You can play a vital role in the care of patients with an entry-level nursing position as a certified nursing assistant. To become a certified nursing assistant, you must enter and pass a state approved training course as well as the certification exam. Most courses are only a few hundred dollars, though there are steps you can take to try to receive free CNA training:
You can receive cna training through the American Red Cross in Vermont. This is a high quality training program for prospective CNAs. It is possible to receive free training through the American Red Cross if you qualify to have your tuition paid as a grant through the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. This corporation can sometimes help cover tuition at other training programs as well.
There are many community colleges and vocational colleges offer certified nursing assistant training programs. You can apply for financial aid packages and scholarships if you attend one of these programs. If you are struggling to be able to cover the cost of training, are unemployed or are very-low income, you are more likely to qualify for tuition assistance.
Nursing homes, retirement homes and long-term care facilities often offer free nursing assistant training. They do so in order to attract new nursing assistants for employment. You will generally need to work for the employer for at least 6 months (often longer) in order to receive your free training. If you become employed by a Medicare or Medicaid certified nursing facility after having already paid for your training on your own, you can receive reimbursement for training tuition and expenses.
It is not overly difficult to find free training options in Vermont. There are scholarships and grants to help individuals who need to start a new career in order to find employment or to improve their income-especially those who are receiving public assistance programs.
Visiting Nurse Association (Updated for August 2012)
They currently have a training drive that’s starting that will help you become a personal care attendant. PCA’s are similar to HHA’s in that they perform their duties in a home health care setting. The work involved is the same as that of a CNA but in this you are dealing usually with one patient and normally work for a home health agency. The training begins September 21st but you need to attend an informational session to find out just exactly what sot of career you can expect from this.
The session is going to be on Tuesday, September 11, 9:30am OR Wednesday, September 12, 9:30am. It will be held at the Visiting Nurse Association 1110 Prim Road Colchester, VT 05446. To apply for this and get more info please visit: http://goo.gl/aq5kM (copy the url into your browser)
Workforce Investment Act
The American Red Cross chapter in Vermont is an eligible WIA training provider. This means that even though their CNA program costs $950, you can get trained for free if you qualify for training under the WIA. If you have recently lost your job or have been unemployed for a while, you can go to your local unemployment office and see if you qualify for retraining. You must show enthusiasm in becoming a nursing assistant and make sure you will work as one after getting certified. Other training centers that qualify under the WIA in Vermont are Clinical Career Training, Community College of Vermont and Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden.
Nursing homes in Vermont that might give free CNA training
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.
Berlin Health & Rehab Center – Rr 3 Box 6684 Barre, Vermont 05641
Birchwood Terrace Healthcare – 43 Starr Farm Rd Burlington, Vermont 05401
Brookside Nursing Home Inc – 120 Christian Street White River Junction, Vermont 05001
Burlington Health & Rehab – 300 Pearl St Burlington, Vermont 05401
Derby Green – Main Street Derby, Vermont 05829
Eden Park Nursing Home – Pine Heights Brattleboro, Vermont 05301
Eden Park Of Rutland Nh – 99 Allen St Rutland, Vermont 05701
Elmore House At Copley Manor – Rr #3 Box 630 Morrisville, Vermont 05661
Holiday House (Four C’s, Inc.) – Rr 1 Box 79 Sheldon Road St Albans, Vermont 05478
Maple Lane Nursing Home – Barton Hill Road Barton, Vermont 05822
Mayo Healthcare Inc. – 1 Richarson Ave Northfield, Vermont 05663
Mcgirr Nursing Home – 33 Atkinson St Bellows Falls, Vermont 05101
Menig Extended Care – 44 South Main Street Randolph, Vermont 05060
Newport Health Care Center – Rr 2 Box 123 Newport, Vermont 05855
Pines Rehab & Health Ctr – “Rfd 1, Box 94” Lyndonville, Vermont 05851
Prospect Nursing Home – 34 Prospect Street North Bennington, Vermont 05257
Redstone Villa – 7 Forest Hill Dr St Albans, Vermont 05478
Rowan Court Health & Rehab – 378 Prospect St Barre, Vermont 05641
Village At Cedar Hill Continuing Care Community – 92 Cedar Hill Dr Windsor, Vermont 05089
Wake Robin-Linden Nursing Home – 200 Wake Robin Drive Shelburne, Vermont 05482
Woodridge Nursing Home – P.O. Box 550 Barre Jct, Vermont 05641
I am starting an lna class on march 14th through clinical career training is there any finainacal aid available? i get state assistance currently
You can if you are eligible under the Workforce Investment Act