To practice as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), entry-into-nursing students must complete first-semester coursework from a Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON)-approved education program.
A CNA is defined as an individual, regardless of title, who routinely performs nursing tasks delegated by a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse for compensation.
Applications for CNA certification are made through each state’s Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB). The Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) is Maryland’s NRB; therefore, the MBON oversees the certification of Nursing Assistants who live and work in Maryland.
Students are prepared to carry out the role of CNA if they:
- are currently enrolled at the University of Maryland School of Nursing
- have completed their first-semester courses with a minimum grade of C
- are applying for their CNA certification for the first time.
Once you have successfully completed your first-semester coursework, we will send confirmation of your eligibility to apply for CNA to the NRB.