GatorCNA

In Florida, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) can be done either by completing a 120-hour accredited training program and passing the State CNA exam or by successfully challenging the Florida Board of Nursing CNA exam without taking a full 120-hour course.

A 120-hour accredited CNA program provides structured classroom instruction and supervised clinical practice, which is ideal for students who want guided, hands-on experience before testing. The 120-hour course is typically taken through a college, trade school or through a HOSA associated program and can take anywhere from 12 weeks to a year to complete. However, for candidates who already have relevant experience, such as prior caregiving work, military medical training, or preliminary healthcare education, challenging the exam can be a faster and more cost-effective pathway to earning a CNA license. To challenge the exam means that you will forego a formal training, and fast-track getting your license by going straight to taking the exam. By self-studying and scheduling the CNA exam directly, qualified individuals can avoid spending weeks in a classroom reviewing material they may already know or can pick up quickly, saving both tuition expenses and valuable time.

In order to challenge the Florida CNA exam, you must be 18 years of age or older. If you are under 18 years of age, you can still challenge the CNA exam if you have a High School Diploma or GED. You must also be able to pass a Level II Background Screen, which will require a valid SSN or ITIN. The Level II Background Screen must be completed with a LiveScan Vendor. For more information on background screens, disqualifying charges and exemptions, please visit: https://flhealthsource.gov/background-screening

GatorCNA OnDemand SurePass is a fully online, self-paced CNA Prep Course to prepare individuals to challenge the State Exam. This is not a 120-hour course, rather a course specifically designed to help individuals earn their CNA license by testing out. Our curriculum is directly tied to the Florida CNA test and doesn’t venture too far out of that scope. This prep course will allow individuals to earn their license quicker and with less of a financial hurdle compared to a 120-hour course.

The CNA Exam is made up of two separate assessments; a written assessment and a clinical assessment. The written assessment is a 60 questions, multiple choice exam covering all aspects of working as a CNA. The clinical assessment is a hands-on assessment where you will be performing a care plan in real time on a mock-resident. 22 Clinical skills appear on the clinical assessment, although you will only be graded on 5 of these skills. GatorCNA OnDmand SurePass will prepare you for both the written and clinical exam.

Scheduling of the FL CNA Exam will be done directly through Prometric, the third-party company contracted by the state of Florida that oversees all CNA exams in the entire state. Before Prometric will schedule you for an exam date, you must first complete a Level II background screen with an approved LiveScan vendor and you must submit a CNA Exam Application directly to Prometric, along with the $155 exam fee. Once both items have been received the Florida Board of Nursing will take up to two weeks to review you information and approve you for testing. From here Prometric will reach out to you and assign you a test date. GatorCNA OnDemand SurePass provides guidance on completing the Background Screen, Submitting the CNA Exam Application and navigating issues that commonly arise while awaiting to be scheduled for an exam date.

All CNA exams in the state of Florida must be taken in-person at an approved Prometric test site. These test sites can be found all throughout Florida. Both GatorCNA facilities in Gainesville and Ocala are approved test sites, and you have the option to test there. The full list on Prometric Test Sites can be found on Prometric’s website: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.prometric.com/files/Nurse-Aide/FL-Nurse-Aide-Test-Center-List.pdf

GatorCNA OnDemand SurePass includes a 1-hour onboarding zoom call with an instructor to help kick-start your journey. The course will guide you through signing up the background screen, submitting the exam application and navigating common issues that occur with your exam being processed. Students will then have access to all online study materials for an initial 3-months. These online study materials include lectures, practice quizzes, a mock exam and flashcards to prepare for the written exam. The online materials also include instructional videos, a digital student manual, quizzes, flashcards, and additional resources to prepare for the clinical exam. You will also be enrolled in an email campaign that, when followed, will ensure you are taking the exam in a timely manner so you can reach your goal of becoming a licensed CNA.

No. GatorCNA OnDemand SurePass is fully online. There is not in-person component to the prep course. However, the State Exam will have to be taken in-person at an approved Prometric test-site. (Should we mention purchasing Open Lab here? Or no?) If a fully online course is not the right fit for you, GatorCNA offers in-person classes at both our Ocala and Gainesville facilities. The full schedule for out in-person courses can be found here: www.GatorCNA.info