Pennsylvania · Candidate guide
Preparing for CNA and caregiver roles
A short guide to the training and staff education details in the state sources reviewed, plus the questions those sources do not answer.
Research snapshot: October 24, 2026
01
Nurse-aide training at CTI at HGAC
The Department of Labor and Industry’s Nurse Aide page describes this specific diploma program; treat its checklist as program-specific, not a statewide checklist for every training provider. [1]
Documents and checks listed for entry
- A high school diploma, GED certificate, or high school transcript showing graduation.
- A criminal background investigation.
- Documentation of a physical exam within the previous year showing no communicable disease and a negative two-step Mantoux tuberculosis test.
After the program, graduates may sit for Pennsylvania’s “Competency Evaluations for Nurses’ Aides.” The page says successful completion meets OBRA (1987) requirements and certifies graduates for entry-level employment in skilled nursing and long-term care facilities. That description does not establish how a particular employer checks a credential or what additional documents it currently requires. [1]
02
Personal care homes are a different setting
DHS says personal care homes are not medical facilities and are not required to hire nurses or other medical staff. They must hire staff who meet basic education requirements and provide initial and ongoing staff training. [2]
Those findings are less specific than the CTI nurse-aide program’s entrance checklist and competency evaluation. They do not establish a single CNA credential or document list for every personal care home. DHS’s overview links the separate Personal Care Home and Assisted Living Residence regulations. [3]
03
What is not confirmed here
The sources reviewed do not establish a credential lookup or verification procedure, a renewal or recertification timeline, or the current facility-specific qualifications and documents for a particular job.
Before applying, ask the training provider about its current admissions checklist and contact the relevant state agency and prospective employer about current credential, renewal, and hiring requirements. The Long-Term Care Transformation Office and Department of Aging pages below are official starting points for broader state information; they do not resolve the credential questions above. [5] [6]
Official starting points
Sources and further information
- [1] Nurse Aide — Department of Labor and Industry
- [2] Personal Care Home FAQ — Department of Human Services
- [3] Personal Care Homes — Department of Human Services
- [4] CTI at HGAC — Department of Labor and Industry
- [5] Long-Term Care Transformation Office — Department of Health
- [6] Employment Resources for Older Adults — Department of Aging
The supplied research snapshot included complete destination links for sources [1] and [2], then ended partway through [3]. Links [3]–[6] above are current official pages for the named Pennsylvania agencies and program; the missing original destinations and any claims not stated in this guide remain unconfirmed.