CNA Requirements in Vermont
Step-by-step guide to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Vermont: the training, exam, background check, and timeline you need to plan for.
Find Vermont CNA Training ProgramsVermont CNA Requirements at a Glance
Minimum Age
16
Training Hours
80 hours minimum
(Federal minimum: 75)
Time to Certification
8-14 weeks
Exam Vendor
Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program)
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.
Detailed Vermont CNA Requirements
Regulatory Body
Vermont Board of Nursing under the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), Secretary of State's Office
Minimum Age
You must be at least 16 years old to begin CNA training in Vermont.
Education Requirement
No statutory minimum education; applicants must be at least 16 years old. Most approved programs require a high school diploma, GED, or active high school enrollment.
Training Hours
80 hours minimum required.
Approximately 60 hours classroom and lab instruction + at least 20 hours of supervised clinical practice; many Vermont programs deliver 90-105 total hours to exceed the minimum
Background Check
Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) state criminal background check plus fingerprint-based federal check submitted with the LNA license application
Competency Exam
Administered by Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program). Two-part state competency exam: a written (or oral) knowledge test and a hands-on skills evaluation of randomly assigned skills, including mandatory hand hygiene
Cost: $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
Application Fee
$25 LNA initial license fee paid through OPR online services (biennial renewal is priced separately)
Total Cost Estimate
$800-$2,000 including tuition (often free at hospital and nursing home programs), background check, exam, and OPR license fee
Where You Can Work
Hospitals, nursing homes, residential care homes, home health agencies, hospice, assisted living residences, and adult day programs across Vermont
What's Different About Vermont
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.
How to Become a CNA in Vermont: Step by Step
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Vermont use the title LNA instead of CNA?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.
Free Study Materials for the Vermont CNA Exam
The Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program) exam used by the Vermont Board of Nursing under the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), Secretary of State's Office tests both knowledge and hands-on skills. Use these free study guides to prepare for the topics most commonly tested in Vermont:
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE, hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, and biohazard handling for the Vermont CNA exam.
Basic Nursing Skills
Vital signs, intake/output, positioning, transfers, and range of motion — the largest block on the Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program) skills test.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, oral care, toileting, and incontinence management — heavily tested Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program) skills in Vermont.
Safety & Emergencies
RACE/PASS fire safety, fall prevention, choking, CPR, and seizure care — required knowledge for Vermont CNA candidates.
Communication Skills
SBAR handoff, therapeutic communication, and adaptations for hearing, vision, and dementia residents — tested throughout the Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program) exam.
Patient Rights
OBRA '87 resident rights, HIPAA, advance directives, and freedom from restraints — graded on every Vermont CNA practical exam skill.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective data, pain scales, what to report immediately, and documentation rules used on the Vermont exam.
Body Systems & Conditions
Cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and endocrine basics, plus pressure-injury staging — frequently tested on the Vermont written exam.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, Kübler-Ross stages, and postmortem care for Vermont CNAs working in long-term care.
Mental Health & Dementia
Delirium vs dementia, sundowning, validation therapy, and de-escalation — frequently tested on the Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program) written exam in Vermont.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, the four elements of negligence, mandatory reporting, and ethical principles every Vermont CNA must know before working.
Test yourself for the Vermont CNA exam
Free Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program) Practice Tests
The Excel Testing (the Vermont arm of D&SDT-Headmaster's NA testing program) written exam used in Vermont has 60 scored multiple-choice questions. Drill our free NNAAP-style practice tests until you can consistently score above 80%, then walk into the testing center confident.
Ready to Start Your Vermont CNA Career?
Find approved training programs, free study materials, and license verification tools for Vermont.