A CNA in Maryland, as is with other states, routinely performs care giving tasks for compensation. Some of the tasks that a CNA performs include providing assistance with day-to-day activities in a clinic, hospital, or long-term health facility setting. CNA certification is the most basic level of licensure and is mandatory before any other specialization or certification in the field of nursing is granted to candidates.
Maryland CNA Certification Requirements
Certification for Certified Nursing Assistants in Maryland is just like in most other states. A candidate is expected to complete the minimum required hours of training. The program typically covers 8-13 weeks, providing a minimum of 75 hours in class work and a further 100 hours in hands-on experience in a clinical setting.
Be advised though that individual training institutions may have individual requirements, hence the training period may vary from one institution to another. Remember to ensure you enroll in a state-accredited and recognized training center, to avoid wasting your precious time and money. The benefits of training in a recognized and accredited institution is because you will be guaranteed of being entered in the Maryland CNA Registry, an opportunity which will give you the legal right to practice as a CNA across the State.
Upon the completion of the training program/ coursework, a candidate qualifies to apply for the state-approved competency examination. Before being allowed to sit for the competency examination, you will be required to submit your fingerprint cards, and pass a federal criminal background check. After that you will be expected to pass the examination in order to get your licensure to practice as a Certified Nursing Assistant in Maryland.
Training also gives you an opportunity, should you decide to move to a different state, to continue practicing in the state without having to go through the training process all over again. You can challenge the state to overlook the training and allow you to take the competency examination directly. By the same token, if you had completed training in a different state and are moving in to Maryland, you must show proof of CNA training that meets the required standards in Maryland, for you to be allowed to sit for the Maryland competency examination without having to repeat the training program.
Additional Maryland CNA Certification Prerequisites
- Two passport size photos
- Two fingerprint cards
- Negative TB test conducted within the past 6 months
- High school diploma or GED
- Proof of immunization
Additional Certifications
In addition to the basic CNA certification, the state further offers certification in various other nursing specialists; including:-
- Home Health Aide (HHA)
- Dialysis Technician
- Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA)
- Certified Medicine Aide (CMA)
List of some CNA Classes in Maryland State:
Wor-Wic Community College
32000 Campus Drive, Salisbury, MD 21804
Genesis Eldercare
200 Civic Ave., Salisbury, Maryland 21802
Shore Up CNA Training Program
520 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21803
Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, Maryland 21044
Carroll Community College
1601 Washington Road, Westminster, Maryland 21157
Cecil Community College
One Seahawk Drive, North East, MD 21901
American Red Cross
4700 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore MD 21215
Baltimore City Community College
710 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Sojourner-Douglass College
200 North Central Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Johns Hopkins Bayview Geriatric Center
5500 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD 21224