Are you looking for a career that does not require long or any training and offers a good pay in Iowa? Would you like to help improve the quality of sick and disabled by assisting them with their daily needs? If you answered yes to both the questions, a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) may be an ideal choice for you.
- CNA Certification Requirements in Iowa
- How to Get Your CNA Certification in Iowa
- How to Verify Your CNA Certification in Iowa
- How to Renew Your CNA Certification in Iowa
- How to Reinstate Your CNA Certification in Iowa
- How to Transfer Your CNA Certification from Iowa to Another State
- Iowa Nurse Aide Registry
- State-Approved CNA Programs in Iowa
CNA Certification Requirements in Iowa
To obtain a CNA certification in Iowa, you are not required to complete any training program. You just need to pass the written and skills portion of the nurse aide competency tests. You can challenge these tests without completing a training program. You can get trained at an institute if you want though. In fact, a lot of employers prefer that. In any case, just passing both parts of the exam will make you eligible to seek employment as a CNA in any of Iowa’s long term care facilities.
How to Get Your CNA Certification in Iowa
After passing the tests, you will be eligible to seek employment as a CNA. After you have found a job, your employer must inform the Direct Care Worker Registry, which will then list you as “Eligible” and you can call and prove yourself as someone who holds CNA certification in Iowa.
How to Verify Your CNA Certification in Iowa
If you need to check your CNA certification status in Iowa, just visit the DCW Registry Website – www.dia-hfd.state.ia.us, where you can look either from the public view or by logging into the site with your assigned account ID and password. You can also use Registry Voice Response System (VRS): 1.866.876.1997 (you may obtain your status by verifying your Social Security number when prompted to do so). Moreover, if you are currently employed, your employer can access the information using the VRS and the DCW Registry website. Finally, you can contact DCW Registry staff at (515) 281-4077.
How to Renew Your CNA Certification in Iowa
There are no formal renewal processes for nursing assistant certifications in Iowa. So long as you work as a nursing assistant for at least eight hours every two-year time period, your name will remain on Iowa's Direct Care Worker Registry as an active CNA.
How to Reinstate Your CNA Certification in Iowa
When a CNA in Iowa does not work at least 8 hours within a two-year time period, their certification status becomes inactive. To reinstate your CNA certification, you can either begin working again and have your employer report your hours or re-take the CNA competency examination.
How to Transfer Your CNA Certification from Iowa to Another State
The first step involved in transferring your CNA certification from Iowa to a different state is to locate and contact the other state's CNA regulatory agency. You can do this by using the CNA Nurse Aide Registries tool found on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Website. Staff from the out-of-state registry will send you an “Interstate Reciprocity Form” to complete. After you have completed the appropriate section, the form should be sent to the Iowa DCW Registry to complete the registry section of the form. The Iowa registry will then forward the completed form by US mail to the other state for processing. It should be noted here that when transferring out of Iowa you must have completed a 75 hour course, because the other state will likely require it.
Iowa Nurse Aide Registry
If you have additional questions, contact the Iowa Nurse Aide Registry at:
Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals
Health Facilities Division
321 E 12th St, Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-0108
Fax: (515) 281-6259
Registry Search Link
State-Approved CNA Programs in Iowa
To help you find a top quality school for your CNA training in Iowa, we have listed some of the best schools in the state below!
