Someone please help me out

Hi! You don't have to go to college to take CNA/CMA. For me it's a waste of time and money.It took me only a few weeks to learn both.

I agree with the comment above some community colleges offer CNAs at a better price

What is the length of the course at brown mackie college?

Its 15 months. I've already signed up && got my financial aid signed for

It's tooooo long but you can't do otherwise.

The course I attended was 13 days long + 2 days of clinicals and $500...

In NJ as a CMA (certified medication assistant) you can only dispense meds at assisted living homes. Otherwise I would just go the route of CNA. There are more job opportunities but less pay. HOWEVER, now that I see you mentioned you are signed up for financial aid, if they are paying for school then go for it.

Please clear one thing up for me: are you taking about MA (medical assistant) or CMA (certified medication assistant)? There is a vast difference between the two and I think if you provide this information you may get different answers.

Oh crap, I thought she typed CNA, LMAO. I was appalled, because my course for CNA was 13 days. Wow, sorry for the confusion, OP. ^_^

My personal opinion... Go to school for LVN, you'll learn CNA work your first month and can take the test to get certified, work as a CNA while you go to school for LVN. CNA's unfortunately do all the dirty work, all the time. I just finished LVN schooling and am prepping for the state boards. I didn't become a CNA because I didn't want to be cleaning feces, changing beds and all the grunt work all the time. Yes as an LVN, I am responsible for this and will have to do this sometimes but this is not my assignment day in and day out. As a LVN, and one day a RN, I will have greater opportunity to move around and the pay is definitely better.

DON'T PAY AN EXTREME COST FOR CNA! You can take a class at a community college or something for that.

She means " certified medical assistant"...

There is a lot of difference between a CNA and a Medical Assistant. In my experience, Medical Assisting is kind of a dead end career. Most of the classes don't transfer as they are geared specifically for MA. So, if you want to later move on to nursing you have to start over.

CNA, on the other hand Is a quick course and allows you to work along side nurses. In my opinion if you want to continue up the ladder and become a nurse, CNA is the way to go.

That being said, CNAs make less than MA's do. Its all about where you want to go with your career. Many people get their MA and are happy working in a Doc's office.

Best of luck to you.