Nurse Aide Program

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA 1987) required states to initiate and maintain Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Programs and a Nurse Aide Registry.  This was designed to improve the quality of care in long-term health care facilities and to define training and evaluation standards for nurse aides who work in such facilities.  Under the requirements of this Act, the Connecticut Department of Health is required to review, approve, deny, or suspend training programs as outlined in the Federal Code of Regulations (CFR Title 42, volume 3, part 483). The Department is also required to certify and list all individuals who complete a state approved training program and competency evaluation as well as list and maintain a registry of all individuals who are found to have abused or neglected elderly or vulnerable persons, or misappropriated their property. 

• State of Connecticut Approved Nurse Aide Programs
• Nurses Aide Regulations

Nurse Aide Training Program

• Name, address, and telephone number of the facility, institution or agency offering the program, including the clinical site.
• The program coordinator/instructor
• Statement of course objectives; or
• Description of course content specifying the number of hours in classroom and clinical settings.

The State of Connecticut requires that a nurse aide training program be at least 100 hours in duration and be coordinated by a Registered Nurse with at least 2 years experience, one of which must be in long term care.  Students must complete 16 hours in the following areas prior to any direct contact with the residents:

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Residents Rights
• Residents Independence
• Safety and Emergency Procedures including the Heimlich Maneuver, and
• Infection Control

The training program must include all other basic theoretical components defined by state and federal regulations, as well as a clinical component where the students are trained on the 25 competency skills of which they will be evaluated on five.  For successful passage of the competency evaluation, the student must pass all five skills.  For additional information regarding the Competency Evaluation contact: The Department of Public Health at 860-509-7595.

The Division of Health Systems Regulation reviews and approves the certified nurse aide training programs throughout the state.  Currently there are approximately 165 of these training programs approved by the Division of Health Systems Regulation.     

Click here for all State of Connecticut approved Nurse Aide Training Programs.

Requirements for Certification

A student enrolled in a LPN or RN program may request to challenge the test by providing original transcripts of their education verifying they have completed the basic nursing fundamentals and skills that are covered in a nurse aide training program.

An individual who is currently listed as active with no derogatory or abuse information on another States’ list of certified individuals can apply to have their name added to Connecticut’s Registry. 

The Certification period is for 24 months, and the individual must re-certify every 2 years by providing verification that they have worked at least one 8- hour shift during that 24-month time frame.  If the certification expires and remains expired for a period longer than 2 years, or the individual has not worked in a 24-month time frame, the individual must retest in order to be listed in an active status on the Registry.

Requirements for Initiating a CNA Program

The Public Health Code of the State of Connecticut, Section 19-13-D8t (l)(1)(A) requires any organization electing to conduct a nurse’s aide training program to submit for review and approval a nurse’s aide training curriculum on forms provided by the Department.  A standardized format has been developed by the Department of Public Health.  Any Private Occupational School intending to provide a nurse’s aide training program in accordance with the regulations noted above must complete the forms enclosed with this letter and return them to this Department. 

Requirements for Primary Training Instructors

• The training of nurse’s aides must be performed by or under the general supervision of a registered nurse who possesses a minimum of two years of nursing experience, at least one year of which must be in a chronic and convalescent nursing home or rest home with nursing supervision. 

• Instructors must have completed a course in teaching adults or supervising nurse’s aides.

• Qualified personnel form the health field may serve as trainers in the nurse’s aide training program under the supervision of the nurse’s aide primary training instructor provided they have a minimum of one year of experience in a facility for the elderly or chronically ill of any age within the immediately preceding five years.  These health field personnel may include:  Registered nurses, sanitarians, fire safety experts, nursing home administrators, gerontologists, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, therapeutic recreation specialists, speech/language/hearing therapists.  All trainers should be, where applicable, licensed, registered and/or certified in their field.

• Licensed practical nurses, under the supervision of the nurse’s aide primary training instructor, may serve as trainers in the nurse’s aide training program provided the licensed practical nurse has two years experience in caring for the elderly or chronically ill of any age.

• The training of nurse’s aides may be performed under the general supervision of the director of nurses.  The director of nurses is prohibited from performing the actual training of nurse’s aides.