CNA-Can u become a CNA w/o going to a training program?

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Hello Gang,

I wanted to know if it was possible to become a Certified Nursing Assistant with going through a training program? Can u sort of training yourself by just getting the textbook thats used in the class and study hard and take the test.? If so, will you be able to get a job without having any training for a program? Because I went to the website www.prometric.com/NurseAide/FL to look at the application to take the certification test and there is a question on it asking where you got your training and one of the options is No previous training program attended. I really cant afford a training program right now because Im unemployed and the cheapest one I've seen is $400 for 2 weeks but I do have access to the Nursing Assistant book by Mosby the 6th addition.

Please help me make the right decision. Im a very fast learner and can crash course any textbook but I want to make sure its worth it or should I just save the $$$ and take the course?

Thanks in advance you guys. I know you all will help me.:heartbeat:heartbeat:nurse:

P.S. Im taking the pre-requistes for the Associate of Science in Nursing Degree and just wanted to get my feet wet with the CNA career.

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In some states you can, in others you can under certain conditions (after first year of nursing school or if you've been a nurse or a CNA before, there may be other such conditions), in some states you can't.

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In Florida you can dispute the test so no you don't have to take training classes. You can check out the book in your local library and watch you tube videos on the skills. Take the practice test on prometric to make sure you're okay with the written portion. The test is 120 dollars if you fail the written or the skills you can retake and only have to pay for that portion of it. So for example if you fail the skills you only have to pay 60 dollars to retake the skills and not the full 120. I just got my license in FL this year.

Good luck Im also getting my feet wet, I am completing my prereqs right now for nursing school!!! :)

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Specializes in Cardiac.

no...

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I did in PA in the year 2000. I had to complete the first semester of nursing school first, though. It was an easy exam. Good luck.

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In Florida you can dispute the test so no you don't have to take training classes. You can check out the book in your local library and watch you tube videos on the skills. Take the practice test on prometric to make sure you're okay with the written portion. The test is 120 dollars if you fail the written or the skills you can retake and only have to pay for that portion of it. So for example if you fail the skills you only have to pay 60 dollars to retake the skills and not the full 120. I just got my license in FL this year.

Good luck Im also getting my feet wet, I am completing my prereqs right now for nursing school!!! :)

To busygurrl,

Thanks i really appreciate your feedback. I have requested some books to checkout at the local library and i found a website from a college in Wiscosin that has some step-by-step videos of the CNA course at their college. So I've been watching the videos online and taking notes. I've been looking at job openings in my area and some say that u have to have had training from an approved or accredited CNA program as a job requirement. So I dont want to spend the time studying on my own if i cant get a job. What do u think?

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You can definately do it...i challenged the exam here in northwest fl 2months ago and passed on my first try without taking a cna course or any formal health related training.

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Here in MA, the only way you can take the test w/o formal CNA training is if you've actually rec'd equivelent training through another avenue - such as completing an adequate amount of NS clinical hours (usually one semester's worth - as mentioned above). In that case, you will need a letter from your school's chair person.

Otherwise, I do not believe (at least here in MA) that you can get a CNA license without either formal CNA training or the equivelent as described above. And you wouldn't want to without a lot of hands on practice - otherwise you could probably pass the written portion easily enough, but have a tough time with the (hands on) clinical skills portion. There's a lot of little (but important) safety and privacy nuances that you have to become natually aware of aside from the basic skill that their testing you on (in fact, in my opinion, you have some leeway to faulter on the skill itself but no leeway on the safety and privacy issues)

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Are you getting unemployment? If you are, find out if they will pay for the training. I know here (in MA) they will pay for full-time training for most classes.

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