While a career as a nursing assistant doesn’t require a degree, you’ll have much better job opportunities if you decide to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. This requires 75-150 hours of training and license from your state.

To be eligibly for a CNA license, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Be at least 18 years old.
2. Have a high school education or equivalent.
3. Be proficient in English.
4. Submit to a background check, which includes having your fingerprints run against a national criminal database.
5. Submit an official transcript of your college courses to the CNA licensing staff.
6. Take and pass a competency test, which will include a multiple choice section and a practical section in which you will demonstrate what you have learned on an actual patient.
7. Take and pass a licensing manual and theory test given by the CNA licensing authority.

Licensing requirement vary state-by-state, so check with your state’s CNA licensing authority to find out exactly what you need to do to become licensed.