Kentucky SRNA Exam 2026: The Complete State Registered Nurse Aide Guide
In Kentucky, a Certified Nursing Assistant is officially called a State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) — but the job is the same: deliver hands-on personal care to residents in long-term care facilities, hospitals, hospice, and home-health settings under a licensed nurse's supervision. To work as an SRNA in Kentucky, you must complete a 75-hour state-approved training program, pass a two-part competency evaluation administered by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) using the D&S Headmaster TMU platform, and be listed on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry (KNAR) maintained by the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) in cooperation with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) / Kentucky Medicaid.
Kentucky is unique: it does NOT use Credentia, Pearson VUE, or Prometric. KCTCS is the sole approved testing vendor statewide, and scheduling runs through ky.tmutest.com. This guide walks you through everything Kentucky-specific: the exact 75-question KCTCS written blueprint (pulled straight from the current KCTCS candidate testing manual), the 5-of-31 skills evaluation, fees of $115–$135, the 3-attempts / 1-year rule, 24-month registry renewal, reciprocity from other states, and the KBN portal that replaced physical SRNA cards under 907 KAR 1:450. Every claim below is cross-referenced against KBN, CHFS, and KCTCS official sources for 2026 — including the official Kentucky Medicaid Nurse Aide candidate manual, which most other Kentucky SRNA guides online don't actually cite.
Quick-Look: Kentucky SRNA Exam at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official Name | State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) |
| Regulator | Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) + CHFS / Kentucky Medicaid |
| Test Vendor | Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) — uses D&S Headmaster TMU |
| Training Required | 75 hours minimum (59 classroom/lab + 16 supervised clinical) |
| Written Questions | Exactly 75 multiple-choice (fixed KCTCS blueprint, not "75–100") |
| Written Time | 2 hours |
| Written Passing Score | 70% — 53 or more correct out of 75 |
| Skills Tested | 5 randomly drawn from a 31-skill pool; vital signs is always one of the five |
| Skills Rule | All 5 must individually pass at 70% accuracy + 100% on every critical step — no "4 of 5" exception |
| Total Fee | $115–$135 depending on KCTCS college (written $40–$45 + skills $75–$90) |
| Oral Version | $55 in place of the written fee at colleges that offer it |
| Attempts Allowed | 3 within 1 year of training completion (3 within 4 months if employer-sponsored) |
| Renewal | Every 24 months — ≥ 8 paid nursing hours under licensed nurse supervision |
| Minimum Age | 18 (most programs) |
| SRNA Card | Physical cards no longer issued — verify via KBN Nurse Portal |
Start Your FREE Kentucky SRNA Prep Today
No signup, no credit card. Practice questions mapped to the official KCTCS 12-category test blueprint, AI explanations for every wrong answer, and the full 31-skill checklist with critical steps flagged.
How Kentucky SRNA Differs From a Generic CNA Exam
Most "CNA" material online is written for the national NNAAP / Credentia / Pearson VUE exam. Kentucky does NOT use that pathway. If you study generic CNA material — or even most other Kentucky guides, many of which still cite an outdated "34-skill, 4-of-5" framework — you will be blindsided by these Kentucky-specific facts:
- The title is SRNA, not CNA. Kentucky statutes, employers, and the KBN portal use "State Registered Nurse Aide." Your certificate will say SRNA.
- KCTCS is the sole testing vendor. Every Kentucky candidate tests through a KCTCS college (Bluegrass, Southcentral, Jefferson, Ashland, Madisonville, Owensboro, etc.) or online via the
ky.tmutest.comportal — never through Credentia or Prometric. - The written test is exactly 75 questions, not a range. The official KCTCS candidate manual lists a fixed 12-category, 75-item blueprint (see Step 3 below) — not the vague "75–100" figure repeated on most third-party sites.
- The skill pool currently has 31 tasks, not 34. Kentucky's official KCTCS Skills List Document (effective July 2024) names 31 distinct skills. You demonstrate 5, and vital signs is guaranteed to be one of them.
- There is no "pass 4 of 5" shortcut. The candidate manual requires you to "successfully demonstrate at least five (5) procedures" at 70% accuracy each, with 100% on every critical (bolded) step. Fail any one skill and you must repeat the entire 5-skill performance test — not just the failed skill.
- Two-hour written exam. Kentucky gives you more time than most states (Ohio and Georgia both use 90 minutes) — use it.
- No physical SRNA card. Since 907 KAR 1:450 was updated, KBN no longer issues or replaces printed SRNA cards. Employers verify status through the KBN Nurse Portal online.
- 1-year / 3-attempt window. Employed aides have just 4 months from hire to complete training AND pass; non-employed candidates get 1 year from training completion.
- Renewal is work-hour based, not CEU-based. 8 paid nursing hours in 24 months under licensed nurse supervision keeps the registry listing active.
- Unpaid KCTCS balances block testing. If you owe tuition, books, or fees to any KCTCS college, you can't register — and if a balance appears mid-process, KCTCS gives you 30 days to clear it or your completed exam is voided and you must retest and repay.
Kentucky SRNA Prerequisites (Before You Enroll)
Before a KCTCS or CHFS-approved program will accept you — and before you can sit for the KCTCS exam — Kentucky requires:
- Minimum age 18 for most state-approved programs (a handful of high-school HOSA partner programs accept 16 with parental consent).
- High school diploma or GED (required by the vast majority of programs and every Kentucky long-term care employer).
- Criminal background check — Kentucky uses AOC (Administrative Office of the Courts) and the Kentucky Nurse Aide Abuse Registry under 906 KAR 1:100. Substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, exploitation of a vulnerable adult, or misappropriation of resident property are disqualifying.
- TB screening — two-step PPD (Mantoux) or IGRA blood test with results within the past 12 months; positive PPD requires a clear chest X-ray.
- Immunizations: MMR, Tdap, varicella, hepatitis B series (or declination), annual flu, COVID-19 per clinical-site policy.
- Physical exam / health statement within the past 12 months stating you can lift 50 lbs and stand 8 hours.
- Valid Social Security card (bring the original to test day — no photo, no copy, no exceptions).
- Government-issued photo ID with signature (driver's license, state ID, passport).
Step 1: Complete a 75-Hour State-Approved Training Program
Federal OBRA law (42 CFR 483.152) sets a 75-hour floor, and Kentucky adopts that minimum exactly:
- 59 hours classroom + skills lab (theory: communication, infection control, safety, residents' rights, mental health, ADLs, basic nursing skills, restorative services)
- 16 hours supervised clinical practicum at a Kentucky-licensed long-term care facility (hands-on resident care under an RN)
Federal regulation also requires the first 16 hours of training to cover communication and interpersonal skills, infection control, safety/emergency procedures, promoting residents' rights, and recognizing/responding to cognitive impairment before a student has any direct, unsupervised contact with a resident — your program builds this into the early classroom hours.
Key rules:
- The program must be CHFS / Kentucky Medicaid approved under 907 KAR 1:450 — verify with the provider before paying tuition. Non-approved training does NOT qualify you for the exam.
- Programs typically run 3 to 10 weeks (full-time accelerated to part-time evenings).
- Tuition: $300–$1,300 depending on the provider — KCTCS colleges, universities, and private schools price differently, and Kentucky's Work Ready Scholarship and similar workforce grants can cover KCTCS tuition for eligible students. Nursing facilities often offer free training in exchange for a 90-day to 12-month employment commitment.
- Employer-sponsored accelerated path: Kentucky nursing facilities may employ you as a nurse aide for up to 4 months while you complete training and testing — federal law (42 CFR 483.156) and KY regulation allow it, and most facilities reimburse the exam fee on Day 1 of employment.
- Reimbursement: if you pay out of pocket and are not employed (or have an offer) on day one of training, Kentucky Medicaid will reimburse a portion of your training costs once you become employed by a long-term care facility within 12 months of completing the program.
- Training providers include KCTCS community colleges, the UK College of Nursing SRNA program, private career schools, high school HOSA programs, Red Cross Kentucky, and in-house nursing facility programs.
Step 2: Register for the KCTCS / D&S Headmaster Exam
After your training program submits your name to KCTCS Nurse Aide Testing, you'll receive TMU login credentials. Plan around these facts:
- Scheduling: Online via the TestMaster Universe (TMU) portal at ky.tmutest.com — this is the D&S Headmaster scheduling system that KCTCS uses. You'll create an account using the same legal name on your Social Security card.
- Fees (2026): Vary by KCTCS college because each college sets its own split of the same total. Two common patterns: $40 written + $75 skills = $115 total (e.g., Ashland/ACTC, Southcentral/SKYCTC), and $45 written + $90 skills = $135 total (e.g., Bluegrass CTC). Some colleges also offer an oral/audio exam for $55 in place of the written fee for candidates with documented literacy limitations. Confirm your exact fee with your local college before paying.
- Test sites: KCTCS colleges statewide — Bluegrass (Lexington), Jefferson (Louisville), Southcentral (Bowling Green), Ashland, Madisonville, Owensboro, Hazard, Somerset, Maysville, Hopkinsville, and others. Online written exams are also available via TMU online proctoring.
- Plan for at least 5 hours at the test site to complete both portions on a combined day — there's no published hard time limit for the skills portion as a whole; each skill is given a reasonable window, and you may get a 5-minute warning if you're running long on one skill.
- Results: Many colleges email scores within 48 hours through your TMU account; the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry update can take up to 30 days after KCTCS notifies KBN.
- Reschedule rule: Contact your KCTCS testing office at least 3 business days before your scheduled date or forfeit the fee; late rescheduling requires repayment.
- Good financial standing with KCTCS is required. You can't even register if you owe money on your nurse aide class. If a balance issue surfaces around your test date, KCTCS gives you 30 days to resolve it — after that, your completed test is destroyed and you must reschedule and repay the testing fee.
- KCTCS Nurse Aide Testing contact: (877) 528-2748 · NurseAideTesting@kctcs.edu
- BCTC local testing office: (859) 246-6723 · bl-nurseaidetesting@kctcs.edu
Pass the Kentucky SRNA on Your First Try — FREE
Our Kentucky SRNA practice bank mirrors the official 12-category KCTCS knowledge blueprint, with a full-length 75-question simulator and a dedicated 31-skill module covering every task on Kentucky's current list.
Step 3: Master the Written Knowledge Test (2 Hours, 75 Questions)
The Kentucky SRNA written exam is a fixed 75 multiple-choice questions delivered on the KCTCS TMU platform in paper-based, computer-based, or oral (audio) format, with a 2-hour time limit (about 96 seconds per question — a comfortable pace). Unlike a vague "75–100" range, KCTCS publishes an exact 12-category blueprint with a set number of questions per topic:
| Content Category | Questions | % of Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Nursing Skills | 10 | 13.3% |
| Client (Residents') Rights | 9 | 12.0% |
| Role / Responsibility | 9 | 12.0% |
| Disease Process | 9 | 12.0% |
| Safety | 7 | 9.3% |
| Communication | 6 | 8.0% |
| Infection Control | 6 | 8.0% |
| Care of the Cognitively/Physically Impaired | 5 | 6.7% |
| Data Collection | 4 | 5.3% |
| Mental Health | 4 | 5.3% |
| Personal Care | 4 | 5.3% |
| Aging Process & Restorative Care | 2 | 2.7% |
| Total | 75 | 100% |
Passing score: 70%, which is 53 or more correct out of 75 (52/75 = 69.3%, which falls just short — you need 53). The oral version reads the same 75 questions aloud through headphones on the same 2-hour timer, and per the KCTCS testing manual, guessing is never penalized — every question is scored right or wrong with no deduction for an incorrect guess.
Five Highest-Yield Written-Test Topics (Kentucky-Specific)
- Basic Nursing Skills (10 of 75 questions — the single largest category). Vital signs, ADLs woven into nursing-skill scenarios, positioning, infection control crossover, and safety.
- Client Rights, Role/Responsibility, and Disease Process (9 questions each). OBRA rights, scope of practice and chain of command, and common chronic conditions (diabetes, dementia, CHF, COPD) nurse aides will see daily.
- Standard vs. transmission-based precautions (Infection Control). When to use gown, gloves, mask, or N95; contact vs. droplet vs. airborne isolation.
- Abuse and neglect reporting (Kentucky-specific overlay on Client Rights/Role). Kentucky's mandatory-reporter statute (KRS 209.030) requires an immediate verbal report to the charge nurse and a written incident report.
- Recognizing and reporting a change in condition (Data Collection/Disease Process). Vital-sign abnormalities, skin breakdown, mental-status shifts, and choking/aspiration signs nurse aides must escalate, not treat.
Step 4: Master All 31 Kentucky Skills (You'll Demonstrate 5)
On skills test day, you perform 5 randomly selected skills, observed by an evaluator. Vital signs (BP, pulse, and respirations) is guaranteed to be one of the five — blood pressure and pulse are taken on a mechanical arm trainer by default, though you can request to perform them on a live person (assignment of who plays that role is up to the evaluator). According to the official KCTCS candidate manual, three of your five skills are typically tested together in a single care scenario (for example: donning PPE, giving a bed bath, and hand hygiene as one connected sequence), with two additional skills assessed independently.
The pass rule has no shortcuts: you must perform each of the 5 skills at 70% accuracy or better, with 100% accuracy on every critical (bolded) step in that skill. A critical step is one tied to resident/aide physical safety or infection control (medical asepsis). If you fail even one of the five skills, Kentucky's rule is to repeat the entire performance test — all five skills again — not just the one you missed. (There is no Kentucky "pass 4 of 5 overall" exception, despite that claim circulating on other sites.)
The Kentucky 31-Skill Pool (Official KCTCS Skills List, current as of 2026)
- Applying an Anti-Embolic Stocking
- Bed Bath — Full
- Bed Making — Occupied
- Bed Making — Unoccupied/Closed (with fitted sheets)
- Brief Change
- Catheter Care
- Clearing the Obstructed Airway — Conscious Adult
- Denture Care — Cleaning Upper or Lower Denture
- Donning and Doffing PPE
- Dressing a Resident with an Affected (Weak) Side
- Emptying a Urinary Drainage Bag
- Feeding a Dependent Resident
- Giving Nail Care
- Giving the Bedpan
- Hand Hygiene
- Measure & Record Voided Output
- Partial Bed Bath (assisting resident with bath)
- Passive Range of Motion Exercise — Shoulder
- Passive Range of Motion Exercise — Hip
- Perineal Care for a Female
- Perineal Care for a Male
- Position Resident in Bed on Side / Lateral
- Provide Oral Care to the Unconscious Resident
- Range of Motion Exercise — Elbow
- Range of Motion Exercise — Wrist
- Resident Positioning and Alignment — Fowler's
- Resident Positioning and Alignment — Supine
- Shaving the Person's Face with a Safety Razor
- Transfer Resident from Bed to Wheelchair Using a Transfer Belt
- Transfer Resident from Wheelchair to a Bed
- Vital Signs: Count and Record BP, Radial Pulse, and Respirations
Verified Critical Steps to Drill (straight from the KCTCS candidate manual)
| Skill | Verified Critical Detail |
|---|---|
| Vital Signs | Radial pulse and respirations may be counted for a full 60 seconds or 30 seconds × 2 — both are acceptable; recorded pulse/respirations must be within 4 of the evaluator's count, and BP within 4 mmHg systolic/diastolic |
| Perineal Care (Female/Male) | Always front-to-back / top-to-bottom, one stroke per pass, fresh area of the washcloth for every stroke |
| Denture Care | Rinse and brush under cool or warm running water — never hot, which can warp acrylic |
| Hand Hygiene | Required at the start and end of every skill; you tell the evaluator when you're performing it after the first demonstration rather than re-washing for each skill |
| Transfers (Bed↔Wheelchair) | Lock wheelchair brakes and bed wheels before any transfer attempt |
Steps Required on Every Single Skill
The candidate manual repeats the same opening and closing sequence on every procedure — miss these and you fail the skill regardless of how well you perform the rest:
- Knock, greet the resident by name, identify yourself, and explain the procedure
- Provide privacy — close the door or pull the curtain
- Perform hand hygiene before starting
- At the end: leave the resident in a position of safety and comfort, lower the bed, place the call light within reach, perform hand hygiene again, and report/record
- Maintain respectful, courteous interpersonal interactions throughout — this is itself a graded step on every skill
Step 5: 6-Week Kentucky SRNA Study Plan (50–80 Hours)
| Week | Hours | Focus | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8–10 | Knowledge foundation | Role/responsibility, communication, residents' rights, infection control; 50 practice Qs |
| 2 | 8–10 | Safety + Personal Care | PPE, fire/fall safety, bed making, bathing, perineal care |
| 3 | 10–12 | Basic Nursing Skills (largest test category) | Vital signs (manual BP, pulse, respirations), data collection, positioning, ROM |
| 4 | 8–10 | Disease Process, Mental Health, Aging/Restorative | Chronic conditions, dementia care, KRS 209 abuse reporting |
| 5 | 10–12 | Full skills lab | All 31 skills with a study partner; record yourself; check every critical step |
| 6 | 6–10 | Final review | 2–3 full-length 75-question practice exams; weakest skills re-drilled; rest day before test |
Most candidates who pass on the first attempt log 50–80 total hours of self-study on top of the 75-hour training program.
Practice Like It's Test Day
Use Test Mode to time yourself against the real 75-question / 2-hour written format, then drill the 31-skill module until the universal opening/closing steps become reflex.
Kentucky-Specific Pitfalls That Fail Candidates
After reviewing the official KCTCS candidate manual and Kentucky testing logistics, these are the most common reasons Kentucky candidates fail:
- Confusing SRNA with CNA on official paperwork. Kentucky state forms, employer applications, and the KBN Nurse Portal require "State Registered Nurse Aide" — using "CNA" can cause delays.
- Missing the 4-month employer window. If a Kentucky nursing facility hires you as a nurse aide before certification, you have just 4 months from hire to complete training AND pass — otherwise you cannot continue providing direct care.
- Forgetting your original Social Security card. Photos and copies are rejected outright — KCTCS will turn you away with no exceptions and you'll forfeit your testing fee.
- Assuming you can miss one skill. There is no "4 of 5" leniency — fail one skill and you redo the entire 5-skill performance test on a future date.
- Skipping hand hygiene at the start and end of every skill. It's graded as part of the universal opening/closing sequence on each task, not just on the standalone Hand Hygiene skill.
- Telling the resident you're "counting respirations." Saying it aloud changes their breathing — count silently while appearing to still take the pulse.
- Using hot water on dentures. Cool or warm only — heat can warp denture acrylic. This is an auto-fail critical step on the denture skill.
- Reversing perineal-care direction. Always front-to-back / top-to-bottom, one stroke per pass with a fresh part of the washcloth. Auto-fail if reversed.
- Failing to lock wheelchair and bed brakes before any transfer. Auto-fail on every transfer skill.
- Letting an unpaid KCTCS balance slip through. An outstanding tuition or fee balance blocks registration outright, and a balance that surfaces near your test date can void a completed exam if not cleared within 30 days.
- Missing the 3-attempts / 1-year window. If you don't pass within 1 year and 3 tries of training completion (or 4 months if employer-sponsored), you must retake the entire 75-hour training program.
Test-Day Checklist (KCTCS / D&S Headmaster Kentucky)
Bring:
- Original Social Security card (NOT a photo or copy — auto-rejection without it)
- Government-issued photo ID with signature (driver's license, state ID, passport)
- Admission letter / TMU scheduling confirmation
- Two #2 pencils with erasers (paper-based sites)
- Watch with a second hand (not a smartwatch — those are prohibited in the test room) for counting pulse and respirations
- Full clinical scrubs and closed-toe non-slip shoes
- Hair tied back, no artificial nails, short natural nails, no jewelry except a plain wedding band and small studs
Leave at home:
- Cell phone, smartwatch, fitness tracker, translation devices (prohibited in the test room; lockers are usually provided)
- Bags, backpacks, food, drinks, and any reference materials or notes
- Hats, gum, strong perfume
Arrive on time. Candidates who arrive late may be treated as a no-show, forfeiting the testing fee and requiring a full reschedule.
The Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry: Listing, Renewal & Reciprocity
Listing (After You Pass)
Once you pass both portions, KCTCS notifies the Kentucky Board of Nursing within 30 days of your successful competency evaluation, and KBN adds you to the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry. Since 907 KAR 1:450 was updated, physical SRNA cards are no longer issued — employers verify your status online at the KBN Nurse Portal.
Renewal (Every 24 Months)
Kentucky uses work-based renewal, not continuing-education-based renewal:
- Work at least 8 paid nursing or nursing-related hours within the 24-month renewal window, under a licensed nurse's supervision.
- Volunteer hours do NOT count.
- KBN no longer mails renewal reminders or certification letters — you must track your own expiration date through the Nurse Portal.
- No renewal fee — registry maintenance is FREE.
- If your registration lapses, the path back is retaking the entire 75-hour training program and passing the KCTCS competency evaluation again — Kentucky does not offer an expedited reactivation shortcut once the 24-month window closes without the 8 paid hours.
- 12-hour annual in-service rule: If you work in a long-term care facility, federal OBRA requires 12 hours of employer-provided in-service training each calendar year (infection control, abuse prevention, residents' rights, dementia care). Your employer — not you — tracks this, but missed in-services can block direct resident care until you catch up.
Reciprocity (Transfer Into Kentucky)
Kentucky accepts CNA/SRNA transfers from candidates with active status on another state's registry, submitted online through the KBN Nurse Portal at kybn.boardsofnursing.org/kybn.
Requirements:
- Active status on another state's Nurse Aide Registry with no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation
- Out-of-state SRNA/CNA certification or registration number
Process (2026 Nurse Portal workflow):
- Go to kybn.boardsofnursing.org/kybn → create or log in to your Nurse Portal account.
- From the Portal Dashboard click "Apply for a License" → select the SRNA Reciprocity Application.
- Provide your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, mailing address, and your home-state certification/registration number.
- Upload supporting documents — typically your Social Security card, driver's license, and out-of-state certification; a recent paystub may also be requested as evidence of compensated nursing hours.
- If you do not have active status anywhere, you'll instead need to complete an approved Kentucky training course and the KCTCS competency evaluation.
- Fee: FREE — Kentucky charges no reciprocity application fee.
License Verification (Employers)
Employers and candidates can verify any Kentucky SRNA's active status on the KBN License Verification Portal at kybn.boardsofnursing.org/licenselookup. KBN has moved to the Nursys national license database, so verification is online and available continuously.
Kentucky Contacts (2026)
- KBN Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry (KNAR): (888) 530-1919 (toll-free 800-305-2042) · kbn.knar@ky.gov
- KBN General Licensure: (502) 429-3300
- KCTCS Nurse Aide Testing (statewide): (877) 528-2748 · NurseAideTesting@kctcs.edu
- Bluegrass CTC Nurse Aide Testing: (859) 246-6723 · bl-nurseaidetesting@kctcs.edu
- Mailing Address: Kentucky Board of Nursing, 312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40222
- CHFS Nurse Aide Training (approved programs + 907 KAR 1:450): chfs.ky.gov
Kentucky SRNA Career Outlook & Salary (2026)
Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of nursing assistants and orderlies to grow about 2% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the average occupation — but still generates roughly 211,800 average annual job openings nationwide, mostly from workers transferring to other occupations or leaving the workforce. Kentucky's aging population and concentration of long-term care facilities around Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky keep local demand for SRNAs steady even with modest national growth.
Current Kentucky pay data from two independent 2026 sources, which together give a realistic range (actual pay varies heavily by setting, shift, and employer):
| Source (as of June 2026) | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Salary.com average | ~$16.00 | ~$32,668 |
| Indeed average (job-posting based) | ~$18.24 | ~$37,900 (est.) |
| BLS national median (nursing assistants, May 2024) | ~$19.00 | $39,530 |
Indeed's highest-paying nearby Kentucky markets in its dataset were Nicholasville ($19.37/hr), Lexington ($19.00/hr), and Lancaster (~$18.88/hr). Hospital and acute-care settings, hospice, and unionized facilities typically pay above these averages; rural skilled-nursing facilities and home health typically pay at or below them. Sign-on bonuses are common at larger Louisville and Lexington hospital systems (Norton, Baptist Health, UK HealthCare, UofL Health) during periods of staffing shortage.
SRNA → KMA → LPN → RN Kentucky Career Ladder
Kentucky is one of the better states for nurse-aide-to-RN bridging thanks to KCTCS articulation agreements with state universities:
- SRNA → Kentucky Medication Aide (KMA): a short add-on program offered at several KCTCS colleges — KMAs can administer non-parenteral medications in long-term care settings under Kentucky regulation.
- SRNA → LPN: roughly 12–18 months at any KCTCS college.
- LPN → ADN (RN): typically 1–2 additional years — Jefferson CTC, BCTC, and SKYCTC all offer LPN-to-RN bridge tracks.
- ADN → BSN: commonly 12–24 months online through UK, UofL, WKU, EKU, or NKU.
Many SRNAs work part-time at nursing facilities — which often offer tuition reimbursement — while completing their nursing degree.
Pass the Kentucky SRNA With Confidence
Our free Kentucky SRNA prep program includes:
- 200+ practice questions aligned to the official 12-category KCTCS knowledge blueprint
- Full 31-skill checklist with critical steps flagged
- AI-powered explanations on every wrong answer
- Full-length 75-question simulator that mirrors Kentucky's exact 2-hour written exam
- Updated for 2026 with the latest KBN, CHFS, and KCTCS rules
No signup required. No credit card. Just open the page and start practicing.
Official Kentucky SRNA Resources
- Kentucky Board of Nursing — SRNA home — official regulator
- Kentucky Board of Nursing — How to Become an SRNA
- Kentucky Board of Nursing — SRNA Reciprocity
- KBN Nurse Portal — apply for reciprocity, renew, check status
- KBN License Verification Portal — employer lookup by name, license, or NCSBN ID
- Cabinet for Health and Family Services — Nurse Aide Training — approved programs, regulation 907 KAR 1:450
- KCTCS Nurse Aide Training Programs — statewide college directory
- KCTCS Online SRNA Testing Portal — exam fees and TMU details
- KCTCS TMU Scheduling Portal — create your account, schedule your exam
- KCTCS Nurse Aide Testing: (877) 528-2748 · NurseAideTesting@kctcs.edu
- KBN Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry: (888) 530-1919 · kbn.knar@ky.gov
- KBN General Licensure: (502) 429-3300
Study guide on Mometrix
Buy on Amazon
Practice exams on ExamEdge
Take courses on Udemy