A question about prices of CNA/PCT programs and getting what you pay for

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I signed up for a CNA class today. 600 dollars, 4 weeks, and they have a 100% pass rate for the state exam.

The thing is, I'm really concerned that you get what you pay for.

I went to junior college at the cheapest college in the southeast. I got a terrible education and had a terrible experience. I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with the nursing program.

When I first went searching for cna and pct programs in the Atlanta area, I came across a school called 'Medix College.' The program lasts 9 or 10 months and covers cna/pct plus phlebotomy, EKG, CPR, and first aid certifications. It has something like 300 combined hours for clinicals and a 2 month externship at St. Joseph's hospital. The cost of the state exams are included in the tuition. Most of their grads get jobs at st joes when they graduate (I called the hospitals HR and confirmed this, but the HR rep couldn't confirm the externship). There are many classrooms, RN's teach the classes, and they have a lot of labs. Big problem? It's 13,000 dollars. Which seems just a tiny bit ridiculous, but now I'm wondering if maybe it's not that bad, since you get what you pay for.

This cna school I enrolled in (Covenant CNA) will get me cna and CPR certified. I have to pay for the state exams, the books are rented to me, and it's based out of an office building, with 1 classroom and one bed / dummy enclosed by a cubicle. There are maybe 20 clinical hours at a local nursing home, and the pct program has 60 hours (I believe...and I don't think the pct clinicals are at a hospital). The PCT program they offer is 1200 if you bridge from CNA to PCT.

It's made me very nervous that perhaps I'm making the same mistake over again; am I sacrificing a good education just so I can not take out a student loan?

I would really appreciate any help you can give. I'm freaking out about this, when it's probably no big deal.

The college I'm at now (Chattahoochee Technical College) has an lpn program and an associates RN program. The RN program is much harder to get into, so I was thinking maybe I'd get my lpn from the technical college, and then go to a 4 year school for my bsn. Does that sound like a step in the right direction? I was thinking the more experience and certifications I get, and the more clinical hours I have, the better I look to potential employers. Is this the case?

I seriously have NO IDEA about anything to do with nursing, except that it is what I want to do. I want to help people and make a difference. I have tried talking to advisors (from the junior college), and no one seemed to know the answer to these questions.

If anyone has any remarks on either Covenant CNA or Medix College, please tell me. I feel hopelessly lost!

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No one :(?

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I signed up for a CNA class today. 600 dollars, 4 weeks, and they have a 100% pass rate for the state exam.

The thing is, I'm really concerned that you get what you pay for.

I went to junior college at the cheapest college in the southeast. I got a terrible education and had a terrible experience. I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with the nursing program.

When I first went searching for cna and pct programs in the Atlanta area, I came across a school called 'Medix College.' The program lasts 9 or 10 months and covers cna/pct plus phlebotomy, EKG, CPR, and first aid certifications. It has something like 300 combined hours for clinicals and a 2 month externship at St. Joseph's hospital. The cost of the state exams are included in the tuition. Most of their grads get jobs at st joes when they graduate (I called the hospitals HR and confirmed this, but the HR rep couldn't confirm the externship). There are many classrooms, RN's teach the classes, and they have a lot of labs. Big problem? It's 13,000 dollars. Which seems just a tiny bit ridiculous, but now I'm wondering if maybe it's not that bad, since you get what you pay for.

This cna school I enrolled in (Covenant CNA) will get me cna and CPR certified. I have to pay for the state exams, the books are rented to me, and it's based out of an office building, with 1 classroom and one bed / dummy enclosed by a cubicle. There are maybe 20 clinical hours at a local nursing home, and the pct program has 60 hours (I believe...and I don't think the pct clinicals are at a hospital). The PCT program they offer is 1200 if you bridge from CNA to PCT.

It's made me very nervous that perhaps I'm making the same mistake over again; am I sacrificing a good education just so I can not take out a student loan?

I would really appreciate any help you can give. I'm freaking out about this, when it's probably no big deal.

The college I'm at now (Chattahoochee Technical College) has an lpn program and an associates RN program. The RN program is much harder to get into, so I was thinking maybe I'd get my lpn from the technical college, and then go to a 4 year school for my bsn. Does that sound like a step in the right direction? I was thinking the more experience and certifications I get, and the more clinical hours I have, the better I look to potential employers. Is this the case?

I seriously have NO IDEA about anything to do with nursing, except that it is what I want to do. I want to help people and make a difference. I have tried talking to advisors (from the junior college), and no one seemed to know the answer to these questions.

If anyone has any remarks on either Covenant CNA or Medix College, please tell me. I feel hopelessly lost!

girl that is just too much for a cna/pct class. i took the same class in ny and i only paid 2500 for it. u really should find somewhere else like the technical colleges. please google cna/pct courses in GA............

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You'll be a fool if you pay $13,000 for that course. My RN(ADN) program doesn't even cost that much!

I'm taking a CNA course and it's $600 as well. It doesn't have a bad reputation. And I can take the PCA course afterwards for less than $300 at the school I am currently attending for my RN.

The $600 program has a 100% pass rate, what more can you want?? Obviously they prepare their students to the standards of the state, that is what matters! You will learn the most on the job, but you need to be state certified to get a job.That $13,000 school is a HUGE rip off.

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Hm, $13,000 is more than "tiny bit" ridiculous, imho, even with the other aspects.

The other one sounds like a good, solid, basic, cna course...it only sounds cheap because the other is so inflated. Around here, cna is cheapest at the community colleges, and double or triple that at the private for profit schools but what is covered and how it is covered is so standard that it doesn't matter where it comes from.

In RN-BSN bridge programs, the nursing classes are counted toward the BSN and one takes just the material covered by the BSN program but not the RN programs. You might check that LPN nursing classes are accepted by the BSN programs you are looking at. I think they are not, but every school is different. If the classes aren't accepted, you would have to start over with the BSN (except for a few general ed classes that are prereqs for both).

RN to BSN bridge courses cover the info beyond what is covered in the RN prgrams.

There are LPN to RN bridge programs, fewer than there used to be, but you might be able to do two bridges: LPN to RN, then RN to BSN.

It might still be a good idea to take the LPN first, depending on your situation and goals. My sister in law used her LPN job to pay for her RN schooling. It took her an extra year to get through school, but LPN paid a lot better than the flipping burgers jobs most of her classmates had. It was well worth it for her. That was 20 years ago, though, and not in Georgia. I don't know if it is a good idea for you. I've heard of people going the LPN-RN route because it is easier to get into LPN school than RN school (doesn't seem to be any problem getting into LPN-RN bridge programs if they are offered.)

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I don't think when it comes to higher education, you can judge the worthiness of a program by the price tag. For-profit tech schools are notorious for putting students in massive debt for a degree that will never provide the means to repay the debt. Often times, employers won't even hire someone trained at a for-profit technical school. (DEFINITELY do your homework before enrolling in one of these programs). How long do you plan on being a CNA? If it's just a stepping stone before heading off to LPN or RN school, you'll never get $13,000 back out of that.

My community college offers CNA class/certification for $700. You would be remiss to pay much more than that.

Good luck to you.

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I too was kind of in the same boat. I originally decided i would go to LPN school, but the school wanted $25,000 for the program. Which I thought was a tad much, considering you can get your RN for less. Now I've decided to go for my CNA for now, until my youngest son goes to school. That way i'd get the experience, and see if nursing is for me. Nursing is something I've alwaysss wanted to do. So im really hoping it works out. The CNA program near me costs $500, but like the people at the school told me if you get a job after you graduate some places will give you tuition reimbursement. If you are planning on taking your CNA, call local nursing homes near you. A lot of them, give them to you for free, and pay you while your taking them! Best of luck:)

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If you are still looking for somewhere to get your cna's, Village Samaritan is where I went. She is the best teacher I have ever meet. She teaches you more then just the technical stuff. She tells you about her experiences to prepare you for what are you going to encounter. She charges 593, and that encludes tuition, book, a pair of scrubs, and the cost of using her supplies. She is amazing and she knows her stuff.

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sorry I forgot to tell you it is a 6 week class.. but you will learn everything you need to know to pass your test and what you will encounter on the job.

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:eek: $13,000 for a CNA class? The two-year RN program I'm in costs less than $2,000 a semester at community college.

I don't know what the job market for CNAs is like in Atlanta, but I know here there are several LTC facilities that will provide CNA training for free if you agree to work for them for a certain amount of time. Some will even help pay for LPN/RN school. Just something to consider.

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I am trying to get into the PCT program at Chattahouchee tech and its like 3600.00 if i were u id go for PCT. Its like 12 wks. When u are a PCT they is more of a variety of jobs which is good for u in this economy.

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Hi!

Did you take the CNA course at Village Samaritan in Carrollton GA?

If so, I'm registered to take mine next month, any tips? How much time did you need to spend on it outside of class?

Thanks!

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