CNA certified in LPN school

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Hey y'all I have a question I was wondering if y'all could answer. I'm starting LPN school in two weeks. The receptionist said after December I'll be ready to take my test to be a CNA. Is this something I could maybe do a month before? I'm really looking for a diff job and a CNA job would help out greatly.

Thanks!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Hey y'all I have a question I was wondering if y'all could answer. I'm starting LPN school in two weeks. The receptionist said after December I'll be ready to take my test to be a CNA. Is this something I could maybe do a month before? I'm really looking for a diff job and a CNA job would help out greatly.

Thanks!!

Where are you from? I am looking to take a night CNA. Class while in LPN school just to work while in school?

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PA. The school coordinator said I would be ready to take my test after our first round of clinicals.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
PA. The school coordinator said I would be ready to take my test after our first round of clinicals.

I might be able to soothe same thing here in Jersey I am going to ask my DON. Thanks

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In Alabama you can sit for cna certification after completing your first rounds of clinicals, some hospitals even offer jobs to nursing students as nurses aides or patient care specialists after you complete your first clinical rotation, without being certified. You should look around at employment opportunities to see what the criteria is in your state.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Anyone know about New Jersey. I am interested in becoming a CNA also while in nursing school.

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Most of the time, you will become eligible for certification as a nurse's aide after you complete the Fundamentals of Nursing Class which lasts probably about 10 weeks of your semester. I'm not sure what type of things nursing homes in your states are willing to overlook but in most nursing homes that run the risk of having State investigators pop in anytime, they will not hire you without being certified. And those types of Nursing Homes are few and far between. Most hospitals will not hire CNAs without at least one year of experience but they may accept that you are currently in nursing school in lieu of that one year of experience. Certification is handled by a licensing institution called Prometric in most states and they are hard-set on having evidence that you have completed a state approved CNA class or completed a Fundamentals of Nursing course. The time will fly by trust me. I am already certified, have been for one year, but it is a waste of money to pay an extra $600-$1000 to take a course that will be redundant and that you have already paid for in your nursing school tuition. And once you complete your first clinical rotation, Prometric just might accept that as enough evidence! So all I can say is be patient! Either way, you will receive the training you need, but don't pay for an extra course.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Most of the time, you will become eligible for certification as a nurse's aide after you complete the Fundamentals of Nursing Class which lasts probably about 10 weeks of your semester. I'm not sure what type of things nursing homes in your states are willing to overlook but in most nursing homes that run the risk of having State investigators pop in anytime, they will not hire you without being certified. And those types of Nursing Homes are few and far between. Most hospitals will not hire CNAs without at least one year of experience but they may accept that you are currently in nursing school in lieu of that one year of experience. Certification is handled by a licensing institution called Prometric in most states and they are hard-set on having evidence that you have completed a state approved CNA class or completed a Fundamentals of Nursing course. The time will fly by trust me. I am already certified, have been for one year, but it is a waste of money to pay an extra $600-$1000 to take a course that will be redundant and that you have already paid for in your nursing school tuition. And once you complete your first clinical rotation, Prometric just might accept that as enough evidence! So all I can say is be patient! Either way, you will receive the training you need, but don't pay for an extra course.

Thanks for the info I will look into it once I get started next month. Really don't have the extra change to put out if I don't have to.

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Thanks for all the help! What is the base pay an hour for a CNA?

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I'm starting LVN school in Jan and they told me I just need them to fill out the CNA challenge form and submit it. I live in CA by the way. So after the first 6-12 weeks in LVN school you should be able to do it. But check with you school first they should know. I doubt this isn't the first time someone wanted to do that on their campus. Good luck students

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I am also attending a program in PA and we were told that at the end of the first phase, they will give those of us who are not CNA's the paperwork to allow us to take the exam.

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I know here in Illinois you can sit for yoir CNA certification after your 1st round of clinicals, which should be fundamentals of nursing..

I don't think they will let youu take it any earlier than the 1st set of clinicals. Ask around and see what you come up with! Good Luck to you on the exam :-)

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