CNA Exams in Mississippi

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To obtain a Nurse Assistant certification in the state of Mississippi includes taking the “National Nurse Aide Assessment Program” (NNAAP) Examination. The NNAAP Examination is conducted to test candidates’ knowledge, skills and abilities to become a certified nursing assistant and perform entry level nurse aide job safely and efficiently.

The Bureau of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification, and Mississippi State Department of Health has contracted with a nationally recognized assessment service provider, Pearson VUE to monitor, score and report the results of the NNAAP Examination for the Nurse Aide Registry of Mississippi. Pearson VUE and NACES Plus Foundation work together to administer and schedule the examination.

Eligibility

Candidates who qualify one of the given below eligibility routes are eligible to take the NNAAP Examination for nurse aide certification in Mississippi:

  • Graduate Nurse
  • Student Nurse
  • Foreign or Out-of-state RN or LPN
  • Lapsed Nurse Aide
  • Reciprocity Candidate
  • Nurse Aide Candidate trained in MS- Facility based Nursing Home
  • Nurse Aide Candidate trained in MS-Non-Facility based and proprietary colleges and schools.
  • Petition for Removal of Finding of Neglect

Components of the Examination

The NNAAP Examination consists of two parts- the Written or Oral Examination and the Skills Evaluation. Both parts of the examination are administered on the same day. Students must obtain passing score in both parts to appear on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry and become a certified nursing assistant.

Written Examination: This part is made up of sixty non-scored and 10 scored multiple choice questions, written in English. Students get complete two hours to finish the examination.

Oral Examination: Students can make a choice between the Written Examination and Oral Examination. Candidates with difficulty reading English may give the Oral Examination despite the Written Examination. The Oral Examination consists of 10 questions of reading comprehension that are read thrice and 60 multiple choice questions read twice on a cassette tape. To take the Oral Examination, students must request for the oral testing while submitting the Examination Application.

Skills Evaluation: Students have to perform five randomly selected nursing assistant skills in 25 minutes at the Skills Evaluation. A Nurse Aide Evaluator rates candidates based on their performance in the skills evaluation. Hand-washing and a measurement skill (like measuring weight, respiration, radial pulse or urinary output) are always asked to perform. They must perform “Critical Element Step” (written in bold font) of every skill carefully in order to pass the skill. Students must get “Satisfactory” score in all five skills in order to pass this part of the NNAAP Examination. This examination takes place in a real health-care setting like area.

Application and Scheduling

Application: To apply for the NNAAP Examination, students have to fill an examination application. The application can be availed from nurse aide training program, nursing facility employer, by downloading from Pearson VUE (www.pearsonvue.com ) or by contacting NACES.NACES Customer Care Representative is available at: 800-579-3321 to solve candidates’ queries related to the application.

Applicants have to mail examination fees, application and copy of training program certificate together in an envelope at an address:

NACES
MS NNAAP
8501 North Mopac Expressway, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78759

NACES must receive the envelope at least 12 business days before the date of examination.

Scheduling: NACES schedules candidates for testing after it receives all required documents. The “Authorization to Test Notice” is mailed at candidates’ address (given in the examination application) with 48 hours after fixing their date of the examination. The Test Notice is a yellow postcard that carries vital information about the examination. Students must call NACES if they do not receive their test notice within 10 business days.

Testing Locations: Both parts of the NNAAP Examination are taken at a Regional Test Site. Students may either dial a number (888)-204-6213 or may also visit Pearson VUE website (www.pearsonvue.com ) to determine the schedule of the test venue most favourable to them.

Special Exam Requests and Services: Pearson VUE provides full access to the NNAAP Examination to disabled candidates by providing them special accommodations. To avail special accommodations, individuals must present a proof of their disability from an authorized health-care provider.

Special Test Accommodations include:

  • Extra testing time
  • A separate testing room
  • A Recorder or Reader, for candidates who suffer from mobility or vision impairment and cannot write/read on their own.

Candidates may contact the ADA (Americans with Disability Act) Coordinator at: accomodationspearsonvue@pearson.com to solve queries concerning to test accommodations.

Examination Fees

Examination Type   Fees
Skills Evaluation & Written Examination Both exams $101
Skills Evaluation & oral Examination Both exams $101
Skills Evaluation ONLY Exam re-take  $69
Written Examination ONLY Exam re-take $32
Oral Examination Exam re-take $32
Reciprocity (from another state)   $26
Recertification   $26
Handscore   $15
Duplicate Score Report/Certificate   $15
  • Students are scheduled for both parts of the NAAP Examination when they take the exam for the first time. Hence, they must pay for both parts of the examination.
  • Money order, company checks or certified checks are acceptable forms to pay the examination fee. They must be payable in the name of “NACES”. Company check, certified check or money order must display candidates’ name even if the fee is paid by their employers. Employers pay fees if candidates are employed in nursing homes. Fees is not reimbursed and not transferred once received by NACES as it includes administrative cost.
  • NACES does not accept cash and personal checks.

Cancellation and Rescheduling

NACES provides candidates a privilege of cancelling the scheduled examination and reschedule it. To cancel the examination, candidates must notify NACES at leave five days prior to the scheduled exam-date. The exam is not cancelled and rescheduled if NACES is not notified timely. Fee is also non-transferrable and non-refundable if NACES is not notified about skipping the exam 5 days before the scheduled date of examination. No penalty is charge, and the examination fee is transferred to a new date of examination if NACES is notified timely.

There are instances when unexpected situations arise and candidates are unable to appear for the examination. NACES considers this if candidates make request for excused absences in writing within 10 business days following the scheduled exam. The written request must include verification of absence from the examination from an appropriate source.

Acceptable excused absences are as follows:

  • Death in the family
  • Jury duty or court appearance
  • Weather emergency
  • Military duty
  • Disabling traffic accident
  • Illness of candidates or their immediate family member
  • Weather emergency

It depends on NACES whether excused absences are accepted or denied.

What to Bring on the Exam Day

Students must not be late for the examination as fees is non-refundable and non-transferrable if candidates reach the testing venue late. It is always recommended to report at least 30 minutes before the scheduled examination time.

Students need proper identification to sit for the written/oral examination and the skills examination. They must bring to the examination hall-

  • Two forms of proper identification. Both forms must be signed, current (non-expired) and original. Out of the two identifications, one must be photo identifications.

Proper identifications include:

  • Credit card
  • Clinic card
  • Library card
  • Driver’s license
  • State issued identification card
  • Signed Social Security card
  • Alien registration card
  • Passport
  • Three No.2 sharpened pencils
  • Social Security number
  • Eraser

NOTE: Name on the identifications and the examination application must be same. In case they differ, students must bring a proof of their name change to the test site. Acceptable proof of name change includes marriage license and divorce decree.

Score Reporting

Results of the NNAAP Examination are not declared over the phone. The official Score Reports are given to report whether students have failed or passed the NNAAP Examination. Students may contact Pearson VUE at: 888-204-6213 for any query related to the content of the Examination and the Score Report. Answer sheets are scored and the Score Report is faxed back at the test site on the day of the examination. The score report gets delayed some time due to some technical glitch. Candidates must call Pearson VUE at 888-204-6213 if they do not receive their Score reports within 6-7 business days.

Failing: Failed scored report of the Written/Oral Examination and the Skills Evaluation provides information about retaking both or either parts of the examination. Failed students have to submit a new examination fee and failed scored report to NACES in order to re-take the failed part or parts of the examination.

Federal and Mississippi state laws give three attempts and 24 months after completing the state approved training course to qualify both parts of the NNAAP Examination. They need retraining and retaking of both parts of the examination, if they are unable to pass the exam in 3 attempts.

Passing: Candidates are listed on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry and become a certified Nurse Aide after they successfully pass both parts of the NNAAP Examination. Pearson VUE mails Wallet Identification Card and Nurse Aide Certification around 10 days after students successfully qualify both parts of the NNAAP Examination. Students must contact Pearson VUE at 888-204-6213, if their Wallet Identification Card and Nurse Aide Certificate get delayed by more than 30 days.