The ABN NST application fee is $50.00. The application will remain valid for one year from the date of submission.
A completed Nursing Support Technician application and evidence that you have met the following requirements:
- Be a high school graduate or equivalent.
- Must be a citizen or legal US resident.
- Completion of one of the following:
- A NST training program approved by the ABN, or a similar program in another state (subject to approval by the ABN).
- An educational program provided by the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) for a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Patient Care Technician (PCT) or a Nursing hospital-based education program that substantially meets the training and competency validation requirements as determined by the Board.
- Nursing Foundations (NUR 112) or a substantially equivalent course, as determined by the Board.
- US Armed Forces training equivalent to educational preparation for US Army Healthcare Specialist, US Navy Corpsman, and USAF Medical Technician, as determined by the Board according to the applicant’s academic transcript validating education preparation.
- If grandfathered, the healthcare facility must submit an attestation of prior learning and competency validation of skills.
The ABN will notify ACCS immediately when your application is approved. ACCS will provide you with an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter. Once you have received the ATT letter, you may register to test through ACCS.
When your application is approved, ACCS will send you an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter, with instructions on registering for the NST examination.
Supervision by a licensed nurse is required at all times.
No. You cannot give medications.
Yes, NSTs can perform fingerstick blood glucose checks under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
Information regarding the NST training program is available from the ACCS website and the NST page of the ABN website.
Program codes are used to identify the specific institution where an applicant received his or her training. A list of program codes is available on the ABN NST page.
Employers can verify NST permit on the ABN website under License/Permit Lookup. Employers may also track NST permits by adding the individuals to the organization’s ABN Subscription Service profile.
When you have passed the NST exam in Alabama, you are authorized to use the title “Certified Nursing Support Technician” or “NST-C”.
The school in which you completed you NST training will send a certificate to the ABN.
The only schools participating in the NST Program are among the Alabama Community College System (ACCS). The list and contact information for each can be seen on this webpage/link. https://www.accs.edu/career-training/healthcare/medication-aide/
All Licensed healthcare facilities.
- Hospitals (including acute care, and acute mental care)
- Surgery Centers
- Physician offices
- Home Health
- Mental health facilities
- Long term care facilities
- Facilities under CMS requirement of certified nursing assistants
You must take the NST-C exam and work under the NST-C position not a Paramedic or Basic EMT.
You can register for a test date as soon as you’ve received the email. It will have easy to follow directions for registering.
The training course provided through ACCS will vary in cost among schools and is determined by those schools. The ABN application fee is $50.00. The NST exam will cost $50.00 each time.
Yes, a hospital-based educational program that substantially meets the training and competency validation requirements as determined by the Board.
You can transfer your permit awarded by a program in another jurisdiction or territory that substantially meets the same educational criteria as Alabama programs, as determined by the Board. You may be asked to send in the class syllabus or course description detailing the topics of your training for approval to test. The application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The facility may apply for Advanced NSTs through a Standardized Procedure request.