A nursing assistant certification in South Carolina can be one of the gateways by which one can enter the medical field in that state without incurring too much expense on their education. The training lasts for about 6-12 weeks and the fees would not cost you a lot to gain exposure to a job in the healthcare industry. One only needs to pass the training, the state exam and the state and federal background checks before he or she can be admitted into the nurse aide registry and able to qualify to find nursing assistant work.
One should enroll in a state-approved CNA training facility in order to be eligible for the state examinations. They include about 75 hours of both classroom and practical training which would cover subjects such as emergency procedures, personal care, mental health, infection control, resident rights and independence, and efficient communication skills with patients who have disabilities. They should be able to pass the tests during the training before he can proceed with the state exams. The state requires that there should be a sufficient classroom teaching first before practicing at a nursing facility.
Foreign-trained nursing students can apply for the state examinations for nursing aides. They should have finished a training which is similar to the standards used in the United States and should also submit a copy of their license and also of their completion of the nursing course.
The test is given by Pearson Vue and is called the NCLEX. The applicant should submit a notarized written application to take the test together with the application form, and the registration for the examinations. They should also include the examination fees that will be needed. The test is comprised of a written or oral portion and a skills test. These tests should both be successfully passed before the applicant can be entered into the nurse aide registry. Failure in any of the portions of the test will mean a failed exam. One can retake the exam after 45 days with the necessary fees. If the applicant continues to fail the exam for 3 years, he will be required to undergo training again.
Requirements for taking the exam are a completed application form, a photo ID, 2×2 photos, birth certificate, and social security card. The results of the exam will be sent to the applicant after 10 days from the date of the exam.
One can also apply for reciprocity by submitting an application form for reciprocity, social security card, a certificate of endorsement from his state, and transcript and certification as a nursing aide. One should also be able to pass the state and federal criminal background check and should not be found to have any record of abuse or neglect of a resident.
The certification is renewed every 2 years and the state requires that one should have at least 30 hours of continuing education for the past 2 years. The applicant should also show proof of employment for at least 8 hours as a paid nursing assistant under the supervision of a registered nurse. If one fails to renew his or her certification, he would require reinstatement by taking a refresher course and retaking the examinations. You can search the online SC Nurse Aide Registry to get the active status of a your license and determine if it is currently active.
Visit this link to get more information about enrolling in certified nursing assistant classes in South Carolina.