Stafford Technical Center
Rutland, VT
Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)
- Duration:
- 10 weeks (144 hours)
CNA Classes in Vermont
6 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs across 6 cities in Vermont. Vermont requires 80 hours minimum of training, with the competency exam administered by Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program).
Training Hours
80 hours minimum
Federal minimum: 75h
Exam Vendor
Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program)
$200 combined (written + skills) through Excel Testing of Vermont, a D&SDT-Headmaster affiliate; the price is not split between the knowledge and skills components
Time to Certify
8-14 weeks
Minimum Age
16
Cost: $800-$2,000 including tuition (often free at hospital and nursing home programs), background check, exam, and OPR license fee
What makes Vermont different: Vermont licenses (rather than certifies) its nurse aides as LNAs, requires 400 hours of paid LNA work every two years for renewal-among the highest work-requirement thresholds in the country-and contracts with Excel Testing rather than a national vendor.
CNA Classes by City in Vermont
Becoming a CNA in Vermont
Vermont is one of only a handful of states-along with New Hampshire and New York-that licenses its nurse aides at the state level. The Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) credential is regulated by the Vermont Board of Nursing operating under the Office of Professional Regulation in the Secretary of State's Office, headquartered at 89 Main Street in Montpelier.
Because Vermont licenses (rather than certifies) its LNAs, the Board of Nursing has direct disciplinary authority over individual practitioners under 26 V.S.A. Chapter 28. This gives Vermont LNAs broader practice protections and accountability than CNAs in most other states, and it means LNA discipline is part of the same professional regulation framework that governs RNs and LPNs in the state.
Vermont's small healthcare workforce-roughly 3,500 active LNAs-is concentrated in the long-term care, hospital, and home-health sectors that serve the state's aging rural population. The Division of Licensing and Protection in the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living acts as the federally designated state survey agency and maintains the Nurse Aide Registry, while OPR handles individual licensing.
How to Become a CNA in Vermont
- 1
Verify eligibility and choose an OPR-approved program
You must be at least 16 years old. Vermont does not impose a high school diploma at the state level, but most approved programs do. The Board of Nursing under the Office of Professional Regulation maintains an approved program list spanning hospital systems (UVM Health Network, Porter Medical Center), Vermont Adult Career & Technical Ed sites, and several community colleges.
- 2
Complete an 80-hour Nurse Aide Training program
Vermont's minimum curriculum is 80 hours combining classroom theory, supervised lab practice, and a clinical practicum of at least 20 hours in a licensed long-term care facility. Many programs run 90-144 total hours over 4 to 10 weeks. The state-mandated curriculum covers infection control, mental health, dementia care, restorative services, resident rights, and basic nursing skills.
- 3
Complete the VCIC fingerprint background check
Submit a fingerprint-supported background check through the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) as part of your LNA application. The OPR will review state and federal results before issuing your license. Plan for 2-4 weeks for fingerprint results to be returned.
- 4
Pass the Excel Testing competency exam
Schedule the written (or oral) knowledge test and the in-person skills evaluation through Excel Testing of Vermont. The knowledge test contains 60 multiple-choice items; the skills evaluation typically includes 5 randomly assigned tasks, always including hand hygiene. You must pass both portions within two years of completing training.
- 5
Apply for your LNA license through OPR Online Services
Submit the LNA license application through sos.vermont.gov/nursing/apply-renew, upload your training certificate, Excel Testing score reports, and VCIC clearance, and pay the $80 biennial license fee. OPR typically processes complete applications within 2 to 4 weeks.
- 6
Get listed on the Vermont LNA Registry
Once OPR approves your application, your LNA license number is published on the public OPR licensee lookup and added to Vermont's Nurse Aide Registry maintained by the Division of Licensing and Protection. You may now legally work as an LNA in any Vermont healthcare setting.
- 7
Renew every two years with 400 hours of paid LNA work
Vermont has one of the most stringent renewal work requirements in the country: you must complete at least 400 hours (about 50 days) of paid LNA practice in the 24 months prior to renewal. Renewal also requires a new background check and payment of the OPR renewal fee. Falling short of 400 hours means re-testing through Excel Testing.
All CNA Programs in Vermont (6)
St. Johnsbury Academy Adult Education
St. Johnsbury, VT
Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)
- Duration:
- 12 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Vermont
Why does Vermont use the title LNA instead of CNA?
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Vermont issues a license (not a certification) to its nurse aides under 26 V.S.A. Chapter 28, which is administered by the Board of Nursing within the Office of Professional Regulation. The license gives the state direct disciplinary authority over individual practitioners, similar to RNs and LPNs. Functionally, Vermont LNAs perform the same direct-care duties as CNAs in other states.
Who administers the Vermont LNA exam?
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Vermont's LNA competency examination is delivered by Excel Testing of Vermont, which is operated by D&SDT-Headmaster under contract with the Office of Professional Regulation. Test sites are scattered across Vermont at hospitals, technical centers, and training program locations, with both in-person regional events and in-facility on-demand testing available.
How many work hours do I need to renew my Vermont LNA license?
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Vermont requires 400 hours of paid LNA practice in the 24 months prior to renewal-one of the most stringent work requirements in the United States. The hours must be performed under licensed nurse supervision in a Vermont-licensed healthcare setting. If you do not meet 400 hours, you must retake the Excel Testing competency exam to reinstate your license.
What is the difference between an LNA I and an LNA II in Vermont?
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Vermont's Board of Nursing recognizes the standard LNA license as well as an advanced LNA II credential for nurse aides who complete additional training and demonstrate competency in expanded tasks such as medication administration, blood glucose monitoring, and select treatments. The LNA II curriculum is separate and requires already holding an active LNA license in good standing.
Does Vermont accept CNA reciprocity from other states?
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Yes, with caveats. Vermont accepts endorsement applications from CNAs in good standing on another state's registry whose training included at least 75 hours and covered the federally required competencies. Because Vermont's renewal requirement is 400 paid hours every two years, endorsed candidates must continue to meet that work threshold to keep the Vermont LNA license active.
How much does the entire Vermont LNA pathway cost?
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Tuition is the biggest variable: hospital-sponsored and nursing-home-sponsored programs are often free in exchange for a work commitment, while community college and proprietary tuition can run $800-$1,500. On top of tuition, plan for $200 in Excel Testing exam fees, roughly $38.25 in VCIC fingerprint and background-check fees, and the $25 OPR initial LNA license fee — bringing typical out-of-pocket totals to $1,000-$2,000.