West Virginia Division of Health Office of Health Facilities Licensure & Certification
1 Davis Square, Suite 101,
Charleston, WV 25301-1799
Phone: (304) 558-0688
Fax: (304) 558-1442
Program approval and credentialing of nursing assistants in the state of West Virginia is under the jurisdiction of OHFLAC (West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources-Office of Health Facility Licensure & Certification). The NNAAP exam is administered by Professional Healthcare Development (PHD) under a contract of OHFLAC.
Initial Nursing Assistant Certification in West Virginia
Individuals who seek to work as nursing assistants in the State of West Virginia must have their names added to the West Virginia CNA Registry. First, they must complete a state-approved NATCEP or Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP). In West Virginia, NATCEPs consist of at least 120 hours of classes that include 70 hours of classroom experience and 55 hours of clinical practice.
Next, candidates who have successfully graduated such a NATCEP must take and pass a two-part NNAAP exam administered by Professional Healthcare Development (PHD). Finally, PHD will send to the registry the names of successful candidates whose name will be added to the Registry.
Other Certification Routes
- Completing the competency exam only for out of state trained nurse assistants or licensed nurses.
- Completing the competency exam by challenging the program as RN or LPN nursing students.
- Becoming certified by reciprocity as an out of state Certified Nurse Aide or Certified Nursing Assistant.
Certification Renewal for West Virginia Nursing Assistants
In West Virginia, the certification period for nursing assistants is 24 months. Certification renewal is awarded if the certificate holder has performed a minimum of 8 hours of nursing-related services for monetary compensation during the preceding certification period. Verification of employed is required.
Certification Renewal Application
Lapsed Nursing Assistant Certificates
- CNAs who fail to renew because of their inability to report the required minimum work hours must take a 16-hour refresher course and retest in order to reactivate their certificate.
- CNAs whose certificates have lapsed for less than 5 years but have worked the minimum required hours, have completed a state-approved program, and passed the CNA state are required to complete a 16-hour refresher course and retake the exam to reregister.
- CNAs who fail to report the required minimum work hours between two to four years since their certification are required to complete a 16-hour refresher course and retake the exam within6 months of completing the course in order to reactivate their certificate.
- CNAs who fail to report the required minimum work hours for more than 5 years since their last certification are required to retrain and retest to reactivate their certificate.
Certification by Reciprocity
The CNA registry in West Virginia offers certification by reciprocity for nursing assistants certified in another state. To qualify for reciprocity, candidates are required to have an active and in good standing certificate in the state of certification. OHFLAC will place their name on the registry once their request is approved.