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Apply for Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certification

Which Application Do You Need?

There are several ways to qualify for CNA certification.  Please start by choosing an answer below (see the applications for specific requirements).  Learn more about the application process here.

Please Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the state's fingerprint vendor, Fieldprint, is still performing applicant fingerprints via Livescan at its locations nationwide.  Please visit the Fieldprint website after you apply for licensure and receive the email from OSBN containing your code.  The website is https://fieldprintoregon.com.  If you cannot locate a Fieldprint location accepting appointments within 75 miles of you, please contact oregon.bn.info@osbn.oregon.gov for further direction. 

 

​If you are an Oregon RN or LPN, you are eligible to apply for an Oregon CNA or CMA certificate​.

What Happens Next:
After you submit your application and payment, you will receive an email from the OSBN with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: Frequently Asked Questions about fingerprinting.
 
Helpful Links:

 

​You may apply for the CNA 1 exam and Oregon certification online​ if you:

  1. Have never been a CNA in a US state or jurisdiction, and
  2. Completed an OSBN-approved nursing assistant level-1 training program in Oregon within the last year.

What happens next:  After you submit your application and payment, you will receive:
  1. An email from the OSBN with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: email from the OSBN with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: Frequently Asked Questions about fingerprinting.
  2. An email from Headmaster Testing Service with instructions on how to schedule your exam date.  Headmaster will send this email after the OSBN reviews your application and releases you to test.  Once you choose a date, Headmaster will send you a confirmation email.
Note for Applicants:
  • Headmaster Testing Service provides Oregon’s CNA testing.  All applicants should review the Candidate Handbook for Oregon before submitting their application.
  • Exam results are available on Headmaster’s website 3-5 business days after the exam date. 
  • If you pass, and you have met all other requirements for certification, the OSBN will issue you an Oregon CNA certificate.  If you do not pass, your results online will indicate which skills or areas need improvement, and instructions on how to schedule another exam. 
  • Temporary nurse aide training or temporary personal care assistant training do not qualify for CNA certification in Oregon.  To qualify for Oregon CNA, applicants need to complete an OSBN-approved nursing assistant education program.​
CNA Exam Fees and Refund Policy
  • CNA Certification by Examination:  $106.
  • Manual skills exam retest: $45.
  • Written exam retest: $25.
  • Oral exam: $35
  • You may pay by credit card only.  Fees submitted as part of the application process are not refundable, per ORS 678.410(2).  Be certain that you intend to complete the process before submitting your payment.  If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, or there is an error in your payment, please e-mail the OSBN office at  oregon.bn.info@osbn.oregon.gov.
Helpful Links
​If you are a current student in a RN or PN program, you are eligible to apply for an Oregon CNA certificate if you have completed equivalent CNA coursework.  Speak with the Dean or Director of your nursing program to determine if you have completed coursework equivalent to the Board-approved CNA training program curriculum.  As of 8/1/19, student nurse applicants must pass the Oregon CNA competency exam to become certified as a CNA.

What happens next:  After you submit your application and payment:
  1. You will receive an email from the OSBN with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: Frequently Asked Questions about fingerprinting.
  2. Contact your nursing program and request a validation letter to verify proof of program enrollment and completion of equivalent coursework. The letter must come directly from the nursing program and be sent to osbn.cnacertificates@osbn.oregon.gov.
  3. After the OSBN has verified your education, you will receive an email from Headmaster Testing Service with instructions on how to schedule your exam date.  Once you select a date, Headmaster will send you a confirmation email.
Note for Applicants:
  • Headmaster Testing Service provides Oregon’s CNA testing.  All applicants should review the Candidate Handbook for Oregon before submitting their application.
  • Exam results are available on Headmaster’s website 3-5 business days after the exam date. 
  • If you pass, and you have met all other requirements for certification, the OSBN will issue you an Oregon CNA certificate.  If you do not pass, your results online will indicate which skills or areas need improvement, and instructions on how to schedule another exam. 
CNA Exam Fees and Refund Policy
  • CNA Certification by Examination:  $106.
  • Manual skills exam retest: $45.
  • Written exam retest: $25.
  • Oral exam: $35
  • You may pay by credit card only.  Fees submitted as part of the application process are not refundable, per ORS 678.410(2).  Be certain that you intend to complete the process before submitting your payment.  If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, or there is an error in your payment, please e-mail the OSBN office at oregon.bn.info@osbn.oregon.gov.
Helpful Links:

​If you are a RN or LPN in any US state or jurisdiction, you are eligible to apply for an Oregon CNA certificate.

What happens next:  After you submit your application and payment, you will receive:
  1. An email from the OSBN requesting primary-source verification from the state in which you currently hold unencumbered non-Oregon RN/LPN licensure.
  2. A second email from the OSBN with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: Frequently Asked Questions about fingerprinting.
Helpful Links:

​You are eligible to apply for an Oregon CNA certification by endorsement if you:

  • Have never been certified as a CNA in Oregon; and
  • You completed an approved nurse aide training program in another or jurisdiction that met federal OBRA standards; and
  • Hold a current, unencumbered CNA certificate in another state or US jurisdiction; and
  • Have at least 400 hours of paid work history doing CNA authorized duties (if it has been more than two years since you completed your training program).
What happens next:  After you submit your application and payment, you will receive:
  1. An email from the OSBN requesting a copy of your training program certificate, as well as primary-source verification from the state in which you are certified currently as a CNA or as an unencumbered non-Oregon RN/LPN licensure.
  2. A second email from the OSBN with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: email from the OSBN with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: Frequently Asked Questions about fingerprinting.
Please Note:  Temporary nurse aide training or temporary personal care assistant training do not qualify for CNA certification in Oregon.  To qualify for Oregon CNA, applicants need to complete an OSBN-approved nursing assistant education program.

Helpful Links:

​If you have never been a CNA in a US state or jurisdiction and completed your training outside Oregon, you may apply for the CNA 1 exam and Oregon certification if you meet one of the following conditions:​

  • You completed an approved nurse aide training program that met federal OBRA standards in another state within the last year.
  • You completed training as a military corpsman or medic and were active military service within two years prior to application.​
​​​What happens next:  After you submit your application and payment, you will receive:
  1. An email from the OSBN requesting a copy of your training program certificate of completion (if you completed a non-Oregon based training program).
  2. A second email from the OSBN with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: email from the OSBN with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: Frequently Asked Questions about fingerprinting.
  3. An email from Headmaster Testing Service with instructions on how to schedule your exam date.  Headmaster will send this email after the OSBN reviews your application and releases you to test.  Once you choose a date, Headmaster will send you a confirmation email.
Note for Applicants:
  • Headmaster Testing Service provides Oregon’s CNA testing.  All applicants should review the Candidate Handbook for Oregon before submitting their application.
  • Exam results are available on Headmaster’s website 3-5 business days after the exam date. 
  • If you pass, and you have met all other requirements for certification, the OSBN will issue you an Oregon CNA certificate.  If you do not pass, your results online will indicate which skills or areas need improvement, and instructions on how to schedule another exam. 
  • Temporary nurse aide training or temporary personal care assistant training do not qualify for CNA certification in Oregon.  To qualify for Oregon CNA, applicants need to complete an OSBN-approved nursing assistant education program.​
CNA Exam Fees and Refund Policy
  • CNA Certification by Examination:  $106.
  • Manual skills exam retest: $45.
  • Written exam retest: $25.
  • Oral exam: $35
  • Only credit card payments accepted.  Fees submitted as part of the application process are not refundable, per ORS 678.410(2).  Be certain that you intend to complete the process before submitting your payment.  If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, or there is an error in your payment, please e-mail the OSBN office at oregon.bn.info@osbn.oregon.gov.
Helpful Links