Free CNA Training in New York

If you have decided to start a career as a CNA in New York, you will need to complete a state approved training course and then the certification exam.  A nursing assistant career allows you to provide basic care services for patients in a range of healthcare settings.  You will monitor and chart patient vital signs, assistant with activities of daily living and provide other care services.  New York has a lot of free training options. Read below:

1) If you live in the New York City area, you can apply for tuition free Nursing Assistant training through the Visiting Nurse Service.  This program prepares students for certification and for a career working in the home health setting.  Please note that you will need to pay a small fee for your textbook if you enter this training course.

2) Look for Adult Learning Centers in your local area (We’ve listed a few that provide training at the bottom of this page) to determine if you can receive training.  For example, the Centers located in Harlem and the Bronx offer options for prospective nursing assistants who cannot afford to pay for the certification training courses.

3) If you live in one of the boroughs of New York City, you can apply for a voucher for cna training tuition payment through Workforce 1.  There is an application process and it can take a few months to know if you are accepted to receive a voucher.  These vouchers for training are not accepted at every nursing assistant training school or program location, so you will have to take time to find a program that accepts the vouchers.

Direct Free  Training Opportunities

Arnot Health
600 Roe Ave,Elmira, NY, United States
They are looking for people who they can sponsor and train to become CNA’s. Ideally you’d have to work for them upon completion but this is something you’ll need to discuss with them beforehand. Call them on (607) 737-4100 and ask to speak to their careers dept.

The Wesley Community
156 Lawrence St, Saratoga Springs, NY
You can get trained at no cost here if you’re willing to commit to working there for at least 1 year upon getting qualified. Looks like a good opportunity. Class begins in mid September so hurry! They’re located in Saratoga Springs, NY. Get in touch by calling: (518) 587-3600 or emailing: info@wesleyhealth.com

The Brothers Of Mercy
Bergtold & Ransom Road, Clarence NY 14031
they have a superb training program. They offer a sign on bonus of up to $500 for those who end up being recruited by them. Similar to the other opportunities on this page, the training is “paid” which means you get it for free AND get paid a small wage while being trained. Download the application by clicking here and call them on 716-759-6985 for more info.

The Maplewood
100 Daniel Drive   Webster, NY 14580
They are situated in the Village of Webster. They occasionally offer paid training(training where you get paid while you learn). It is worth giving them a shot if you’re near this area and are looking to get trained. The nursing home is absolutely fantastic! One of the best we’ve seen in the United States. Call them on 585-872-1800 for more info.

Visiting Nurses Association (HHA Training)
2180 Empire Blvd., Webster 
They have classes almost every quarter and the people who run the classes are absolutely fantastic. We’ve received recommendations for this place from my readers. You need to apply in person at the address above  between 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Mon.-Fri. They encourage minorities to apply.

Loretto Rosewood
Syracrause, NY.
Another location that offers paid training where you get trained while receiving a daily wage. High school diploma or a GED is a must. The prospective student must pass a criminal background check. Visit their website on http://www.loretto-cny.org/careers/job-opportunities/ and select the training option from the category list. As of writing this they have a Home Health Aide training program ongoing. They also do CNA training sometimes.

Adirondack Medical Center
2233 New York 86, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Paid training is available(you get paid while you are trained!). They are looking for people who are willing to get trained and then work for them at their facilities in Lake Placid and Tupper Lake. They also have excellent benefits. For more info call them on (518) 891-4141 and ask about their trainee positions.

Finger Lakes Health (Runs Throughout the year)
196 North St Geneva, NY
They have a paid training program offered year round that trains you to work at Penn Yan, Geneva, or Waterloo,. You are trained over four weeks on the various skills required to work as a CNA.  The program prepares you to pass the state certification exam. While waiting for results you are trained under a mentoring program so that you can easily make the move from a trainee to a working CNA. This looks like a great opportunity if you’re serious about working as a CNA and are in the Geneva, NY area. For more info check out their website or call them on  (315) 787-4000 and ask about their training program.

Elcor Health Services
48 Colonial Dr, Horseheads, NY 14845
Training program with guaranteed employment after certification. They have a trainee position available at the moment. You will need to fulfill their application process to be eligible for the position. You will get paid while training and a higher salary upon completion and certification. You must apply in person at the Maple Creeks reception desk.

Chenengo Memorial Hospital
179 N Broad St, Norwich, NY 13815,
Get paid $7.25 while you are trained. The salary rises to over $9 once you complete your certification. Excellent place to work with a lot of benefits and other opportunities. The training program lasts for 100 hours. You will need to have a GED or High school equivalent to qualify for the program.

Elderwood Senior Care
They offer paid training at their facilities across NY. Call them on (716) 250-9663 and ask for their trainee positions. 

Health Services Of Northern New York
56 Market Street Potsdam, NY 13676
They offer no cost training to those who want to become Personal Care Assistants. They have classes periodically and may have one running at this time. Call them on 1-315-265-4065 and ask to speak to the jobs department.

First Care of New York INC
offers No Cost HHA/PCA training at its centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. To be eligible for the training you need to show up at their centers with a valid government ID, Social security number as well as a reference letter. Having a recent physical with valid documentation is also recommended. Their contact numbers are as follows:
Bronx Office – 718-364-7251
Brooklyn Office – 718-675-6200
Queens Office – 718-478-1454

Aftercare Nursing
They are going to be starting no cost training classes very soon. They can be contacted at (716) 894-7777. The classes are not currently running, but according to their listing it says they are starting soon so inquire politely and see if you qualify. They are located at 1680 Walden Avenue Cheektowaga, NY 14225.

Training to Become a HHA
Newark HomeCare Plus is offering training for those who want to become HHA’s. Since this career is closely related to CNA’s we’ve decided to list it on this page. As a home health aide you do pretty much the same stuff as a CNA except you’ll be working in the home of the patient and not in a hospital or nursing home. The pay is slightly lesser but HHA training is relatively easier to get for free since a lot of companies hire trainees. Newark Homecare Plus is holding the training in Centra Wayne County and can be contacted on (800) 562-1650 for more info.

Corning Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare (just added)
Corning, NY
This is a new listing. You need to call 607 654 2411 to enroll and the deadline for the current batch is 22nd June 2015. Looks like they are actively seeking new CNA’s so it should be relatively easy to be accepted. Call them and let us know if you were able to get trained in the comments.

Training VIA Educational Opportunity Centers

The following Universities and Colleges have Educational Opportunity Centers across New York that provide  nurse aide training at next to no cost. You will have to check the admission and eligibility requirements before submitting an application.

1) University of Buffalo – Educational Opportunity Center.
465 Washington Street Buffalo, New York 14203-1707
Phone: 716.849.6727

2) The College at Brockport – Rochester Educational Op Center.
305 Andrews Street Rochester, NY 14604
Phone: (585) 232-2730

3) Hudson Valley Community College – Capital District Educational Opportunity Center
80 Vandenburgh Ave., Troy, NY 12180
Phone: 518-629-4822 (HVCC)

4) Rochester Educational Opportunity Center
305 Andrews Street Rochester, NY 14604

This Educational Opportunity Center provides options for individuals to receive the training they need to be self-sufficient.  CNA classes are one of the options available for those who qualify.  There is no tuition charged for those who are accepted into the program.  Students receive all the classroom, lab and clinical training necessary to start a career as a certified nursing assistant.  Interested individuals should call (585) 232-2730 for more information.

Low Cost Training Options

New York Medical Career Training Institute
36-09 Main Street-5^th Floor-Flushing New York 11354

People have some very positive things to say about the New York Medical Career Training Institute and their CNA Program. This is a program that includes about 130+ hours of instruction with about 100 of those hours being at a local nursing home gaining the necessary clinical hours. The school offers a range of financial aid options which can help students enrolled in many programs including the nursing assistant curriculum.  This has helped so many students who would otherwise not be able to receive training or who would have a great deal of stress over paying for the course.   The school seems willing to help students look everywhere they can to find help to cover all or even a portion of their certified nursing assistant training program.

Many students make a point of mentioning how kind their instructors were.  The teachers appear to care about the students and to want them to do well not only in their training but also then when they start their nursing assistant career. Some graduates of the course also say that the CNA instructors tend to make all material seem interesting and all material seem easy to understand. Instructors provide excellent theory and practical lessons for their students. There are lab sessions where students learn about patient care in a practical manner that allows them to prepare for the day when they will work directly with clients and patients-first in the clinical segment of their training and then in their real world job setting.  These labs offer some hands on experience that just cannot be gathered in a classroom but that are skills a student is not yet ready to perform in the healthcare settings.

Students who have attended New York Medical Career Institute are well prepared for what they need to become a certified nursing assistant and then to work for employers who need well trained individuals on their staff. One student mentioned that she has already been employed for a couple years as a CNA after having completed training at the institute. She said she loves her job and that she would not have had all the know-how she has to be the post possible nursing assistant for her patients if she had not received the high quality and caring training she received in her time at New York Medical Career Institute learning to become a certified nursing assistant.

Vocational Nursing Scholarships Available in NY

Ascend Educational Fund
The Ascend Educational Fund is a non-profit organization that awards scholarships to immigrant students and children of immigrants who are graduating from a New York City high school.

Nursing homes in New York that might offer free CNA training

Arden Hill L C C At Newburgh – 172 Meadow Hill Road   Newburgh, New York 12550

Arden Hill Life Care Center – 6 Harriman Drive   Goshen, New York 10924

Arnot Ogden Med Ctr Rhcf – 600 Roe Avenue   Elmira, New York 14905

Auburn Nursing Home – 85 Thornton Avenue   Auburn, New York 13021

Augustana Lutheran Home – 5434 Second Avenue   Brooklyn, New York 11204

Aurelia Osborn Fox Memorial Ho – One Norton Avenue   Oneonta, New York 13820

Autumn View Health Care Facility Llc – S 4650 Southwestern Blvd   Hamburg, New York 14075

Chapin Home For The Aging – 165 01 Chapin Parkway   Jamaica, New York 11432

Chase Memorial Nursing Home Co – One Terrace Heights   New Berlin, New York 13411

Chautauqua County Home – 10836 Temple Road   Dunkirk, New York 14048

Chemung County Health Center – 103 Washington Street   Elmira, New York 14901

Chenango Memorial Hospital – 179 North Broad Street   Norwich, New York 13815

Good Samaritan Lutheran Hcc – 125 Rockefeller Road   Delmar, New York 12054

Good Samaritan Nursing Home – 101 Elm St   Sayville, New York 11782

Good Shepherd Fairview Home – 80 Fairview Avenue   Binghamton, New York 13904

Gouverneur Health Care Services – 227 Madison Street   New York, New York 10002

Gowanda Nursing Home – 100 Miller Street   Gowanda, New York 14070

Grace Manor Health Care Facility – 10 Symphony Circle   Buffalo, New York 14201

Grand Manor Nursing And Rehab – 700 White Plains Road   Bronx, New York 10473

Grandell Rehabilitation And Nu – 645 W Broadway   Long Beach, New York 11561

Greater Harlem Nursing Home Co – 30 West 138th Street   New York, New York 10037

Mt Loretto Nursing Home Inc – 302 Swart Hill Road   Amsterdam, New York 12010

N Y S Vets Home At Montrose – 198 Albany Post Road   Montrose, New York 10548

N Y S Vets Home At Oxford – 4211 State Highway 220   Oxford, New York 13830

N Y S Vets Home St Albans – 178 50 Linden Blvd   Jamaica, New York 11434

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