AHEC Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC)
Level 4Qualification Overview
The AHEC Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) is an internationally benchmarked qualification for individuals who provide direct nursing support to patients under the supervision of licensed nursing professionals. It confirms that the holder has the knowledge, clinical skills and professional conduct required to deliver safe, compassionate and effective patient care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centres and community health settings.
Purpose
The purpose of the NAC is to establish a consistent, globally recognised standard of competence for nursing assistants. It assures employers, regulators and the public that a certified holder can perform core nursing support duties safely, understands infection prevention and patient dignity, recognises and escalates clinical deterioration, and practises within the legal and ethical limits of the role.
Entry Requirements
- Minimum age of 18 years at the date of examination.
- Completion of secondary education, or an equivalent qualification recognised in the candidate’s country.
- Demonstrable proficiency in the language of instruction and assessment.
- Satisfactory health clearance and immunisation status as required for clinical placement.
- Criminal record / background check where required by the placement provider or national regulator.
- Enrolment with an AHEC Approved Testing Centre delivering the NAC programme.
Course Structure
Units Covered
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01
Role of the Nursing Assistant
Scope of practice, supervision, accountability, and working within the multidisciplinary healthcare team.
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02
Infection Prevention and Control
Standard precautions, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, isolation procedures and safe handling of clinical waste.
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03
Patient Safety and Risk Management
Falls prevention, safe moving and handling, incident reporting, and the safe environment of care.
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04
Personal Care and Activities of Daily Living
Bathing, grooming, oral care, toileting, dressing, feeding and the preservation of patient dignity.
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05
Vital Signs and Clinical Observation
Measurement and accurate recording of temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and oxygen saturation; recognising and escalating abnormal findings.
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06
Mobility, Positioning and Rehabilitation Support
Assisting with transfers, ambulation, range-of-motion exercises and pressure area care.
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07
Nutrition, Hydration and Elimination
Feeding assistance, fluid balance monitoring, dietary requirements and the recording of intake and output.
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08
Communication and Person-Centred Care
Therapeutic communication, working with patients who have sensory, cognitive or language impairment, and family engagement.
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09
Care of the Older Adult and Cognitive Impairment
Dementia-aware care, delirium recognition, and management of responsive behaviours.
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10
Legal, Ethical and Professional Practice
Consent, confidentiality, safeguarding, patient rights, documentation standards and professional boundaries.
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11
Emergency Response and Basic Life Support
Recognising the deteriorating patient, summoning help, choking and basic life support principles.
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12
Supervised Clinical Placement
Application of all competencies in a real care environment under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion, the certified holder will be able to:
- Practise safely and lawfully within the defined scope of the nursing assistant role, and recognise when to escalate to a licensed practitioner.
- Apply infection prevention and control precautions correctly in every episode of care.
- Deliver personal care that maintains patient safety, comfort, privacy and dignity.
- Accurately measure, record and interpret vital signs, and promptly report abnormal findings.
- Assist patients with mobility, nutrition, hydration and elimination using safe technique.
- Communicate effectively and compassionately with patients, families and the healthcare team.
- Recognise the signs of clinical deterioration and respond appropriately, including basic life support.
- Maintain accurate, timely and confidential clinical documentation.
- Uphold the legal, ethical and professional standards required of a certified nursing assistant.
Examination Process
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1
Register
Create your AHEC candidate account and register for the examination through the AHEC Examination Portal.
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2
Pay the examination fee
Pay online. Your invoice and official receipt are generated automatically and stored in your portal.
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3
Receive your registration number
On confirmed payment the system issues your unique AHEC Examination Registration Number, linked to your examination.
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4
Examination countdown
Your portal displays a live countdown to the examination. The paper stays locked until the official date and time.
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5
Sit the examination
The examination unlocks automatically when the countdown reaches zero. It runs for a fixed 2 hours (120 minutes) on the secure AHEC online examination platform, with answers saved continuously and submitted automatically when time expires.
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6
Results
Results are marked, moderated and approved by AHEC, then released to your portal on the published results release date.
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7
Certification
On passing, your official AHEC certificate is generated automatically with a unique certificate number and is available to download from your portal.
Examination Fee
- Payable on examination registration.
- An invoice and an official receipt are generated automatically once payment is confirmed, and stored in your candidate portal.
- Payment confirmation issues your AHEC Examination Registration Number and starts your examination countdown.
Certification Requirements
To be awarded the AHEC Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC), a candidate must satisfy all of the following:
- Successful completion of an AHEC-approved NAC programme at an Approved Testing Centre.
- Achievement of the AHEC pass mark or above in the NAC written examination.
- Completion and centre verification of the supervised clinical placement.
- A satisfactory clinical competency portfolio signed off by the Approved Testing Centre.
- Payment in full of the examination fee.
Sample Certificate
The official AHEC certificate awarded on successful completion of the Nursing Assistant Certification.
Certificate Verification
Every Nursing Assistant Certification has its own dedicated verification portal. Employers, regulators and institutions can confirm a credential instantly using the certificate number, the AHEC examination registration number, the candidate’s name or the verification ID.
Ready to sit the Nursing Assistant Certification?
Examination fee US$150.00. Next examination: 30 August 2026. Registration closes 21 August 2026.