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 Rhode Island CNA Requirements as of February 2023.
To see requirements in other states, visit nursinghome411.org/cna-reqs.
Rhode Island CNA Requirements
- Eligibility/Screening Requirements
- Full Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) check from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.
- 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.
- Nursing assistant applicants shall be given three (3) opportunities to successfully complete both the written and practical components of the nursing assistant examinations. After three (3) unsuccessful attempts to complete the nursing assistant examinations, the nursing assistant shall be required to repeat the nursing assistant training program.
- Renewal & In-Service Requirements
- In-service requirements are the same as federal.
- Renewal requires 8 hours of nursing or nursing-related duties every 24 months.
- Hours
- 120 clock hours including no less than forty (40) hours of practical training integrated with the classroom topics and under supervision.
- Online nursing assistant training programs may offer the required eighty (80) hours of didactic training via the Internet. The forty (40) hours of practical training shall be provided by the employing facility.
- Curriculum
- Same as federal.
- RI Dpt. of Health Licensing
- 23 R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 23-17.9-5
- 216 R.I. Code R. 40-05-22.7
- 216 RI Code R 22.12.1