Are you looking for an exciting career that offers plenty of job opportunities and a comfortable starting salary in California? Can you see yourself working in a medical setting helping patients? If you answered "yes" to both the questions, you should consider becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide (CNA). There is currently a large need for CNAs in California.
Certification Requirements in California
In California, the California Department of Public Health oversees the rules and regulations regarding CNA certifications. For you to obtain certification as a nurse aide here, you must first graduate from an approved CNA training program. Secondly, you are required to pass the state's Certified Nurse Aide competency evaluation examination. During this test, you will be evaluated on both your knowledge and skills related to the field.
How to Get Your CNA Certification in California
To obtain your CNA certification in California, you need to go to the state's Department of Public Health website and click on "CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, PERMITS, AND REGISTRATIONS." Next, click on "Health Care Professionals." Finally, click on "Certified Nurse Assistant." This will take you to a page where you will find an initial application for CNA certification. Note that you will apply upon enrollment in a state-approved training program.
How to Verify Your CNA Certification in California
From time to time, you may find that you need to verify your CNA certification. This is especially true when changing jobs. If this is the case with you, simply visit http://cvl.cdph.ca.gov/SearchPage.aspx and you can verify your certification by certificate number, first name, or last name.
How to Renew Your CNA Certification in California
You will need to renew your CNA certification every two years in California. To be eligible for renewal, you must show completion of forty-eight (48) hours of In-Service Training/Continuing Education Units within your two-year certification period. A minimum of 12 of the 48 hours shall be completed in each year of the two-year certification period. A maximum of 24 of the 48 hours may be obtained only through a CDPH-approved online computer training program. You may submit the application by mail or by faxing it to the Department of Public Health.
How to Reinstate Your CNA Certification in California
If you did not complete the required continuing education before your CNA renewal, you will need to reinstate your certification. To do that, you must re-take the CNA competency exam, fulfill the CE requirements, pay a late fee, and submit a certification renewal application.
How to Transfer Your CNA Certification from California to Another State
If you are moving and need to transfer your CNA certification to a different state, you will need to contact the new state's Nurse Aide Registry, Board of Nursing or Department of Health to find out about their requirements. While most states only require a simple verification of your current CNA status, others may require such things as continuing education, testing and/or transfer fees.
California Nurse Aide Registry
If you have additional questions, contact the California Nurse Aide Registry at:
California Department of Public Health
Licensing & Certification Program
PO Box 997416, MS 3301
Sacramento, CA 95899
Phone: (916) 327-2445
Fax: (916) 552-8785
Registry Search
State-Approved CNA Programs in California
If you want to attend a CNA program in California, one of the following schools can provide you with the training you need.
Allan Hancock College
800 S College Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454American Red Cross
2215 W Mission Rd, Alhambra, CA 91803American Red Cross
311 Del Mar Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910American Red Cross
2227 S Atlantic Blvd, Commerce, CA 90040American Red Cross
1501 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204American Red Cross
3901 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611American Red Cross
1565 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815American Red Cross
2731 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95134American Red Cross
601 N Golden Cir Dr, Santa Ana, CA 92705American Red Cross
1450 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401American Red Cross
5297 Aero Dr, Santa Rosa, CA 95403American River College
4700 College Oak Dr, Sacramento, CA 95841Annenberg School of Nursing
19300 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335Azusa Adult Education Center
1040 E Gladstone St, Azusa, CA 91702Bakersfield College
1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305BAMA Institute
530 Bush St suite 301, San Francisco, CA 94108Barton Health
2170 South Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150Beaumont Adult School
1575 Cherry Ave, Beaumont, CA 92223Best American Healthcare University
337 N Vineyard Ave 4th floor, Ontario, CA 91764Best American Healthcare University
777 E Tahquitz Canyon Way Suite 200, Palm Springs, CA 92262Best American Healthcare University
6700 Indiana Ave Ste 255, Riverside, CA 92506Bradford College of Nursing
9 El Dorado St, Stockton, CA 95202Butte College
3536 Butte Campus Dr, Oroville, CA 95965California Career Institute
1240 S State College Blvd #135, Anaheim, CA 92806California Medical College
7851 Mission Center Ct #326, San Diego, CA 92108California Nurses Educational Institute
5200 Ramon Rd #1, Palm Springs, CA 92264Chaffey College
5885 Haven Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737Charles A Jones Career & Education Center
5451 Lemon Hill Ave, Sacramento, CA 95824Citrus College
1000 W Foothill Blvd, Glendora, CA 91741City College of San Francisco
50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA 94112College of the Canyons
26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91355College of the Desert
43500 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260College of the Sequoias
915 S Mooney Blvd, Visalia, CA 93277College of the Siskiyous
800 College Ave, Weed, CA 96094Contra Costa College
2600 Mission Bell Dr, San Pablo, CA 94806Cuesta College
CA-1, San Luis Obispo, CAEast San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program
1501 W Del Norte St, West Covina, CA 91790El Camino College
16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, CA 90506FUHSD Adult School
10123 N Wolfe Rd #2175, Cupertino, CA 95014Gavilan College
5055 Santa Teresa Blvd, Gilroy, CA 95020Goodwill SOLAC
800 W Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90806Hillendale Home Care
1777 N California Blvd Ste 210, Walnut Creek, CA 94596Imperial Valley College
380 E Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251Inland Empire Job Corps Center
3173 Kerry St, San Bernardino, CA 92407Lake County Office of Education
1152 S Main St, Lakeport, CA 95453Long Beach Job Corps Center
1903 Santa Fe Ave, Long Beach, CA 90810Los Angeles Harbor College
1111 Figueroa Pl, Wilmington, CA 90744Los Angeles Southwest College
1600 W Imperial Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90047Merced College
3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348MiraCosta College
1 Barnard Dr, Oceanside, CA 92056Mt. Diablo Adult Education
1266 San Carlos Ave, Concord, CA 94518Mt. San Antonio College
1100 N Grand Ave, Walnut, CA 91789Pacific Times Healthcare College
90 W Grand Blvd Ste 107, Corona, CA 92882Pasadena City College
1570 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106Pierce College
6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367Professional Career Development Center
420 Date St, Montebello, CA 90640Reedley College
995 N Reed Ave, Reedley, CA 93654Regan Career Institute
11350 Valley Blvd, El Monte, CA 91731Rio Hondo College
3600 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601Sacramento Job Corps Center
3100 Meadowview Rd, Sacramento, CA 95832San Diego Job Corps Center
1325 Iris Ave, Imperial Beach, CA 91932San Joaquin Delta College
5151 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95207Santa Barbara City College
721 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109School of Career Education
2100 E Alessandro Blvd, Riverside, CA 92508Shasta College
11555 Old Oregon Trail, Redding, CA 96003Sierra College
5100 Sierra College Blvd, Loomis, CA 95650Solano Community College
3095 Yerba Buena Rd, San Jose, CA 95135Southwestern College
900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910Sri Sai Krish Institute of Nursing
12362 Beach Blvd, Stanton, CA 90680Summit College
804 E Brier Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92408Treasure Island Job Corps Center
351 H Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94130University of Southern California
3551 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, CA 90089Ventura College
4667 Telegraph Rd, Ventura, CA 93003West Hills College
300 W Cherry Ln, Coalinga, CA 93210West Los Angeles College
9000 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230Western Medical Training Center
1161 E Main St UNIT 205, El Cajon, CA 92021
