CNA in Kansas 2026: Training, Certification, Salary, and Requirements
Kansas CNA: 90 hours training, D&S Diversified exam, KDADS registry. Salary $26K-$32K. KC metro KS vs MO license. Wichita, Overland Park, Topeka, Olathe. 2026.
Kansas Key Facts and Figures
Kansas Important Details
Kansas requires a minimum of 90 hours of state-approved nurse aide training, which is 15 hours above the federal minimum of 75 hours. Programs must be approved by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and must include classroom instruction, skills laboratory practice, and a minimum of 16 hours of supervised clinical training at a licensed nursing facility or equivalent healthcare setting. Training is available at community colleges, vocational-technical schools, and some long-term care facilities through employer-based programs. Accelerated full-time programs typically complete in 3–4 weeks; part-time evening programs take 8–12 weeks.
- Total Required: 90 hours minimum
- Classroom Hours: Included in 90-hour total
- Clinical Hours: Minimum 16 hours supervised
- Federal Minimum: 75 hours (KS exceeds by 15 hours)
- Program Types: Technical colleges, community colleges, SNF-based
- Approval: All programs must be KDADS-approved
Kansas uses D&S Diversified Technologies — not Prometric — to administer the NNAAP (National Nurse Aide Assessment Program) competency exam. The written section contains 70 multiple-choice questions with a 105-minute time limit, and the clinical skills evaluation requires demonstrating 5 randomly selected nursing procedures in front of a trained evaluator. Both sections must be passed to receive Kansas CNA certification. Candidates have up to 3 attempts within 24 months of completing their approved training program. Testing locations include Wichita, Overland Park, Topeka, Lawrence, and other cities across Kansas.
- Written Section: 70 questions, 105 minutes
- Skills Section: 5 randomly selected skills
- Passing Score: 70% written, all 5 skills passed
- Exam Provider: D&S Diversified Technologies (not Prometric)
- Attempts: 3 attempts within 24 months of training
- Testing Sites: Wichita, Overland Park, Topeka, and others
Kansas requires a criminal background check for CNA candidates seeking to work in Medicaid/Medicare-certified nursing facilities. The background check is administered through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and includes both state and federal criminal history. KDADS maintains a separate Nurse Aide Abuse Registry — individuals listed for patient abuse, neglect, misappropriation of property, or exploitation are barred from working as a CNA in any licensed Kansas facility. Medicaid-funded employers must also check the OIG (Office of Inspector General) exclusions list. Most CNA training programs require background check clearance before clinical rotations begin.
- Check Type: State + FBI fingerprint-based check
- Administered By: Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI)
- Disqualifying: Abuse, neglect, exploitation, theft convictions
- Registry Block: KDADS Nurse Aide Abuse Registry
- OIG Check: Required for Medicaid-funded facilities
Before beginning clinical rotations at a Kansas nursing facility, CNA students must provide a negative TB test (Mantoux PPD or QuantiFERON Gold) within the past 12 months, a physician's physical clearance form, and current CPR/BLS certification (American Heart Association or American Red Cross). Most KDADS-approved programs also require documentation of Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, and seasonal flu vaccinations. Many Kansas employers — especially larger systems like Ascension Via Christi and KU Health System — require a pre-employment drug screen in addition to the background check.
- TB Test: Required within 12 months
- Physical Exam: Physician clearance required
- Immunizations: Hep B, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, Flu
- CPR: BLS certification required
- Drug Screen: Required by most programs and employers
Kansas Detailed Breakdown
The Kansas City metro area — specifically the Kansas side encompassing Johnson County, Wyandotte County, and Leavenworth County — is the largest and highest-paying CNA market in Kansas. Johnson County is one of the wealthiest counties in the Midwest and has a rapidly growing senior population, driving strong demand for CNAs at its numerous upscale assisted living facilities, skilled nursing centers, and home health agencies. The University of Kansas Health System (KUMC), based in Kansas City, KS, is the dominant academic medical center in the region and a major CNA employer. Children's Mercy Hospital (Kansas City, MO) and AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in Merriam, KS are other major employers. Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Overland Park offers one of the most accessible and well-regarded CNA programs in the state. Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) serves the Wyandotte County market and offers affordable CNA training. CNA wages on the KS side of KC average $14–$17/hour, with hospital positions at KUMC reaching $18–$21/hour. Free CNA training programs may be available through Kansas WorkForce ONE centers in Overland Park and Kansas City, KS for eligible workers. Note: CNAs working on the Missouri side of the metro must obtain Missouri CNA certification separately — see the KC Metro highlight box below.
Kansas Costs and Pricing
Kansas Step-by-Step Process
Find a KDADS-Approved CNA Program in Kansas
Complete Prerequisites and Enrollment
Complete 90-Hour Training
Register with D&S Diversified Technologies
Pass the Kansas CNA Competency Exam
Get Listed on the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry (KDADS)
Begin Employment in Kansas
Kansas Essential Checklist
Kansas City Metro: KS vs MO CNA License — What You Must Know
The Kansas City metro straddles the Kansas-Missouri state line, and this creates a real licensing challenge for CNAs working in the region. Kansas and Missouri are two separate states with two separate nurse aide registries and two different training requirements. Here is exactly what you need to know:
Kansas Side (Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Leavenworth County): CNAs working in Overland Park, Olathe, Leawood, Prairie Village, Kansas City KS, or Leavenworth must hold a Kansas CNA certification — listed on the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry managed by KDADS. Kansas requires 90 hours of training and uses D&S Diversified for the competency exam.
Missouri Side (Jackson County, Clay County, Cass County): CNAs working in Kansas City MO, Independence, Lee's Summit, Overland (MO), or Blue Springs must hold a Missouri CNA certification — listed on the Missouri DHSS Nurse Aide Registry. Missouri requires only 75 hours of training and also uses D&S Diversified for its exam. The registries are completely separate.
Can you hold both? Yes. Many KC metro CNAs maintain dual certification in both Kansas and Missouri to maximize job opportunities and staffing agency placement. Missouri will accept reciprocity from Kansas without retesting if your KS certification is active and in good standing with no abuse/neglect findings. The reverse is also possible: a Missouri-certified CNA can apply to KDADS for Kansas reciprocity.
Important for staffing agency workers: If you are placed by a Kansas City staffing agency, always confirm on which side of the state line your assignment facility is located before accepting. Working in a facility without the correct state's CNA certification is a regulatory violation and can result in registry action. When in doubt, verify the facility's address using the street number and confirm the state with your agency coordinator. See our full CNA reciprocity guide for the multi-state transfer process.
Kansas Advantages and Disadvantages
- +Only 90 hours required — well above federal minimum but still accessible; most programs complete in 3–4 weeks full-time
- +KDADS registry is easy to navigate online — registry lookups and status checks are straightforward
- +D&S Diversified exam (same vendor as Georgia, Missouri, Arizona, Oklahoma) — extensive national prep resources available
- +KC metro Johnson County is one of the wealthiest and fastest-growing senior markets in the Midwest, driving strong demand
- +Wichita offers stable employment at large systems (Ascension Via Christi, Wesley Medical) with career advancement paths
- +Low cost of living — CNA salary of $26K–$32K stretches significantly further in Kansas than coastal markets
- +HCBS waiver programs through KDADS fund home-based CNA positions statewide, creating flexible work options
- +Dual KS-MO certification is achievable and dramatically expands Kansas City metro job opportunities
- −Salaries ($26K–$32K) are below the national median — coastal markets pay $10,000–$20,000 more per year
- −KDADS registry (not Board of Nursing) — candidates must navigate a different agency than most national resources reference
- −Rural Kansas counties have very limited CNA training programs and significantly lower wages ($11–$13/hour)
- −KC metro cross-border licensing complexity — CNAs must maintain separate KS and MO credentials to maximize placement
- −Limited public transportation in many Kansas cities — CNAs may need a car for clinical training and employment
- −D&S Diversified exam (not Prometric) — verify practice test resources specifically match the D&S NNAAP format
- −Kansas has no state minimum wage above federal level — CNA wages are more negotiated than mandated
About the Author
Registered Nurse & Healthcare Educator
Johns Hopkins University School of NursingDr. Sarah Mitchell is a board-certified registered nurse with over 15 years of clinical and academic experience. She completed her PhD in Nursing Science at Johns Hopkins University and has taught NCLEX preparation and clinical skills courses for nursing students across the United States. Her research focuses on evidence-based exam preparation strategies for healthcare certification candidates.