High School student looking for CNA training CA

Missingyou, CNA · Jul 2, 2015

MANY years ago, my high school actually offered the CNA training.

Check with your local Red Cross about CNA training.

Your age may be an issue but:

You may be able to work in home care as a home health aide. Depending on the state you live in, you may be able to work in someone's home as a companion/homemaker (no hands on care) or a home health aide without the CNA training (for less pay) until you can get the training. Search home care agencies in your area and give them a call to find out the requirements.

FYI: Homemaker/companion = someone who helps with household chores such as laundry, cleaning, errands, cooking etc.

Provides companionship to someone who is sick such as someone who may have early stages of dementia. They may need reminders to take medication or just someone to be in the home with them and make sure they are safe (don't wander, leave the stove on etc). This usually involves playing card games, going for walks, chatting with them, baking, reading to them or doing whatever that person enjoys doing.

mvm2 · Jul 2, 2015

If you can not find a job as a CNA right now because of your age than just holds off till your 18. You'll still have plenty of time to get CNA experience while your taking your nursing classes. Also many people can take their CNA States test after your first year of nursing school as well.

Missing you has a good idea for you to look into but I know my home care agency requires you to be 18 or perhaps even 19. Even though home care can be easier work then LTCs there is a lot of responsibility to working home care. Many times you are alone with the client so you have to have the maturity to know what to do if there was an emergency. At 16 do you know how to look for problems or decline in your client extra. Also there are many times you might have to take your client to appointments or errands and many agencies might not see a 16 year old as mature enough in their driving skills for the responsibility.

I'm not trying to say you can't be a responsible 16 year old, but I guess I'm trying to prepare you for the possibility that at 16 you might not be able to get a CNA job, but for you to not be discouraged, and to know as well that there is plenty of time for you to be a great CNA if you have to by law wait a year or two

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 2, 2015

While you can get certified as a CNA in CA at age 16 many facilities due to having to consent to confidentiality and other legally binding agreements won't consider you for hire until 18 years old. The programs that 16 & 17 year olds can do are often affiliated with a high school or vocational school. Ask your guidance counselor

MsCupcakes · Jul 2, 2015

As another poster said, check with your high school. I know one of the local ones here does a "Summer School" for teens interested in becoming CNAs in conjunction with the local community college. You can also start out by looking into local CPR/first aid classes. You can also always talk to the Activites Director at a local LTC facility and try volunteering. Although it isn't a medical position, it's a good foot in the door for when you do get your classes and license completed, plus it helps improve quality of life for the residents.