What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?
Certified Nursing Assistants work on the frontline of patient care. They work under the supervision of qualified nurses and provide daily living care to the patients. They perform a vital role in patient care and management. To become a CNA one must undergo CNA Training at a state approved education provider and pass the CNA certification test.
CNA Training Classes
These are classes that prepare you to take the CNA Certification Exam. Usually, you will be expected to undergo around 100 to 180 hours of training depending on the requirements in your state. There are a variety of skills that are taught during these classes. The training course includes classroom learning, the practicing of skills as well as hands on clinical experience. The theory part includes basic biology and anatomy studies as well as an introduction to patient care. During the hands on training you will learn exactly how to perform all the duties that will be expected of you as a CNA.
CNA Classes are available through a number of different places as outlines in our CNA Classes Guide. In short you can get CNA training from Hospitals, Nursing homes, Vocational colleges, Community colleges and training centres provided they are accredited by the state board.
How to Become A Certified Nursing Assistant
There are a significant number of CNA Training options available these days:
CNA Training in Nursing Homes
This is the second most popular option after community college for getting trained. Nursing homes usually offer free training to combat nursing staff shortages. They offer training with the condition that you continue to work for them for a number of months after getting certified. Many nursing homes also offer paid for courses and are a better alternative to college training since it is more hands on.
Red Cross CNA Training
The Red Cross offers one of the best training options available in the United States. Through its chapters located throughout the country, it offers one of the most thorough and properly recognized CNA course available today. To see if there is a training-centre near your area see our list of Red Cross CNA Training chapters
CNA Training Online
A few colleges offer the theoretical part of nurse aide training online. There is no way you can learn the full course online as you would have no hands on experience. If you find a website offering full training online, be wary, since it is very likely that it isn’t accredited by your state. For a detailed look at this check out our post on Online CNA Training
CNA Certification Exam
After completing the CNA Training course, you will be eligible for the state CNA certification exam. The certification exam is divided into two parts. The first part is the written exam. This is usually in multiple choice formats and will cover the theoretical part of your CNA training studies.
The second part of the exam is the skills portion. You will be expected to perform patient care skills on a test patient while the exam invigilator will judge you based on how well you do.
Benefits of CNA Training
One of the most important benefits of CNA training is the fact that it sets you up for a very rewarding career. The CNA Salary structure isn’t too bad and you can even choose to become a nursing assistant as a full time career
Becoming a CNA allows you to break into the medical field. There are a lot of vertical career upgrades you could make down the line. You could undertake LPN Training and become a licensed practical nurse or even end up becoming a physician’s assistant.
If you’ve already set your mind to becoming a nurse, becoming a CNA provides you with a short test to see if you’re up for it. Some colleges also require you to be a CNA before they admit you into their nursing program.
Getting a Job as a Certified Nursing Assistant
In most states these days there is a distinct shortage of nursing staff in medical facilities.(based on this CNA Report) Getting a job as a CNA should be relatively easy if you apply to the right places and prepare well for your interviews. We have a section on preparing for your job interview.
If you’ve taken the option of getting trained at a nursing home, it should be easy to continue working at the same facility.
You could work either on contract or as a part time nurse whereby you are called by various facilities during nursing shortages.
The Nurse Aide Salary Structure
In general nurse aides can expect to make $11 to $15 an hour at any medical facility they work in. If you end up working in private facilities the pay may be relatively higher.
The salary depends on the state you are in and may be higher for states like Washington and New York. We will be publishing a salary structure for all states soon.
i need to try and take the cna class cant afford to pay for it i work as a direct care staff working with disable mental retard not going no where working there i been there for six years still making less. i need to no where to take the cna class some where there they are for free.
Hi my name is Grace Gilliam and I am currently enrolled in a CNA course in Durham, NC. Although I am taking classes and doing my clinicals here in NC, I go to college in SC and would want to register and work there. Will my certification apply in SC if i take the state exam in NC? Can I complete the class and clinical portion in NC and take the actual certification exam in another state? Should I take the exam in both NC and SC upon completion of the CNA course in aug? I just need help deciding the best way to begin my future as a nursing assistant! thanks!
I would suggest doing the state exam in SC so you won’t have to go through the hassle of getting your license transferred. If at any point in the future you wish to move to another state you’d just need to get your license transferred instead of doing the test again.
Alice, I went to my local Vocational/Technical School to enroll for the CNA course. I found out I can apply for financial aid. I did it (online) and due to my household income level (my husband is the only breadwinner in the family) and we have 2 kids, I qualified and my tuition (only) was covered. Depending on your particular situation, you may qualify for financial aid and if you do, the only costs you would have to absorb on your own would be to do the drug screen, immunizations, purchase your scrubs for class, book fees, etc. (It’s worth a try). Good luck!
Hello there! I currently work in the United Kingdom as a Healthcare Assistant (English CNA) and wondered how I would get a CNA qualification so I could get a job in America. Is this possible? Many thanks!
Hi Rebecca,
Congratulations on making the decision to move to the US
You will need to take the training and certification test again. DOn’t worry though as the training is for 100-120 hours and its similar to what you’re doing in the UK
Hi, I would like to take my CNA training course here in Florida as I’m here taking care of my sick sister. I live in Michigan and will be going back shortly. After training and taking the certification test, can I transer my license to Michigan? If so, how would I go about doing it?
Thank you for your help!
It is very easy to transfer your certification to Michigan or any other state. You simple have to get the transfer forms from the state you’re moving to. You can go to the Michigan Nursing Board website and download their form for transferring your license.
Hi, My name is Anthoni. I am actually at the end of my CNA training course and everything is already paid for through the state. I live in WA, but want to move to ND and I don’t want to wait till the near end of July to move, due to issues. I was wondering if there is any way possible to take the test in ND instead of WA. Admin, do you know if this is possible if WA state is paying for all of this?? Please contact me through this ASAP since I have to get rid of my laptop soon.
Hi Anthoni,
Considering that the state of WA is paying for your training .. I’m not sure you’ll be able to change the location of your exam. Your best bet is to take the exam , get certified and THEN move to another state and transfer the certificate via reciprocity.
Thank you Admin. I really didn’t want to have to put up with everything I’m having to till then. Oh well, anyways thanks much.
Hey, there ! I just wanted to try to get some information about how it all works… I have a friend who told me getting your CNA training through Red Cross was a pretty good choice. Although, I am a current college student working my way up to earning a BSN. Since I’m only going on 2nd year right now, but still close to having to apply to nursing programs…you have heard how competitive they are, I’m sure. Therefore my plan was to tried to get some hands on training and hopefully get certified to start getting some clinical hours and have it look good on my application. I live in Atlanta, GA and I was just wondering if you could help me out get started with some information. If I wanted to try to get certified sponsored by a nursing home and then work for them in exchange of them paying for my classes since I already got so much to pay for when it comes to college, do I have to go in and apply or first try to talk to human resources? I’m really passionate about this field and I have a very strong work ethic, I just need some guidance. Could you please help me? I don’t know whee to start looking. Just yesterday I walked in a nursing home close to home and simply asked for an application…I applied as an “active nurse assistant for training/in training,” a receptionist and a volunteer…. Since after seeing all the nurses walking around looking like they actually knew what they were doing, it kind of petrified me. Haha I need counseling
Thank you so much for your time and I hope to hear from you soon
Its normal to feel petrified like that. You’ll be laughing about that feeling a few days after working at the nursing home. Working at a nursing home is the most hands-on experience a nurse can get. If you’ve applied as a nursing assistant FOR training, then I think the nursing home will train you to become a nursing assistant and even make you eligible to challenge the certification exam for CNA’s. Confirm this with the nursing home. Also make sure you are aware if you’re being tied town for a contract in return for getting free training.
Using CNA as a stepping stone definitely has its advantages. Refer: AllNurses.com
I recently moved to west virginia from virginia. I am still liscenced in va as a CNA and I was wondering if there was a way to just transfer my CNA or do I have to start all over and retake the classes and tests? Or do I just have to take a test? I am so lost about it and can’t find anything to tell me.
You won’t have to do your exam again. You can transfer the certification to West Virgina using the “Application by reciprocity form”. The form is available at http://www.wvdhhr.org/ohflac/NA/Forms/NAECEP-5.pdf
Fill it out and send it to the address provided in the form together with any relevant documentation.
i am going to start the CNA classes at my community college started October 11th..is it a hard course or a common sense kinda thing? I’m very curious
Its not really that hard to be honest. It might seem daunting at first, but once you start doing your clinicals it gets really easy.