CNA Classes in Lincoln, NE

How Much Does CNA Training Cost in Lincoln?

Tuition at Lincoln programs runs $375 (about $375 on average). Beyond tuition, plan for the state exam fee ($75 total ($35 written knowledge exam + $40 clinical skills exam) paid through nebraskanurseaide.org), the application/registry fee ($0 - Nebraska does not charge a fee to be added to the Nurse Aide Registry), a background check, and uniforms or supplies. All in, total CNA training cost in Nebraska typically falls around $400-$700 including 75-hour program tuition (often $375-$550 at Nebraska community colleges and the Nebraska Health Care Learning Center) plus the state competency exam and background check costs.

How to Become a CNA in Lincoln, NE

1. 1

   Confirm DHHS eligibility and apply to an approved 75-hour program

   Verify you are at least 16, can pass a Nebraska State Patrol and Adult/Child Protective Services background check, and have no findings on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry abuse list. Choose a DHHS-approved Nurse Aide Training Program - examples include Central Community College, Metropolitan Community College, Mid-Plains Community College, Northeast Community College, Southeast Community College, Bryan College of Health Sciences, and CNA Learning Hub. All programs are listed on the DHHS website.

2. 2

   Complete 75 hours of nurse aide training plus the 1-hour abuse course

   Finish at least 75 hours of classroom, lab, and clinical instruction - including a minimum of 16 hours of supervised clinical experience in a Nebraska-licensed facility - and complete the Nebraska-specific 1-hour abuse, neglect, and misappropriation course required by Title 175 NAC 12. Curriculum must cover basic nursing skills, resident rights, infection control, mental health and social services, and restorative care, and instructors must be RNs with at least two years of long-term care experience.

3. 3

   Submit Nebraska State Patrol and Protective Services background checks

   Apply through your training provider or directly to the Nebraska State Patrol for a state criminal history check, plus DHHS Adult Protective Services and Child Protective Services central registry screening. Applicants who have lived outside Nebraska in the previous five years must also submit FBI fingerprint-based checks. Checks must be completed prior to clinical rotation and remain current at the time you are placed on the Nurse Aide Registry.

4. 4

   Register for the Nebraska Nurse Aide Competency Exam through NHCLC

   Visit nebraskanurseaide.org and choose your test date and site. Tests are administered at the Nebraska Health Care Learning Center in Lincoln (1200 Libra Drive, Suite 100) and at regional partner sites statewide. Registration closes 7 business days before each test date, and fees are paid online by credit card unless your employer or training program is covering them under Nebraska's Medicare reimbursement rules.

5. 5

   Pass the Written/Oral Knowledge Test and the Clinical Skills Test

   The Written/Oral Test is 50 multiple-choice questions completed in 90 minutes (oral version is offered for candidates who request it) and requires a minimum score of 70 percent. The Clinical Skills Test requires you to demonstrate 6 randomly selected nurse aide skills, always including handwashing and indirect care steps, in front of an NHCLC evaluator. Both portions must be passed within 24 months of training completion.

6. 6

   Get listed on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry

   After NHCLC submits your passing results to DHHS Nursing Support, your name is added to the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry. Nebraska does not issue paper certificates or wallet cards - your status is verified online through the DHHS License Information System (LISSearch). The registry listing typically appears within 7-10 business days, and there is no state registry fee.

7. 7

   Maintain certification with at least 8 paid hours every 24 months

   Nebraska CNAs must complete at least 8 hours of paid nurse aide work in a Nebraska-licensed setting within each 24-month period to keep registry status active. If you lapse, DHHS allows reinstatement by completing an approved refresher course and retaking the NHCLC competency exam, or by being employed under temporary nurse aide rules for up to 4 months while retesting.

Becoming a CNA in Nebraska

Nebraska's nurse aide system is run directly by the Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit, with testing contracted to the Nebraska Health Care Learning Center (NHCLC) - an affiliate of the Nebraska Health Care Association rather than a national vendor like Prometric or Headmaster. Approved 75-hour programs are delivered by the state's community college system, faith-based colleges, and a growing number of private providers like CNA Learning Hub, and all candidates schedule testing through nebraskanurseaide.org.

Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Lincoln