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Becoming a CNA in Texas

If you’re interested in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Texas, there are specific steps you need to follow to meet the state’s requirements. Texas offers a straightforward path for becoming certified, with clear guidelines for training, testing, and maintaining your certification. Let’s walk through each of the steps to help you on your way to becoming a CNA in Texas.

Steps to Become a CNA in Texas

Meet Basic Requirements: Review the basic age, health, and background requirements for admission to a CNA training program and state certification.

Attend a School: Find and enroll in a state-approved CNA program that meets Texas’ 100-hour training requirement.

Pass the CNA Exam: Prepare for and pass the written and skills portions of the CNA certification exam.

Certification Registration and Upkeep: Learn how to register with the Texas Nurse Aide Registry and keep your certification current with the state.

1. Meet Basic Requirements

Before you can start your CNA training, you need to make sure that you meet the basic requirements set by the state of Texas.

Eligibility Requirements:

Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old to enroll in a CNA training program.

Health Requirements: You must be in good physical health and have up-to-date immunizations. This is especially important because CNAs work closely with patients in healthcare settings, where the risk of infection can be higher.

Background Check: All CNA candidates must pass a criminal background check. Certain criminal convictions may prevent you from becoming certified, as outlined in the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 250.006.

No Minimum Education Requirement: Unlike some states, Texas does not require a high school diploma or GED to become a CNA. However, it’s important to check with your training program, as individual schools may have their own prerequisites.

Once you have met these basic requirements, you can begin searching for an approved CNA training program.

2. Attend a School

The next step is to enroll in a state-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP). These programs teach the skills and knowledge you need to become a CNA in Texas. The Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees the approval of these training programs, which can be found in various locations like community colleges, technical schools, and even through healthcare facilities.

Training Requirements:

Total Hours: Texas requires 100 hours of training, which includes:

60 hours of classroom instruction to cover the theory and knowledge behind nursing care.

40 hours of clinical training under direct supervision, where you practice hands-on patient care in a healthcare setting, such as a nursing home or hospital.

Curriculum Overview:

Basic Nursing Skills: Vital signs, patient hygiene, grooming, assisting with mobility.

Personal Care: Bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding.

Infection Control: Proper handwashing techniques and preventing the spread of infections.

Patient Rights and Ethics: Respecting patient privacy, dignity, and legal rights.

Emergency Procedures: Responding to emergencies, including the Heimlich maneuver and CPR.

Considerations When Choosing a CNA Program:

Program Cost: CNA program costs in Texas typically range from $400 to $2,000, depending on the institution. Some programs may offer financial aid or scholarship opportunities, so be sure to inquire.

Program Duration: The program can usually be completed in 4-12 weeks, depending on whether you choose an accelerated course or a standard program.

Location and Flexibility: Consider whether the school offers convenient class schedules, such as evening or weekend courses, to accommodate your lifestyle and commitments.

Example CNA Programs in Texas

School Name	Location	Cost	Program Length	Contact Information
Houston Community College	Houston, TX	$1,200	6-8 weeks	(713) 718-2000
Alamo Colleges	San Antonio, TX	$900	8 weeks	(210) 485-0000
Texas Health School	Houston, TX	$850	6 weeks	(713) 932-9333
Dallas College	Dallas, TX	$600	7 weeks	(214) 860-8680

After completing a state-approved program, you’ll be eligible to take the CNA certification exam.

Featured CNA Programs in Texas

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3. Pass the CNA Exam

After finishing your CNA training, you need to pass the Texas CNA certification exam to become certified. This exam is administered by Prometric and consists of two parts: a written exam and a skills exam. Both exams are taken on the same day, and passing both is required to become a CNA.

Written Exam:

The written portion consists of 70 multiple-choice questions covering the theory and principles of nursing assistant duties.

Topics include infection control, basic patient care, ethics, and safety procedures.

You have two hours to complete the exam.

If English is not your first language, you can opt to take the oral version of the exam, which includes 60 multiple-choice questions and 10 reading comprehension questions.

Skills Exam:

The skills exam requires you to perform five randomly selected CNA skills in front of an evaluator. These skills can include tasks like:

Hand hygiene (required)

Assisting a patient with ambulation using a gait belt

Measuring and recording vital signs

Providing oral hygiene

Transferring a patient from bed to wheelchair

You have 30 minutes to complete the skills test.

One of the skills will always be handwashing, which is critical in healthcare settings.

Exam Fees:

Exam Type	Cost
Written & Skills Evaluation	$104
Oral & Skills Evaluation	$104
Written Exam Only	$27
Skills Exam Only	$77

You can register for the exam through Prometric’s website or by calling 1-800-488-5787. If you fail either portion of the exam, you can retake the failed portion up to two more times. After three failed attempts, you must repeat the CNA training program before you can retest.

Call-to-Action:

To increase your chances of passing on your first attempt, take our CNA exam practice test and review the material you learned in training.

4. Certification Registration and Upkeep

Once you pass both the written and skills portions of the CNA exam, your results will be submitted electronically to the Texas Health and Human Services TULIP system (Texas Unified Licensure Information Portal). After HHSC verifies your results, they will issue your certification.

How to Register as a CNA in Texas:

After passing the exam, log into the TULIP system to submit your application for certification. You will be notified by email once your certificate is ready, and you can print it directly from TULIP.

Certification Issuance: It typically takes about one week for your certification to be processed and approved after passing the exam. Once certified, your name will be added to the Texas Nurse Aide Registry, allowing you to legally work as a CNA in Texas.

Maintaining Your Certification:

In Texas, CNA certifications must be renewed every two years. To remain in good standing, you must:

Complete 24 hours of in-service education every two years. At least 12 of these hours must be completed at a licensed facility regulated by Texas Health and Human Services. The remaining hours can be completed at other approved healthcare facilities.

Provide Proof of Employment: You must have worked as a CNA for at least 8 hours within the two-year period to maintain active certification.

Renewal Process: Start the renewal process three months before your certification expires by logging into TULIP. If your certification expires and you fail to renew it, you will not be eligible to work as a CNA in Texas until your certification is active again.

Lapsed Certification:

If your certification lapses and you cannot provide proof of employment, you may need to retake the training program and certification exam to reinstate your certification.

Example of Renewal Requirements at a Glance:

Requirement	Details
In-Service Education Hours	24 hours (12 hours at licensed facilities)
Proof of Employment	8 hours within the last two years
Renewal Fee	No fee for renewal

Maintaining your certification ensures that you remain eligible to work as a CNA in Texas and continue providing valuable care to patients.

Becoming a CNA in Texas is a rewarding way to enter the healthcare field. Following these steps will help you meet the necessary requirements and maintain your certification throughout your career. Keep your information up-to-date with the Texas Nurse Aide Registry to remain in good standing and eligible for employment in this growing field.

Other Local CNA Programs

id	Name	Website	Street Address	City	State	Zip Code	plus_code	Phone	latitude	longitude	latlong	Category	Reviews	Rating	5star	4star	3star	2star	1star	Monday Hours	Tuesday Hours	Wednesday Hours	Thursday Hours	Friday Hours	Saturday Hours	Sunday Hours	Details
1,800	Afton Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center	https://dvcr.com/locations/afton-oaks	7514 Kingsley St	Houston	TX	77087	MPP4+MX Southeast Houston, Houston, TX	(713) 644-8393	29.69	-95.29	29.6866256-95.2925631	Nursing home	58	3.4	29	7	2	0	20	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	More details
1,801	Blinn College-Brenham Campus	https://www.blinn.edu/	902 College Ave	Brenham	TX	77833	5H5V+X8 Brenham, Texas	(979) 830-4000	30.16	-96.41	30.1598781-96.4066666	Community college	102	3.6	50	16	6	5	25								More details
1,802	Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation	https://www.blueskiesoftexas.org/afv-charitable-foundation/	5100 John D Ryan Blvd	San Antonio	TX	78245	97P7+9C San Antonio, Texas	(210) 568-3206	29.39	-98.74	29.3858797-98.7363987	Foundation	10	4.7	8	1	1	0	0	8AM to 5PM	8AM to 5PM	8AM to 5PM	8AM to 5PM	8AM to 5PM	Closed	Closed	More details
1,803	Christian Care Communities and Services	http://www.christiancaretexas.org/cccs-fort-worth/	5100 Randol Mill Rd	Fort Worth	TX	76112	QQ94+5C Fort Worth, Texas	(817) 451-8001	32.77	-97.24	32.7679468-97.2439609	Retirement community	81	4.3	51	19	3	4	4	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	More details
1,804	CNA Training Institute	https://cnatraininginstitute.org/	140 Eldridge Rd suite-g	Sugar Land	TX	77478	J9GJ+8W Sugar Land, Texas	(346) 812-0147	29.63	-95.62	29.6257715-95.6176813	Nursing school	713	4.8	616	66	11	4	16	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	Closed	Closed	More details
1,805	Cedar Park High School	https://cphs.leanderisd.org/	2150 Cypress Creek Road	Cedar Park	TX	78613	F5C4+PH Cedar Park, Texas	(512) 570-1200	30.47	-97.84	30.4717639-97.8435949	High school								8AM to 4PM	8AM to 4PM	8AM to 4PM	8AM to 4PM	8AM to 4PM	Closed	Closed	More details
1,806	College Station High School	https://cshs.csisd.org/	4002 Victoria Ave	College Station	TX	77845	HP57+54 College Station, Texas	(979) 694-5800	30.56	-96.29	30.5579882-96.2871783	High school	36	4.1	24	3	4	0	5	7:30AM to 4:30PM	7:30AM to 4:30PM	7:30AM to 4:30PM	7:30AM to 4:30PM	7:30AM to 4:30PM	Closed	Closed	More details
1,807	David L. Carrasco Job Corps Center	https://davidlcarrasco.jobcorps.gov/	11155 Gateway Blvd W	El Paso	TX	79935	PMVC+G5 El Paso, Texas	(915) 594-0022	31.74	-106.33	31.7437809-106.329536	Technical school	88	3.8	54	4	6	4	20	8AM to 5PM	8AM to 5PM	8AM to 5PM	8AM to 5PM	8AM to 5PM	Closed	Closed	More details
1,808	Friendship Haven Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center	https://friendshiphaven.net/	1500 Sunset Dr	Friendswood	TX	77546	GR44+QR Friendswood, Texas	(281) 992-4300	29.51	-95.19	29.506936-95.19295	Nursing home	103	3.4	56	6	2	3	36	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	More details
1,809	Gary Job Corps Center	https://gary.jobcorps.gov/	2800 TX-21	San Marcos	TX	78667	V4P6+26 San Marcos, Texas	(512) 396-6652	29.89	-97.89	29.8851175-97.8894896	Training centre	349	3.5	176	35	25	16	97	7:45AM to 3PM	7:45AM to 3PM	7:45AM to 3PM	7:45AM to 3PM	7:45AM to 3PM	Closed	Closed	More details