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 Arkansas CNA Requirements as of February 2023.
To see requirements in other states, visit nursinghome411.org/cna-reqs.
Arkansas CNA Requirements
- 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 within 12 months or retraining will be required.
- Renewal & In-Service Requirements
- In-Service requirements are the same as federal requirements.
CNAs must document having worked at least 8 hours as a nursing assistant for monetary compensation during the prior two years.
- Hours
- 90 hours
- Curriculum
- Lesson #1 Introduction to the Role of the Nurse Aide
- Introduction to Long Term Care
- The Role of the Nurse Aide
- The Care Team and the Chain of Command
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Resident-Centered Care (Person-Centered Care)
- Lesson #2 Resident Rights
- Resident Rights
- Abuse, Neglect, and Personal Possessions/Misappropriation
- Lesson #3 Infection Control
- Introduction to Infection Control
- Infection Control Practices
- Hand Hygiene
- Personal Protective Equipment – PPE
- Precautions
- Lesson #4 Fire Safety and Other Resident Safety Concerns
- Fire Safety
- Side rails/Entrapment
- Resident Elopement
- Smoking
- Lesson # 5 Medical Concerns/Emergency Procedures
- I️. Accidents
- Falls / Fall Prevention
- Choking
- Burns/Scalds
- Poisoning
- Medical Emergency
- Safety Measures/Prevention Strategies
- Lesson #6 Basic Care Skills
- Points to Remember
- Unoccupied Bed
- Resident Room/Environment/Fall Prevention
- Promoting Proper Nutrition and Hydration
- Lesson #7 Common Diseases and Disorders – Respiratory and Urinary Systems
- Respiratory System
- Respiratory System
- Common Conditions of the Respiratory System
- Normal Changes with Age
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding the Respiratory System
- Urinary System
- Urinary System
- Common Conditions of the Urinary System
- Normal Changes with Age
- Problems Caused by Incontinence
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding the Urinary System
- Lesson #8 Oxygen Use
- Oxygen Use
- Lesson #9 Common Diseases and Disorders – Nervous, Circulatory and Musculo–Skeletal Systems
- Nervous System
- Nervous System
- Conditions that Affect Nervous System
- Normal Nervous System Changes with Age
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding the Nervous System
- Circulatory System
- Circulatory System
- Conditions that Affect the Circulatory System
- Normal Circulatory Changes with Age
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding Circulatory System
- Musculoskeletal System
- Musculoskeletal System
- Conditions that Affect Musculoskeletal System
- Importance of Exercise or Range of Motion (ROM)
- Normal Musculoskeletal Changes with Age
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding the Musculoskeletal
- System
- Nervous System
- Lesson #10 Common Diseases and Disorders – Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Systems
- Gastrointestinal System
- I️. Gastrointestinal System
- Common Conditions of the Gastrointestinal System
- Normal Changes with Age
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding the Gastrointestinal System
- Endocrine System
- Endocrine System
- Common Conditions that Affect the Endocrine System
- Normal Changes with Age
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding the Endocrine System
- Lesson #11 Common Diseases and Disorders – Reproductive,
- Immune/Lymphatic Systems
- Reproductive System
- Reproductive System
- Common Conditions that Affect the Reproductive System
- Normal Changes with Age
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding the Reproductive System
- Lymphatic and Immune Systems
- Lymphatic System
- Immune System
- Common Conditions of the Immune and Lymphatic Systems
- Normal Changes with Age
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding the Immune and Lymphatic Systems
- Lesson #12 Activities of Daily Living – Bathing, Shampoo, Perineal Care
- Bathing and Shampooing Points to Remember
- Perineal and Catheter Care Points to Remember
- Lesson #13 Activities of Daily Living – Oral Care, Grooming, Nail Care
- Grooming/Personal Hygiene
- Lesson #14 Activities of Daily Living – Dressing, Toileting
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Lesson #15 Activities of Daily Living – Positioning/Turning, Transfers
- Proper positioning and body alignment
- Commonly used positions
- Proper transfer
- Lesson #16 Activities of Daily Living – Devices Used for Transfer
- Mechanical lifts
- Transfer resident to stretcher/shower bed
- Transfer – Two Person Lift
- Lesson #17 Resident’s Environment
- Occupied Bed
- Lesson #18 Skin Care/Pressure Prevention
- Understanding the Integumentary System and Basic Skin Care
- Risk Factors for Skin Breakdown
- Pressure Ulcer Development
- Prevention of Skin Breakdown
- Lesson #19 Activities of Daily Living Nutrition/Hydration
- Promoting Proper Nutrition and Hydration
- Promoting the Use of Proper Feeding Technique/Assisting a Resident with Special Needs
- Caring for a Resident with a Tube Feeding and the Resident at Risk for Aspiration
- Lesson #20 Basic Nursing Skills – Vital Signs, Height, and Weight
- Initial Steps
- Final Steps III. Vital signs Provide Important Information
- Measuring Height and Weight
- Lesson #21 Restraints
- Physical Restraint
- Lesson #22 Rehabilitation/Restorative Services
- Rehabilitation
- Restorative Services
- Devices which may be applied per Restorative Nursing Program
- Lesson #23 Devices/Interventions – Prosthetics, Hearing Aides, Artificial Eye, Eyeglasses, Dentures, Compression Stockings
- I️. Purpose of a Prosthetic Device
- Types of Prosthetic Devices
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding Amputations & Prosthetic Care
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding Hearing Aids
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding Artificial Eye & Eyeglasses
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding Dentures
- Role of the Nurse Aide regarding Elastic/Compression Stockings (TED Hose)
- Lesson #24 Special Care Needs – Intravenous Fluids, Non–Pharmacologic Pain Interventions
- IV or PICC Lines
- Role of the Nurse Aide in caring for IV/PICC
- Infection Control
- Pain Factors
- Role of the Nurse Aide related to Pain
- Lesson #25 Cognitive Impairment/Dementia/Alzheimer’s
- Conditions
- Behaviors, Causes and Interventions
- Methods/Therapies to Reduce Behaviors
- Tips to Remember when Dealing with Cognitively Impaired Residents
- Communication Strategies
- Techniques to Handle Difficult Behaviors
- Behavior Interventions
- Activity Chart
- Safety Checklist
- Sleep Changes
- Lesson #26 Mental Health, Depression and Social Needs
- Causes of Mental Illness
- Response to Behaviors
- Use of Defense Mechanisms – unconscious behaviors used to release tension or cope with stress or uncomfortable, threatening situations or feelings
- Types of Mental Illness
- Behaviors Associated with Mental Disorders – actions and interventions
- Treatment for Mental Illness
- Special Considerations
- Mental Illness and Intellectual Disability
- Lesson #27 Admission/Transfer/Discharge
- Admitting a New Resident to the Facility
- Assisting to Transfer a Resident to a Hospital (i.e., Care Transition)
- Assisting a Resident to Discharge Home or to Another Facility
- Lesson #28 End of Life
- Advance Directives
- Role of Hospice
- Care of the Dying Resident
- Signs/Symptoms of Impending Death
- Postmortem Care
- Disposition of Personal Belongings
- Stages of Reaction to Dying
- Lesson # 29 Daily Responsibilities
- Day-to-day Time Management/Resident Care
- Interdisciplinary Care Plan Meetings
- Lesson #30 Protecting Your Profession
- Reducing Stress/Burnout
- Abuse/Neglect/Misappropriation
- Nurse Aide Testing/Certification
- Certification Renewal
- Gastrointestinal System
- Respiratory System
- Lesson #1 Introduction to the Role of the Nurse Aide