elimination, Reduction, Appropriate Use
- Communicating with the Health Care Team
- The Nursing Process and Nursing Care Plan
- Incident Report
- Critical Thinking
- Family and Family Support
- Person-Centered Care
- Cognitive Changes Due to Aging
- Psychological Effects of Aging
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
- Mental Health and Mental Illness
- Pain
- End of Life Care
- Threads of Care:
- Complete Bed Bath
- Dressing and Undressing
- Pericare
- Making an Occupied Bed
- Foot Care
- Fingernail Care
- Mouth Care
- Handwashing
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Measuring and Recording Vital Signs
- Measuring and Recording Height and Weight
- Collecting Routine Urine Specimen
- Assisting with Use of Bathroom: Measuring/Recording
- Urinary Output
- Providing Catheter Care and Emptying Urinary Drainage
- Assisting with Dining/Feeding Resident and Measuring/Recording Intake
- Range of Motion Exercises
- Transferring from Bed to Wheelchair
- Moving Up in Bed Using Turning Sheet and Positioning resident on side
- Assisting with Ambulation
- Applying Restraints
- Applying Anti-embolism (Elastic) stockings
- Teaching tip attachments
- Activities
- North Carolina Nurse Aide Program Curriculum
- NC Nurse Aide Curriculum
- C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 90-171.40
- 10A N.C. Admin. Code 13O.0301