CNA Requirements in Louisiana
Step-by-step guide to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Louisiana: the training, exam, background check, and timeline you need to plan for.
Find Louisiana CNA Training ProgramsLouisiana CNA Requirements at a Glance
Minimum Age
18
Training Hours
80 hours
(Federal minimum: 75)
Time to Certification
5–10 weeks (training typically 4–6 weeks, exam and registry listing 2–4 weeks)
Exam Vendor
Prometric
Becoming a CNA in Louisiana
Louisiana has one of the shorter CNA training requirements in the country at 80 hours, which means most full-time candidates can complete their program in 4 to 6 weeks. The 80 hours split evenly into 40 classroom hours and 40 supervised clinical hours, but there are two scheduling quirks worth planning around: at least 16 of the 40 classroom hours must be completed before any clinical work can begin, and the program must include a separate 4-hour clinical site orientation that does not count toward the 80 hours. The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) runs the largest network of approved programs, typically priced between $300 and $1,000.
Louisiana's biggest scheduling quirk on the exam side is that first-time testers must take both the written/oral knowledge test and the clinical skills evaluation on the same day. Prometric is the contracted testing vendor, charging a $35 application fee plus $125 for both exam portions. If you fail one portion, you can retest only the failed portion on a separate day for a $25 reschedule fee. All testing must be completed within 12 months of finishing the approved training program, so most candidates schedule their exam attempts within the first 2 to 4 weeks after program completion.
Worth knowing before you start: Louisiana operates two separate registries that healthcare employers are required to check before hiring you. The Nurse Aide Registry at tlc.dhh.la.gov tracks your certification status, and the Direct Service Worker Adverse Actions Registry at adverseactions.ldh.la.gov tracks substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. A finding on either registry can disqualify you from healthcare employment in Louisiana even if your CNA certification is technically active, so it is important to know that both lists exist from day one. The minimum age for CNA training in Louisiana is 18.
Detailed Louisiana CNA Requirements
Regulatory Body
Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Health Standards Section (HSS)
Minimum Age
You must be at least 18 years old to begin CNA training in Louisiana.
Education Requirement
Most LDH-approved Nurse Aide Training Programs (NATPs) require students to be 18+ with the ability to read and write English. A high school diploma or GED is preferred but not required by LDH.
Training Hours
80 hours required.
40 hours of classroom instruction plus 40 hours of supervised clinical practice in a nursing home or hospital-based skilled nursing facility unit. At least 16 hours of classroom must be completed before any clinical work, plus a 4-hour clinical site orientation that is separate from the 80 hours.
Background Check
Louisiana State Police criminal background check; certain felony convictions disqualify under LDH Health Standards Section rules
Competency Exam
Administered by Prometric. Two-part Louisiana CNA Competency Evaluation: a written (or oral) knowledge test plus a hands-on clinical skills demonstration. Both portions must be taken on the same day for first-time testers.
Cost: $125 (knowledge + skills); $25 reschedule fee
Application Fee
$35 application fee paid to Prometric
Total Cost Estimate
$200–$1,200 depending on whether training is employer-sponsored, at a community/technical college, or private
Where You Can Work
Louisiana-licensed nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, hospice programs, assisted living programs, adult day health care programs, and ICF/DD facilities
What's Different About Louisiana
Louisiana operates two separate registries that employers are expected to check — the Nurse Aide Registry and the Direct Service Worker (DSW) Adverse Actions Registry. Most LDH-licensed providers must screen prospective employees against both lists.
How to Become a CNA in Louisiana: Step by Step
Confirm you meet the prerequisites
You must be at least 18, able to read and write English, free of disqualifying felony convictions, and pass an LDH Health Standards Section background check. A high school diploma or GED is preferred by most training programs but not strictly required by LDH.
Find an LDH-HSS approved Nurse Aide Training Program (NATP)
Locate an 80-hour state-approved program (40 classroom + 40 clinical, plus a 4-hour clinical site orientation that is not counted in the 80 hours). Programs are offered at Louisiana Community and Technical College System schools, career schools, and nursing facilities. LDH publishes the approved-program list on its Health Standards Section website.
Complete the 80-hour NATP
Finish all 40 classroom hours (at least 16 hours before any clinical work begins) and all 40 clinical hours in a nursing home or hospital-based skilled nursing facility unit, plus the 4-hour clinical site orientation. Your program issues a completion certificate that allows you to register for the Prometric exam.
Apply through Prometric and pay the $35 application fee
Submit your Louisiana CNA Application to Prometric (selecting Route 1 for in-state training graduates), along with a copy of your Social Security card and a Louisiana government-issued ID or military ID. The $35 application fee is paid to Prometric.
Pass the two-part Prometric competency exam
Schedule both the written/oral knowledge test and the clinical skills evaluation. First-time candidates must complete both portions on the same day. You must finish testing within 12 months of completing your LDH-approved training program. The total exam fee is $125.
Get added to the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry
Once you pass both exam portions, Prometric forwards your file to LDH for final approval and registry placement. You can verify your status at tlc.dhh.la.gov. Most Louisiana employers also check the separate DSW Adverse Actions Registry at adverseactions.ldh.la.gov before hiring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum requirements to become a CNA in Louisiana?
You must be at least 18, complete an LDH-approved 80-hour Nurse Aide Training Program (40 classroom + 40 clinical, plus a 4-hour clinical site orientation), pass a Louisiana State Police background check, and pass both portions of the Prometric competency evaluation. A high school diploma or GED is preferred but not strictly required.
How long does it take to become a CNA in Louisiana?
Most full-time training programs take 4 to 6 weeks. Part-time programs may run 8 to 12 weeks. After training, schedule the Prometric exam (often within 2–4 weeks). Total time from program start to registry listing is typically 5 to 10 weeks.
How much does it cost to become a CNA in Louisiana?
Community college and technical school NATPs typically cost $300–$1,000. Many nursing facilities sponsor training in exchange for a work commitment. The Prometric application fee is $35 and the exam fee is $125 ($25 reschedule fee). Total out-of-pocket costs range from $200 (employer-sponsored) to about $1,200 (private program).
What disqualifies you from becoming a CNA in Louisiana?
LDH disqualifies applicants with certain felony convictions, particularly those involving violence, theft, fraud, sexual offenses, drug trafficking, or vulnerable-adult abuse. Substantiated findings of resident abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on any state's nurse aide registry are also disqualifying. The Louisiana State Police background check and DSW Adverse Actions Registry check are both required before certification.
Do I have to take both portions of the Louisiana CNA exam on the same day?
Yes, first-time candidates are required to take both the written (or oral) knowledge test and the clinical skills evaluation on the same day. If you fail one portion, you may retest only the failed portion on a separate day (with a $25 reschedule fee). All testing must be completed within 12 months of finishing your approved training program.
Why does Louisiana have two registries — CNA and DSW?
The Nurse Aide (CNA) Registry tracks certification status and competency. The Direct Service Worker (DSW) Adverse Actions Registry tracks substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation against any direct service worker, including CNAs. Both registries are operated by LDH's Health Standards Section. Most LDH-licensed providers — nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, hospice, ICF/DD, assisted living — are required to screen prospective employees against both before hiring.
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