Initial Certification

Thank you for your interest in the CNA Certification Program and for pursuing your specialty certification credential!

Certification eligibility

We want certification to be accessible to nurses while maintaining our established high quality and credibility. To be eligible, nurses require a minimum number of specialty experience hours to apply for certification. There are two options:

1. 1,950 hours of experience in your nursing specialty within the last five years.
2. 1,000 hours of experience in your nursing specialty within the last five years plus 300 hours of formal education, which can be a specialty post-basic course or program at a college/university.

For more details, see the application process.

How to apply

To become certified for the first time (initial certification), you must pass the exam.*

Read our important dates to learn when you can apply to write the exam for your specialty. If you’re ready to apply, sign in to or create your CNA account. Before applying, you may want to learn more about the application process.

The certification exams can now be written online from home with ProctorU or in a test centre with Meazure Learning.

Please note:
Nurses certified in any specialty can maintain their credential by renewing every five years through continuous learning or by rewriting the certification exam.

For nurses in Quebec, CNA certification is accredited by the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec. Obtaining certification can be claimed as 36 continuous learning accredited hours.

*Nursing Leadership excluded. For more information on the Nursing Leadership certification, please visit Inspire Nursing: A LEADS-based Leadership Program.

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