CNA Programs & Career Opportunities in Colorado

Before starting your training, it's important to understand exactly what Colorado requires to become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA). Meeting these requirements ensures you're eligible to take the state competency examination, receive certification from the Colorado State Board of Nursing, and work as a CNA in approved healthcare settings throughout the state.

Eligibility

• Program enrollment: The standard pathway requires completion of a Colorado State Board of Nursing-approved nurse aide training program. Approved programs are offered through community colleges, vocational schools, high schools, healthcare facilities, and other authorized training providers.
• Alternative pathways: Certain nursing students, graduates of practical or registered nursing programs, psychiatric technician students or graduates, military-trained healthcare personnel, internationally educated nurses, and nurse aides trained in another state may qualify to take the competency examination without completing a standard Colorado nurse aide program. Applicants must submit documentation showing that their education or training meets the applicable Board requirements.
• Application disclosures: Applicants must answer screening questions concerning criminal convictions, disciplinary actions, restrictions, and previous nurse aide certifications. A criminal history does not automatically disqualify an applicant; the Colorado State Board of Nursing reviews relevant circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

Training Hours & Clinicals

Colorado-approved nurse aide training programs must provide at least 75 hours of instruction. The curriculum combines classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and supervised clinical experience and covers communication, infection prevention and control, safety and emergency procedures, residents' rights, promoting residents' independence, basic nursing skills, personal care, restorative services, mental health and social service needs, and care of individuals with cognitive impairments.

The first 16 hours of the approved program are pre-clinical training and must be completed before a student has direct contact with a client. These hours cover required foundational subjects such as communication and interpersonal skills, infection control, safety and emergency procedures, promoting clients' independence, and respecting clients' rights. Students may perform only services for which they have received instruction and demonstrated proficiency, and they must be appropriately supervised during clinical training. Employer orientation and the state competency evaluation may not be counted toward the minimum 75 training hours.

Under federal rules, a Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing facility may employ an individual as a nurse aide for no more than four months unless the individual has completed the required training and competency evaluation and obtained certification. This temporary employment allowance does not apply to individuals who previously held a nurse aide certification that expired, was suspended or revoked, or was otherwise subject to a disqualifying action.

Competency Exam (Knowledge & Skills)

After completing an approved eligibility pathway, candidates must pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination administered by Credentia on behalf of the Colorado State Board of Nursing. The examination consists of two parts:

• Knowledge examination: A 70-question multiple-choice test covering the knowledge and duties expected of an entry-level nurse aide. Ten questions are unscored pretest items. Candidates have two hours to complete the examination. An oral examination is available in place of the written test and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions plus 10 reading-comprehension or word-recognition questions.
• Skills evaluation: Candidates must demonstrate five randomly selected nurse aide skills in a simulated care setting while being evaluated by a Nurse Evaluator. Candidates must correctly perform the required steps and critical elements for each assigned skill.

Candidates must pass both portions of the examination within 24 months of submitting their application to Credentia. Candidates generally have up to three attempts to pass each component. If either component is failed three times, the candidate must complete another state-approved nurse aide training program and then retake both the knowledge and skills examinations. Candidates applying through certain limited alternative eligibility routes may receive only one examination attempt before being required to retrain.

Certification & Working as a CNA

After you pass both portions of the NNAAP examination and satisfy the application requirements, Credentia reports your results to the Colorado State Board of Nursing through the CNA365 platform. Once the Colorado State Board of Nursing approves your certification, your certification status becomes active in the Colorado Nurse Aide Registry. Passing the examination alone does not authorize practice until the Board has issued the certification.

Once certified, you may work as a CNA in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living communities, home health agencies, hospices, and other healthcare settings. Employers should verify that your Colorado CNA certification is active and unrestricted before allowing you to practice. The Board may also record disciplinary actions and findings that affect an individual's eligibility to work as a nurse aide.

Renewal

Colorado CNA certification must be renewed every two years through the CNA365 platform managed by Credentia. To satisfy the continued-competency requirement, a CNA must have performed at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services as a Certified Nurse Aide during the certification period. Colorado does not currently require separate continuing-education hours for CNA renewal.

You may renew if your certification is active or has been expired for less than 90 days. If your certification has been expired for more than 90 days, you must apply for reinstatement through the Colorado State Board of Nursing rather than renewing. A CNA who cannot document the required paid employment may need to reinstate by examination or meet another continued-competency pathway approved by the Board.

Endorsement

Nurse aides who hold a current certification in another U.S. state or territory may apply for Colorado certification by endorsement through the CNA365 platform. Applicants must submit the online application, disclose any criminal or disciplinary history, and arrange for verification of their out-of-state certification. The Board reviews whether the applicant holds an equivalent credential in good standing and meets Colorado's requirements.

Applicants whose out-of-state certification is no longer active generally do not qualify through the standard endorsement pathway. Depending on their previous education and certification history, they may instead need to apply by examination, provide proof of completion of a state-approved nurse aide program, and pass both portions of the Colorado NNAAP examination.

Costs & Reimbursement

Training costs vary by program, and examination and certification fees are set by Credentia and the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations. Candidates must pay the applicable knowledge or oral examination fee, skills-evaluation fee, and any required state application fee. Current fees should be confirmed through Credentia and the Board's online application system before registering.

Under federal law, an individual who is employed by—or has received an offer of employment from—a Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing facility when beginning an approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program may not be charged for the training, textbooks, required course materials, or competency evaluation. An individual who pays these expenses and becomes employed by or receives an offer from a certified nursing facility within 12 months after completing the program may qualify for prorated reimbursement while employed as a nurse aide.

Sources: Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations – Nursing and Nurse Aide Certification, Colorado Board of Nursing – CNA Applications and Forms, Colorado Board of Nursing – Nursing Education Resources and Approved CNA Programs, Credentia – Colorado Nurse Aide Testing (CNA365), Credentia – Colorado NNAAP Candidate Handbook, 42 CFR 483.152 – Federal Training and Reimbursement Requirements, 42 CFR 483.154 – Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation