For someone who is aspiring to become a certified nursing assistant in Florida, he or she must be in the know about what the requirements are to receive a CNA certification in Florida. A lot of these requirements may take some time to accomplish so it would be best if you know what is required early so you can start making preparations for them. Some requirements however would need to be done at the time of your application for a nurse aide certification.
In the 2011 Florida Statutes, the list of basic requirements was set down for those who would like to apply for a license or certification as a nursing assistant. According to the rules, one should have a basic competency in reading and writing, must be at least 18 years old, as well as have a high school diploma or something equivalent as the minimum educational attainment. He should also be able to finish a state approved training program for nursing assistant. The state requires at least 75 hours of course work and 100 hours of practical training in order to complete the program. This will take about six months and may be shorter or longer depending on your school.
When you have finished these requirements, you may then apply for a certification from the state. You may then apply for the state exam, which is composed of two parts: an oral or written examination and a knowledgeable demonstration of skills needed as a CNA. You will be required to submit documentations such as your transcript, a fingerprint card, a photo ID, 2 passport size photos, and also fees for the background check that will be done. The federal and state background check shall review if you have committed any criminal offenses that may disqualify you for the license. If you fail in this check, you may not even be allowed to take the examination.
According to the rules, you will not be eligible for a refund of any of the fees if you fail the exam or the state background check. If you pass the exam, you may be able to receive your license in about 14 days after you have taken your exam. This will depend however on whether you have submitted all the necessary documents beforehand which will help speed up the process. Other requirements such as the transcript that would have to be requested from your school may affect the length of time that it would take for them to process your application.
If you have an existing license in another state, you may not be required to take the CNA exam in Florida. You would need to submit a different set of documents to the board such as a copy of your certification, your exam results on that state, as well as your background check. You would also need to be currently enlisted on the FL registry of licensed nursing assistants from that state. If you have not committed any offense on that state which may disqualify you from practicing as a nursing assistant, you may be eligible for a license in Florida. Visit this link to find out the available nursing assistant classes in Florida.