CNA Certification
Initial Certification
Exam Application Policies and Procedures
Withdrawal and refund policies
Unreported absence
Rewrite and refund policies for unsuccessful candidates
Cheating on the CNA certification exam
Non-discrimination clause
Denial, suspension or revocation of certification credential
Withdrawal and refund policies
All candidates
There is a non-refundable application administrative fee for all candidates who apply for CNA certification. Only candidates who are deemed ineligible because of insufficient nursing practice hours or continuous learning activities or both are exempt and will be reimbursed the total amount submitted.
Withdrawal policy
All current fees deducted from the refund are listed on the accompanying Tip Sheet.
After your application is received, if you decide to withdraw from writing the exam, you have three options:
- mail a completed Exam Withdrawal Request Form (PDF format) to the CNA Certification Program;
- complete the electronic Exam Withdrawal Request Form; or
- e-mail the relevant information to us.
No phoned withdrawal request will be accepted. We will acknowledge your withdrawal in writing and inform you of reapplication procedures.
You will receive a refund, minus the non-refundable application administrative fee of $90.00 + GST or HST. A refund cheque or refund directly on your credit card will be issued; no credit will be given for an exam in a following year. Any payment made by a third party will be refunded in the name of the third party.
After you withdraw, if you make any subsequent application to write the certification exam, you must resubmit all documentation, pay the full fees and meet the advertised deadlines. Always include your eight-digit CNA certification number in any correspondence with CNA.
Withdrawal 30 days before the exam writing date – late withdrawal fee
You will be charged a late withdrawal fee of $100 + GST or HST, in addition to the non-refundable fee previously described. You will be refunded the balance remaining from your application fee.
Withdrawal due to illness or incapacity – compassionate withdrawal
Candidates who withdraw from the exam within 30 days of the exam writing date because of illness or incapacity or other compassionate reasons (e.g., sudden illness in the family) will not be charged the late withdrawal fee if they provide written verification, such as a physician’s certificate, within two weeks after the advertised exam date.
Unreported absence
If you miss an exam session that you were scheduled to write and you do not inform CNA within the two weeks following the exam date, all fees are non-refundable. If you make a subsequent application to write the certification exam, you must submit a full application and pay the full fees.
If you have any questions about applying for certification, please contact the certification staff.
Rewrite and refund policies for unsuccessful candidates
If you do not obtain a passing score, you can apply to rewrite the certification exam. Exams are administered once a year. There is no limit to the number of times you can write the exam.
Until you pass the exam, the rewrite fee is the only fee you have to pay with each subsequent application. However, you must still follow the same procedures, submit all application documents and meet the appropriate deadlines.
If you fail the exam, none of your fees is refundable.
Cheating on the CNA certification exam
You will be deemed cheating and your application and exam administration will be dismissed if, during the certification exam, you engage in any of the following:
- using any books, papers, memoranda, calculators, audio or visual players or electronic devices including electronic watches, organizers, BlackBerrys, iPods, pagers or cell phones, or other memory aid devices other than those authorized by CNA;
- speaking or communicating with other candidates;
- purposely exposing written papers to the view of other candidates;
- looking at another candidate’s responses;
- copying another candidate’s responses;
- removing or attempting to remove exam material from the exam site; or
- engaging in any other similar, dishonest practices.
Non-discrimination clause
The CNA Certification Program does not discriminate against candidates on the basis of age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.
Denial, suspension or revocation of certification credential
Your CNA certification credential will be denied, suspended or revoked if you engage in any of the following:
- falsification of the CNA certification credential;
- falsification of any information requested by the CNA Certification Program;
- engagement in any activity that results in revocation, suspension, probation or other sanctions of the professional RN registration/licence by the nursing authority;
- misrepresentation of CNA certification status; and
- cheating on the CNA certification exam.
Updated: March 31, 2011
