CNA Classes & Programs in Lewiston, Idaho

To work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Lewiston, you must meet the statewide CNA requirements set by Idaho. These include completing an Idaho Department of Health and Welfare-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP), passing a manual skills evaluation and a Prometric knowledge examination, and being placed on the Idaho Certified Nurse Aide Registry.

• At least 120 total hours of training (at least 80 classroom and laboratory hours, including 40 lab hours, plus at least 32 supervised clinical hours), with at least 16 clinical hours in a nursing home where an RN is on duty
• Completion of 16 hours of introductory instruction before any direct resident contact
• Any criminal background checks, tuberculosis screening, or immunizations required by the training program or employer. Some Idaho programs accept students from age 16
• Passing both the Prometric knowledge examination (60 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes) and the manual skills evaluation (100% of critical steps and 80% of noncritical steps), with the skills evaluation passed before the knowledge exam
• Meeting the testing deadlines: the skills evaluation within six months and the knowledge exam within one year of completing training, with up to three attempts each
• Placement on the Idaho Certified Nurse Aide Registry, administered by the Department of Health and Welfare

Once certified, you may work in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, home care agencies, and other healthcare settings throughout Lewiston and across Idaho. Idaho CNA certification is renewed every two years, and to renew you must have completed at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related work during the preceding 24 months. Idaho calculates the renewed expiration date as 24 months from your last qualifying work date, rather than simply two years from the prior expiration. Idaho charges no state fee for certification or renewal. Prometric charges $34 for the knowledge exam (written or oral) plus any testing-site fees, and a $15 fee applies to replacement certificates.

Already certified in another state? Idaho offers certification by reciprocity for nursing assistants who hold a current, active certification in good standing in another state. Idaho has an important restriction: reciprocity is granted only if you currently reside in Idaho or have received an offer of employment in Idaho. Approved applicants are placed on the Idaho registry without repeating the 120-hour training program or retaking the competency examinations. Learn more in our CNA License Reciprocity in Idaho guide.

For complete details on training, testing, certification, and renewal, see our full CNA License & Registration in Idaho guide.