Be Acquainted With Maryland CNA Certification

With the health care industry showing no signs of slowing down, jobs such as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are more and more in demand in lots of states including Maryland, exactly where there's actually a shortage of nurses. A Certified Nursing Assistant routinely performs nursing duties for compensation.



This doesn't include a medical assistant or someone who provides assistance with everyday living activities. The CNA certification will be the basic level of nursing certification and it is needed before any other certification or specialization in nursing is granted.



Training



Candidates for the CNA certification in Maryland should complete a CNA training program authorized by the Maryland Board of Nursing. Program approval should happen prior to admitting students to a nursing program, and it is carried out together with the Maryland Higher Education Commission.



The Maryland Board of Nursing has a list of approved Nursing Assistant training programs accessible on its website.



Out of State Training



An applicant for CNA certification in Maryland who finished nursing training outside of the state should display the training he obtained is comparable to that required under Maryland laws.



The applicant must also display that his work and training background is free of any findings of patient abuse or neglect.



Required Certification



In accordance to the Maryland Board of Nursing, those that "routinely carry out nursing tasks delegated by a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse" are required to be certified by the Board. As of Oct 2006, student nurses operating as nursing assistants should acquire CNA certification.



Renewal



CNA certification is valid for 2 years. The cost of renewal is $40 (as of June 2010).



Additional Certifications



Along with the CNA certification, Maryland provides certifications in nursing specialties. These include Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA), Home Health Aide (HHA), Certified Medicine Aide (CMA) and Dialysis Technician. The needs for these specializations are available on the Maryland Board of Nursing, Nursing Assistant Certification website.