HELP! Where to do get CNA in MN?!!

andpeggy · Feb 24, 2009

Hi Cari,

I did mine via the Red Cross, in an evening/weekend format, and I really liked it. It was a few years ago, and the price has gone up quite a bit, but I had a good experience. I actually need to re-do my CNA, and will probably choose the Red Cross again. There's also this place: http://www.comfortmn.com/schedule.html

Most programs are priced similarily--about $650 to $800 for the course, plus the price of the test (which is a couple hundred, I think). It ain't cheap!

Good luck!

:)

Lola

Cari001 · Feb 24, 2009

Thanks, Lola! I'll check it out. There is also a program called East Metro OIC that is near my hometown that I'm thinking of signing up for(it's evening format). I just want to make sure it's accredited and I'm able to take the test after.

Thanks for your help. :redbeathe

mncna08 · Feb 26, 2009

i took mine through the american red cross as well. it was pretty fast i was done within i want to say a month. the cost was 570, but i believe it went up to 600 sumthen. i went about 7 months ago. i had no problem passing my state test! and i didint have to buy any books or anything. i know they also offer saterday classes as well. i looked into a couple of community colleges but a lot of them were a couple months long,long waiting list, had to buy all this stuff,just a long process. im happy with what i took, like i said i passed my test. it was i believe 200 bucks. and remmember if you work in a nursing home after you are certified most nursing homes are required to pay back your tuition,clothes for clinicals,shoes, books, etc etc. pretty good deal if you asked me. i thought about it but working in a nursing home seemed like major over-load, not that i ddint try but i took what i was offered. anyways! best of luck in whatever you choose to do!! let us know!

Cari001 · Feb 26, 2009

Thank you!! Yeah, I'm trying to sign up for the Red Cross program. The next class is full and I'm on the waiting list, so I'm hoping someone will drop it so I can get in. The next evening/weekend course isn't until September and that's too far away. I'll let you know what I end up doing!!

Are you working as a CNA now? If so, where? I would like to get payed back by working in a nursing home, but I think working in a hospital would be a better experience.

mncna08 · Feb 26, 2009

i know how that goes! i had to wait a couple months myself, im sure you will be able to get in before that, there pretty strict about attendance so if you miss a day your gone, so if someone didnt come the first day you could be in. lol if you dont mind me asking do you live around the st.paul area?. i work at two assisted living facilitys, one of them is memory care. when i passed my state test i applied at diff. nursing homes and nobody was interested i guess because i never got a call back lol so i decided that while yes its a lot of money, but i would of spent it either way,so i took what jobs i was offered and ran with it.and im pretty content with it now. its no nursing home, but i still do what i was tought in cna class. baths, toileting,feeding, cares etc.not too mention i never hear good things about them...anyways let us know how it goes when you start class! hopefully before sept!

Cari001 · Feb 26, 2009

I actually live in Falcon Heights, which is right near St. Paul.

Yea, I would take a job wherever I can get it. I currently work full-time in the business world so wherever I can get a per diem job, I'll take it.

Thanks again for your advice. :)

Cari001 · Mar 12, 2009

I found out you can take the exam without taking the course (which would save me a lot of $$) Would you guys who are CNAs recommend doing this?

mom2cka · Mar 12, 2009

FYI - if you're taking a CNA class for college requirements, know that some colleges don't require you to test, but do require the class to be completed. I knew students who did it the other way (tested, no class) and didn't meet the pre-req for nursing school.

kmarie724 · Mar 22, 2009

I took mine through the Red Cross. It was a few years ago, so I can't remeber all the details, but the class started in the late afternoon (I think it was 4-9pm) and was Tues., Wed., Thurs. for 5 weeks. Four weeks of class and one week of clinicals.

Regarding taking the test without taking the class, I guess it would depend on your previous experience. I could have passed the written portion by just studying on my own, but I think I needed the class and clinicals for the skills portion because I had no prior experience. Some of my classmates in nursing school had experience working in group homes and were able to take the test without taking the class. (My program only required you to be on the nursing assistaint registry, didn't matter if you took the class or not)