How to Become a CNA (SRNA) in Kentucky

In Kentucky, CNAs are officially called State Registered Nurse Aides (SRNAs). Same role, different name. Every form, portal, and job listing in the state uses SRNA.

To earn your credential, you complete a state-approved training program, pass a competency exam administered by KCTCS, and get listed on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry through the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN). The process takes 2 to 6 weeks depending on your program format.

Kentucky has 46,098 active SRNAs on the registry and more than 9,000 open positions statewide, according to KBN and KHT Now. Three agencies run this process: KBN manages your registry listing and certification, KCTCS administers your competency exam, and the Division of Medicaid Services (DMS) approves training programs.

Those numbers tell the opportunity story. But anyone considering this career deserves the full picture, and working CNAs are not shy about sharing it:

“I refused an unsafe assignment and walked out… it’s me and 3 CNAs for 68 residents, I would have 4 carts. SIXTY EIGHT.”

— Reddit user, r/nursing, 4,040 upvotes

That is the reality. This guide exists because understanding it upfront, the staffing challenges, the physical demands, the pay, is how you make a smart decision about whether CNA certification in Kentucky is right for you. Here is every step, cost, and timeline you need.

What You Need Before You Start

Kentucky CNA requirements are straightforward. You can qualify or disqualify yourself in about two minutes.

• Age: Minimum 16 years old, per KBN’s SRNA requirements. Kentucky is one of the few states that allows certification at 16.
• Education: Kentucky doesn’t legally require a high school diploma or GED, but most training programs require one for enrollment. You also need it to qualify for the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship. Functionally, a diploma or GED is required.
• Background check: Training programs initiate a national criminal background check for you, typically through the KARES system (Kentucky Applicant Registry and Employee Screening). Cost is approximately $33, usually included in bundled program fees. The check also screens against the Kentucky Abuse Registry. Disqualifying offenses include abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a patient; misappropriation of patient property; and certain felony convictions involving violence or drugs, per 902 KAR 20:053. If a conviction appears on your record, KBN reviews it on a case-by-case basis. Contact KBN at (502) 429-3300 before enrolling to ask whether your specific situation is disqualifying. Individual programs may have additional clinical-clearance requirements beyond KARES.
• Health screenings: A two-part TB test (not a single test) and a complete physical, both completed before your first clinical day.

If you meet all four, you’re eligible to enroll.

Complete an Approved SRNA Training Program

Kentucky requires a minimum of 75 training hours: 59 classroom or online instruction hours and 16 supervised clinical hours in a long-term care facility, per the University of Kentucky SRNA program.

What Training Covers

The 75 hours cover basic nursing skills, mental health needs, care of cognitively impaired residents, basic restorative services, and residents’ rights. Your first 16 classroom hours must cover communication, infection control, resident rights, and safety before you have any contact with actual residents. This sequencing is required by the Kentucky Medicaid Nurse Aide Training Manual.

Hybrid programs exist: some schools deliver theory online while conducting clinical and skills lab in person. You still complete the 16 clinical hours in person at a long-term care facility regardless.

For more context on CNA training and certification requirements generally, our resource covers what to expect across program types.

How long does it take?

Program Format	Timeline
Full-time accelerated	2-3 weeks
Evening program	4-6 weeks
Weekend-only	6-8 weeks

Training Costs Across Kentucky

Provider	Cost	What’s Included
Western Kentucky University (WKU)	~$300	Tuition only
KCTCS colleges (Bluegrass CTC, Owensboro CTC, Henderson CTC)	~$858	Tuition, malpractice insurance, state testing fees, books
KY Healthcare Training (Lexington)	$750	Tuition, workbook, liability insurance, background check
KY Health Care Training Institute	$735	Tuition ($575) + workbook, liability, background check
University of Kentucky	$800	Course fee, book rental, background check (eff. 7/1/2024)

Sources: KHT Now, Henderson KCTCS, UK Nursing.

The WKU price of ~$300 looks like the obvious winner. But that’s tuition only. When you add exam fees, books, liability insurance, and background check separately, the total gap between WKU and KCTCS narrows. The KCTCS ~$858 bundles all of those in.

Those costs add up, especially if you’re working part-time or between jobs. But here’s something many prospective CNAs in Kentucky don’t realize until after they’ve already paid:

“Look into whether your state has a workforce development scholarship. I almost paid $1,200 out of pocket before someone told me my community college program was completely free through a state grant.”

— Reddit user, r/cna

In Kentucky, that program is the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship.

How to Get Free CNA Training in Kentucky

Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship (WRKS): Covers full tuition at any KCTCS community college. Not based on income or GPA. You need a high school diploma or GED and Kentucky residency. Apply at workreadykentucky.com.

Employer-sponsored training: Many long-term care facilities hire you first, then pay for training. Federal law (42 CFR § 483.152) requires nursing homes to reimburse CNA training costs for employees who complete certification within 12 months. Some facilities pay your salary during training. Check the DMS Nurse Aide Training page for approved in-house training facilities.

Nursing Incentive Scholarship Fund (NISF): KBN-administered supplemental aid for Kentucky residents in approved nursing programs. Apply through the NISF page.

The bottom line: you can complete Kentucky SRNA training for free through the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship at KCTCS, or get paid to train through an employer-sponsored program.

Pass the Kentucky Competency Evaluation

After training, you have exactly one year from your training completion date to pass both the written and skills portions of the competency evaluation. If you don't pass within that window, your training record expires and you must complete the full 75-hour course again before retesting, per KBN's SRNA requirements. Once you pass, you are immediately active on the registry for two years. Plan your exam date before training ends.

The evaluation is administered by KCTCS. Register and schedule your exam at ky.tmutest.com (the Kentucky SRNA testing portal). This is where you create your account, pick a test date, view results, and download score reports. For context on how Kentucky's testing compares to other states, our CNA exam vendors by state breakdown explains why Kentucky uses KCTCS while most states use Prometric or Pearson VUE.

Testing is offered at community college campuses across the state. Testing dates fill up, so schedule as soon as your training program confirms you're eligible. In busy periods (spring and fall cohort completions), expect 2 to 4 weeks between registration and your test date. Factor this into your 1-year training validity window.

Written Exam Format

Detail	Value
Questions	75 multiple-choice
Time limit	90 minutes
Passing score	70% (53 out of 75 correct)
Cost (written only)	$40
Cost (combined with skills)	$115

You can take the written and skills portions on the same day or separately. If you fail one, you retake only that portion.

Skills Demonstration Format

You perform 5 randomly selected skills in front of an evaluator. Vitals (blood pressure and pulse) are always included; they're not random. The remaining 4 are drawn from a standard skills pool.

Scoring Type	Requirement
General steps	70% accuracy
Critical safety steps (hand washing, patient ID, gloves)	100% accuracy

Blood pressure is taken on a mechanical arm trainer. You can request a live person instead, per Research.com's Kentucky CNA requirements. Cost for skills only: $75.

Review CNA skills help to prepare for each tested procedure. Practice with your program's open lab hours before test day.

"Passed my state exam on the first try. The skills portion was nerve-wracking but my instructor drilled us so hard in lab that my hands just knew what to do."

-- Reddit user, r/cna

Use a free CNA practice exam to build confidence on the written portion. For a study strategy, see how to study for the CNA exam.

If You Don't Pass

You get three attempts to pass each portion within one year of completing training. Retake the failed portion only; you keep credit for the part you passed. Each retake costs $40 (written) or $75 (skills). After three failed attempts on either portion, you must complete the full 75-hour training program again before retesting. Schedule retakes at ky.tmutest.com.

What to Expect on Test Day

Read up on the full CNA exam to know what to bring and how the day is structured.

The 1-year rule is the most common gotcha: your training is valid for one year from completion. If you don't pass the exam within 12 months, you must retake the full 75-hour course. Kentucky also limits you to three attempts per portion within that year. If you fail and need to retake, see what's involved in retaking the CNA exam.

Get Listed on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry

After passing both exam portions, you don't need to apply for registry listing. KCTCS reports your results directly to KBN, and you're added to the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry automatically.

What you do need is a KBN Nurse Portal account to manage your certification going forward. This is the ORBS system, launched March 2023, which replaced the old paper-based process. Create your account at kybn.boardsofnursing.org/kybn.

Don't confuse the two KBN portals. The Nurse Portal (ORBS) is for account management: renewal, reciprocity, name changes. The License Verification Portal is for public lookups only.

How Results Get Reported

KCTCS submits your exam results to KBN within a few days of testing. Once processed, your name appears on the registry with your certification number, status, and expiration date. Processing typically takes 3-5 business days after your exam, though it can vary.

Verify Your Certification Online

1. Go to the License Verification Portal at kybn.boardsofnursing.org/licenselookup
2. Select your search type (by name or license number)
3. Enter the last name or license number
4. View results: credential type, issue date, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions

Employers use this same portal during the hiring process. If your search returns no results shortly after passing your exam, wait a few more business days before calling KBN.

Keeping Your SRNA Certification Active

Your Kentucky SRNA certification is valid for two years, per KBN's renewal page. To renew, you need proof of at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related duties during that 24-month period.

Renewal Requirements

Acceptable documentation:

• Paycheck stub showing nursing-related work
• W-2 from a nursing or healthcare employer
• Signed letter on facility letterhead confirming employment and nursing duties

No continuing education required. No renewal fee. The window opens 60 days before your expiration date through the KBN Nurse Portal.

KBN no longer mails renewal reminders. Track your expiration date yourself. Log into the Nurse Portal anytime to check your current expiration date.

You can update your name or address through the Nurse Portal under "Other Applications."

What Happens If You Miss Renewal

If your Kentucky SRNA certification expires, you cannot legally work as a nurse aide until your status is active again. Kentucky does offer reinstatement through the KBN Nurse Portal if you can document at least 8 paid hours of nursing-related work before your expiration date, plus 8 paid hours for each 24-month period your registration has been lapsed. If you cannot provide that proof, you'll need to complete the full 75-hour training program and pass the competency evaluation again. See KBN's reinstatement page for current requirements.

Set a calendar reminder for 60 days before your expiration date. The 8-hour employment requirement is easy to document if you're actively working. Missing the window is the hard part to recover from.

Transferring Your CNA Certification to Kentucky

Kentucky is a free reciprocity state: unlike many states that charge $50-$150 or require re-testing, Kentucky transfers your certification at no cost. Per KBN's reciprocity page and Nursa.com's free reciprocity states list, there is no transfer fee and no re-examination required for candidates with active out-of-state certification.

"Kentucky reciprocity was actually painless. No fee, uploaded my docs, and I was on the registry within two weeks. After dealing with [other state], I was shocked."

-- Reddit user, r/cna

Reciprocity Requirements

• Active certification in good standing in your originating state
• Social Security card
• Government-issued photo ID (driver's license)
• Current SRNA or CNA certification from your originating state

Step-by-Step Transfer Process

1. Log into the KBN Nurse Portal (create an account if you don't have one)
2. Select "SRNA Reciprocity Application" from the application list
3. Upload required documents: SSN card, photo ID, out-of-state certification
4. Submit the application

Your application is valid for one year from submission. Processing typically takes two to three weeks. One important caveat: if your out-of-state certification has expired, reciprocity doesn't apply. You'll need to complete Kentucky's full 75-hour training and pass the KCTCS competency evaluation.

CNA Salary in Kentucky

Before we get to the numbers, it helps to understand what those numbers are paying for. CNA work is physically and emotionally demanding, and healthcare workers across the country are vocal about the gap between what the job asks and what it pays:

"We have a shortage of associates and bachelors degree graduates who are willing to: Take too many patients... Do the work of the CNA when the hospital can't retain them... Go entire shifts without water because they dont give us 5 minutes to step off the floor"

-- Reddit user, r/nursing, 2,003 upvotes

With that context in mind, here is what CNAs actually earn in Kentucky.

Average Pay by Source

Source	Annual	Hourly	Notes
BLS -- Kentucky (OES)	Verify and insert current KY figure	Verify and insert current KY figure	Median wage, most authoritative
ZipRecruiter	$36,247	$17.43	Average from job postings
Talent.com	$37,278	$18.87	Average from job postings

For comparison, the BLS national median for nursing assistants is $38,130/year ($18.33/hr). Kentucky falls below the national median.

Top earners (90th percentile) reach $48,203/year ($23.17/hr), and entry-level starts around $29,500, per ZipRecruiter.

Where Kentucky CNAs Earn the Most

CNAs in the Lexington metro average $41,480/year ($19.94/hr), per ZipRecruiter Lexington data. Hospital positions generally pay more than nursing home and long-term care positions at equivalent experience.

To earn $25/hr in Kentucky, you'd typically need a metro hospital role, significant overtime, or travel CNA assignments. It's not typical staff pay.

None of this means the job isn't worth doing. Thousands of Kentucky SRNAs find it deeply meaningful. But understanding the full scope helps you evaluate the salary data with clear eyes and choose your employer carefully.

High demand doesn't always mean good working conditions. The CNA turnover rate is one of the highest in healthcare:

"I wonder how many CNAs quit after this"

-- Reddit user, r/nursing, 4,223 upvotes; r/cna, 3,701 upvotes

The takeaway isn't to avoid CNA work. It's to be selective about where you work. Facility type, staffing ratios, and management quality vary enormously across Kentucky employers. The career path below is real, and your starting point doesn't have to be your ending point.

Career Advancement After CNA Certification

For many Kentucky SRNAs, certification isn't the finish line. It's the starting point for a healthcare career that keeps growing:

"Started as a CNA at 19. Used it to get into nursing school. Now I'm an RN making three times what I made wiping butts -- and I'm a better nurse because I did that work first."

-- Reddit user, r/nursing

That path, from CNA to RN, is one of the most common in healthcare. In Kentucky, it follows this progression:

The Kentucky Healthcare Ladder

Step	Credential	Additional Training from Previous Level
Entry	CNA/SRNA	75 hours
Next	CMA (Certified Medication Aide)	172 additional hours
Mid	LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse)	~1-year program
Advanced	RN (Registered Nurse)	2-4 year program

The 172-hour CMA step is often undervalued. It comes with better pay, more responsibility, and a stronger nursing program application, all from a short commitment after you're already working.

Kentucky has 46,098 active SRNAs and 9,000+ open positions. Finding work after certification is not the challenge. Your SRNA experience provides clinical hours that strengthen LPN and RN program applications against candidates with no bedside experience. Explore CNA career paths for more on where certification leads.