Nurse Assistants

Certification or Licensing

Some states require nurse assistants to be certified no matter where they work. Nursing assistants are often required to have a state-issued license or certification. They may also have to meet continuing education requirements. Some states also require a criminal background check. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 requires nurse assistants working in nursing homes to undergo special training. Nursing homes can hire inexperienced workers as nurse assistants, but they must have at least 75 hours of training and pass a competency evaluation program within four months of being hired. Those who fulfill these requirements are then certified. In some states, nursing assistants may add the credential Certified Medical Assistant, which enables them to diespense medications.