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).

You Have Never Been a CNA in a US State or Jurisdiction: Oregon-Trained Applicants

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

Have never been a CNA in a US state or jurisdiction, and
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:

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.
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:

Please review a brief presentation on how to complete the application.
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 or check. 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 call our Customer Service Center at 971-673-0685 or e-mail oregon.bn.info@state.or.us.

Helpful Links

Video on how to complete the application.
Headmaster Testing Service
Exam Accommodations Form
Check your OSBN application status. Our Application Status Wizard will show you the progress of your application as it moves through our certification process.

You Have Been a CNA in Another US State or Jurisdiction

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:

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.
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.

Helpful Links:

View our video tutorial on how to complete the online application.
Directory of Nurse Aide Registries for Verification purposes.
Check your OSBN application status. Our Application Status Wizard will show you the progress of your application as it moves through our certification process.

You Are an Oregon RN or LPN

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:

Check your OSBN application status. Our Application Status Wizard will show you the progress of your application as it moves through our certification process.

You Are a Current Student in a RN or PN Program

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.

What happens next: After you submit your application and payment, you will receive:

An email from the OSBN requesting a copy of your official transcripts from your nursing school showing qualifying curriculum.
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.
If your nursing program curriculum has not yet been evaluated by the OSBN, you may received a request for more information.

Helpful Links:

Check your OSBN application status. Our Application Status Wizard will show you the progress of your application as it moves through our certification process.

You Are a RN or LPN in Another US State or Jurisdiction

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:

An email from the OSBN requesting primary-source verification from the state in which you currently hold unencumbered non-Oregon RN/LPN licensure.
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:

Check your OSBN application status. Our Application Status Wizard will show you the progress of your application as it moves through our certification process.

You Have Never Been a CNA in a US State or Jurisdiction: Applicants Trained Outside Oregon

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 (Call 971-673-0685 for an application.) 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:

An email from the OSBN requesting a copy of your training program certificate of completion (if you completed a non-Oregon based training program).
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.
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.

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 or check. 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 call our Customer Service Center at 971-673-0685 or e-mail oregon.bn.info@state.or.us.

Helpful Links

Headmaster Testing Service
Exam Accommodations Form
Check your OSBN application status. Our Application Status Wizard will show you the progress of your application as it moves through our certification process.