Arizona Nursing Assistant / Nurse Aide Guide
Is a License or Certification needed: To get certified and work as a nursing assistant or nurse aide in Arizona, you need to complete a nursing assistant program and pass a nursing aide exam. You must also be listed on the state’s nurse aide registry.
Who Grants Certification: The Arizona State Board of Nursing maintains the registry of nursing assistants. A company called D & S Diversified grants certification to nursing assistants.
The Qualifications to become Certified: There are two routes of eligibility in order to qualify for receiving a nursing assistant certification in the state of Arizona. These include:
- You have successfully completed a 120 hour Arizona state-approved training program within the past year.
- You have graduated from or are a student of a nursing school and have the Arizona Board of Nursing approved Waiver Request form to prove it – reasons for a waiver request would be military or foreign nurse aide experience
- In addition to one of the above options, you must have successfully completed a clear background check.
Further details can be found here.
How to Apply for Certification and to take the Exam: In order to apply for nursing assistant certification in Arizona, you will need to:
- Have proof of completion of an Arizona state-approved nurse aide 120-hour training program; or
- Proof of employment if your training was completed more than two years ago;
- Apply to take the Arizona nursing assistant examination. The application can be found here.
- Fill out the application and send it along with proof of the above qualifications to:
P.O. Box 6609
Helena, MT 59604-6609
Completed paper applications must be received by Headmaster eight business days ahead of test day or express charges will occur. Business days exclude holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Test Content: The nursing assistant exam has two parts, a written section and a skills evaluation. Both parts must be passed to be listed on the Arizona Nurse Aide Registry. The written section is 75 questions in length. You will have 90 minutes to complete the exam.
The written exam covers the following topics:
- Safety
- Communication
- Infection Control
- Data Collection
- Personal Care
- Basic Nursing Skills
- Mental Health
- Role and Responsibility
- Care Impaired
- Disease Process
- Resident Rights
- Older Adult Growth and Development
You can find all details for the written exam here.
The Skills Evaluation will be a 40 minute time period given to complete four selected nurse aide skills. The first skill with be either the Bedpan/Measuring Output Skill or the Perineal Care Skill. You must actually wash your hands during this first skill. For the last 3 skills, you may use hand sanitizer instead of washing with soap and water.
Certification Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements: According to Arizona Law, to renew your license, it is required that you have worked 16 hours and had 24 hours of in-service at your place of employment in the paid role of a nurse aide during the past 24 months. This must be paid employment, not volunteer work, and in a nursing environment such as a nursing home, home health setting or a hospital.
You can renew your registration with the Arizona State Board of Nursing. All further renewal and continuing education details can be found here.
Contact
AZ Nurse Aide Registry
AZ State Board of Nursing
Nurse Aide Registration Program
4747 North 7th Street, Suite 200
Phoenix, Arizona 85014-3653
Phone: 602-771-7800
Fax: 602-771-7888
