How To Become A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

Some people choose to obtain training at private for-profit schools or 'CNA academies' that offer the nursing assistant course, although this is the most expensive option.

It all depends on the area. When I was looking at a CNA program 4 yrs ago, the community colleges cost about $1500, took 3 months & they had waiting lists. I decided to go to an independent CNA program (which I made sure was listed on the state's BON website) and it cost $925. It was just 4 weeks long & I passed my written & skills exams with flying colors. I enjoyed my time as a CNA & the experiences I had definitely benefited me in nursing school.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

It all depends on the area. When I was looking at a CNA program 4 yrs ago, the community colleges cost about $1500, took 3 months & they had waiting lists. I decided to go to an independent CNA program (which I made sure was listed on the state's BON website) and it cost $925. It was just 4 weeks long & I passed my written & skills exams with flying colors. I enjoyed my time as a CNA & the experiences I had definitely benefited me in nursing school.

I'm pleased that your experienced worked out well.

I'm mostly referring to the CNA programs at the private-for-profit schools owned by major corporations. These are the trade schools that advertise heavily on television during daytime hours. Television commercials cost big bucks, so these schools tend to have expensive tuition.

Several of these investor-owned schools offer the PCA (patient care assistant) program in the metro area where I live. Many uninformed students have gotten into tens of thousands of dollars worth of student loan debt for overhyped training that is nothing more than CNA certification.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

I'm pleased that your experienced worked out well.

I'm mostly referring to the CNA programs at the private-for-profit schools owned by major corporations. These are the trade schools that advertise heavily on television during daytime hours. Television commercials cost big bucks, so these schools tend to have expensive tuition.

Several of these investor-owned schools offer the PCA (patient care assistant) program in the metro area where I live. Many uninformed students have gotten into tens of thousands of dollars worth of student loan debt for overhyped training that is nothing more than CNA certification.

That is beyond scary. I read one post on the CNA forum a couple of yrs back about a guy who was thinking of going into an "advanced PCT" program that cost about $15 grand! I don't think these type of programs exist in my area..but boy oh boy are there a lot of medical assistant programs..but that's a totally different topic for another day lol.

[pixiestudent2]

I am going to start nursing school in the fall and I thought I would go to a cna class while I waited. I saw an ad in the paper for a for profit school for a PCT course. I called the and the program was 9 months long and cost 12,000!!!! No thanks, I'll just wait till after I finish my first semester to work as an aide.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I saw an ad in the paper for a for profit school for a PCT course. I called the and the program was 9 months long and cost 12,000!!!!

Unfortunately, many people fall for the horribly overpriced PCA/PCT programs when they could have achieved the exact same training at a community college, adult education center, or a more affordable training program.

[bizcheers]

i think the requirements should be equal in every states.

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every state has different requirements for the amount of training time and clinical hours needed to become a cna

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since that way should help CNAs to get a suitable job when they move.

[nynurse1232b]

Sali 22, how do you work as an aid after your first semester of nursing school, do you need a certification if you're in an rn program?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Sali 22, how do you work as an aid after your first semester of nursing school, do you need a certification if you're in an rn program?

In most states, students are eligible to take the certification test if they have successfully completed the theory and skills portion (a.k.a. nursing fundamentals) of the first semester of nursing school.

[jval]

Sali 22, how do you work as an aid after your first semester of nursing school, do you need a certification if you're in an rn program?

I just learned about this as well thanks to these wonderful forums!

Check out the thread: "How to become a CNA in CA while in nursing school". It's simple and step by step!

If you don't live in CA, at least this thread can help you get the ball rolling! :)

Goodluck!

[tigerlogic]

Oregon further splits into CNA1 and CNA2 specialties. The CNA1 class is generally around $1300 and qualifies you to work in a nursing home, basically. If you want to work in a hospital here you *must* get your CNA2-Acute Care, which costs another $800. Apparently there is also a CNA2-Memory Care but Memory Care units generally don't care if you have it or not.

Each hospital here also has different standard about what tasks their CNA2s are generally assigned, even though, legally we all have the same scope of practice.

Overall, it's been totally worth it to me to be able to have the experience working in a hospital before starting nursing school but from a financial point of view, it was an expensive investment for the salary.

[xbebecx]

Hey jval!

Once you are a nursing student, you do not need a certificate. This is true at least where I work. I am sure it's true for many other states as well!