Home » New Jersey

Becoming a CNA in New Jersey

Steps to Become a CNA in New Jersey

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in New Jersey is a great way to enter the healthcare field and provide essential care to patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities. The process involves meeting state requirements, attending an approved CNA training program, passing the certification exam, and maintaining active status on the New Jersey Nurse Aide Registry.

Meet Basic Requirements: Confirm that you meet all eligibility criteria for both CNA program admission and state certification.

Attend a School: Enroll in an approved CNA program in New Jersey that meets the state’s requirements.

Pass the CNA Exam: Successfully complete the state certification exam, which includes both a skills evaluation and a written/oral test.

Certification Registration and Upkeep: Get listed on the New Jersey Nurse Aide Registry and ensure you meet renewal requirements to maintain certification.

1. Meet Basic Requirements

Before starting your CNA journey in New Jersey, it’s important to ensure you meet the basic eligibility criteria set by the state.

Eligibility Requirements

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

Education: There is no high school diploma or GED requirement in New Jersey for becoming a CNA, but having one can be beneficial when applying to some programs.

Criminal Background Check: All CNA candidates must pass a criminal background check, which includes fingerprinting. Any history of resident abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property will disqualify you from certification.

Health Requirements: You’ll need to show proof of immunizations, a recent health exam, and TB testing to confirm that you’re fit to work in healthcare settings.

Once you meet these basic requirements, you can begin looking for a state-approved CNA training program to enroll in.

2. Attend a School

The next step is to enroll in a state-approved CNA training program. New Jersey requires CNA candidates to complete a training program that meets specific state guidelines.

Program Requirements

The state of New Jersey mandates that CNA programs include:

90 hours of total training, which is divided into:

50 hours of classroom instruction: This covers basic nursing skills, infection control, resident rights, communication, and other essential topics.

40 hours of clinical experience: This hands-on training takes place in a long-term care facility where you’ll practice your skills under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN).

The program curriculum is comprehensive, covering:

Basic nursing and personal care skills.

Communication and interpersonal skills.

Resident rights and ethics.

Infection control, safety, and emergency procedures.

Key Considerations for Choosing a Program

When selecting a CNA program in New Jersey, keep the following factors in mind:

Accreditation: Ensure the program is approved by the New Jersey Department of Health.

Cost: The cost of CNA programs in New Jersey typically ranges from $1,000 to $2,500. This often includes tuition, textbooks, and clinical supplies, but may not cover certification exam fees.

Financial Aid: Some programs offer financial aid, scholarships, or payment plans. Additionally, some long-term care facilities offer free CNA training in exchange for an employment commitment.

Program Schedule: Look for a program that fits your schedule. Many schools offer flexible options such as evening or weekend classes to accommodate working students.

Where to Find Programs

You can find CNA programs at various institutions across New Jersey, including:

Community colleges

County vocational schools

Long-term care facilities

Private vocational schools

By enrolling in a state-approved program, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge needed to pass the certification exam and succeed as a CNA.

Featured CNA Programs in New Jersey

3. Pass the CNA Exam

After completing your training program, the next step is to pass the New Jersey CNA certification exam, which is administered by PSI Services LLC. This exam consists of two parts: a skills evaluation and a written or oral exam.

Exam Structure

1. Skills Evaluation:

The skills test requires you to perform five randomly selected nursing assistant skills in a simulated healthcare setting.

Common skills you may be tested on include:

Hand hygiene (handwashing)

Measuring and recording vital signs

Ambulating a patient with a gait belt

Assisting with feeding

Performing range-of-motion exercises

You must perform each skill accurately and meet all critical steps to pass.

2. Written or Oral Exam:

The written exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as infection control, resident rights, and basic nursing skills. You will have 90 minutes to complete the exam.

If you have difficulty with reading or understanding written English, you can opt to take an oral version of the test, which is available in both English and Spanish.

Exam Fees

Exam Component	Fee
Skills Evaluation	$23
Written Exam (Retake)	$53
Oral Exam (English or Spanish)	$67

Once you’ve passed both the skills and written/oral portions of the exam, you’ll be placed on the New Jersey Nurse Aide Registry.

Need more practice? Click here to access our CNA exam practice test.

4. Certification Registration and Upkeep

After successfully passing your CNA exam, you will need to be officially certified and added to the New Jersey Nurse Aide Registry. This ensures you are legally allowed to work as a CNA in the state.

Certification Process

Your certification is valid for 24 months. During this time, you must complete the required in-service education and maintain active employment as a CNA.

You must have at least seven hours of paid employment as a CNA in a healthcare facility during each 24-month period to maintain your certification.

Renewal Requirements

To renew your CNA certification in New Jersey, you’ll need to:

Complete 12 hours of in-service training every year. These hours must include education on resident rights, abuse prevention, and infection control.

Submit a renewal application and pay a $30 renewal fee.

Ensure your employer verifies your work history to prove you’ve completed the required seven hours of CNA-related work during the certification period.

Complete a criminal background check with fingerprinting as part of the renewal process.

Recertification Process

If your certification has lapsed, you will need to meet specific requirements to be reinstated:

If your certification has been expired for less than five years, you may be required to pass both the skills and written/oral exams again.

If your certification has been expired for more than five years, you may need to complete the full CNA training program again before retaking the exam.

Reciprocity for Out-of-State CNAs

If you’re already certified as a CNA in another state, you may be able to transfer your certification to New Jersey through reciprocity. To qualify:

You must provide proof of current certification from your home state.

Your certification must be in good standing (no findings of abuse or neglect).

You may also need to pass the New Jersey skills and written exams if your home state’s requirements differ significantly from New Jersey’s.

There is a $30 fee to apply for reciprocity in New Jersey.

Summary of CNA Certification Process in New Jersey

Requirement	Details
Training Hours	90 hours (50 classroom, 40 clinical)
Exam Components	Skills evaluation and written/oral exam
Passing Scores	Pass both exam components
Renewal Requirements	12 hours of in-service training annually, and 7 hours of CNA work during certification period
Reciprocity	Available for out-of-state CNAs

By following these steps, you’ll be well-prepared to

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
1,268	Absecon Manor Nursing Home: Rosenthal Leslie S MD		1020 Pitney Rd	Absecon	NJ	08201	CGV3+46 Absecon, New Jersey	(609) 646-5400	39.44	-74.50	39.4427948-74.4969334	Doctor	1	5.0	1	0	0	0	0	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	More details
1,269	Camden County Technical Schools - Pennsauken Campus	https://www.pennsauken.ccts.org/	6008 Browning Rd	Pennsauken Township	NJ	08109	WWQM+JQ Pennsauken Township, New Jersey	(856) 663-1040	39.94	-75.07	39.9391223-75.0655413	Technical school	53	4.4	39	7	1	1	5	8AM to 3PM	8AM to 3PM	8AM to 3PM	8AM to 3PM	8AM to 3PM	Closed	Closed	More details
1,270	Christian Health	https://www.christianhealthnj.org/	301 Sicomac Ave	Wyckoff	NJ	07481	XRMH+M9 Wyckoff, New Jersey	(201) 848-5200	40.98	-74.17	40.9842301-74.1715306	Mental health service	187	3.9	127	9	3	6	42	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	More details
1,271	Doctors Sub Acute Care	https://doctorssubacutecare.com/	59 Birch St	Paterson	NJ	07522	WR77+RW Paterson, New Jersey	(973) 942-8899	40.91	-74.19	40.914571-74.1851416	Nursing home	119	4.6	101	4	3	1	10	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	More details
1,272	Forest Manor Health Care Center	https://forestmanorhcc.com/	145 State Park Rd	Blairstown	NJ	07825	W3FF+3C Blairstown, New Jersey	(908) 459-4128	40.92	-74.93	40.9226853-74.9264488	Rehabilitation center	11	3.1	4	2	0	1	4	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	More details
1,273	Universal Training Institute	https://universaluti.com/	174 Jefferson St	Perth Amboy	NJ	08861	GP6J+33 Perth Amboy, New Jersey	(732) 826-0155	40.51	-74.27	40.5101995-74.2698571	Nursing school	81	4.2	60	4	3	1	13	8:30AM to 10PM	8:30AM to 10PM	8:30AM to 10PM	8:30AM to 10PM	8:30AM to 3PM	Closed	Closed	More details
1,274	Abigail House	https://abigailrehab.com/	1105 Linden St	Camden	NJ	08102	WVWQ+XW Camden, New Jersey	(856) 365-8500	39.95	-75.11	39.947448-75.1101981	Nursing home	93	4.1	64	7	6	1	15	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	8AM to 8PM	More details
1,275	Ace Healthcare Training Institute	https://www.acehti.com/	930 Stuyvesant Ave. Suite 8	Union	NJ	07083	MPWG+2X Union, New Jersey	(908) 851-2700	40.70	-74.27	40.695037-74.2725964	School	26	4.5	21	2	1	0	2	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	9AM to 5PM	More details
1,276	Arbor Glen Center	https://www.genesishcc.com/arborglen	25 E Lindsley Rd	Cedar Grove	NJ	07009	VQF6+RM Cedar Grove, New Jersey	(973) 256-7220	40.87	-74.24	40.8745959-74.238309	Nursing home	86	3.8	54	6	1	2	23	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	Open 24 hours	More details
1,277	Atlantic Cape Community College - Charles D. Worthington Atlantic City Campus	https://www.atlanticcape.edu/about/campus-locations/atlantic-city/index.php	1535 Bacharach Blvd	Atlantic City	NJ	08401	9H79+GC Atlantic City, New Jersey	(609) 343-4800	39.36	-74.43	39.3637795-74.4314477	Community college	27	4.3	21	1	1	1	3	9AM to 6PM	9AM to 6PM	9AM to 6PM	9AM to 6PM	Closed	Closed	Closed	More details