Waiting for exam & certification

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Hello! I have enrolled in a CNA course that lasts from August 27th to October 7th. I am very excited, but I wonder, after I finish the course, how long will I have to wait to take the exam? And once I've taken the exam, how long does it generally take to recieve certification so I can get a job?

I was hoping to have a job by the end of the year, but I don't really have a clue how long the process takes. I'm in TN if that makes any difference.

Thank you!

Specializes in CNA, Acute care, LTC, Hospital.
Hello! I have enrolled in a CNA course that lasts from August 27th to October 7th. I am very excited, but I wonder, after I finish the course, how long will I have to wait to take the exam? And once I've taken the exam, how long does it generally take to recieve certification so I can get a job?

I was hoping to have a job by the end of the year, but I don't really have a clue how long the process takes. I'm in TN if that makes any difference.

Thank you!

Congratulations on your enrollment. There are some states that allow you to work in a CNA position while you are waiting for certification. I don't know if TN is one of them.. You'll have to research that.

Oregon does let you work for 4 months while you are waiting for certification. Some facilities will hire you... provisionally... I know of a case in NC where that happened. You can always talk to the recruiters at some of the facilities where you'd like to work.

I think TN uses the Headmaster testing proxy and Headmaster has a clearly defined time-line for when testing happens. You can visit their website by clicking this Headmaster link.

Good luck! :yeah:

Thanks for the link!

On the FAQ it says that I'll recieve test results in 5-7 business days... does that mean I'll be certified as soon as I get my results, or is it a separate wait for the actual certificate?

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