How to Become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) in Colorado

Who can apply

• New candidates must complete a Board-approved nurse aide training program.
• Other routes: at least 5 semester credits of nursing fundamentals in a PN, RN or psychiatric technician program; an active or expired RN, LPN or LPT license; nursing education outside the U.S.; or nurse aide training approved in another state.
• You must pass both the written (or oral) and skills exams within two years after Credentia receives your application.

Step by step

1. Complete a Board-approved nurse aide training program (at least 75 hours).
2. Create a Credentia Platform account and submit the Application for Registration by Competency Examination with your eligibility route and documents.
3. Once approved, schedule and pay for the skills evaluation and written (or oral) exam.
4. Pass both parts within three attempts and within two years of your application. Credentia sends your results to the Board, which issues your certificate and lists you on the Colorado Nurse Aide Registry.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Board rule 1.11 requires at least 75 hours of instruction, including at least 16 hours of classroom instruction and at least 16 hours of clinical instruction under direct RN or LPN supervision. The first 16 hours are pre-clinical, before any client contact. This matches the 75-hour federal minimum.

Exam: Credentia gives the NNAAP exam: a written test (or an English or Spanish oral version) and a skills evaluation of 5 skills. Fees: written + skills $145, oral + skills $145, written only $50, oral only $50, skills only $95. You get three attempts; failing any part three times means you must complete another training program before you can apply again. Candidates on the nursing-student (E3) and licensed-nurse (E4) routes get only one attempt. Both parts must be passed within 24 months after Credentia receives your application.

What it costs in Colorado

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

How long it takes

Credentia says that after you pass both parts your name is forwarded to the Board, and you should contact the Board if your certification is not issued within 15 days.

Staying on the registry

Renewal: Renew before your certificate expires (renewal applications after the expiration date but within the 60-day grace period may owe a late fee). You must attest that you were paid for at least 8 hours of nursing care activities in the 24 months before renewal; if not, you must show you passed the competency evaluation in the past 24 months. A certificate expired less than two years can be reinstated by application and fee; after two years you must retake and pass both exams.

Online options: Credentia offers written or oral exams online (reserve at least 24 hours ahead); the skills evaluation is at a test site.

Good to know in Colorado

Transferring from another state: You can get certified by endorsement if you are currently certified in good standing in another state or U.S. territory and either have substantially equivalent education or have held the certificate for at least one year. Apply online with DPO.

Working before certification: Credentia says you may not work as a CNA until certified, except that a first-time nurse aide employed directly by a skilled nursing or managed care facility may work up to four months while completing certification.

Military spouses: The spouse of an active-duty service member stationed in Colorado is entitled to a temporary license under C.R.S. 12-20-202.

Written-only and reinstatement routes: Credentia route E12 is for new nurse aides who graduated from a facility training program that builds skills testing into the training; they take only the written exam (ask the Colorado Board of Nursing which programs qualify). Route E11 is for reinstating by examination if you have not worked at least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide in the past 24 months or want to reinstate a lapsed certificate.

No continuing education: The Board of Nursing says continuing education hours are not currently required to renew a nurse aide certification in Colorado.

Sources

• 3 CCR 716-1.10 - Rules for Certification as a Nurse Aide (Cornell LII)
• 3 CCR 716-1.11 - Rules for Approval of Nurse Aide Training Programs (Cornell LII)
• C.R.S. 12-255-202 - Application for certification - fee
• Credentia Colorado handbook - Exam Fees
• Credentia Colorado handbook - Eligibility Criteria
• Credentia Colorado handbook - Application and Scheduling
• Credentia Colorado handbook - Exam Results
• Credentia Colorado handbook - FAQ
• Credentia Colorado handbook - Quick Reference
• Colorado DPO Nursing - Applications (Certified Nurse Aide)
• Colorado DPO - Nursing FAQ