2.5 NAR Versus NAC and the Nursing Home Four-Month Rule

Two Similar Terms, Different Meanings

Washington uses both Nursing Assistant Registered (NAR) and Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) language. They are not the same status. The source brief says NAR requires no formal training. It also says registered nursing assistants employed in a nursing home have four months to complete approved training and testing for certification. NAC is the official certified credential that many people search for as Washington CNA. Confusing NAR and NAC can lead to bad planning, especially for candidates who begin work before completing certification.

The four-month nursing home rule is a timing rule, not a study suggestion. If a registered nursing assistant is employed in a nursing home, the brief states that the person has four months to complete approved training and testing for certification. A candidate in that situation should immediately understand the approved training requirement, the current skills-first exam process, and any route or authorization steps. Waiting until the end of the period to learn the exam sequence is risky because Washington expects candidates to take skills first and pass skills before registering for the written test.

NAR status also should not be treated as proof that the candidate has passed the NAC exam. The NAC exam has two parts: an in-person Skills Test and an online Knowledge Test. Most training programs provide skills testing, and WABON regional scheduling is used when needed. The online knowledge test is the Credentia lane in Washington. Candidates must pass both parts to be considered for certification. Those exam requirements are separate from simply being registered.

For study planning, NAR candidates should build backward from the four-month requirement if it applies. The plan should include approved training, skills practice, program or regional skills testing instructions, knowledge exam preparation, and correct Credentia registration when eligible. The written exam has 70 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, and the oral exam is available as an alternative when requested on the application.

If a registered nursing assistant has an unusual background, a non-routine route may also require a complete DOH Credentialing application and Authorization to Test before registering. The main lesson is simple: NAR can be an entry status, but NAC certification requires completing the required process. Candidates should track the four-month window with exact dates from employment records rather than relying on memory.