Requirements for CNA and HHA Certification
Missouri Certified nursing assistant certification, Missouri Home health aide certification, Missouri CNA, Missouri HHAHHAs are entry level positions, primarily as companions/homemakers who are hired by private families and non-medical home care agencies, usually after at least one year of professional experience providing paid care for a non-relative person. For an HHA to climb the career ladder in MO, they need to transfer over to the CNA program.
The CNA training program prepares aides for employment in skilled nursing environments such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals.
In order to sit for the state certification exam, the aide needs to have completed a total of 75 hours of training (that include 16 hours of practical work, per Federal requirements) and must also have covered 100 hours of on-the-job training (in nursing homes or other facilities under the supervision of an RN).
Note: Fed regulations require certified aides who work in Medicare or Medicaid-reimbursed facilities to accumulate 12 hours of continuing education per 12 month period.
We list the higher between Federal (Fed) and State requirements
| Requirements | CNA | HHA |
|---|---|---|
| Work Eligibility | Must be a citizen or someone eligible to work in the U.S.; must produce social security number. | same |
| Type of Certification | Missouri Registry Active CNA Status means that the CNA has completed all Federal and state requirements and is eligible to be employed in a Medicare or Medicaid reimbursed long term care facility (as well as with home health care agencies). | N/A |
| Application Form | A filled application form is required together with all supplemental information as listed below under “other requirements” . | N/A |
| Age | There is no minimum age requirement in MO. | N/A |
| Driver’s License | No driver’s license required as long as you can produce a photo ID. | N/A |
| Education Level | No high school diploma required. | N/A |
| Training hours & where | A minimum of 75 accredited hours of training, to include practical work; You must also have 100 hours of RN-supervised on-the-job training to sit for the state exam. | N/A |
| Competence Training | A minimum of 16 hours of practical work as part of the 75 hours of training, and then 100 hours of RN-supervised on-the-job work . | N/A |
| Experience | No prior professional experience required. | HHA must have worked professionally for a year to satisfy the requirements of a non-medical home care agency. |
| Health Immunizations | A negative TB test taken within 6 months and proof of immunization. | N/A |
| Fingerprints | 2 Fingerprints cards will be required for the background tests. | same |
| Background checks | Applicants must undergo state and FBI background checks. | same |
| Other Requirements | Copies of Social security card, TB test results, background checks, training diploma, and work eligibility form. | same |
| Licensed in another state? | Tennessee accepts reciprocity from all States as long as the certificate you produce is current, verifiable, and in good standing. | same |
| Exam | It is referred to as the Certified Nursing Assistant Exam and consists of multiple choice questions plus a skills test. | N/A |