can you be certified as a cna/nurse assistant after fundamentals?

I live in New York. For me, after Fundamentals, we are considered equivalent to a CNA. No test required, just apply, and if asked can provide a letter from the school that states you've completed Fundamentals. I went on interviews for CNA positions and they never even asked for the letter. I had to provide the letter when I applied to a summer nurse externship program and it was basically a form letter that they added my name to at my
school's nursing program office.

If you're concerned about the criteria being different in your state, just ask the people in charge of your program. During orientation, before school started, they informed us of being able to work as a nursing assistant after our first semester. Hope that helps.

You won't be a CNA, but you could be considered for a PCT position in a hospital.
PCT=CNA, but PCT requires no certification... but most hospitals really want a CNA with some experience, unless you have completed your first nursing school rotation (in which case they hire you as a PCT).

However, I do not believe this to be true of a nursing home, as I believe you actually have to be certified or getting your cert soon after hire.

Curious to see if I am correct at all on this, but this is how I understand it and what I noticed around by me (which is actually around by you too ).

If you want to know about CNA certification, this is a great chance for you to get to know your state Board of Nursing. Call them and ask them what the rules are in your state. That's really the only reliable answer.