How to Become a CNA (LNA) in Vermont

Vermont requires 80 hours of approved training and a passing score on the LNA competency exam to become certified. If you searched “CNA,” you’re in the right place. Vermont calls this credential a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) rather than Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), but the role, training requirements, and scope of practice are identical.

Licensing is managed by the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) under the Secretary of State, not the Board of Nursing. If you’re new to healthcare and want to understand what a CNA does before diving into Vermont-specific requirements, that overview covers the full role. You can also explore why become a CNA in Vermont if you’re still in the decision phase.

The process has four steps: complete a state-approved training program (75-80 hours), pass the two-part LNA competency exam through Excel Testing, apply for your license through the OPR, and get listed on the Vermont Nurse Aide Registry. The average Vermont LNA earns $43,610 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024), roughly $4,000 above the national average. CNA classes are available across many formats and schedules once you’re ready to enroll.

What	Details
Vermont’s name for this credential	Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)
Minimum training hours	80 hours (30+ clinical, 16 classroom before patient contact)
Exam administrator	Excel Testing
Exam fee (both parts)	$175
Application fee	$20 (new) / $25 (endorsement)
Average annual salary	$43,610 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)

What You Need to Become an LNA in Vermont

Vermont’s LNA requirements have a lower barrier to entry than most states. No healthcare experience is required, and the minimum age (16) is below the national norm. According to the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, here is what you need:

Requirement	Details
Minimum age	16 (most training programs require 18)
Education	High school diploma/GED recommended; not strictly required by the state, but many programs require it
Training	75-80 hours at a state-approved program
Background check	FBI fingerprint-supported criminal background check, mandatory
Exam	Written + skills competency exam (administered by Excel Testing)
Prior experience	None required

Two nuances worth knowing: Vermont sets the minimum age at 16, but most community colleges and career centers require candidates to be 18. The state doesn’t mandate a high school diploma, but individual training programs often do.

For context on how Vermont’s standards compare nationally, see the overview of CNA training and certification requirements across the country.

Vermont-Approved LNA Training Programs

What LNA Training Covers

Vermont requires a minimum of 80 training hours, with at least 30 hours of supervised clinical experience in a healthcare facility. You must also complete 16 hours of classroom instruction before you can have any patient contact. Those first 16 hours cover communication, infection control, safety, and resident rights.

Vermont’s 80-hour minimum aligns closely with the federal OBRA floor of 75 hours, which means training moves faster here than in states like Alaska (140 hours) or Maine (180 hours). Clinical training must be done in person at a licensed healthcare facility. No part of the clinical component can be completed online.

The curriculum covers patient safety, standard precautions, personal care, vital signs, positioning and transfers, communication, and resident rights. Your program must be approved by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation.

Program Options and Costs

Three main program types are available across Vermont. Browse Vermont CNA programs for a current directory of approved options near you.

Community College of Vermont (CCV): CCV offers LNA training at multiple campuses statewide. Programs typically run 8-10 weeks on a standard schedule. CCV is the primary partner for the 802Opportunity free-tuition program (Section 4), which makes CCV often the lowest-cost path for qualifying Vermont residents.

Adult Career and Technology Centers: Programs at Vermont’s career and tech centers are intensive and focused. The Hannaford Career Center LNA program and the Vermont Adult CTE LNA program are structured options around the state. The Hartford Area Career and Technology Center charges approximately $1,900 (includes textbooks and the exam fee). The Green Mountain Technology and Career Center LNA program offers similar focused training. Full-time daytime programs at these centers typically compress training into 4-6 weeks.

Employer-Sponsored Programs: Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) offers free LNA training, pays an hourly wage during the program, and asks for an employment commitment after certification. Ask directly at hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies in your area before assuming you’ll need to pay.

For guidance on comparing your options, our how to choose a CNA program resource covers what to look for in cost, schedule, and location. Some didactic coursework may be available remotely; our guide to online CNA classes explains which portions can be done virtually and which require in-person attendance.

Training costs range from nothing to $1,900. The difference depends almost entirely on which financial aid programs you qualify for.

How to Pay for LNA Training in Vermont

Cost is a real concern, especially for people making a career change with limited savings.

“Starting a CNA program in middle age, it’s the cost and time that worry me most.”

— CNA community member on r/cna

Vermont offers several programs that can reduce or eliminate your training costs entirely.

802Opportunity: Free Community College Tuition

If your family income is at or below $100,000, you may qualify for free tuition at the Community College of Vermont through the 802Opportunity program. This program works in combination with other financial aid, meaning 802Opportunity covers whatever gap remains after state grants and scholarships are applied. For many Vermont residents, this reduces CCV tuition to $0. Check current eligibility requirements directly with CCV, as income thresholds may be updated.

VSAC Grants and Scholarships

The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) offers need-based financial aid for Vermont residents, including the Vermont State Grant and the Vermont Incentive Grant. VSAC also offers workforce development funding for high-demand healthcare training fields, which LNA programs qualify for. Apply at vsac.org early in your program search, since award funds are limited and deadlines vary.

Vermont Direct Care Initiative

The Direct Care Initiative offers $5,000 scholarships for experienced home health direct care workers who want to advance their training. The eligibility requirement: at least 12 months of paid in-home care experience. If you’ve been working as a home health aide or personal care attendant, this scholarship was designed for you. Contact the Vermont Adult Career and Technical Education network at vtadultcte.org for current application details.

Employer-Sponsored Training

Some Vermont healthcare facilities will pay for your training in exchange for an employment commitment after certification. SVHC’s program is the clearest public example: free training, paid hourly wage during the program. Other hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies operate similar arrangements. Ask directly when you inquire about job openings.

With training funded, your next step is the competency exam.

The Vermont LNA Competency Exam

The Vermont LNA competency exam follows the same two-part structure as the national CNA competency exam: a written knowledge test and a hands-on skills demonstration. What’s different in Vermont is who administers it. Vermont uses Excel Testing, not Prometric, not Pearson VUE, not Credentia. Knowing this matters because you’ll register through Excel Testing’s website, not a national testing portal.

Written Exam

The written portion consists of 60-70 multiple-choice questions, with 90 minutes to complete it. The passing threshold is 70%, meaning you need roughly 42-49 correct answers depending on the number of questions drawn for your test.

Content covers nursing assistant knowledge: patient care procedures, safety and infection control, communication, resident rights, and emergency response. You should be solid on the material covered during your 16 hours of pre-clinical classroom instruction.

Excel Testing also offers an oral exam option for candidates who qualify, such as ESL learners or those with documented reading difficulties. The oral version includes the same multiple-choice questions plus 10 additional reading comprehension questions, with a $5 surcharge. Discuss this option with your training program coordinator before your scheduled test date.

Work through a CNA practice exam until you’re consistently scoring above 80% before test day. That buffer above the 70% passing threshold gives you real confidence.

Skills Evaluation

The skills portion requires you to demonstrate 5 randomly selected nursing assistant skills in front of an evaluator. You have 25-30 minutes total, and the passing threshold is 80%. You will not know which 5 skills you’ll be asked to perform until you arrive at the testing site.

Common skills that appear on the Vermont LNA skills evaluation include handwashing, vital signs, patient positioning, bed transfers, and personal care tasks. Practice all skills covered in your program, not just the common ones. Our guide to the CNA skills test covers every skill you might be asked to demonstrate.

The most effective preparation: practice on actual people during your program’s open lab hours, not just on mannequins. The evaluator watches technique, body mechanics, and communication simultaneously. Candidates who log hours on real classmates consistently perform better on test day.

For a structured study plan, see our guide on how to study for the CNA exam, which covers time management, skills practice schedules, and the most commonly tested topics.

Fees, Scheduling, and Retake Policy

Register and schedule through exceltestingvt.com. Bring a photo ID and your confirmation email on test day.

Exam Component	Fee
Written + Skills	$175
Skills Only	$120
Written Only	$55
Reschedule	$35

You have 3 total attempts to pass each component. If you pass one component but fail the other, you only retake the failed portion and pay only for that portion ($120 for skills, $55 for written). If you fail a component three times, you must complete a new full approved training program before you can retest. This is a firm limit.

The 80% skills threshold is higher than the 70% written threshold because patient safety depends on correct technique. If you don’t pass on your first attempt, our guide on retaking the CNA exam covers strategies to improve your performance before the next attempt.

Once you pass both parts, the next step is getting on the Vermont Nurse Aide Registry.

After You Pass: Getting on the Vermont Nurse Aide Registry

Application Process

After passing both exam components, apply for your LNA license through the OPR Online Services portal at sos.vermont.gov/nursing/. The application fee for a new LNA license is $20 (non-refundable). If you are applying via endorsement from another state, the fee is $25. Both are paid through the OPR Online Services portal. You’ll complete attestation sections covering your applicant information, address, professional fitness, and background disclosures.

Key distinction: Vermont’s Nurse Aide Registry is maintained by the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), not the Board of Nursing. Searching “Vermont Board of Nursing CNA” won’t get you to the right portal. The OPR portal is the correct destination for all LNA licensure, verification, and renewal.

If you already hold an active CNA certification from another state, apply through Vermont CNA reciprocity instead of completing a new training program. Vermont calls this process “endorsement.”

Background Check and Provisional License

After submitting your application, you’ll receive a Fingerprint Authorization Certificate (FAC) via email. Use this to schedule a fingerprinting appointment at the Vermont Identification Center or a local law enforcement agency. The cost is $13.25 for the FBI check, plus any additional fee charged by the fingerprinting site. According to Vermont OPR’s background check guidance, FBI results typically take 6-12 weeks to process.

You don’t have to wait to start working. Vermont offers a 90-day provisional license while your FBI background check processes. You do not fill out a separate form. When you submit your initial LNA application on the OPR portal with your Certificate of Completion from your training program, OPR typically issues provisional status within a few business days. This lets you begin working as an LNA immediately while the 6-12 week background check completes.

Once your license is active, here’s how to verify it.

Vermont LNA Registry Lookup and License Verification

To verify an LNA license in Vermont, use the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation’s online Provider Search:

1. Go to sos.vermont.gov/nursing/
2. Select the Provider Search function
3. Choose “Licensed Nursing Assistant” from the profession dropdown
4. Enter the person’s name or license number
5. Review results: active/inactive status, exam history, training records, and any disciplinary actions

The search is free and available to anyone, including employers, healthcare facilities, and LNAs checking their own status. Results are typically available immediately.

For phone verification or situations where the online portal isn’t working, contact the OPR at 802-828-1505.

One common point of confusion: the Vermont Department of Health’s “Look Up A Health Professional” function covers professions regulated by the Board of Medical Practice, not LNAs. Vermont LNAs appear only in the OPR registry. Searching the wrong database will return no results.

Now that you know how to verify your license, here’s how to keep it active.

Keeping Your Vermont LNA License Active

Vermont LNA licenses renew on a two-year cycle. The renewal requirement: document at least 50 days (400 hours) of paid LNA work during the renewal period. Eight work hours equals one day under Vermont’s calculation method.

Vermont does not require continuing education for renewal. Most states mandate 8-24+ hours of coursework each cycle. Vermont focuses entirely on whether you’ve been actively working. If you’ve maintained your employment, renewal is mostly documentation and a fee.

Renewal Item	Details
Renewal cycle	Every 2 years
Work requirement	50 days (400 hours) paid LNA employment
Continuing education	None required
Renewal fee	$45-$65
How to renew	OPR Online Services System
When to start	Portal opens 6 weeks before expiration

Only hours worked while your license is active count toward renewal. Hours worked after your license lapses do not apply.

If your license has lapsed, the path back depends on how long it’s been:

Lapsed less than 5 years: You don’t need to retrain. Pass both the written and skills exams again through Excel Testing, pay the renewal fee, and submit your reinstatement application through the OPR. For strategies on preparing after a gap, see our guide on retaking the CNA exam.

Lapsed 5 or more years: Full reset required. Complete a new state-approved training program, pass both exam components, and reapply for licensure. Plan ahead if you’ve been out of healthcare work for an extended period.

With your license active, here’s what you can expect to earn.

CNA Salary in Vermont: What LNAs Actually Earn

Vermont LNAs earn an average of $43,610 per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2024. That’s roughly $4,080 above the national average of $39,530 for nursing assistants nationally. Vermont ranks in the top half of states for LNA compensation.

The state employs approximately 3,140 LNAs, with most working in long-term care, hospitals, and home health settings.

The salary range runs from $36,200 at the 25th percentile to $50,000 at the 75th percentile, with top earners at the 90th percentile reaching approximately $59,010 per year — all per Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 data for Vermont.

Vermont has limited metro breakdowns in BLS data (Burlington-South Burlington MSA is the primary one). For facility-specific pay, ask directly during interviews — rates vary by shift differential, facility type, and whether the role is permanent staff or travel/contract.

Vermont does not mandate CNA-to-patient staffing ratios at the state level. Your actual ratio depends on the facility. When interviewing, ask about: average patient load by shift, typical staffing on nights and weekends, and how long current LNAs have been on staff. High staff longevity is the strongest indicator of a supportive work environment.

Career Advancement from LNA in Vermont

LNA certification is often the starting point for a longer healthcare career. Your clinical hours and direct patient care experience give you an advantage when applying to nursing programs, because you already understand patient communication, personal care, and fast-paced facility environments.

Many LNAs use Vermont certification as a stepping stone to nursing school. Your clinical hours and patient care work give you a real edge in admissions.

“I started nursing school at 46. If I can do it, you can.”

— CNA community member on r/StudentNurse (467 upvotes)

Vermont supports the LNA-to-LPN-to-RN pathway through bridge programs at community colleges and workforce-funded education. The most common route: work as an LNA for 1-2 years, enroll in an LPN program (typically 12-18 months), and continue to an RN program if you choose. Each credential step brings a meaningful salary increase.

Other paths exist beyond the nurse ladder. LNA experience transfers well to medical assistant, phlebotomist, and home health aide roles. These lateral moves offer different environments and, sometimes, different physical demands if LNA work isn’t sustainable long-term.

The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation offers workforce development funding that extends to LPN and RN programs, not just initial LNA training. Many Vermont employers also offer tuition assistance for LNAs continuing their education.

Before you start, here are answers to the questions Vermont CNA candidates ask most.