Certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant-Dialysis Technician

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The law defines the CNA as an individual regardless of title who for compensation routinely performs nursing tasks delegated by a licensed nurse. This includes the Dialysis Technician.

There are new federal regulations being promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid which will take effect in April 2010. These new regulations may alter the certification requirement - initial, renewal, and endorsement (out-of-state transfers) – As information is received, this web page will be updated.

 Qualifications for CNA-DT include:

• Successful completion of a Maryland Board of Nursing approved CNA-DT training program (Click here for a link to the list of approved CNA-DT programs [PDF]);
• Completion of the Board’s Initial Application for nursing assistant certification;

Out-of-State Dialysis Technicians:

•  All out-of-state applicants must complete the Board’s certification process prior to practicing as a CNA-DT.
• Only those dialysis technicians who hold current active certification as a hemodialysis technician by BONENT may be certified directly to Maryland as a CNA-DT by completing an Initial Application and including a copy of the certification. 
• All other out-of-state candidates will be required to successfully complete a 
  Board approved CNA-DT training program’s final examination (both the written 
  examination and clinical competency demonstration) in order to be eligible for 
  CNA-DT certification. A Validation of Competency of the Out-of-State 
  Applicant form and an Initial CNA Application must be requested from the 
  Maryland Nursing Assistant Certification Program prior to contacting the 
  Maryland Board approved CNA-DT Program.
• Any out-of-state candidate who is unsuccessful on either the written or clinical component or both is required to complete a Maryland approved CNA-DT training program. 
  

Renewal:

• Certification as a CNA-DT is for a two-year period following the first renewal date. The CNA-DT will renew every other year on their birth month. 

• The CNA-DT must have practiced as a CNA-DT and have 16 hours of active practice within the two years immediately preceding their renewal. 

• The CNA-DT must also complete one (1) three hour continuing education course taught by an approved CNA-DT training program which includes but is not limited to:

a) Current state regulations related to the role of the CNA in dialysis;

b) Uses, actions, related precautions, and possible interactions of current medications used in the care of the ESRD patient;

c) New care procedures; and

d) Resources available to the CNA in dialysis which clarify and expand the knowledge of the CNA.