Reimbursement for CNA Training and Testing Reminder

This is a reminder that all new CNAs receive the Credentia NC Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook January 2024 that includes a statement regarding reimbursement for training and testing.   

The handbook states, “REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAINING AND TESTING Nursing Care Facilities (Medicare and Medicaid) are required to pay for your Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (CEP) if you are employed or have been offered employment. If you’re not employed by a nursing care facility when you start the NATCEP or CEP program but start or are offered a job within 12 months of finishing the program, you will be reimbursed (paid back) for the costs of training and testing by the facility where you work. You should save all receipts to submit to the nursing care employer.”  

Additionally, according to 42 CFR 483.152 (c. Prohibition of charges) on Nurse Aide Training: 

1. No nurse aide who is employed by, or who has received an offer of employment from, a facility on the date on which the aide begins a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program may be charged for any portion of the program (including any fees for textbooks or other required course materials). 

1. If an individual who is not employed, or does not have an offer to be employed, as a nurse aide becomes employed by, or receives an offer of employment from, a facility not later than 12 months after completing a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program, the State must provide for the reimbursement of costs incurred in completing the program on a pro rata basis during the period in which the individual is employed as a nurse aide.  

If you did not know this and have not been reimbursing your new CNAs, please be aware that new CNAs know this and are expecting to be reimbursed. Recruitment and retention of CNAs are difficult in long-term care. Please do not let the failure to reimburse them for training and testing be an obstacle at your facility.