Where to get my CNA license?

[SN95fiyoh]

Hello everyone. I am currently a student at Rio Hondo college. As of now, I am doing GED/Pre-req courses in hope to get into the RN program(still a few years down the road). About a week ago, I ran into a friend at a football game at my old highschool. It was a very quick meet and greet, but she told me that she was a CNA. I didn't ask anything of it, but now I'm interested. Where, in the Socal area (preferably near Whittier, Montebello, LA area) can I find a good school that offers CNA programs? My previous job was just parking cars, and getting full of every fluid possible that cars give out, lol. I hated it. Didnt mind working hard, Im just not a greece monkey. Id like to try this and get a feel of the hospital life.

A few weeks ago my girlfriend gave me this flyer some 'students' where handing out outside a store. The flyers where advertising a school called "Preferred College Of Nursing". They offer programs for CNA's Home Health Aid and have convenient locations as well. I called and they said the CNA program is about $900 for 3.5 months (class is every saturday). Has anyone heard of these people? Im afraid of paying the cash, going thru the time, and being ripped off (hey, its happened before). Anyone know a site that can tell me whose credible, and who to stay clear from?

Thank you for any feedback!! its all appreciated.

p.s Im 19 years old, if that matters, hehe.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

You can become a CNA for about $200. at a community college, and some nursing homes have FREE CNA programs. Also- CNAs are not licensed, they are certified.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Most places will even pay you to learn and then pay for the test...look in to those places...

[merricat]

long term care centers ( nursing homes) are often just crying for good help and often give the class for free. they should also pay for your CPR class and certification. and your CNA classes, any fees to state board of nursing, my place did not pay for my book (took it out of paycheck). it was fast though-- 1 month instead of three for the class so you have to study a lot. my old place paid while you were in class but the new place didn't, but they would schedule you to work around your classes so i did not starve. it is possible you may need to get some LTC experience before a hospital will hire you-- depends on the hospital. i would guess hospitals are probably pickier thatn LTC. they are here. um,....if you feel awkward just calling them on the phone and asking them a bunch of questions, maybe you could go in and talk to the DON. i would make an appointment. not sure how many care homes there are down there-- if you talk to the DON you coulkd get a look at the place and decide whether being there for awhile would be bearable. figuring out accredidation for schools is a pain, i suppose the thing to do would be to talk to someone from a community college, like an advisor, and ask what to look for, or maybe contact the state board of nursing website and cruise that. but truthfully i would not pay more than community college price to become a CNA (maybe not even that). even if you do the $900.00 school you may have to work in LTC to become hireable at a hospital so what is the point? i once paid about nine thousand dollars on a school scam-- it embarassing but i did. long story. what some of them do is they "loan" you the outrageous amount of money it takes to finance the schooling, then charge you outrageous interest and collect on the repayment forever. (roll eyes).

[merricat]

i tried to help you by looking on the computer. there is a website that rates medicare and medicaid approved homes for LTC. but "whittier" "montebello" "socal" are not valid options for the search. if i knew what county you were in it'd help. or you could go to -- i typed into the search engine "medicare medicaid nursing homes".