CNA Classes in Arizona (Top Schools)

You’ve probably heard a lot about Nursing, but always thought it hard.

And that, mostly because of the broad term of Medicine.

But medicine is there to do good only.

And so does learning.

And , especially nursing Assistant Training in Arizona.

With a bit of training, and you become the successful NA you might have only imagined of being.

Sounds good, right?

But to do so, you need to follow a certain steps that prepare you along.

So let’s go through them slowly…

Arizona’s Certified Nursing Assistants are certified by the Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN).

For a person to complete a training program, she has to respect two conditions:

First, she has to pass a knowledge and skills examination.

And secondly, to have a clear criminal background.

To be frank, the latter should not be surprising, since it is a must for applying in almost every job.

Training Requirements

Training usually means hard work.

But no work is so hard when you follow a plan and set the right goals.

If you are a potential CNA, you will have to either complete a program approved by the board, or apply for a waiver based on other healthcare training.

There are 120 hours or more training approved from the CAN programs to enroll.

These information can be found online along with the examination pass rate which the board publishes also.

As for the applicants who have followed the training program in other states, they have to give evident proof of their training hour number.

Completing a LPN or RN program is also certificate-qualifying.

Arizona Board Nursing (AZBN) usually accepts a nursing license issued by any state as an evidence that educational requirements have been met.

Alternate Healthcare Training/ Waivers

A possible alternate healthcare training can be a student who may apply for a nursing student waiver after:

He has first completed a nursing course that included instruction in long term care.

As well as 40 hours of actual patient care in a long term facility or other similar site.

The instructor has to sign the waiver form for him so that the student can make use of it.

In general, individuals can apply for military waivers as long as they have completed at least 100 hours of healthcare training during the most recent two years time.

Applicants can also receive waivers if they have also completed any foreign nursing programs.

Examination Requirements

An Arizona based CAN must take the Certified Nursing Assistant Examination.

This examination includes two elements in which the person is tested in: knowledge and the skills.

The knowledge test can be presented in audio and written formats.

The examination is administered by the Headmaster.

A candidate will need to be registered with AZBN; this is typically done by the nursing program.

Test takers who have not completed AZBN-approved nursing assistant programs, will need to provide evidence that they have been approved for waiver.

A person who has completed a nursing assistant training more than two years ago has to provide documentation of employment in order to be considered.

Some Arizona schools host examinations and schedule their own students.

In other cases, the test taker must submit a payment and scheduling form to the Headmaster.

Testing schedules and required forms are available on the “AZ CNA’ page of the Headmaster site.

Self-pay candidates pay $28 for a written knowledge test or $38 for an oral knowledge test.

The skill test is $85 for self-pay.

The application should be done in at least eight business days before a scheduled examination.

There is an additional $5 fee for faxed applications.

A candidate who passes ether the knowledge or skills test will need to retake only the failed test.

A candidate who fails the knowledge test three times, however, must wait 45 days.

Both portions are to be passed within two years of program completion.

Otherwise, it will be necessary to retrain (unless the candidate can document having worked as a nursing assistant for at least 160 hours during every two-year period since program completion).

Questions about the testing process can be directed to Headmaster at: (800) 393-8664 between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM Mountain Time.

Background Check Requirements

A fingerprint-based background check will always be required when applying for a CNA.

The applicant must use a fingerprint card that is pre-printed with AZBN information.

If the person submits an application without a completed fingerprint card, the Board will still provide a card.

The Board notes that it can take four weeks to receive results.

The Board will not accept a DPS clearance card.

He won’t fingerprints made for other agencies either.

An applicant who has had a felony conviction must be at least five years past “absolute discharge”.

Criminal history on the other hand, may significantly delay application processing time.

So, the candidates should be aware of that too.

The Application Process

Applying for CNA in Arizona can be done online.

So far, the application materials are available on the AZBN website.

Something to be noted is that application forms should be completed in black ink every time.

Applicants need to document citizenship or other lawful status as well.

The Board accepts copies of various documents including post-1996 Arizona driver’s licenses, Arizona ID cards, birth certificates, passports, and tribal certificates.

The only document it does not accept is social security cards.

Apart from that, a photograph also needs to be attached to the documents.

If the citizenship document does not include a photograph, the applicant should present an additional government document that does.

There is no mandatory application fee for candidates applying by examination.

However, applicants will need to pay $50 if they wish their certificate issued as a document.

(Otherwise, the status can still be verified online).

Applicants who wish to have their fingerprints processed before passing the examination have to pay an additional of $50.

Application packets may be mailed or hand delivered to the Board office in Phoenix.

Processing may take one to two months.

Out-of-State CNAs

A nursing assistant can be admitted even if she has an active registry in another state.

However, she must also meet Arizona training requirements.

A nursing assistant program approved by another U.S. state or territory can be accepted if it was at least 120 hours.

A program of 75 hours can be accepted if the applicant can also document at least 45 hours of work experience as a nursing assistant.

In addition, the applicant will need to meet one of the following requirements:

160 hours of work as a nursing assistant within the prior two years.

Completion of a nursing assistant program and required examination within the prior two years.

and:

the nursing assistant activities that are currently done, even if the job title is not ‘Certified Nursing Assistant’.

One can find a ‘Proof of Nurse Aide Registration’ form in the endorsement application packet.

This must be sent to the state of certification or registry, along with any fee required by the receiving agency.

Arizona charges an endorsement application fee of $50.

CNA-CMA Certification

After six months of full-time employment (or 960 hours) as a CNA, a nursing assistant may be eligible to train as a Certified Medication Assistant.

So, she is officially a CNA.

Yayy!

Additional Information

If you need to know more about the CNA in Arizona, that’s not impossible.

For instance, certification information can be found on the site of the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

CNA certification rules begin on page 63 of the 2019 Nurse Practice Act rules update.

An applicant may call (602) 771-7800 for assistance.

The Best CNA Schools in Arizona

There are 16 schools listed as the best of Arizona’s CNA schools.

There are both addresses and phone numbers provided.

As soon as you make up your mind, you can contact any of them.

And start your nursing career safely and successfully.

CNA Salaries in Arizona

The CNA Salaries in Arizona are shown in the list below.

They are divided in their minimum, average and the maximum.

The CNA Salaries in general differ from many factors such as: education, experience, skills as well as the location you’re in.

Considering these, you can make your choice as it fits you better.

Annual Salary Range:* Salary information last updated 2020

CNA Schools by City

• Glendale
• Mesa
• Phoenix
• Tucson