Anyone ever skip the CNA class to become a CNA?

I'm sure it depends on your state and its requirements, but for my state boards there are a lot of little nitpicky, finicky little things for the skills test that you have to remember to pass. The written tests are very easy, I got a 99%. I have no doubt that you could pass that easily. It's the little things on the skills test that may be challenging if you haven't taken the course and been advised on them.

(For example - peri care: make sure the patient tests the water temperature first. Be sure to use a different part of the washcloth per area when you clean. Make sure you dry straight front to back in one swipe, etc. Little things like that. There are a whole mess of them.)

Makes sense actually. Debating to take a Saturday class in 6 month's for PCA or a 3 month EMT program that way can have a nursing related job before and during school.

CNA class teaches you things they being a tech will not help you. If you have gone to nursing school you can take the test without class. But other then that i think you'd have to take the class to qualify being a CNA. Remember the class is set to be able to work in a nursing home type setting not hospital even though CNAs are used in hospitals

In my state (NC) you can challenge the state test, however there are small steps in the skills test that a lot of people would not think of doing. It also depends on if you are planning to go into nursing school. My program requires you to be on the state registry AND to have taken an approved CNA class--If I remember correctly you had to complete 120 clinical hours. So, you could have challenged the state test, passed, but to get into my program you would still have to complete an approved class.