You can have a rewarding career providing basic care for patients and clients in a range of healthcare settings if you train to become a CNA. When working as a nursing assistant your responsibilities can include: bathing patients, assisting patients with grooming, feeding patients, changing patients who are incontinent, helping patients walk and monitoring vital signs (just to name a few duties).
It is not possible to work as a certified nursing assistant until you select and enroll in a training program that has been approved by the state in which you are planning to work. You will need to complete all segments of the training program including the theoretical and clinical instruction. There will be a certification exam that you will need to pass before receiving certification. You can search for free cna training if you are concerned about affording the tuition.
Scholarships and Grants
Nursing assistant training programs are often available through community colleges, technical schools and other educational facilities. You should locate a few cna training programs at colleges in your area. Contact the school to determine if the nursing assistant training courses make you eligible to apply for scholarships. You can receive free cna training if your scholarship covers the entire price of tuition and expenses.
When attending a certified nursing assistant program at a college or university, you might qualify to apply for financial aid in the form of grants. This is particularly true for schools that offer you credit hours for training as a CNA. The financial aid office of a school can help you determine if you can apply for financial assistance.
The CNA/HHA Scholarship Program provides scholarships for eligible students who might otherwise not be able to afford tuition and fees associated with training to become certified nursing assistants or home health aides. These scholarships are often available through healthcare facilities and other certified nursing assistant training providers.
Nursing Care Facilities
It is often possible to access CNA training through nursing care facilities. You might very well be able to receive your training for free through one of these facilities. Medicare and Medicaid certified facilities must employ high quality nursing assistants. In order to attract potential nursing assistants, these facilities will hire individuals to train as certified nursing assistants. The individuals will sign a contract agreeing to work for the nursing home for a specific amount of time (often 6 months to one year) as long as their training fees are paid for them.
Many nursing care facilities will hire men and women who have just recently received their nursing assistant certification. In most states, these healthcare providers will reimburse people for the fees they paid to receive their nursing assistant training and certification.
Employment and Training Programs
You can receive free cna training as a result of financial assistance from employment and training programs in your state or local area. For example, individuals who are unemployed can often receive assistance paying for training programs (such as CNA courses). Many states offer training opportunities for displaced homemakers as well. These programs help to ensure that individuals who are not currently working can access training for a new career. Contact unemployment agencies, income assistance office and other programs in your area to search for help receiving free cna training.
If your state offers Offices of Adult and Continuing Education or The Workforce and Continuing Education Departments, you should contact local offices if you are looking for cna programs. There are often programs through these departments that offer help with training expenses. You are more likely to be able to receive help if you have little or no income, are a single parent or are facing some other type of hardship.
State Board of Nursing
Call the State Board of Nursing if you want to start a career as a certified nursing assistant but are unsure of how to finance your training. Many states offer special programs to help individuals afford entry-level training for healthcare and other occupations. The State Board of Nursing should be able to help direct you to any programs in your state. They should also be able to direct you to cna training providers in your area that offer free cna training.
The State Board of Nursing can direct you to the Nursing Aide Registry or other agencies in your state if they do not handle information pertaining to nursing assistants (though in most states the board of nursing does deal with nursing assistant information). Contact these agencies as well if you are looking for free cna training options.
Your Employer
If you are working in a healthcare setting and wish to start a career as a cna, you should talk to your employer. If your employer utilizes certified nursing assistants, the employer might be willing to pay for your training. This is especially true if you are a motivated and hard-working individual. It is likely that you will be required to continue working for your employer as a CNA for an agreed upon amount of time if they pay for your training.
*By taking your time to look into various cna training options, you should be able to find opportunities for free cna training.
Updates
Free CNA Training available in Pennsylvania
This is provided by St Annes home who have an earn while you learn program. You must commit to working for them for a fixed period after getting certified. The only catch is that there’s only 12 positions available. Get more info here: http://www.stannehome.org/career_opportunities.asp
(thank you to Arnold Maendel for letting us know about this opportunity)
I was wondering if there where nursing homes in Philadelphia,PA that provided CNA training
I am seeking employment at a nursing home in richmond virginia offering cna training
Check out thelist over at http://cnatraininghelp.com/free-cna-training/virginia/
Hi, I’m in real bad need of work so i decided to go with CNA classes..Unfortunately i don’t have the 600 dollars to take the class due to the lack of employment in the woodstock virginia area. I already contacted all of the nursing homes in my surrounding area, but none of them do it. I dont hafve a car or anyone to drive me to where the classes are being held, so i was kind of thinking about maybe any colleges around the woodstock virginia area that may offer take financial aid to take the class. If you know any plz contact me @ kennyz_boo1823 thats my yahoo e mail…Thanks!
Have you tried out any of the nursing homes near your area?
Hello. I recently lost my GA certification and was wondering if there are any CNA training programs that are free or provide fincial aid in GA.
Hi Narriman, Click on http://cnatraininghelp.com/free-cna-training/ and select your state on the right navigation bar.
I was wondering if there was free CNA training in Fall River,MA.
Check out http://cnatraininghelp.com/free-cna-training/massachusetts/
i am trying to find a shool or program that offer free cna classes in milwaukee wi
Check out http://cnatraininghelp.com/free-cna-training/wisconsin/
Need to know if there are any nursing homes in Charlotte NC, Concord or Matthews area that offers free Cna training.
Check out http://cnatraininghelp.com/free-cna-training/north-carolina/
I would like to finda a facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho that is willing to provide training for a person interested in Certified Nursing Assisting. I have taken a course in Phlebotomy, and am going for my certification. I love people, and believe we learn from others how to provide the best posible care and service. Not all people whom have a desire to give care, can afford the cost of the education. And I have found that not all areas have the training facilities to provide necessary classes. I would appreciate any information, or help in becoming a dedicated CNA trainee/student.
Thank you!
Hello there,I have been working as an Home care provider for the past7 years.In Oct.2001 I received. my cert. as a Certified Nurses Aide.in N.ca.my cert. didn’t expire for 4 years due to all of the in service hours I put in.I recently moved back down to So.Ca.And i am seeking Facilities in the Ontario areas that offer C.n.A. training programs.I am ex-pd.with wound vacs,pic lines,G.T.feeding,Wound care,cock pouches(general term for a special procedure that reroutes the bladder from vaginal to stoma for catheterizing for urine) Quads,Alzheimer’s, dementia. Can you please help me find a location?I am a single mother trying to start all over again and only working part time.I’ve been searching on line but when I think I found a solid link it sends me to “Medical assistant. No thank you. I like hands on,exposure,dealing with patients,or residents that really depend on our knowledge,experience,and compassion,and some times knows more than our charge nurses,LOL Thank you,Robyn Moore Ontario,Ca.
here did you go at school in ontario ca.
I took the CNA Training course a few years ago, and i never went and took my exam to be certified. I was wondering, since it’s been so long..do i have to retake the course?
& I was wondering will nursing facilities hire you if you do not have the certification, and perhaps train you there to get it..im just so unsure if ive waited too long and wont remember.
To answer your first question, you have 2 years from when you did the training to take the CNA certification exam. Some nursing homes will train you to become CNA’s provided you agree to work for them for a specified number of months after you get certified.
I am looking for free CNA training classes near Fayetteville, Arkansas!
Hi Lorianne,
Have you checked out http://cnatraininghelp.com/free-cna-training/arkansas/
am a Ugandan who wants to relocate to Colorado, i want to do CNA training. am i eligible. i have a medical background in Uganda but want to improve my career from USA.
kindly advise me.
Hi Ziraba,
The requirements for CNA training aren’t that difficult to obtain. As long as you’ve completed an equivalent of the GED(high school) you should be able to get into a CNA training school. Sometimes even without a GED, depending on the requirements of the Colorado board of nursing you might be able to get trained as a CNA.
Hi, I would like to train to become a CNA but I do not have the $ 680.00 so I was wondering if there was some way that I could get so financial assistance through the government or some sort of grant. I need to get certified so I can find a job.
Hi Valenice. Have you checked out your state specific page on the right to see if there are any opportunities in your state?
Hello, try going to your nearest one stop building. Its also known as unemployment and u could ask for a training voucher. I live in nj and thats who going to pay for my cna training. Youll have to go to a couple of work shops but its worth it. I start school on sept 12.
I have worked in a hospital as a CNA but was not required to have a license. I worked at the hospital for 16 years. After 10 years they sent us to Armstrong university to become PAtient Care Technicians. I am wondering I have the medical experience can I just take the CNA exam? I live in Savannah Georgia please I need some information on this
Subject.
sincerely,
Corinne
As far as I know, only the state of Florida allows you to do the exam without taking the training course. I’d suggest contacting the Georgia CNA registry for more specific info.
Hi my name is Vanessa i live in puerto rico and im wondering if i can take a free cna course my plans are to move to bridgeport connecticut any help will be appreciated