Outrageous Tuition for CNA Classes

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I know that many nursing homes, and some other public agencies pay for CNA classes, but I just saw an ad for a class, and it shocked me, to say the least. It advertised a 90 hour CNA class for the "bargain" price of $3,500! :eek: That is not a typo! I can't believe that any place would charge that much to train someone for a job that usually doesn't pay over $9 per hour (as I found out by asking a local job help center). Is this what colleges and non-nursing home places charge to become a CNA? This costs more than the tuition, fees, and books for one year of nursing school here at a community college! I hope this isn't the norm.

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

I paid $300 for my class.

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call some of the hospitals and longterm care facilities. They may offer free or discounted courses, especially if you agree to work for them.

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Specializes in ER, Medicine.

That price is a "little" much. For my CNA class it cost $500. That included the price of the exam and our book that we had. You can definately find a course cheaper than that.

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That is a total ripoff. $500 is the most I'd ever spend -- as mentioned above, some places will pay for you to take it as long as you agree to stay for a specified amount of time (usually a year, I think).

What other $9/hour job makes you pay hundreds/thousands to orient???!! I've worked as a waitress (where I made much more money) and as a retail sales clerk and I was always *paid* for the training, at least minimum wage. I think they're capitalizing on naive and good hearted people who want to work with the sick.

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My community college is $73/credit hr @ 5 credits = $365..then if you take the state exam that's another $102 to get your certification. Though I have been told that many employers will hire you w/o certification, then pay to get you certified within a couple of months of working there. $3500 is absurd! :rotfl:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

wow!

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There are ads here (Pennsylvania) all the time for training classes sponsored by local nursing homes. Get the phone book and just start calling nursing homes and asking if they offer classes. Legally, nursing homes can NOT charge you for classes. CNA's start out here around $10-11 an hour.

Lorraine

CNA

future MA

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Are you positive its no typo? :uhoh21:

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Some of those specialty schools that teach tech programs really do take advantage of people and most of the time they will try to get grant money or student loans to pay for the training.

To become certified a person just needs to be eligble for hire at a nursing home and they will train you and get you certified.

Where I work there's no difference in pay regardless of how you got your certification whether it was on the job or in a specialty school. They really just want to make some bucks on you!

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Specializes in LTC, med-surg, critial care.

I just waited till I finished my first semester of nursing school. All I had to do was pay for my fingerprints, application fee and the test.

I feel bad for those who aren't aware of all the different programs, go with the first one they see and then are taken advantage of.

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I got my CNA license from a nursing home. It didn't cost me a dime and as long as I agreed to work there (no time limit) they would pay for my certifcation fee. It didn't cost me anything but my time and with applying to nursing school, it was definately worth it. Before I found my class though, I looked at the community college class and it was $600 plus the book plus the money to take the state exam.

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