UNAR Holiday Hours

    The UNAR offices will be closed on Thursday, April 6, 2023 and Friday, April 7, 2023 for Spring Break. Our office will reopen on Monday, April 10, 2023 at 9:00 am. 

    Renewals, applications, and general questions can be emailed to office@utahcnaregistry.com

    All emails will be processed in the order they were received. To verify that your renewal has been processed, check your TMU account or our on-line registry prior to contacting our staff.

    Multiple emails regarding your request will slow processing time as each request will need to be reviewed before responding. Unless there is additional information to add, please only submit a single request. 

Frequently Asked Questions

State Testing

Am I able to reschedule my test?

Rescheduling or cancelling your testing appointments must be completed at least 1 full business day prior to your scheduled appointment. Any changes to your testing appointments are completed through your TMU account.

If you fail to arrive at your scheduled appointment, you will be considered a no-show and will forfeit your testing fee. If you need assistance with your testing appointment, contact either the testing site where your test is scheduled or email UNAR staff at office@utahcnaregistry.com.

Click here for Testing Site Information

Can I have my cell phone or smart watch during testing?

Absolutely not. Having your cell phone out or smart watch in view is considered cheating and you will be denied certification.

Can my testing fees be refunded?

Testing fees are refundable up to 6 months after payment is made. After that 6 month period, testing fees are non-refundable. To request a refund, email your name, date of birth, last 4-digits of your social security number, and the reason for your request to office@utahcnaregistry.com

How long do I have to test?

You are strongly encouraged to complete your testing within 90 days of completion of your training program. Success rates decline for applicants who postpone testing. You have up to 1 full year from your training completion date to test. If more than 1 year has passed since your training completion, you will not be eligible to test. Extensions are not given to this 1-year timeframe for any reason.

How long do I have to wait to reschedule if I fail my test?

There is no waiting period before you can reschedule your test if you fail your test. We do recommend that you give yourself enough time to review your testing details to see what you missed and, if needed, some time to study.

Click here for UNAR's State Certification Exam Guide

I have passed both my knowledge and skill tests. Do I get a certificate or some other proof of certification?

Once you have passed both your tests, an official state certificate with wallet card will be mailed out to you at the address in your TMU account.

If your certificate is returned to UNAR as non-deliverable or if there is a change to your address after your certificate has been mailed out, you will need to submit a Duplicate Certificate Application and pay the appropriate fee before we will send out another certificate.

You are also able to print an official certificate verification page by visiting our on-line registry at ut.tmuniverse.com

 

Click here for the Duplicate Certificate Application

What are the fees for taking the exam?

Currently, the knowledge exam is $35, and the skill exam is $55 for a total of $90 for both exams. This $90 only covers your initial testing attempts. If you fail either test, you are required to pay the testing fee for that test in order to retest.

What are the ID requirements?

A current, valid, photo ID must be presented at the time of testing and must be the original ID. (Photo, fax, or digital copies will not be accepted.) The first and last name on your ID must match the first and last name in your TMU account. ID must have an expiration date and must be current. For acceptable forms of ID see the UNAR State Certification Exam Guide.

If you need to change your name, fill out and submit our Name Change Application & New Certificate Request, making sure to include the required documentation. All name changes must be requested at least 3 days prior to any testing appointment.

Click here for the UNAR State Certification Exam Guide

Click here for the Name Change Application & New Certificate Request

What can I do if I don't agree with my testing results?

If you believe your skills exam was scored inaccurately, you may request a review of your exam by submitting a completed Skills Exam Results Review Form along with the applicable fee to office@utahcnaregistry.com  within 14 days of your testing event. Your test results will be reviewed by the UNAR State Skills Specialist, and you will be notified of the decision by email.

Click here for the Skills Exam Results Review Form

What do I do if I fail a test?

You have 3 attempts to pass both your knowledge and skill tests. While there is no waiting period between when you can retest, we strongly encourage students to review their test details in their TMU accounts and spend some time studying what they missed before retesting. Once you have paid your retest fee through your TMU account, you will be able to reschedule your testing appointment.

What if English is my second language?

The official version of the certification exam is the English version. Translation dictionaries are allowed but must be checked by test site personnel to assure that no definitions are included in the dictionary and that it is not a source of handwritten text or materials that could be used in violation of the UNAR cheating policy.

Use of a translation dictionary is at the examinee's own discretion. UNAR makes no warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or correctness of any translation made from English to any other language by a translation dictionary.

Third party online translation software or other tools are not allowed. Use by an applicant of any written, audio, or video material or any other mechanism not specifically authorized during the examination for the purpose of assisting an examinee in the examination will be considered cheating.

What if I need special ADA accommodations?

Accommodations for testing may be requested by completing the ADA Accommodations Request form. The completed form and supporting documentation should be submitted to the UNAR Director as directed on the form.

An audio version of the knowledge test is available to all students and is not considered an ADA accommodation. Audio can be requested through your TMU account under your Profile information. If assistance is needed, contact either your program instructor or UNAR staff at office@utahcnaregistry.com.

All accommodations must be requested and set up before scheduling your testing appointments.

Click here for the ADA Accommodations Request form

What score is considered passing?

To pass the knowledge test, you must receive a minimum score of 75%. This means you must answer a minimum of 57 questions correctly. You have up to 2 hours to complete the exam.

In order to pass the skills test you will be expected to perform 5 random skills. You must receive a minimum score of 80% for each skill performed along with 100% of key steps and complete testing within 45 minutes.

What should I know about test security?

We have a zero-tolerance cheating policy. Cheating will result in dismissal from the current test and/or denial of any further testing or certification. Cheating includes but is not limited to;

  • Audio or video recording of any portion of any exam.
  • Communication between examinees inside of the examination room or facility during the course of the examination.
  • Communication about the examination with anyone outside of the examination room or facility during the course of the examination.
  • Copying another examinee’s answers or looking at another examinee’s answers while an examination is in progress.
  • Permitting anyone to copy answers to the examination.
  • Substitution of any other individual acting as the applicant in the place of the applicant during the competency exams.
  • Use by an applicant of any written, audio or video material or any other mechanism not specifically authorized during the examination for the purpose of assisting an examinee in the examination.
  • Obtaining, using, buying, selling, possession of or having access to a copy of the examination prior to administration of the examination.
  • Gaining or attempting to gain access to the exam through any fraudulent means.
  • Visible possession of a cell phone or smart watch.
  • Veering away from the test site webpage to any other webpage with the intent of searching for answers on the web including using websites to change the wording of the test into any other language, or any other type of web site searches meant to aid the student in obtaining answers to the test.
When do I receive the results of my tests?

The results of your knowledge test will be available in your TMU account approximately 24 hours after you have completed testing. If it has been more than 2 business days and you do not have your results, email UNAR staff at unar@davistech.edu. Make sure to include your full name, date of birth, date of testing, and testing site.

The results of your skill test will be available 2-3 business days after you have completed testing. During the months of January, May, June and December, results may be delayed due to the high volume of testing events. If it has been more than 4 business days and you do not have your results, email UNAR staff at unar@davistech.edu. Make sure to include your full name, date of birth, date of testing, and testing site.

Where can I find a list of your testing sites?

A Testing Site document can be found on the home page and the scheduling page of your TMU account. Click on the blue Testing Site document link and a PDF document will open with our testing sites locations, contact information and ways to schedule their knowledge and skill testing appointments.

 

Click here for Test Site Locations

Where do I pay my testing fees?

All testing fees are paid directly through your TMU account and must be paid prior to scheduling your testing appointments. After you have logged into your TMU account, click on the testing tab, add the test(s) you would like to pay for into your cart, and then follow the directions on the screen to enter your credit card information.

 

Click here for UNAR’s TMU Tutorial

Where do I test to become certified?

There are multiple testing sites across Utah. Once you have paid your testing fees you will be able to schedule your testing appointments through your TMU account. The scheduling feature will show you all available dates and times that are currently available. These dates can change frequently as students schedule out of testing events and testing sites add new events.

Who pays for testing and any retesting?

Testing fees are generally the responsibility of the student. Testing fees are paid prior to being able to schedule your testing appointments. Testing fees are non-refundable.

Training Programs in Utah

Can I become certified without taking a training program?

If you are a nursing student who has completed the course Fundamentals of Nursing within the past 2 years, you are eligible to apply to take the state CNA knowledge and skill tests. You will need to fill out and submit our Nursing Student Waiver Application along with an official, sealed copy of your transcript and the required processing fee to UNAR. Nursing students are given 1 year and 3 attempts to pass both the knowledge and skills portions of the exam. If you are unable to pass either test, you will need to complete a UNAR approved NATCE program.

If you have an active certificate in another state, you can become certified in Utah through our reciprocity process.

 

Click here for our Nursing Student Waiver Application

Click here for our Reciprocity Application

Can I get reimbursed by my facility?

Some, but not all facilities, are required to provide reimbursement for training and testing. Those that are required are facilities that are Medicare and/or Medicaid certified by the Health Facility Licensing & Certification division of the Utah Department of Health

How much does training cost?

Each training program sets their own cost. Contact the program that you are interested in for more information. Some programs are able to offer financial assistance or scholarships.

What is the 120-day rule?

Facilities that are required by OBRA mandates to have CNA’s on staff may hire an employee who has never been certified to work as a nursing assistant for up to 120 days. If the employee does not become certified within those 120 days, they can no longer work as a nursing assistant. If they continue to work past the 120 days, the facility may face penalties from the Utah Department of Health Facility Licensing & Certification. If your certification has expired or if you have ever held a Utah CNA certificate, this 120-day rule does not apply to you.

Where do I find a CNA training program?
Who pays for training?

The student is responsible for payment of all training and testing fees unless they are employed by or have received an offer of employment from the facility that is providing the training program. If so, you cannot be charged for any portion of the program. This includes textbooks or other required course materials.

The Utah Nursing Assistant Registry

Can I work in Utah with no Certificate?

You must be certified in Utah to work as a CNA. You cannot work as a CNA in Utah with an out of state CNA certificate. If you are currently a CNA in another state, you may submit a Reciprocity Application to become certified in Utah. You must be current and active in your home state for the Reciprocity Application to be approved.

 

Click here for our Reciprocity Application

How do I contact UNAR?

Utah Nursing Assistant Registry                                 

450 Simmons Way #700                                              

Kaysville, UT  84037

unar@davistech.edu  |  utahcna.com 

What are the job possibilities?

CNA’s are in very high demand and work in many settings such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, home care companies and others.

What is a CNA?

CNA is an acronym for certified nursing assistant. A CNA in the State of Utah is certified through the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry and works under the direction of a licensed nurse assisting patients with activities of daily living and performing basic nursing skills. If you have not become certified or have allowed your certification to lapse, you may not work as a CNA or identify yourself as a CNA. If your certificate is expired and you continue to work, your facility may face penalties from the Utah Department of Health Facility Licensing & Certification.

What is The Utah Nursing Assistant Registry?

The Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR) is a list of names of all currently certified nursing assistants in Utah.

Reciprocity

Do I lose my certification in my home state when I transfer into Utah?

No, but renewing your certification in Utah will not renew your certification in the other state. If you wish to maintain certification in the other state, you will need to stay up-to-date with the requirements of that state. Many CNA’s hold dual certifications so that they can work as travelling CNA’s. As long as you renew your Utah certificate every 2 years, you can continue holding your Utah certificate.

How can I get a Verification Letter?

If you need an official Verification Letter, you will want to fill out and submit our Reciprocity Application. On Page 1 near the bottom of the page, there is a space where you can indicate your need for a Verification Letter. You will also need to indicate where the Verification Letter needs to be emailed and/or mailed. Make sure to include all necessary information. You can mail or email your Application as indicated in the instructions. The completed packet you will submit includes:

  • Reciprocity Application page 1
  • Reciprocity Application page 2
  • Copy of Photo ID
  • Processing Fee (including, credit card number, expiration date, authorized signature, billing city, state and zip code)

Processing time is approximately 3-5 business days. You will receive an email once your Application has been processed.

 

Click here for the Reciprocity Application

How do I transfer my CNA certificate INTO Utah?

Complete and submit the Reciprocity Application which can be accessed by following the link below.

 

Click here for the Reciprocity Application

How do I transfer my CNA certificate OUT of Utah?

Contact the state you want to transfer to in order to obtain their application, find out their fees and obtain any other information you will need to know. Many states require that you provide a Credential Verification Form from your home state of certification. If they do not, Utah does not need to be involved and you will work directly with your new state. If they do require a Credential Verification Form, you will need to fill out and submit our Reciprocity Application

 

Click here for the Reciprocity Application

What is reciprocity?

Reciprocity is the means by which a currently certified (not expired) CNA can transfer their certificate into or out of Utah.

Renewing Your Certificate

Do volunteer hours count toward renewing my certificate?

No, volunteer hours do not count toward the 200 paid hour requirement.

How can I check the status of my renewal?

Log into your TMU portal. If your certificate has been renewed, you will be able to see this under your certification information. You can also check your status by visiting the Utah State Registry at ut.tmuniverse.com. We do attempt to process renewal forms the same day that we receive them but processing can take 3-5 business days. During busy times, preference will be given to late renewals, those that paid the Priority Processing Fee and current month renewals first.

How can I submit my completed renewal form?

You can submit your completed renewal form by email to unar@davistech.edu or by mail to UNAR’s address which is listed on the top left corner of your renewal form. Make sure you have signed, dated and included any fees necessary before you submit your renewal form. If you submit your renewal form by email, do not submit your form again by mail. You will receive an email acknowledging your submission.

How do I know when my certificate expires?

The expiration date is listed on your certificate. You can also log into your TMU portal using your username and password. Once there you will see your current certification status, certificate number, and renewal history. Your certification is valid for 2 years. In addition, you will receive an email and text message 90, 60, and 30 days prior to your expiration date. It is important to keep your email and phone number current so that you can receive these notifications.

How do I obtain my renewal form?

Your renewal application is available by logging into your TMU portal. On your home page, click on the Click here to see your eligible renewals tab. This will open up a PDF version of your renewal form. Print this form out and take it to your current or previous employer who will verify and sign off on your hours. Renewal forms will be available 90 days prior to your expiration date and 1 year after your expiration date.

What do I do about renewing if I am on a religious mission?

Timely renewal is still the expectation. Failure to renew may result in loss of certification. It is advised that you get the 200 required work hours before leaving on a mission.

You will want to give your TMU portal information to your parents or person with power of attorney. This individual will then log into your TMU portal, print out your renewal form, and take it to your employer to have signed when your renewal is due.

The parent/guardian may sign in place of the CNA. Simply indicate under the CNA’s signature block their relationship to the CNA and that the CNA is on a religious mission. In addition, the CNA may want to change their email address and phone number in their portal to that of the personal who will be responsible for their renewal form so that they will receive the email and text reminders.

What do I do if my employer is refusing to sign my renewal notice?

Please contact our office at (801) 547-9947. We would be happy to find out the details of the situation and offer advice.

What if my certificate is expired?

You may renew your certification up to 6 months after expiration by meeting all renewal requirements and submitting your renewal application and applicable late fees.

If you are between 6 and 24 months expired, you can recertify by successfully passing the state knowledge and skills certification exams.

If you are more than 24 months expired, you will need to complete another training program and pass the state certification exams.

Click here for the Expired CNA Variance Request

What if my name or address has changed?

It is your responsibility to log into your TMU portal and update your address, phone number, or email address. If you need to change your name, fill out the Name Change/Name Correction form. Make sure to include at least one of the documents listed as proof of the name change.

 

Click here for the Name Change/Name Correction form

What if my renewal form is late?

Working on an expired certificate is not allowed by the Utah Health Facility Licensing & Certification agency. Your employer can face disciplinary action by the agency for allowing you to work with an expired certificate. If your renewal form is received late, we will use the postmark or date the email was sent to determine late fees. Late fees are outlined on page 2 of your renewal form.

What is required to renew my certificate?

You must complete a minimum of 200 paid hours of nursing assistant related work under the direction of a licensed nurse in order to renew. Your renewal notice must be signed by an LPN, RN, ARPN, or authorized Human Resources representative and returned to our office before your expiration date.

Will I receive a new certificate?

Your new certificate with wallet card will be mailed out within a week following the day you were recertified. If your certificate is returned to UNAR as non-deliverable, you will need to submit a Duplicate Certificate Application and pay the appropriate fee before we will send out another certificate.

 

Click here for the Duplicate Certificate Application

Miscellaneous Questions

How can I change my name, address, phone number, etc.?

Changes to your address, phone number or email address can be made by logging into your TMU account, click on Profile and make the necessary changes. Do not forget to click on Update/Save once you have made the necessary changes.

To change your name, fill out and submit a Name Change/Name Correction Application. Fill out the Application, pay the processing fee, and submit the form to the UNAR office either by email or mail. Remember to include at least one form of documentation as proof of the name change. If you would like to receive a certificate in your new name, you will need to pay an additional fee. If you are changing your name in connection with your renewal form, you only need to pay the name change fee. You will receive a free certificate as part of the renewal process.

 

Click here for the Name Change/Name Correction Application

How can I get a copy of my official certificate?

Fill out and submit the Duplicate Certificate Application. You can choose to order either a mailed certificate or a digital and mailed certificate. Fill out the Application, pay the processing fee, and submit the form to the UNAR office either by email or mail. Normal processing time is 3-5 business days plus mailing time.

 

Click here for the Duplicate Certificate Application

What if I don't have a Social Security Number?

You can still become a CNA in Utah if you don’t have a SSN. Fill out and submit a Request for Unique Identifier. Fill out the Application, pay the processing fee, and submit the form to the UNAR office either by email or mail. You will receive an email once your Application has been processed. If you obtain a social security number in the future, you must submit a copy of your social security card to UNAR within 30 days of receiving your card.

 

Click here for the Request for Unique Identifier Application

TMU

How do I set up an account?

If you have been or currently are a CNA in the state of Utah, you already have a TMU account. If you are currently enrolled in a NATCE program, your instructor will enter basic information about you in order to set up your account.

What if I can't remember my log in information?

Go to https://ut.tmuniverse.com/, select Sign In and then click on “I forgot my password.” From there you can enter your email address and click on Recover Account. A password reset link will be sent to your email account. If you do not remember the email address on file with TMU, you can choose to answer the 4 questions listed, and click on Recover Account. You will then be able to update your email address and password and then click on Reset Password. You can then log in with your email address and new password.

If you are still having trouble logging into your TMU account, email us at unar@davistech.edu for assistance. Make sure to include your full name, date of birth and the last 4-digits of your social security number in your request.

What is TMU?

TMU is the software program that is used to provide certification testing and maintain registry records. Upon completion of a training program or by means of reciprocity, each individual is assigned their own personal portal in TMU along with a username and password. You will have access to this portal throughout your CNA career, using it to keep your contact information up to date and accessing certification renewal documents.

Abuse and Filing Complaints

What can I do if I have a complaint against my training program, a testing site or UNAR?

If you have attempted to resolve the complaint to your fullest ability with the training program, testing site or UNAR unsuccessfully, you can file a formal complaint by submitting a Complaint Form.

 

Click here for the Complaint Form

What do I do if I suspect a patient is being abused?

Under Utah state law it is mandatory to report abuse or suspected abuse. You do not need to have solid evidence or be certain that a patient is being abused. It is better to be safe and over-report than to under-report and leave a vulnerable person at risk.

If it is an emergency call 911

Otherwise contact Adult Protective Services at 1-800-371-7897

You may report abuse anonymously on-line by following this link

What do I do if I want to make a complaint against the facility I work for?

If you feel your facility is treating its staff or resident’s in an unfair, unsafe, or inappropriate manner, you can file a complaint with Health Facility Licensing, Certification & Resident Assessment (HFLCRA).

HFLCRA - 801-371-7897

What happens if I miss or leave a shift? Does this constitute abandonment?

If you are going to miss a shift, notify your employer immediately. If you have a family or personal emergency or other type of reasonable excuse, most employers will understand and be willing to work with you. Failure to show up for a shift or leaving a shift early without notifying your employer can be dangerous and may be considered abandonment if harm comes to the resident or patient.

To protect yourself against the risk of being charged with abandonment and to ensure resident/patient safety, always notify your employer that you will not be coming to work or if you need to leave early.

What is the abuse registry?

The abuse registry is included in the Utah CNA registry and is available to the public. It lists all CNA’s in the state of Utah who have had a substantiated allegation of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property as determined by the Utah Department of Health.