Certified Nurse Aide Requirements in New Jersey
New Jersey certifies nurse aides through the Department of Health. Candidates must complete a state-approved 90-hour NATCEP training program, pass a two-part competency exam administered by PSI, and clear a criminal background check. Certification is issued once all three requirements are met and is valid for two years.
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New Jersey nurse aides fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health. The certification process has three components: completing an approved training program, passing a skills and knowledge exam, and clearing a criminal background check. PSI handles exam administration and some application services on behalf of the Department.
Use the links below to jump to training requirements, exam details, application steps, and renewal information.
- Eligibility to enroll in a CNA program
- CNA training in New Jersey
- Examination requirements
- Criminal background checks
- The application process
- Out-of-state CNAs
- Renewal requirements
- Fees
Eligibility to Enroll
Before enrolling in a New Jersey NATCEP, candidates must meet basic prerequisites. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and provide evidence of good moral character in compliance with the state’s Criminal Background Investigation Program. The Department of Health maintains a list of approved programs organized by county, available on its website. Candidates weighing their options can also review how to become an RN in New Jersey for context on the full licensing pathway.
Several alternative pathways exist for candidates with prior healthcare training. Student nurses, graduate nurses, and foreign nurses licensed at the RN level in their home country may qualify if they can provide evidence of completing a course in the fundamentals of nursing within the 12 months immediately preceding their application to take the competency examination.
The same 12-month rule applies to individuals with military nurse aide training, homemaker-home health aide training, or unlicensed assistive personnel experience who can document completion of the required nursing fundamentals coursework. Home Health Aides must show they have completed the long-term care module of the core curriculum for unlicensed assistive personnel approved by the Department.
CNA Training in New Jersey
New Jersey-approved programs are called NATCEPs, short for Nurse Aide in Long Term Care Facilities Training and Competency Evaluation Programs. Every approved program is 90 hours: 50 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of clinical experience in a New Jersey licensed long-term care facility. Most programs can be completed in four to six weeks.
Nursing homes may also offer NATCEP training, though these programs don’t always appear on the published approved list. Individuals who are unsure about a program’s current approval status can email the Department at [email protected] with the word NATCEP in the subject line. The Department revises the approved program list periodically.
CNAs who want to advance their careers can explore CNA to RN programs, which allow nursing assistants to apply their experience toward an RN credential.
Examination Requirements
The competency evaluation has two parts: a clinical skills test and a written or oral knowledge test. Candidates must pass the skills test before taking the knowledge test. Program instructors typically schedule candidates for the skills evaluation.
The skills test covers hand washing and four randomly selected skills. Examples include caring for dentures, taking a radial pulse, and performing a range of motion on a patient’s shoulder. After passing the skills test, candidates contact PSI to schedule the written or oral knowledge exam.
The oral exam is available in English and Spanish. Scheduling can be done through PSI’s website or by calling PSI at (800) 733-9267. Written exams are administered at six locations across New Jersey. Candidates may schedule as little as a day in advance if space is available, though it’s worth having several date options ready since spots can fill.
Candidates have two years from training completion and one year from their first attempt to pass both evaluations. Failing to complete both within that window requires retraining. Neither test can be attempted more than three times without retraining. Candidates who received waivers and fail either evaluation must enroll in an approved program rather than simply retaking the test.
Candidate information bulletins are available on the PSI website and cover exam content, eligibility routes, test day policies, and rescheduling procedures. PSI can be reached by email at [email protected].
Criminal Background Checks
All New Jersey applicants must complete a criminal background check. The process depends on how the candidate is applying. Students who complete approved NATCEP programs receive background check materials from their instructors. Candidates applying through alternative pathways receive materials from the Department of Health directly.
Background check processing can take up to 12 weeks. Under federal rules, Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities may employ a candidate for up to 120 days while training and testing requirements are being completed. Candidates should confirm provisional work arrangements with their employer.
Candidates who answer “yes” to screening questions must submit a reference letter from a nursing aide instructor or a long-term employer. The Department also requires a letter from a parole or probation officer, if applicable, and a written statement detailing any criminal conviction.
The Application Process
Candidates applying based on alternative healthcare training must first apply to the Department of Health for a waiver before requesting examination permission. Waiver application materials are available on the NJ Department of Health nurse aide certification page. All other candidates request application materials directly from PSI.
The certificate is issued once all requirements are met. A candidate who has already cleared the background check may receive the certificate at the testing site. If the background check results are still pending, the certificate is mailed after they are received.
The New Jersey Department of Health can be reached by phone at (866) 561-5914 or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Out-of-State CNAs
Out-of-state CNAs with a current, valid certificate and no abuse, neglect, or misappropriation findings on their home state registry can apply for reciprocity to be placed on the New Jersey Nurse Aide Registry. Two routes are available.
Route 1 applies to candidates with continuing education. Within the prior 24 months, the applicant must have completed 24 hours of approved continuing education units. This must include 12 hours in care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related disorders, plus 12 hours covering infection control, emergency procedures, abuse and neglect, resident rights, and pharmacy.
Route 2 applies to candidates with recent full-time employment. The applicant must have worked at least 24 months full-time (35 or more hours per week) as a CNA in a nursing home, with the most recent employment falling within the 24 months preceding the application date. Route 2 applicants must also pass both the New Jersey clinical skills exam and the written or oral knowledge exam.
To apply for reciprocity, call the NJ Nurse Aide Registry at (877) 774-4243.
Renewal Requirements
CNA certification in New Jersey must be renewed every two years. To recertify, a nurse aide must have performed at least seven hours of paid employment providing nursing or nursing-related services in a licensed healthcare facility or agency within the 24 months preceding the certificate expiration date. The renewal process also requires a criminal background check with fingerprinting, completed before the certification expires.
The 12-hours-per-year in-service education requirement is a federal standard that employers at Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities are responsible for providing and documenting. It is an employer obligation, not a condition of state registry renewal, but CNAs working in those settings are expected to complete it.
CNAs whose certification has lapsed must pass both the skills evaluation and the knowledge test to return to active status if the certificate expired less than five years ago. If the certification has expired for more than five years, retraining in an approved NATCEP program is required before testing again. Checking renewal deadlines well in advance avoids gaps in certification. CNAs looking to advance can review LPN requirements in New Jersey as a next step.
Fees
Initial registration covers both parts of the exam. The combined fee is $76 for the skills evaluation plus written knowledge test, or $90 for the skills evaluation plus oral knowledge test. If a candidate needs to retake individual components, the skills evaluation retake is $23, the written exam retake is $53, and the oral exam retake is $67.
Under federal law, Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing facilities must cover exam fees for candidates who are employed or have a job offer at the time of testing. Verify current fee amounts with PSI at the time of registration, as fees are subject to change.
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 New Jersey?
Most candidates complete the process in two to three months. NATCEP programs run four to six weeks and cover 90 hours of classroom and clinical training. Background check processing can add up to 12 weeks in some cases, though candidates who clear the initial screening questions can work in long-term care for up to 120 days while the check is pending.
Can I take the New Jersey CNA exam in Spanish?
Yes. PSI offers the oral knowledge exam in both English and Spanish. The written exam is available in English only. Candidates who prefer the oral format can schedule it through PSI’s website or by calling (800) 733-9267.
How do I transfer my out-of-state CNA certification to New Jersey?
Out-of-state CNAs apply for reciprocity by calling the NJ Nurse Aide Registry at (877) 774-4243. Two routes are available. Route 1 requires 24 hours of approved continuing education completed within the prior 24 months. Route 2 requires 24 months of full-time nursing home employment within the last 24 months, plus passing both NJ exams. You must hold a current, valid certificate and have no adverse findings on your home state registry.
How long is a New Jersey CNA certification valid?
New Jersey CNA certification must be renewed every two years. To renew, you must have performed at least seven hours of paid employment as a nursing assistant in a licensed healthcare facility within the 24 months before your certificate expires. A criminal background check with fingerprinting is also required before the expiration date. CNAs who miss the renewal window may need to retest or retrain, depending on how long the certificate has been lapsed.
What happens if I fail the New Jersey CNA exam?
Each part of the exam, the skills test and the knowledge test, can be attempted up to three times without retraining. If you don’t pass both evaluations within one year of your first attempt, or within two years of completing your training program, you’ll need to complete a new training program before testing again.
Key Takeaways
- Three requirements for certification — New Jersey CNAs must complete an approved 90-hour NATCEP, pass a two-part competency exam administered by PSI, and clear a criminal background check.
- PSI administers the exam — The skills evaluation comes first, followed by a written or oral knowledge test. The oral exam is available in English and Spanish. Candidates have up to three attempts at each part before retraining is required.
- Background checks take time — Processing can take up to 12 weeks, but candidates who clear the initial screening questions can work in long-term care for up to 120 days while the check is pending.
- Out-of-state CNAs have two reciprocity routes — Route 1 requires 24 hours of approved CEUs in the prior 24 months. Route 2 requires 24 months of full-time nursing home employment plus passing both NJ exams. A current certificate and clean registry record are required for either route.
- Certification renews every two years — Renewal requires at least seven hours of paid nursing employment within the 24-month period and a criminal background check with fingerprinting before the certificate expires.
Find approved CNA training programs in New Jersey and compare program length, cost, and schedule options in your area.