CNA Certification In Mississippi

Candidates can undertake the NNAAP examination for certification in MS only if they qualify any one of the following eligibility criteria.

1. Nurse Aide Candidate Trained in MS – Non-Facility-Based and Proprietary Schools and Colleges

• Successfully complete a nurse aide program program approved by the Mississippi state.
• You are not certified as a CNA in another U.S. state.
• Submit the following documents to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES):
  • Completed application
  • Appropriate fee
  • An original letter from the program program illustrating the successful completion of program
  • Copy of program course completion certificate
• If you have sent an original letter with the examination form as a program evidence, this letter must be written on the letterhead of the program program and must include the following details:
  • Nurse aide candidate’s name
  • Date of completion of the program program, and
  • Signature of the director, instructor, or administrator of the program program.

You must take and pass both the sections of the NNAAP exam within 24 months of your date of completion of program.

2. Nurse Aide Candidate Trained in MS – Facility-Based (Nursing Home)

If you are applying for CNA certification under this route, then refer point numbers I and IV of “Nurse Aide Candidate Trained in MS – Non-Facility-Based and Proprietary Schools and Colleges” mentioned above.

Note: You are required to take and pass both the sections of the NNAAP test within 4 months of completion of your program.

3. Student Nurse

If you have completed the basic / fundamental nursing skills of an RN or LPN program approved by the state within the last 2 years, contact the MS State Department of Health to find out if the program is accepted.

Note: If accepted and the candidate is qualified to test, the form must be submitted with a program completion certificate and duly signed by the instructor.

4. Graduate Nurse

If you have completed an RN or LPN program approved by the Mississippi state within the last 2 years, you must provide the following documents to be eligible to take the competency exam:

• Examination application
• Fees, and
• Copy of an RN or LPN program completion certificate or diploma

5. Out-of-State or Foreign LPN or RN

If you have completed an RN or LPN program outside the state of Mississippi, obtain an application that must be signed by the Bureau of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification, Mississippi State Department of Health. Submit this signed application and appropriate fee to the NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services).

6. Reciprocity Applicant

If you presently hold a CNA licensure in another state, then to qualify for certification in the state of Mississippi, you are eligible for reciprocity if:

• Your name is listed on a nurse aide registry in a state other than Mississippi.
• Your license is in good standing.
• Your state of licensure meets all the program and competency evaluation requirements of the MS state.

If you have successfully completed a nurse aide program program approved by the state, you must follow the given steps to gain certification in the state of MS:

Step 1 – Click on the below link to download the application form:
http://asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/072501.pdf

Step 2 – Select one of the following eligibility routes:

• Nurse Aide Candidate trained in MS – Non-Facility-based and proprietary schools and colleges.
• Nurse Aide Candidate trained and employed in Mississippi – Facility-based (Nursing Home).
• Student Nurse.
• Graduate Nurse.
• Out-of-State or Foreign LPN or RN.
• Lapsed Nurse Aide.
• Petition for Removal of Finding of Neglect.

Step 3 – Mail your completed application, fees and copy of your program program certificate or diploma (if applicable) to:

NACES Plus Foundation, Inc
8501 North Mopac Expressway, Suite 400
Austin, Texas 78759

If you presently hold a nursing assistant license in a state other than Mississippi, follow the procedure given below to obtain license by reciprocity:

Step 1 – Download the reciprocity application from the below link:
http://asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/072503.pdf

Step 2 – Submit a non-refundable reciprocity fee of $26.00 along with the completed application in the form of company check, certified check, or money order made payable to “Pearson VUE”.

Step 3 – Return this completed application, appropriate fee and all the required documents together in an envelope to:

Pearson VUE – Nurse Aide
Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry
PO Box – 822749
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19182-2749

In order to renew or recertify the CNA license, applicants are required to work as a certified nursing assistant carrying out nurse aide services for monetary compensation for a minimum of 8 hours in any health care setting (such as hospice, hospital, ICF / MR facility, or home health agency) or nursing home within 2 years certification period. A renewal notice will be sent by the Pearson VUE approximately 60 days before the expiry date of your license to the mailing address listed on the Registry.

Note – If you are working as a doctor’s office aide, private-duty aide, personal care home assisted living aide, laboratory aide, or personal care home residential living aide; you are not eligible for recertification.

Filling the Employer Section of the Recertification Form

The employer section of the “Recertification Form” cannot be filled by an employment agency. If you are not working as a CNA at the time of re-certification, request your last nurse aide employer to fill the details of the employer section, attesting to your employment within the past 2 years. If you are working under a Medicare / Medicaid nursing home at the time of re-certification, your renewal fee will be paid by the nursing home.

CNA Licensure Renewal Method

Use the given link to download the renewal application:
http://asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/072509.pdf

Fill all the required details, and mail the completed renewal application along with a fee of $26 to:

Pearson VUE / MSNA Registry
PO Box 822749
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19182-2749

Upon receiving the application and fees, Pearson VUE will renew your license, and send you a new wallet card and certificate.

If your nurse aide certificate has lapsed or expired, you need to re-test. You will be given just one opportunity to pass both the sections of the exam, i.e. skills evaluation and written (or oral) examination. If you fail to pass any of these parts on the first try, you will need to complete a nurse aide program program approved by the Mississippi state before taking the test again.

Use the following link to complete your search:
http://www.asisvcs.com/services/registry/search_generic.asp?CPCat=0725NURSE

You may use either of the following ways to search the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry:

• By name, or
• By certification number / social security number

The nursing assistants must inform the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry about their current name and address. In case of any change in name or address, you must send a written notification of this change to the Pearson VUE. Or else, you can also use the “Change of Address” or “Name Form” present in the end pages of the Candidate Handbook. You may download this handbook from:
http://asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/072500.pdf

Another way to notify the Pearson VUE is by sending a letter, which must include the following information:

• Current name
• Address
• Telephone number
• Certification number, and
• Social Security number

Required Documents for Change Request

Along with the “Change of Address or Name” application, you need to submit written documentation of the change. You may provide the following documents:

• Copy of marriage certificate, or
• Copy of a divorce decree, or
• Other official document depicting the change.

The State Nurse Aide Registry does not charge any fee for changing your name or address on the Registry. Your new name or/and address will come into view on the new Wallet Identification Card, which will be issued to you whenever you renew your license.

Question 1 – Where can I find all the testing information?

Answer – All information regarding the testing program in Mississippi is presented in the Mississippi Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook. You can view or download this handbook from the following link:
http://asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/072500.pdf

Question 2 – Presently, I have not completed my certification. Can I be hired by a long-term care facility?

Answer – No. As per the state policy, a long-term care facility participating in Medicare / Medicaid cannot hire a person as a CNA until and unless that individual has already completed his/her certification or/and is currently enrolled in a nurse aide program program being carried out by the nursing home.

Question 3 – Is there any particular time limit within which I have to pass the competency exam after completing my nurse aide program?

Answer – Yes. The applicants are required to take and pass both the portions of the NNAAP examination within a period of twenty-four (24) months from the completion date of their CNA Program program. However, if you are currently working in a long-term care facility participating in Medicare / Medicaid, you need to be certified within 4 months after being hired.