Guide to Getting a CNA License in Arkansas

The road to becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in Arkansas is a smooth one. The state offers several ways you can acquire certification and get the push to fire up your career in health care.

Free CNA Training In the State of Arkansas

There are several opportunities to get free CNA training in Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Health In-Home Health and Hospice offers free training classes to those who wish to become a Personal Care Nursing Assistant. It is a one-week (40 hours) training program that will help you obtain your license as a Personal Care Aide. Once you pass the competency exam, you can immediately be a member of your Local Health Unit In-home care team.

Here are top schools in Arkansas with state-approved CNA training programs:

Arkansas Northeastern College, Blytheville
2501 S Division, Blytheville, AR 72316
Arkansas State University, Beebe
1000 Iowa Street, Beebe, AR 72012
Arkansas State University, Mountain Home
1600 South College Street, Mountain Home, AR 72653
Arkansas State University, Newport
7648 Victory Blvd, Newport, AR 72112
Arkansas State University, Searcy
1800 East Moore Avenue, Searcy, AR 72143
Arkansas Tech University
1605 Coliseum Dr., Russellville, AR 72801
Black River Technical College, Pocahontas
1410 Hwy 304 East, Pocahontas, AR 72455
College of the Ouachitas
1 College Cir, Malvern, AR 72104
Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute
1620 Newcastle Road, Forrest City, AR 72335
Mid-South Community College
2000 W. Broadway, West Memphis, AR 72301
National Park Community College
101 College Dr, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71913
North Arkansas College
1515 Pioneer Dr, Harrison, AR 72601
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, Helena
1000 Campus Drive, Helena, AR 72342
Pulaski Technical College
3000 W Scenic Dr, North Little Rock, AR 72118
Rich Mountain Community College
1100 College Dr, Mena, AR 71953
South Arkansas Community College
300 S West Ave, El Dorado, AR 71731
Southeast Arkansas College
1900 S Hazel St, Pine Bluff, AR 71603
Southern Arkansas University Tech
100 Carr Road, Camden, AR 71701
University of Arkansas at Monticello
101 N Church St, Monticello, AR 71655
University of Arkansas Community College, Batesville
2005 White Drive, Batesville, AR 72503
University of Arkansas Community College, Hope
2500 S Main, Hope, AR 71802
University of Arkansas Community College, Morrilton
1537 University Blvd., Morrilton, AR 72110

Advantages of Being a CNA

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists nursing assistants as one of the jobs that will continue to be in-demand in the coming years. The career in this health care field is a fulfilling one because you get to care for people who need your help. In Arkansas, the benefits include paid holidays, free health screening, free immunizations, flexible schedule, to name a few.

The Certification Exam

Under the Arkansas guidelines, nursing care facilities are not allowed to hire worker for more than 120 days without proper certification by the Office of Long Term Care of the Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas agreed to team up with Prometrics, a test provider, to administer the competency and skills exams for the nursing assistant hopefuls.

Exam Eligibility

There are many ways a person can be eligible to take the certification exam:

Finish a State-approve training program in last 12 months
Renew an expired certification
Finish the Basic Nursing course while still being student taking up a nursing or practical nursing degree
Complete an minimum 75 hours training as a Home Health Aide
Have been trained as Nurse Aide in a different state
Have a Nurse Aide certificate from a different state

Exam Overview

The certification exam is composed of two parts: written test and clinical skills test. The written test is 60-item multiple-choice questionnaire while the clinical skills test is a practical test to evaluate the examinee’s skills in performing basic nursing duties. An oral exam may be conducted to examinees with reading disabilities. Exam results will be released within 10 business days from the examinations dates. If you pass the tests, you will be given an Arkansas Nursing Assistant Certificate which will be sent to you through mail. Your name will automatically be added to Arkansas Nursing Assistant registry. Those who failed any of the exams are allowed to take the test again up to three tries.

With the economic recession and job cuts, one can find an alternative career as a certified nursing assistant. It is a legitimate job with many fulfilling attributes.