CNA Classes in North Dakota (Top Schools)

In North Dakota, the Department of Health (NDDH) holds jurisdiction over the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).

Typically, you can become a CNA if you successfully meet the following:

• Complete a state-approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program (NATCEP)
• Pass the Nurse Aide Competency Exam (ND-NACE)

But a challenger can receive CNA certification even without or incomplete training by passing ND-NACE.

Once you do, you’ll be added to the state’s CNA Registry.

Taking on a CNA Training Program in North Dakota

If you want to be a CNA, you first have to enroll in a state-approved NATCEP.

The training will take a minimum of 75 hours to complete, comprising of the following:

• 16 hours of classroom instruction
• 59 hours of clinical training at a nursing facility, with 16 hours of supervised practical training

Some CNA candidates can receive training while being employed at nursing facilities.

But before they can begin contact with residents, they must complete 16 hours of training in these areas:

• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Infection control
• Promoting residents’ independence
• Respecting residents’ rights
• Safety and emergency procedures, including the Heimlich maneuver

Currently, the NDDH has approved 57 CNA training facilities.

The table below lists some of these training facilities.

For a more updated list, you can visit NDDH’s website.

Evaluating a CNA Candidate

There are two types of CNA candidates who can take the competency exam.

• Individuals who completed NATCEP in the last six months
• Challengers who had no or incomplete training in the last six months

Both will take the two test components of ND-NACE, which are:

• Knowledge test (written or oral)
• Manual skill test

These tests will assess your knowledge and skills in providing safe patient care in nursing facilities.

Here are the details for each test component:

Knowledge Test

• Consists of 72 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 90 minutes
• Subject areas for the test include:
  • Basic nursing skills
  • Care impaired
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Data collection
  • Disease process
  • Growth and development across the ages
  • Infection control
  • Mental health
  • Personal care
  • Resident rights
  • Role and responsibility
  • Safety
• Can be a paper-based test or an electronic-based test
• Can be a written test or an oral test and is available only in English
• In an oral test, the use of a translation dictionary is prohibited
• Passing rate is 75%

Manual Skill Test

• Show competency in performing three to four nurse aide skill tasks
• Perform a mandatory task as your first task, which is any of the following:
  • Bedpan and output with hand washing
  • Donning an isolation gown and gloves then emptying a urinary drainage bag with hand washing
  • Perineal care of a female with hand washing
• Complete all skill tasks within 30 minutes
• Repeating or correcting the steps is allowed within the allotted time
• Passing rate is 80% on each task, with all key steps accounted for

Exam Results

You can receive your test results on the day these are scored, which can take a few days.

On that day…

• You can view the results online at https://www.dandsdiversifiedtech.com/ND/NDCNA_LoginResults.html.
• You will receive an email from D&SDT-Headmaster containing your results
• D&SDT-Headmaster will forward your results to NDDH

If you pass, you will be given a CNA certificate and be added to the CNA Registry.

But if you don’t, you must apply for a retest to retake the failed test component.

Note that you only have three attempts on each test component to pass them within six months of testing eligibility.

Otherwise, you’ll have to undergo NATCEP training and exam again.

Exam Fees

To be able to take the ND-NACE, you will pay D&SDT-Headmaster the following fees:

• Written knowledge test – $30
• Oral knowledge test – $40
• Skills test – $65
• Reschedule – $15
• Cancellation – $15
• Test review – $25
• No show – full exam fee, no refund

Should you retake any of the two tests, you will pay the same exam fee.

Potential Salary

In North Dakota, a CNA can expect to receive an average salary of around $29,000 in a year.

If you want the salary to increase, you must invest in your skills and continuing education and gain more experience.

In the table below, you’ll find the salary information in different cities across the state.