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 D.C. CNA Requirements as of February 2023.
To see requirements in other states, visit nursinghome411.org/cna-reqs.
D.C. CNA Requirements
- Eligibility/Screening Requirements
- 18 years old.
- Criminal background check.
- 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 with 24 months of the training.
- Renewal & In-Service Requirements
- 24 hours of in-service in 24 months.
- For renewal must meet the following requirements:
- Having performed at least eight (8) hours of functions enumerated in § 9615.1 for compensation during the prior twenty-four (24) months;
- Having completed, during the two (2) years before the expiration of the certification, twenty-four (24) hours of in-service training or continuing education relevant to the functions of nurse aides and meeting the following requirements:
- (i) Two (2) hours shall be in cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on patients or clients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer in accordance with D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.10 (b)(5); and
- (ii) Ten percent (10%) of the total shall be in subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed necessary; and
- Having received criminal background check clearance.
- Hours
- 125 hours, including 65 classroom hours, 20 laboratory hours, and 40 clinical hours.
- Curriculum
- Role of Nurse Aide
- Tasks and responsibilities
- Implementation of a plan of care
- Receiving assignments
- Requirements of reporting incidents
- Legal and ethical duties
- Resident rights
- Promoting resident right to be free from abuse and mistreatment
- Professional boundaries
- Care sensitive to culture, religion, national origin, gender identity and sexual orientation
- Communication
- Interpersonal skills
- Reporting
- Basic Safety Skills
- NA responses to resident’s seizure
- Fall prevention
- MSDA and clean-up of blood/body fluids
- Infection prevention and control
- Understanding basic human functioning and needs including:
- Anatomy and physiology of boy organs and systems
- The effect of age, illness, disability, and gender on sexuality
- Developmental tasks associated with aging
- Promoting the resident’s independence with Personal care skills:
- bathing
- feeding (use of assistive devices)
- nutrition
- hydration
- skin integrity and skin care
- dressing
- grooming
- perineal care
- indwelling catheter care
- emptying, measuring, replacing ostomy bag
- Promoting the resident’s independence with assistance in elimination
- toileting
- bowel training
- bladder training
- Promoting the resident’s independence with Basic restorative skills including:
- safe transfer,
- ambulation,
- range of motion
- turning and repositioning in bed and chair
- orthotic and prosthetic devices
- change dry dressing
- Delegated nursing skills: Recognizing, reporting, and documenting changes in behavior
- Taking and documenting Vital Signs (Delegated nurse skills)
- Observing and Reporting Pain
- Measuring and documenting resident’s weight and height (Delegated nurse skills)
- Applying clean bandages
- Change dry dressing (Delegated nurse skill)
- Assisting with admitting, transferring, or discharging (Delegated nurse skill)
- Giving assistance in resolving grievances and disputes
- Caring for clients with special needs, to include:
- Cognitive Impairment;
- Sensory deficits or impairment;
- Communication limitations;
- Altered level of consciousness.
- Working with agitated or combative residents, including techniques useful in the prevention of abuse;
- Restraints and limitations on use of restraints
- End of life care
- Preventing fatigue and burn-out
- Reporting incidents
- Role of Nurse Aide
- D.C. Nurse Aide Curriculum
- D.C. Dpt. of Health – Nurse Aides
- D.C. Code Ann. § 3-1205.01
- D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, § 9627