Do you have to take a CNA class in order to sit for the NCLEX-RN?

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A few people have been telling me that I have to take a CNA class before I sit for the NCLEX-RN, is this true? I'm from Illinois but I'm going to school in Indiana and I havent seen anything on the state of Illinois website saying you have to. Are there any recent grads or soon to be grads know if this is true?

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I never had to take anything like that, but I graduated from a four year university. I doubt that makes a difference though. Good luck!

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I responded to your other post in the other board as well...

I may be way off, but I NCLEX, I believe, would be the same all-around. It may be that specific schools require you to take the CNA course prior to starting the Nursing program, but I don't believe it is a requirement to sit for the NCLEX exam.

Our school, at this time, does NOT require us to take the CNA course, but I know they were possibly going to change that. So, it may be those who are telling you this might be required to have that under their belt for their school requirements, but I am 99.9% sure that they don't require it for the NCLEX...

Good luck!

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I did not have to take a CNA course to get into Loyola and I will not have to take one to sit for the NCLEX-RN. I think you may have gotten some incorrect info.

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Specializes in cardiac.

No....you do not have to take a CNA class before entering nursing school. Nor would you be eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam. Only those who have graduated from an accredited nursing school may petition the state boards to "ask" if you can take the exam. Once they "approve" you, you are eligible to take the NCLEX, then you can pay your fee and take the exam.

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Thank you everyone for responding. I was a little nervous at first. I'm going to tell that person that they have the wrong information. I couldn't understand paying again (for the CNA class) when you learn the same thing in nursing school.

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Specializes in Nephro, ICU, LTC and counting.
Thank you everyone for responding. I was a little nervous at first. I'm going to tell that person that they have the wrong information. I couldn't understand paying again (for the CNA class) when you learn the same thing in nursing school.

Nursing and CNA courses are not the same. Nursing courses prepare you for NCLEX PN/RN , CNA courses don't.

After passing the NCLEX you will be a licensed nurse, with CNA exam you will be a Certified Nursing Assistant. Both have different job description, and neither one qualifies for another exam, nor does it require for another exam.

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Specializes in OB, Cardiac.

You definitely do not have to take a cna course to sit for the nclex-rn. However, there are a few community colleges that require you to take before being accepted to their nursing program (as is the case for my sister). Most programs don't require you too, though. Also, after your first semester of nursing school you can work cna jobs w/o taking the course....since all those skills, & then some, is covered then. After my first semester I began working as a healthcare tech, cna essestially, at my hospital (that i now work as an rn).

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the community college that i go to does require you take take your cna prior to even applying to the nursing program. i think it's their way of weeding people out.

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