Idaho Nursing Assistant / Nurse Aide Guide
Is a License or Certification needed: To get certified and work as a nursing assistant or nurse aide in Idaho, you need to complete a nursing assistant program and pass a nursing assistant competency exam.
Who Grants Certification: The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has contracted with Prometric to administer state exams to nurse aides in Idaho. Once certified, Idaho nurse aides are listed on the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry. Prometric handles the listing to the registry as well.
The Qualifications to become Certified: There is more than one route to qualification for receiving a nurse aide license in Idaho. These include:
- You have successfully completed an Idaho state-approved training program
- You were previously certified in Idaho, your certification lapsed and you are retaking the test.
- As a challenger where certain qualifications are met, like prior nursing or military medic experience.
- You were trained or certified in another state.
How to Apply for Certification and to take the Exam: In order to apply for the nurses' aide registry in Idaho and apply to take the exam, review the forms on the Prometric website.
Test Content: The test has two parts, a skills evaluation and a written section. Both parts must be passed to be listed on the Oklahoma Nurse Aide Registry. The written section is 60 questions in length. You will have 90 minutes to complete the exam. Take these with you to the test:
- Your Social Security card
- Your driver’s license
The written exam questions are based on the New York state-approved test plan. You must score a 70% or higher to pass the written exam. Content topics include:
- Role of the Nurse Aide
- Promotion of Safety
- Promotion of Function and Health of Residents
- Basic Nursing Care Provided by the Nurse Aide
- Providing Specialized Care for Residents with Changes in Health
The skills evaluation will be a 31 to 40 minute time period given to complete 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills, depending on the skills assigned. A clinical skills checklist can be found here. You will need to practice these skills. They will not need to be absolutely perfect, but you will need to be deemed competent in these skills.
For the first three skills you will also be tested on the actual process of washing your hands with each skill and for your indirect care of the patient, meaning the parts of care associated with the patients:
- Infection Control
- Communication with the resident
- Rights and preferences
- And safety, comfort and needs
You may find further details in a candidate handbook.
Certification Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements: You must submit an application to renew your certification and registry. Use these instructions.
Contact
Bureau of Facility Standards
CNA Registry
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720
Phone: 208-334-6620
