You must complete at least 100 hours of training in a state approved program in Maryland if you wish to work as a certified nursing assistant. You will also need to pass the certification exam. There are many ways to receive free cna training when living in Maryland.
1)Nursing Homes: Check with various types of nursing care facilities in your local area in order to find training programs. Many nursing care providers offer cna training. It is even possible to find free CNA training at many of these places. Nursing assistants tend to be in high demand which results in employers wanting well trained CNAs and therefore being willing to hire individuals and train them for no cost. You can get more info on how this works by reading our article on Free Training From Nursing Homes
2) Caroline Center: Another option for low cost cna training in Maryland is for women who want to train to enter into the healthcare field and do not necessarily have the money to invest in their training. The Caroline Center offers a nursing assistant training program for individuals who are accepted into the program. Of course, this program is fully approved by the state of Maryland. Their contact details are as follows: 900 Somerset Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: 410-563-1303
3) Colleges: You will also find cna training programs available at colleges and in continuing education programs. Sometimes the programs offer several credits to students upon completion. “For credit” courses often qualify for scholarships and grants. You can apply for financial aid if you are considering one of these programs. Depending on the amount of your grant or scholarship, you can receive your full cna training at almost no charge to you.
4) WIA Via One Stop Career Centers
There are over 30 centers located in the state of Maryland, with 4 in the main city of Baltimore. These centers help evaluate your current financial status and see if you are eligible for training as part of the WIA Act (more info here). They help you get the grant from the federal government and use it to pay for your training at any of the recognized community colleges in Maryland. To see if there is a center near you please visit: http://goo.gl/ijTRB
Direct Free CNA Training Opportunities
1) Peninsula Regional Medical Center
Salisbury, MD, 21801.
In Partnership with the Wor Wic community College, they have a training program for selected applicants. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. To get into this program you will need to get in touch with them and pass an application process. Usually these type of programs look for dedicated and passionate people who will turn out to be long term employees. The application or interview might ask questions like “Why would you want to become a CNA?” or “What you wish to achieve after attaining your certification as a CNA:”. be prepared for those kinds of questions. They will expect you to work for them after completing the program.
2) Job Corps
If you’re under the age of 24, you can get trained via the Job Corps. Read our article on how this works by clicking here
Centers are located in :
Woodland – 3300 Fort Mead Road, Laurel, MD 20724
Tel: (301) 362-6000
Woodstock – 10900 Old Court Road, Woodstock, MD 21163
Tel: (410) 461-1100
3) Howard County General Hospital (Since 2012)
5755 Cedar Ln, Columbia, MD 21044, Phone: (410) 740-7890
They consistently add interested people to their pool of potential nursing assistants. Whenever they face a shortage they call people on the waiting list and pay for their training before hiring them permanently. It doesn’t hurt to sign up since you never know how far down the list you could be.
4) Genesis Healthcare
Baltimore, Maryland
They operate nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities in over 13 states in the country. They have opportunities almost always. They periodically offer training classes for people who qualify. You need to have a high school diploma or GED and need to be willing to work for them after getting trained. To get more info please call 1.877.403.JOBS and ask about the CNA training opportunity in Baltimore.
5) Home Instead Senior Care
Montgomery County, Northwest DC
Working as a caregiver is a very rewarding job for some kind of people. If you think making a difference in someone’s daily life in their home is something you’d like then this opportunity is for you. Working as a caregiver isn’t that much different from a nursing aide but the pay is slightly lesser and in this position no kind of prerequisites of training are required. To find out more please call 301-588-9710 and ask about the caregiver positions in Northwest DC.
6) Always Best Care Senior Services
Potomac, MD and Montgomery County, MD
They have a normal HHA job listing. We wouldn’t have posted it here were it not for the fact that they have mentioned in their ad that they need people who have been caregivers (can be for a family member or friend in the past). Unlike other listings, they have also not made it a must to be a CNA to qualify for the job. You will however need a couple of references to vouch for you as well as be willing to undergo a normal background check.
Vocational Scholarships in Maryland
Maryland Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program
The Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (WSSAG) was created for students who plan on working in specific career programs. Applicants must be willing to sign a promissory note agreeing to fulfill a service obligation in nursing within one year of completing the nursing program. The awards are based on the institution the applicant is attending and whether they are considered a part-time or full-time student. Full-time students may receive $2,000 a year and part-time students may receive $1,000 a year. Make sure and submit all required documents by July 1st in order to be considered for the award.
Institutions That Can Be Of Assistance
1) Maryland Green Job Training
Phone: 410-767-2017
2) Harford Community College
401 Thomas Run Rd, Bel Air, MD – 21015
3) Community College of Baltimore County
7201 Rossville Blvd, Baltimore, MD – 21237
Nursing homes that might offer Free CNA Training in exchange for work
Note: These nursing homes DO NOT Provide CNA training directly. It is however common for nursing homes to employ you and then pay for your training at another facility.
- Caton Manor – 3330 Wilkens Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21229
- Catonsville Commons – 16 Fusting Avenue Catonsville, Maryland 21228
- Charles Co. Nsg & Rehab Ctr – 10200 Laplata Road Laplata, Maryland 20646
- Charles E. Smith Life Communities – 6121 Montrose Road Rockville, Maryland 20852
- Citizens Nsg Home Of Frederick – 1900 Rosemont Avenue Frederick, Maryland 21701
- Clearview Nursing Home – 9946 Downsville Pike Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
- Clinton Nursing & Rehab – 9211 Stuart Lane Clinton, Maryland 20735
- College View Center – 700 Toll House Avenue Frederick, Maryland 21701
- Collingswood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center – 299 Hurley Avenue Rockville, Maryland 20850
- Ginger Cove – 4000 River Crescent Drive Annapolis, Maryland 21401
- Glade Valley Nursing & Rehab – 56 West Frederick Street Walkersville, Maryland 21793
- Gladys Spellman Spec. Hosp. – 2900 Mercy Lane Cheverly, Maryland 20785
- Glen Meadows Retirement Com. – 11630 Glen Arm Road Glen Arm, Maryland 21057
- Golden Age Guest Home – 1442 Buckhorn Road Sykesville, Maryland 21784
- Good Samaritan Hospital – 5601 Loch Raven Boulevard Baltimore, Maryland 21239
- Larkin Chase – 15005 Health Center Drive Bowie, Maryland 20716
- Laurelwood Care Center At Elkton – 100 Laurel Drive Elkton, Maryland 21921
- Maplewood Park Place – 9707 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, Maryland 20814
In Maryland, you can also get assistance as a result of the Workforce Investment Act. Make sure you contact your local social services office who will be able to assist you in this regard.
Other state listings:
Are there any places like caroline center in PG or Charles County that offers free cna training?
Hi Dana,
These two and probably the Job corps are the only centers offering free CNA training directly.
I’am interested in finding a school for cna. I’am single with a child in college which is really hard. Please let me know. thanks
I wntd to get info in the cna program the cost how long is the program
Carolyn,
We don’t run a CNA program ourselves. If you let us know which CNA program you’re talking about, we can get more details for you.
If you go to a one stop center neat you they will pay if you are eligible for it and they will reimburse your child care
I Live in Chicago, IL and I heard there is a certain program that train you to be a CNA but it is totally free and they pay you either every 2 weeks or at the end of the program which takes about 4 weeks and you don’t need a HS diploma or GED can you help please!!!!
Hi Jazzmine,
I’ve done alot of research and can’t find the program you’re referring to. Did you check out our dedicated page for Free CNA training in the Chicago, Il area?
How do i apply for any of the programs that might exchange cna training for work?
Hi Tiffany,
Its simple. You locate a nursing home near you that has vacancies. Most nursing homes will agree to pay for your CNA training if you’re willing to commit to them for around a year or so.
hey i wanted to know if you have a theft felony thats 4 years old can you still get certified? its the first and only offense.
You should still be able to get a license with a criminal record. There may be obvious exceptions for people with severe, violent and abusive criminal records. Those would be handled on a case by case basis.
Finding a job after you’re certified depends on the state and criminal offense, drug offenses are typically more frowned upon and if you have any history of client abuse or have been convicted for mistreatment it will likely affect your getting hired. If you have a criminal record you can expect to experience more hassle when finding a job, especially in California.
I would greatly appreciate if someone would take time out of there busy scedule to call me at this number 1-609-813-1018 to let me know when the classes will start and i’ve been a Certified Nurses Assistant in North Carolina for 36 yrs.
Are CNA training only for women in the MD area…. I am exploring a career change and wish to ease into the medical field…any advice and suggestion
Steve, not really. The free training from the Caroline center was/is for women only. You can get free training from nursing homes as well but that’s getting a lot harder these days since it is costly even for the nursing homes to get people trained. I would suggest trying out nursing homes which have active CNA vacancies. If that doesn’t work out you could try a low cost training program. There are a ton of vocational centers in Maryland that offer training so you’re bound to find one which is in the $500 to $700 range.
Which vocational centers in the Baltimore, MD area that offer training between $500 to $700? I’ve been looking for places that offer good prices for excellent training, but so far I’ve found that some of the places charge you over $1500 for a six-week program. I don’t make alot of money and I’m just trying to find out which program that I can take and get myself into because I really want to work in the medical field.
Hello. I am very interested in receiving more info on available grants for CNA training in my area.
I currently live and work in the Rockville/Gaithersburg area.
Any good advice (with a genuine starting point) would be greatly appreciated.
Admin…..I read that you posted a ton of vocational centers in Md that offers training for $500-$700 range. Could you please post the names of these locations and phone numbers? Greatly appreciated.
I live in gaithersburg md and the lowest cost i have found is 1100. Do anyone know where they offer classes/traning for cheaper? i am willing to travel but would prefer a class close to gaithersburg
To aleemah there is a cna training school in hyattsville md, called foreman nursing school.the fee is 975. which is not thaat bad compared to 1100 but i dont know if that is to far for you!
Hi im looking for free cna classes in the forestville/district heights area if yu or anybdy know of any feel free to reply thanks
How come you don’t have this information at the Wheaton Office at Veirs Mill Road, Silver Spring MD. I would have like to had the opportunity to have that training for FREE.
Im looking for a cna class in harford county md any suggestions for free training in my area?
Could anyone please post the vocational schools that offer the course for $500-$700? Thank you!
I’m looking for free CNA/GNA training in baltimore or Columbia MD 21044
Hey, I am already a CNA in Charleston, SC..I been wanting to come to MD…I need different schools thou …if its between $500-$700 that would be good
I had my gna I worked at two nursing homes in Hagerstown I quit them because I felt the patients were not being care for properly. So when my certification came up for renewnal they would not sign for me. Therefore I lost my gna. It cost me 800.00 for my gna. I love working with the elderly but can afford to pay for my h
gna. Jam 65 years old
Hello everyone i am fairly brand new here in Baltimore i just move to dundalk by tuner station. I’ve been here for 2months as a single parent of a 1 yrd.I’m trying to figure out a way that i can get help with finding a school or a nursing home that provides free CNA training or excepts financial aid that is near by where i live if you guys could help with information it will go greatly appreciated . Thanks
Oops i forgot to leave you with my area zip code dundalk MD 21222
Hi Floydtasha
I used to live in Dundalk,It is sad to say that majority of the programs are in the inner city. There is a nursing home in Dundalk, I believe that it is Genesis Healthcare. It is on the #4 bus line and they pay pretty good. There are other options but like I said they are in the city. If you would like I could provide you with that information.
Genesis Healthcare
7232 German Hill Road
Dundalk, MD 21222
P:(410) 282-6310
website: http://www.genesishcc.com/
Genesis is hard as hell.. Pulling lifting tugging and ghetto staff. Not recommended
notice how once people started asking the admin. for the contact info and names of the supposed vocational schools that she stated have classes from 500-700$, the admin stopped responding. that is because there are no vocational schools in maryland offering classes at such a cheap rate!! i wish there were but there isnt!
and the admin shouldnt have suggested that there were!
Hello. There is a place that charged 700 for Training. it’s called St Ambrose Center of Park Height. That’s the cheapest center in the area unless you go through Genesis.
Hi. I’m 17 and I want to enroll in a CNA program. I know that the age requirement is 16, but I can’t seem to find any programs to enroll in.
Hi, I am 18 years old and I want to get my CNA. I will graduating soon and I want to be working by mid or late June so I can help for my college needs. Is there a cna class that are on campus (not online, I don’t learn very well at all through online classes) that is under $700 in pg county around the Bowie nd area? I don’t have a car and I can’t afford to pay a lot of money for these classes. Pg community is over $1300 so I had to rule that out. I know it needs to be a shook that will give me at least 100 hours according MD state law. I would need one that offers evening and weekend classes since I’m in school during the day. Any suggestions? I know this is a very specific request but I’m very limited in my situation, sorry for any inconvience. If you have any advice or suggestions I will forever greatful!
Thanks!
Am Alem am willing to be a cna but I can’t afford the cost near by me my aderess is 5300 Jamestowne ct baltimore MD 21229 please help me