(Radio Iowa) – Iowans studying to become Certified Nursing Assistants are now able to take part of the C-N-A exam online. Larry Johnson, Junior — director of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing — says it means students don’t have to travel to a community college to take the written test. “With the changing workforce, with changing technology we saw the demand, and wanted to make sure it was available for Iowans,” Johnson says.

Iowa’s multiple-choice test for Certified Nursing Assistants has 100 questions. Johnson says the state hired two companies to administer the online test and ensure the person taking the test is the person who’d get the certification if they pass. “Iowans studying to become Certified Nursing Assistants are now able to take part of the C-N-A exam online. Larry Johnson, Junior — director of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing — says it means students don’t have to travel to a community college to take the written test.

“With the changing workforce, with changing technology we saw the demand, and wanted to make sure it was available for Iowans,” Johnson says. Iowa’s multiple-choice test for Certified Nursing Assistants has 100 questions. Johnson says the state hired two companies to administer the online test and ensure the person taking the test is the person who’d get the certification if they pass. “The individual has to be in a room by themselves, have a computer with internet connection and then they have to scan their phone,” Johnson says, “so that way the proctor can make sure that they are in the room by themselves and it is the actual person taking the test that they say it is.”

The online option is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It went live in early June and Johnson says some have already signed up and taken the test online.  “Health care is a great profession and appreciate all the people that work in long-term care and as a CNA,” Johnson says, “and this is just one more option to get people certified so that Iowans can get the care they need.” An in-person clinical skills evaluation is still required for all aspiring C-N-As, too.

During that part of the exam, a nurse observes students doing things like taking a patient’s vital signs and following hand washing guidelines. The latest federal data indicates there were over 22-thousand C-N-As working in Iowa three years ago and, as the population ages, there will be increased demand for C-N-As in nursing homes and hospitals.

“The individual has to be in a room by themselves, have a computer with internet connection and then they have to scan their phone,” Johnson says, “so that way the proctor can make sure that they are in the room by themselves and it is the actual person taking the test that they say it is.” The online option is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It went live in early June and Johnson says some have already signed up and taken the test online.

“Health care is a great profession and appreciate all the people that work in long-term care and as a CNA,” Johnson says, “and this is just one more option to get people certified so that Iowans can get the care they need.” An in-person clinical skills evaluation is still required for all aspiring C-N-As, too. During that part of the exam, a nurse observes students doing things like taking a patient’s vital signs and following hand washing guidelines.

The latest federal data indicates there were over 22-thousand C-N-As working in Iowa three years ago and, as the population ages, there will be increased demand for C-N-As in nursing homes and hospitals.