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 Oklahoma CNA Requirements as of February 2023.

To see requirements in other states, visit nursinghome411.org/cna-reqs.

Oklahoma CNA Requirements

  • Eligibility/Screening Requirements
    • Affidavit of lawful presence.
    • Criminal arrest record.
  • 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.
  • Renewal & In-Service Requirements
    • A performance review of every nurse aide must be completed at least once every twelve (12) months and provide two (2) hours of in-service training specific to their job assignment each month.
    • Renewal requires 8 hours of nursing or nursing-related duties every 24 months.
  • Hours
    • 75 hours
  • Curriculum
    • The Department shall require such training to include a minimum of ten (10) hours of training in the care of Alzheimer’s patients;
    • (A) At least 16 hours of training in the following areas prior to any direct contact with residents:
      • (i) Communication and interpersonal skills;
      • (ii) Infection control;
      • (iii) Safety and emergency procedures, including emergency measures for choking;
      • (iv) Promoting residents’ independence;
      • (v) Respecting residents’ rights;
    • (B) Basic nursing skills:
      • (i) Taking and recording vital signs;
      • (ii) Measuring and recording height and weight;
      • (iii) Caring for residents’ environment;
      • (iv) Recognizing abnormal changes in body functioning and the importance of reporting changes to supervisors;
      • (v) Caring for residents when death is imminent;
    • (C) Personal care skills, including, but not limited to:
      • (i) Bathing;
      • (ii) Grooming, including mouth care;
      • (iii) Dressing;
      • (iv) Toileting;
      • (v) Assisting with eating and hydration;
      • (vi) Proper feeding techniques;
      • (vii) Skin care;
      • (viii) Transfers, positioning, and turning;
    • (D) Mental health and social service needs:
      • (i) Modifying behavior in response to residents’ behavior;
      • (ii) Awareness of developmental tasks associated with the aging process;
      • (iii) Responding to resident behavior;
      • (iv) Allowing residents to make personal choices, providing and reinforcing other behavior consistent with residents’ dignity;
      • (v) Using residents’ family as a source of emotional support;
    • (E) Care of cognitively impaired residents:
      • (i) Techniques for addressing unique needs and behaviors of residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other diseases affecting cognitive functioning;
      • (ii) Communicating with cognitively impaired residents;
      • (iii) Understanding behavior of cognitively impaired residents;
      • (iv) Appropriate responses to behavior of cognitively impaired residents;
      • (v) Methods of reducing effects of cognitive impairments;
    • (F) Basic restorative services:
      • (i) Training residents in self-care according to their abilities;
      • (ii) Use of assistive devices in transferring, ambulation, eating and dressing;
      • (iii) Maintaining range of motion;
      • (iv) Proper turning and positioning in bed and chair;
      • (v) Bowel and bladder training;
      • (vi) Care and use of prosthetic and orthotic devices;
    • (G) Residents’ rights:
      • (i) Providing privacy and maintaining confidentiality;
      • (ii) Promoting the residents’ right to make personal choices to accommodate their needs;
      • (iii) Assisting in resolving grievances and disputes;
      • (iv) Providing assistance in getting to and participating in resident and family groups and activities;
      • (v) Maintaining care and security of personal possessions;
      • (vi) Promoting residents’ right to be free from abuse, mistreatment, and neglect and reporting of such treatment to appropriate facility staff; and
      • (vii) Avoiding restraints in accordance with current professional standards
    • The Department shall deem a certified long term care aide to meet the nurse aide certification requirements for the following employers after successful completion of at least sixteen (16) hours of orientation specific to the employer’s population.