Since February 1, 2005, the New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) selects the Prometric to manage the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Program (NACEP) testing and registry services effective February 1, 2005, to assure safety, quality care and improvement of health care services.

The New Mexico State Registry Provides:

• Details  about nurse aides registered with the State of New Mexico
• Information on official regulations and guidelines for nurse aides in qualified long term care facilities
• Approval to test candidates who fall into one of the eligibility categories
• Information about reciprocity for nurse aides certified in another state

A CNA in New Mexico should complete federal and state approved minimum 75 hours of nursing aide training programs, which includes classroom and clinical hand-on trainings. The clinical training component should be minimum 16 hours as required by the state. Before clinical training, the nursing students are prevented to meet actual residents but after successful classroom training, they can work with actual patients. All nursing aide trainings should be completed under the strict supervision of registered or licensed nurse.  A nursing aide gets certification after training and passing of competency evaluation test. After certification, he/she can work legally in any hospitals, nursing homes and long term care units.

Any CNA, who has completed certified nursing aide programs and passed competency evaluation test in another state but seeks employment in health care centers in New Mexico, may request placement on the New Mexico Registry. The certificate must be active and in good status. Certain documents may be asked by the registry for the verification purpose and after successful verification name of CNA can be added to registry.

CNA training programs are offered in. community colleges, high schools, community centers, adult learning institutes, and long-term care facilities where nursing aide is employed.

The CNA pay scale varies per state and employer throughout the United States depending upon work experience.

In New Mexico CNAs earn an average of $22,580 to $30,520 per year based on work experience.

Nursing Aide Programs in New Mexico:

Central New Mexico Community College – Albuquerque
525 Buena Vista Dr. SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106

Clovis Community College CNA Course
417 Schepps Boulevard, Clovis, NM 88101

Dona Ana Community College – Las Cruces
3400 South Espina Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003

Mesalands Community College Nurse Aide Class – Tucumcari
911 South 10th Street, Tucumcari, NM 88401

Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute
525 Buena Vista Dr. SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106

Eastern New Mexico University Nurse Aide Program – Roswell
52 University Blvd., Roswell, NM 88203

New Mexico State University (NMSU) Nurse Aide Training Program – Alamogordo
2400 North Scenic Drive, Alamogordo, New Mexico88310

New Mexico State University (NMSU) – Carlsbad
1500 University Drive, Carlsbad, NM 88220

New Mexico State University (NMSU) Nurse Assistant Program – Grants
1500 North 3rd Street, Grants, New Mexico 87020

The University of New Mexico CNA Training Course – Valencia
280 La Entrada Rd., Los Lunas, NM 87031

University of New Mexico – Gallup
200 College Road, Gallup New Mexico 87301

San Juan College Nurse Aide Program – Farmington
4601 College Boulevard, Farmington, NM 87402

Northen New Mexico College C.N.A. Class – Española
921 Paseo de Onate, Espanola, New Mexico 87532

Northen New Mexico College Nurse Aide Course – El Rito
P.O. Box 160, El Rito, NM 87530

Pima Medical Institute CNA Program
957 South Dobson Rd., Mesa, AZ 85202