Nebraska CNA Requirements 2026
To work as a certified nurse aide in Nebraska, you need to complete a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, pass written and clinical competency exams, and be listed on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) oversees the registry and sets all training and examination requirements.
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Nebraska nurse aides work under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Human Services. For most candidates, the path to certification follows three steps: complete an approved training program, pass both parts of the competency exam, and get added to the registry. There are also recognized alternative routes for nursing students, military health care personnel, foreign nurses, and RNs or LPNs with lapsed credentials.
Use the links below to jump to training requirements, exam details, the application process, and out-of-state options.
- Training Requirements
- Competency Exam
- Alternative Pathways to the Registry
- The Application Process
- Out-of-State CNAs
- Lapsed Nurse Aides
- Nursing Assistants in Intermediate Care
Training Requirements
Most candidates enter the registry by completing a state-approved nursing assistant program. Nebraska requires a minimum of 75 hours of training, combining classroom instruction with supervised clinical practice. DHHS maintains a list of approved programs, which includes options at community colleges, vocational schools, and health care facilities. Community college and vocational programs typically run four to twelve weeks, depending on format and schedule.
Basic eligibility requirements must be met before you can enroll or be listed on the registry. You must be at least 16 years old and have an acceptable legal background. Nebraska also requires CNAs to communicate in English unless they’re employed at a facility where another language is the dominant one used, in which case the facility’s primary language applies.
The one-hour abuse and neglect training is included in Nebraska-approved CNA programs. Candidates following alternative pathways, including out-of-state applicants, nursing students, foreign-trained nurses, and inactive nurses, may need to complete it separately.
Competency Exam
Prospective CNAs must pass a written evaluation and a clinical skills evaluation. New nursing aides take a test after completing their training programs. Candidates with lapsed or inactive registry status can also test to regain active standing.
How you register for the exam depends on how you were trained. Candidates who completed a community college program generally test through that institution. Those who completed a facility-based program register independently through one of two testing organizations:
- Nebraska Health Care Association (NEHCA): testing registration and upcoming test dates are available at nehca.org
- Providence Health Career Institute: call (402) 326-2792 to schedule testing
NEHCA requires registration at least seven business days before a test date. Applications can be submitted by mail, fax, or online. The course instructor provides eligibility documentation that’s used to confirm eligibility for testing.
At NEHCA, the written evaluation costs $20, and the clinical evaluation costs $32. Candidates who don’t pass can retake the exam up to two additional times. If a candidate hasn’t passed after three total attempts, they must complete a new training program before testing again. Skills test results are available immediately after the clinical exam. Written results take longer to receive.
Alternative Pathways to the Registry
Candidates with qualifying health care training may be eligible for registry placement without completing the standard 75-hour program. Nebraska recognizes several alternative backgrounds for this purpose.
Nursing students may qualify if they’ve earned grades of at least 70% in all required courses. They need to submit a signed transcript unless their nursing school automatically reports eligible students to the Department.
Military personnel with health care training may be eligible using their training record or DD214.
International nurses can qualify based on foreign nursing credentials. The required documentation is a copy of the graduate certification or license. If the document isn’t in English, a certified translation is required. International nurses who have passed the CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) exam or the Canadian Nurse Licensing exam may be exempt from the competency evaluation.
Lapsed or inactive RNs and LPNs may be excused from the written and clinical exams if they’ve performed nursing or related services within the prior 24 months. They need to include a copy of their license unless it was originally issued in Nebraska, in which case that documentation isn’t required. For a refresher on maintaining an active LPN status in Nebraska, see LPN license requirements in Nebraska.
All candidates pursuing alternative pathways must submit eligibility documentation along with a cover letter requesting registry placement. The cover letter should include birth date, Social Security number (or I-94 number), address, and phone number. Inactive nurses should also include the date of their last work.
CNAs who want to advance beyond aide-level certification can explore CNA to RN bridge programs as a pathway to registered nurse licensure.
The Application Process
Candidates who complete a standard state-approved training program and pass the competency evaluation don’t need to file a separate application for certification. DHHS receives a direct notification from the testing organization, and the candidate is added to the registry within 30 days of that notification.
Candidates seeking placement through an alternative pathway follow a different process. They submit their eligibility documentation to DHHS along with a cover letter requesting placement. See the Alternative Pathways section above for the specific documentation required for each background.
Out-of-State CNAs
Out-of-state CNAs can be placed on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry without additional training if they can document completion of the required 75 hours of training. The process uses an interstate endorsement form. CNAs who trained in Iowa must include copies of their training certificates. Nebraska won’t accept a certification card or exam results as a substitute. Iowa CNAs who no longer have their training certificate should contact the school or facility where they trained to obtain a copy.
Out-of-state CNAs who haven’t worked during the most recent 24-month period must take the Nebraska competency exam before being added to the registry. DHHS provides exam authorization in those cases.
All out-of-state CNAs must also complete the one-hour Nebraska abuse and neglect training. Some candidates can complete this through a prospective employer. Those who need an outside provider can complete it at any of the following institutions:
- Central Community College (Hastings)
- Clarkson College (Omaha)
- Providence Health Career Institute (Lincoln)
- Southeast Community College (Lincoln)
- Western Nebraska Community College (Scottsbluff)
Southeast Community College and Providence Health Career Institute offer the one-hour training online. Iowa CNAs who trained at Iowa Western Community College or Tri-State Nursing may have already completed equivalent abuse training, as those programs include the Nebraska curriculum.
Lapsed Nurse Aides
Nurse aides whose registry status has lapsed must complete a recompetency examination through an approved provider to regain active status. Eligibility requires that the candidate originally completed the full 75-hour program. Aides who were grandfathered onto the registry under earlier, lower-hour requirements are not eligible to retest under this pathway.
Nursing Assistants in Intermediate Care
Nursing assistants who work with individuals with developmental disabilities in intermediate care facilities follow a separate training pathway. ICF/IID nursing assistants complete specialized classroom instruction and abuse and neglect training established by DHHS, rather than the standard 75-hour program. For specifics, contact the DHHS registry at 402-471-4322.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a CNA in Nebraska?
Most state-approved CNA training programs in Nebraska run for 4 to 12 weeks. The length depends on whether you’re in a community college program or a facility-based one, and whether you’re attending full-time or part-time. After completing training, you’ll need to pass both the written and clinical competency exams before your name is added to the registry.
Do I need to apply to be listed on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry?
Not if you complete a standard state-approved training program and pass the competency exam. DHHS is notified by the testing organization and adds your name to the registry within 30 days. Candidates seeking placement through alternative pathways (military training, nursing school coursework, foreign nursing credentials) must submit documentation directly to DHHS, along with a cover letter requesting placement.
What happens if I fail the CNA competency exam in Nebraska?
You can retake the exam up to two additional times after an initial failure. If you haven’t passed after three total attempts, you’ll need to complete a new training program before you’re eligible to test again. Skills exam results are available immediately after the clinical evaluation. Written results take longer.
Can an out-of-state CNA work in Nebraska without retesting?
Yes, if you can document completion of at least 75 hours of training. You’ll submit an interstate endorsement form along with your training documentation. If you haven’t worked as a CNA in the past 24 months, you’ll need to pass the Nebraska competency exam before being added to the registry. You’ll also need to complete the one-hour Nebraska abuse and neglect training regardless of your out-of-state status.
Who oversees CNA certification in Nebraska?
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) maintains the Nurse Aide Registry and sets all training and examination requirements for CNAs in the state. You can reach the registry by phone at 402-471-4322.
Key Takeaways
- 75 hours of approved training required — Complete a DHHS-approved program combining classroom instruction and supervised clinical practice before you’re eligible to sit for the competency exam.
- Two-part exam to enter the registry — Pass both the written evaluation and the clinical skills evaluation. Three failed attempts require completing a new training program before retesting.
- Registry placement is automatic for most candidates — Those who complete the standard pathway don’t file a separate application. DHHS is notified and adds the candidate within 30 days of exam completion.
- Alternative pathways exist for qualified candidates — Nursing students, military personnel, foreign nurses, and lapsed RNs or LPNs may qualify for registry placement without completing the standard 75-hour training program.
- Out-of-state CNAs can transfer without retesting — Document your 75 training hours, complete the one-hour Nebraska abuse curriculum, and submit the interstate endorsement form to DHHS.
Select your state below to find approved CNA programs, application links, and certification requirements for your jurisdiction.