- Certification is granted to CNAs once they pass two examinations: the knowledge test and the clinical test. The license expires and must be renewed every 2 years through Prometric. A CNA must work in a professional capacity for at least 8 hours during each 2-year certification cycle in order to be qualified for renewal. There are no prerequisite requirements for taking the exam. Students are expected to be prepared following coursework and whatever training they receive.
- In order to be qualified for CNA training online that will be accepted in Michigan, students must earn a high school diploma or a GED prior to taking continuing education courses. Many of the 28 community colleges in Michigan offer CNA training through online programs that are associated with local health care facilities to provide internship opportunities and hands-on training.
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Online technical schools such as the Ross Medical Education Center, Kaplan Career Institute and the Dorsey Schools provide Michigan students with CNA training.
Online nursing educational programs that are based out of the state are acceptable as long as the curriculum prepares students to pass the Michigan tests. Core studies must include classes that focus on safety regulation, CPR, infection control, recording vital signs and basic anatomy. - While an online course can prepare students to pass the certification exam, most employers also require hands-on experience. Many CNAs in Michigan volunteer at a local hospital or long-term care facility to gain the experience needed to land a job. Others take some of the courses online and look for hands-on training at nursing homes and hospitals that provide CNA training.
- Practice tests are available online through the Prometric website and cover the curriculum taken in the accredited online courses. They cover issues such as how a CNA would react in various situations with patients when they fall or refuse to follow directions, how to perform various rehabilitative therapies and how to read doctor's orders. Test guides provide students with all the necessary information they will need to pass the exams. While you may view study guides online, you must take the exams in person at various test sites throughout Michigan.
