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.
Click Your State Below:
Scholarships and Grants (Click Here)
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 (Click Here)
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 (Click Here)
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. For More info on the Workforce Investment Act Click Here
State Board of Nursing (Click Here)
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 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.
I am currently a PCA in Albany New York and would like to obtain my CNA and eventually my LPN. I’m looking for free CNA training in Albany other than GJCA (Glenmont Job Corps Academy).
I have a strong academic background in Medical Assisting & CNA experience for the last three years. In addition to my experience Im also a fast learner and dedicated to quality work & if presented with the proper opportunity to allow me to develop & strenghten my skill’s , I believe I can make a significant contribution to any company. Looking for training course in Antioch Ca Area
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
hi i was wondering if you can please help me find a school or program that offers CNA training for little to no cost. i am currently in Binghamton, NY.. thank you
I got a job opportunity at a brand new Adult Family Home here in WA state. My employer needs me as CNA. I am being hired due to my B.S. in Nursing degree which I took back in the Philippines in 1990. However, I am not certified as RN here in the US. Do i need to take the usual route of required trainings to be CNA like anybody else or do I need to have my credentials evaluated to see if I qualify to just take a required number of training hours to be certified as Nurse Asst?
If I need to take CNA classes/trainings…is there anywhere I could them for free? I am currently a stay-at-home mom blessed with this wonderful job opportunity.
I live in Chesapeake, Virginia and I was wondering if there are any free cna courses within 25 miles of this area.Ii have been unemployed for three years and I really just want to return to work and provide for my family. Any information you can offer would be greatly appreciated!
I live in Puerto Rico..and wanted to know if you have info on any place I can take the CNA course…planning to go back to the states..but they told me its cheaper here..can I take the certificate here and use in the states…I am working right now in a nursing home for 5 years..and have training skills.
Please let me know.
Sorry but no. I was going to get mine in Kentucky, and then move back to my hometown, but you need a License in the state your practicing in. So you can get one in Puerto Rico, but once you come back to the states you would have to get another one. I’m pretty sure you would have to do the whole course again. I could be wrong on that part, not sure really. But I do know that you need an active license for the state your doing it in.
I was sent to your website for finiancial support to get my LNA. I have passed my class and nd am certified and now i would like to to get back to work , i am unable to work du to lack o fund..is there and way you can help me with tis area.
My name is Helen Strawder,i would like to get certified for CNA, but i don’t have the finances to do so, iwould like to have help with getting certified and getting a job. Thank you in advance
HI my name is Ronnie Paschal, I live Grayson Ga, looking for classes for CNA through the Red Cross any information.
Does any body know any CNA classes around Mount Pleasant,Michigan.Or is there any cheap school there?
I do not have a DWI charge
Hello, I’m interested in obtaining information on free c.n.a. certification classes in houston, tx. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on my post, THANK YOU & MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
Your two best choices for FREE C.N.A. Training are an employer or the Workforce Investment Act. With the employer, if you do not have the money up front to go to one of the long term care facilities that has tuition reimbursement, try to get hired on at a local hospital that offers paid training or a community college that offers free classes for employees. This means you may have to get a job as a tray line person, or housekeeper, or something else unrelated to nursing, but you will be in a medical care facility that rewards their employees with free tuition to better themselves and who want to go for occupations that are in demand in the hospital. Some will even pay for LPN or RN classes while you go down to part-time. Most community colleges offer free classes for ALL their full time employees and many for their children as well. My two kids got their first two years of college free. Again, you might have to take a job in housekeeping or the mail room to get the free money. Workforce Investment ACT offices are the other choice as mentioned here. I worked for them for 20 years. You will want to do a search for Workforce Investment Act office for your county and state. Your unemployment or public aid offices should also know where they are. This is FREE money for school – for low income individuals or laid off workers. I’ve paid for CNA, LPN, RN, Respiratory Therapist, Surgical Tech, Med Lab Assistant, Coder, and Physical therapy assistant. We paid everything including all the tuition, childcare, gas mileage, stethoscope, scrubs, text books, etc. The client paid NOTHING! Since many programs are cut, some wont have money at this time of the year (April) but they get their new money July 1st for most states and October 1st for other states. When I’ve run out of money I have also sent people to the State’s Department of Rehab Services if they had any kind of disability including something like seizures or diabetes. They paid for all their schooling as well. hope this helps.
Hello, im looking for cna classes if i could, or even one where i can be on a payment plan, id prefer red cross but am open to any, can you please help me?
Hi,i am living in sunnyvale,California and lokking for financcial support to get a training for free becouse i don’t have work to cover the cost.I am looking forward to hear from you.
I’ve wasted alot of time and money to trying to find where i fit in the medical field. Private colleges lie, jump thru hoops with their BIG PROMISES of unbountiful job oppertunities..But at the of the day, i still don’t have a job, a $16,000 piece of expensive tissue paper..Being diagnose with severe depression hasnt help either. I want to become a working class citizen, someone able to pay loans, buy new items for my children. I’m unemployed and a displace worker, who is willing to do anything (LEGAL) to get ahead in life. I’ll wash toilets, windows, babysit, even walk dogs. Can someone please point me in the right direction and PROMISE I’ll take it from there. Kimberly J in Long Beach, Cali.