Challenging the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) examination in Florida provides an expedited pathway to certification. This route bypasses the mandatory 120-hour state-approved training program. It is intended for individuals who already possess significant patient care knowledge and clinical experience. Instead of completing the full curriculum, applicants demonstrate competency by successfully passing the state’s two-part CNA competency exam. This option is available only to candidates who meet specific prior training or professional experience requirements recognized as equivalent to the traditional course.
Eligibility Requirements for Challenging the Florida CNA Exam
Florida recognizes specific categories of individuals whose prior education or experience grants them a waiver from the standard training program. These applicants may apply under the examination challenge route. Applicants must provide verifiable documentation to prove this professional equivalency to the Florida Board of Nursing. Any person who is at least 18 years old and holds a high school diploma or its equivalent may also apply to challenge the examination.
Students Currently Enrolled in a Nursing Program
Individuals currently enrolled in an accredited registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) program may qualify to challenge the CNA exam. They must provide an official transcript from their educational institution. This transcript must show successful completion of coursework covering the fundamental nursing principles and clinical skills taught in a CNA program. The Board reviews this documentation to confirm the student’s education provides a sufficient foundation for the competency exam.
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Registered Nurses (RNs)
Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses hold professional credentials that automatically meet the equivalency criteria for the CNA training requirement. These applicants must submit proof of their active, unencumbered nursing license. While they are still required to pass the CNA competency examination, their current license serves as the necessary documentation to bypass the training program.
Military Personnel with Relevant Medical Training
Service members who have completed substantial medical training in the armed forces, such as medics or corpsmen, may be eligible to challenge the exam. The applicant must submit official evidence of their military training or experience. This documentation must demonstrate that the training is substantially equivalent to the required civilian CNA curriculum. The Florida Board of Nursing reviews these records to ensure the military education included the necessary patient care and clinical competencies.
Out-of-State CNAs or Nursing Assistants
A Certified Nursing Assistant who holds an active license in another state is eligible to obtain a Florida CNA certificate through the endorsement process. This process is considered a form of challenge. The applicant must be listed in good standing on their current state’s nurse aide registry. They must also confirm that they have no findings of patient abuse, neglect, or exploitation against them on any state registry.
The Administrative Application Process
Once eligibility is confirmed, the applicant must initiate the formal application process through the state’s Official Testing Vendor, Prometric. This involves creating an online account and selecting the “E3-Challenger” certification option. This designation signals that the applicant is applying based on their equivalency status, bypassing the standard training program.
The application requires the submission of all supporting documentation, such as official transcripts or current license verification. Applicants must pay the required examination fee, currently $155 for both the written and clinical skills portions. A mandatory Level II background screening is also required, necessitating an electronic fingerprinting appointment with an approved Livescan service provider. The application will not be approved for testing until the background check is successfully completed and the Florida Board of Nursing verifies all submitted documentation.
Preparing for the CNA Competency Exam
Since challengers bypass the structured 120-hour course, focused self-study is paramount for passing the two-part competency exam. Applicants should obtain and utilize the official Candidate Handbook provided by the testing vendor. This handbook details the current test plan and the specific clinical skills to be evaluated. The exam consists of a Written or Oral portion that tests knowledge of patient safety, the nurse aide’s role, and basic nursing care.
The Clinical Skills portion requires a hands-on performance of five randomly selected skills from a total list of 22 possible procedures. Challengers often find this section difficult because it requires precise, sequential execution of tasks. Practicing with the specific standards and critical steps outlined in the official handbook is the most direct way to prepare for the clinical evaluation.
Taking the Florida CNA Competency Exam
The Florida CNA competency exam is administered at approved regional test sites and consists of two sections that must both be passed to earn certification. The written component contains 60 multiple-choice questions, and applicants are allotted 90 minutes to complete it. Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 72% to pass the knowledge portion of the exam.
The clinical skills evaluation requires the applicant to perform five nursing tasks. One task is always handwashing, and another is indirect care, which assesses professionalism and patient rights. The remaining three skills are drawn randomly from the full list, and the applicant has between 31 and 40 minutes to complete them.
A major requirement for passing the clinical exam is correctly performing all “critical steps” within each skill. Failure to execute even one critical step results in a failure of the entire skills portion. Applicants who fail either the written or the skills portion are permitted up to three attempts to re-take the failed section before being required to complete a state-approved training program.
Finalizing Certification and Registry Listing
Upon successful completion of both the written and clinical skills portions, the testing vendor communicates the passing results to the Florida Board of Nursing. Exam results are typically available online within 48 hours of testing, but this does not immediately grant licensure.
The Board of Nursing reviews the background screening and exam results before officially listing the new CNA on the Florida Nurse Aide Registry. This process can take approximately three to five weeks after the Board receives all necessary documentation. A Certified Nursing Assistant is not legally permitted to work in the state until their status is officially listed as “Active” on the registry, which employers utilize to verify credentials.