CNA Training Classes and Programs
Some of the most desirable, in-demand, and secure career paths in today's economy can be found in the healthcare field. People will always need the services of health care workers and the demand has never been greater for these types of jobs. One of the quickest avenues leading you to a career in health care is to become a certified nursing assistant. The certified nurse aide may hold a different title depending on the state in which certification has been obtained. Individuals who complete a nursing assistant class, a CNA course or program and pass the state certification exam earn the title of Certified Nursing Assistant.
Other titles used to refer to a C.N.A include Patient Care Assistant (PCA), State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) or Nursing Assistant Registered (NAR). All these titles refer to individuals who hold the same credentials, education, and skills and are commonly known as Certified Nurse Aides. To become a CNA, PCA, STNA, or NAR you must enroll in a state-approved nurse aide program, complete the classroom and clinical components of the course, and pass the CNA examination. According to Federal regulations, a nurse aide training class offered in any state throughout the United States must contain at least seventy-five hours of instruction, with sixteen hours dedicated to hands-on clinical practice. Use the map below to find certified nursing assistant classes in any state.
Nursing assistant programs prepare individuals for challenging the nurse aide certification exam and for entry level positions in health care environments. Each state has the authority to decide how many hours of training a nursing assistant course must consist of, as long as the minimum federal requirement of seventy-five hours is met. Students interested in attending CNA classes have a wide array of choices when it comes to selecting a training facility.
Nursing assistant courses are conducted at nursing homes, vocational schools, private schools, and community colleges. Program length, admission requirements, and cost of training vary depending on the policies of every training facility. Several states have implemented legislation which requires licensed long-term care facilities to reimburse CNA employees for the costs associated with training. An individual who has paid for nursing assistant training classes and who becomes employed by a nursing home within a year of obtaining certification, is eligible for financial reimbursement. Compared to other training programs in the health care field, nursing assistant classes are relatively short and inexpensive. Obtaining state certification as a CNA is the main requirement for securing a nurse aide job at a nursing home, hospital, rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility.
Questions, Comments, Suggestions
JoAnn P. on July 8, 2009 at 06:15 PM
Are online CNA training programs just as good as traditional nurse assistant courses or am I wasting my time?
Raquel on July 14, 2009 at 03:17 PM
A good way to compare two different nursing assistant classes is to look at the number of instructional hours provided by each course. How much time is dedicated to the classroom as well as the clinical component of the course? Does the online CNA program conduct hands-on, clinical practice on-site, or at a long-term care facility? Choose the online version of a nurse aide course only when it is very similar to a traditional program in terms of curriculum and practical training.
Are there any online CNA training programs approved in Wisconsin?
Can I enroll in a CNA class without a high school diploma or GED?
How long do nursing assistant classes take to complete?
After becoming a CNA how much more training does it take to become an RN?
I am really interested in becoming a certified nursing assistant. I am in the military and we go out to sea continuously. I do not have too much time to actually attend a program until next year. Who offers online CNA classes?