Certified Nursing Assistant Programs

We have 209 Nursing Assistant Programs in our database. If you are looking for an entry level job in the growing healthcare field, or if you need experience to decide whether to pursue another healthcare career, becoming a nursing assistant may be a good place to start.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing assistant jobs are expected to grow 18 percent between 2008 and 2018 because of the healthcare needs of an aging population.

What Is It Like to Work as a Nursing Assistant?

Most nursing assistants (NAs) are employed by nursing facilities (also called nursing homes) that offer rehabilitation services, assisted living, and long-term care. The work involves basic patient care such as feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, transporting, and other duties such as vital signs and some paperwork – all under the supervision of nurses or doctors. NAs can also work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, correctional facilities, or in home care.

You must be in good health and undergo a criminal background check prior to employment. Having a desire to help people, being dependable, and being able to work as part of a team are essential qualities for NAs.

For a detailed overview of a career as a nursing assistant, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Nursing Assistant Education

NA training programs are typically four to 18 weeks in duration, after which you are given a certificate of completion or a diploma. Shorter programs are ideal for people with healthcare experience or for those who want to qualify for the state certification exam in a short amount of time. Longer programs are good for those who need more hands-on care experience. Classes teach patient care skills and how to measure vital signs such as temperature and blood pressure. Expanded programs may include courses in body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, infection control, and communication skills.

You can take NA courses if you are already working or in school. Training programs can be found in high schools, vocational-technical schools, and community or junior colleges. Some American Red Cross chapters and nursing care facilities also offer courses. Many programs offer evening and weekend classes. Some have an online component.

In many cases, you do not need a high school diploma to enter an NA training program. To become certified or find a job, however, you may need a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certified Nursing Assistant Programs

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) undergo about 75 hours of additional training and pass a state competency exam. Most nursing facilities require you to be certified. Contact your state’s board of nursing to find out about certification requirements and examinations.

If you want to take care of people but do not want to undergo classroom training or testing, consider becoming a home care or personal aide. These positions do not usually require a high school diploma, and you are trained on the job in tasks such as cooking, light housekeeping, personal care, and emergency and safety precautions.

To move on to other healthcare fields, you will need additional training. The most common careers for former nursing assistants are medical assistants, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses. For any of these positions you need a high school diploma and additional education. To be a nurse you also need to pass a state licensing exam. For more information about requirements for these careers, check out the American Association of Medical Assistants, the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses or the American Nurses Association.

Becoming a CNA

By Nicole Galan

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are important members of the healthcare team, helping the patient with their most basic physical and emotional needs. They assist the patient in performing basic self-care activities: walking to the bathroom, eating, drinking, dressing and bathing.

For bed-bound patients, CNAs perform total care: giving bed baths, feeding them, and changing their position every two hours to prevent bedsores. This can be a very physical job because CNAs are on their feet for many hours of the day, and must be strong enough to turn or help move patients.

While not formally allowed to assess their patients, CNAs are often the first to notice that something may be wrong. This is simply because the CNA gets to know her patients very well. Caring for people the way that they do allows nursing assistants to develop strong and caring relationships with their patients. Due to the intimate nature of their work, nursing assistants must be sensitive, trustworthy and compassionate.

Nursing assistants frequently work in hospitals, long-term care facilities and in homecare. They work with all ages and all patient populations, although in very critical situations, the CNA may need to perform patient care with the nurse present.

“Certified nursing assistants frequently work in hospitals, long-term care facilities and in homecare.”

Their facility’s policies will dictate a lot of what CNAs are allowed to do. Some hospitals will allow them to take vital signs or blood glucose readings; others will not.

To become a CNA, you must attend a training program that may last four to sixteen weeks. The training consists of time spent in the classroom, clinical setting and laboratory. A practical and written exam is given at the end of the training program. After passing the exam, candidates must submit all of their paperwork directly to the State Board of Nursing, who will issue the certification. Once certified, the CNA must complete a certain number of continuing education credits each year to stay in good standing. Check with your state nursing board for more information about their requirements.

List of Programs

Programs That May Be Currently Accepting Applicants

Aiken Technical College

www.atc.edu/Catalog/current/C2h.aspx#MajorinNursing

Aiken SC

Pre-Nursing Certificate

Allegany College of Maryland

www.allegany.edu/x769.xml

Cumberland MD

Nursing
Nursing Assistant/Geriatric Aide

Anne Arundel Community College

www.aacc.edu/nursing/pct_intro.cfm

Arnold MD

Patient Care Technician/Geriatric Nursing Assistant

Arapahoe Community College

www.arapahoe.edu/departments-and-programs/a-z-programs

Littleton CO

Nurse Aide

Arizona Western College

http://www.azwestern.edu/academic_services/degrees_and_certificates/

Yuma AZ

Nursing Assistant

Arkansas Northeastern College

www.anc.edu/allied_health/index.htm

Blytheville AR

Nursing Assistant

Baptist School of Health Professions

www.bshp.edu/prospective-students/careers/certified-nurse-assistant.aspx

San Antonio TX

Certified Nurse Assistant

Beebe Medical Center

www.beebemed.org/bbnursing/html/indexb.php

Lewes DE

Nursing Assistant Program

Bellevue College

http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/nursing/

Bellevue WA

Nursing Assistant Certified

Bemidji State University

http://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/schools/nursing/

Bemidji MN

Nursing Assistant

Bevill State Community College

www.bscc.edu/programs/

Jasper AL

Nursing Assistant

Blackhawk Technical College

www.blackhawk.edu/HealthAndHumanServices/NursingAssistant.aspx

Janesville WI

Nursing Assistant
Nursing Assistant-Advanced

Bluegrass Community & Technical College

bluegrass.kctcs.edu/Academics/Programs_of_Study/Nursing

Lexington KY

Nurse Aide

BryanLGH College of Health Sciences

www.bryanlgh.com/Undergraduate

Lincoln NE

Basic Nursing Assistant

Canadian Valley Technology Center

http://www.cvtech.edu/full-time-programs

Chickasha OK

Advanced Acute Care Nursing Assistant (Pre-Nursing)

Capital Area Career Center

www.inghamisd.org/cacc/futurestudents/programsbypathways/healthsciences/healthoccupations/

Springfield IL

Certified Nursing Assistant

Carl Sandburg College

http://www.sandburg.edu/academics/college-nursing

Galesburg IL

Nurse Assistant

Central Arizona College

http://centralaz.edu/Home/Academics/Divisions_and_Programs/Nursing_Division.htm

Coolidge AZ

Nursing Assistant

Central New Mexico Community College

http://www.cnm.edu/programs-of-study/health-wellness-public-safety

Albuquerque NM

Certified Nursing Assistant

Central Ohio Technical College

http://www.cotc.edu/Academics/Pages/Nursing-Technologies.aspx

Newark OH

State Tested Nurse Aides

Central Wyoming College

www.cwc.edu/web/cwc-website/academics/programs/nursing

Riverton WY

Certified Nursing Assistant

Chaffey College

http://www.chaffey.edu/healthsciences/nursing/index.shtml

Rancho Cucamonga CA

Certified Nursing Assistant

Chemeketa Community College

www.chemeketa.edu/programs/nursing/

Salem OR

Basic Nurse Assistant

Chippewa Valley Technical College

www.cvtc.edu/programs/program-catalog/Pages/Nursing-Assist.aspx

Eau Claire WI

Nursing Assistant

Chisholm Trail Technology Center

www.cttc.edu/public/sitepages/Pre%20Nursing.aspx

Omega OK

Advanced Acute Care Nursing Assistant (Pre-Nursing)

College of DuPage

http://www.cod.edu/programs/nursing/index.aspx

Glen Ellyn IL

Basic Nursing Assistant

College of Lake County

http://www.clcillinois.edu/programs/nur

Grayslake IL

Certified Nursing Assistant

College of Southern Nevada

http://www.csn.edu/health.asp

Las Vegas NV

Nursing Assistant Certificate

College of the Desert

http://collegeofthedesert.edu/students/ap/hs/Pages/default.aspx

Palm Desert CA

Nursing Assistant

Collin County Community College District

www.collin.edu/academics/programs/aa_nursing.html

McKinney TX

Online Certified Nurse Assistant

Columbia Basin College

columbiabasin.edu/home/index.asp?page=657

Pasco WA

Online Nursing Assistant Certification

Community College of Baltimore County

ccbcmd.edu/ceed/schedule/health_index.html#nurseassist

Baltimore MD

Online Nursing Assistant

Community College of Beaver County

http://ccbc.edu/nursing

Monaca PA

Nurse Aid

Coppin State University

www.coppin.edu/nursing/

Baltimore MD

Certified Nursing Assistant
Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program

Dalton State College

www.daltonstate.edu/academics/majors-and-programs.html

Dalton GA

Certified Nursing Assistant

Davidson County Community College

www.davidsonccc.edu/academics/hwp_index.htm

Lexington NC

Nursing Assistant

Davis Applied Technology College

www.datc.edu/programs/school-of-health-professions

Kaysville UT

Nurse Assistant

Daytona State College

www.daytonastate.edu/CampusDirectory/deptInfo.jsp?dept=NUR

Daytona Beach FL

Nurse Aide and Orderly
Patient Care Assistant

Delta College

http://www.delta.edu/nursing.aspx

University Center MI

Certified Nursing Assistant

Deltla Montrose Community College

www.dmtc.edu/academics/Healthcare-Professions.html

Delta CO

Nursing Aide

Des Moines Area Community College

https://go.dmacc.edu/programs/pages/programs-n.aspx

Ankeny IA

Nurse Aide Training Program

Durham Technical Community College

http://durhamtech.edu/health/nursing.htm

Durham NC

Nursing Assistant

East Central Community College

warrior.eccc.edu/programs/healthcare/default.aspx

Decatur MS

Nursing Assistant

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell

www.roswell.enmu.edu/areas-of-study/health/nursing-assisting-program/welcome-to-the-nursing-assisting-program

Roswell NM

Nursing Assistant Program

El Camino Community College

www.elcamino.edu/academics/healthsciences/nursing/

Torrance CA

Certified Nurse Assistant

Elgin Community College

http://elgin.edu/catalogprograms/Depts.aspx?Dept=NUR&Show=Y

Elgin IL

Basic Nurse Assistant Training

Emily Griffith Technical College

http://www.emilygriffith.edu/college-health-sciences

Denver CO

Nursing Assistant

Estrella Mountain Community College

www2.estrellamountain.edu/nursing/

Avondale AZ

Nurse Assistant Program

Everett Community College

www.everettcc.edu/programs/health-safety/nursing/

Everett WA

Nursing Assistant Certified

Fayetteville Technical Community College

www.faytechcc.edu/health/

Fayetteville NC

Certified Nursing Assistant

Fletcher Technical Community College

www.ftcc.edu/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=239

Houma LA

Nurse Assistant Program

Fox Valley Technical College

www.fvtc.edu/public/academics/subjectarea.aspx?area=8

Appleton WI

Nursing Assistant
Online Nursing Assistant

Front Range Community College - Boulder County Campus

www.frontrange.edu/Academics/Fields-of-Study/

Longmont CO

Nurse Aide Training

Front Range Community College - Larimer Campus

www.frontrange.edu/Academics/Fields-of-Study/

Fort Collins CO

Nurse Aide Training

Gadsden State Community College

www.gadsdenstate.edu/academics/health/index.php

Gadsden AL

Nursing Assistant Program

Garden City Community College

www.gcccks.edu/businessandcommunity/alliedhealth/default.aspx

Garden City KS

Geriatric Aide Assistant/Certified Nurse Aide

Gateway Community College

www.gatewaycc.edu/Nursing/

Phoenix AZ

Nurse Assisting

Gateway Technical College

www.gtc.edu/page.asp?q=47

Kenosha WI

Nursing Assistant

Geneva General Hospital

www.flhealth.org/body_nursing.cfm?id=690

Geneva NY

CNA Program

Germanna Community College - Locust Grove Campus

www.germanna.edu/academics/nursingandhealthtechnologies/

Locust Grove VA

Certified Nurses Aide

Glendale Community College

www.gccaz.edu/nursing/

Glendale AZ

Online Nursing Assistant

Global Health Nurse Training Services

ghnts.com/

Alexandria VA

Nurse Aide Program

Great Basin College

www2.gbcnv.edu/programs/BS-NUR.html

Elko NV

Online Certified Nursing Assistant

Gulf Coast Community College

www.gulfcoast.edu/degrees_programs/health/default.htm

Panama City FL

Online Certified Nursing Assistant

H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College

trenholmtech.cc.al.us/index.php?id=nursingassisting

Montgomery AL

Online Nursing Assisting

Harrisburg Area Community College

hacc.edu/HealthCareers/ProgramsOffered/index.cfm

Harrisburg PA

Online Nurse Aide

Harry S. Truman College

www.trumancollege.edu/academics/deptnursing.php?FeatureID=47&DeptNo=33&DeptName=Nursing

Chicgao IL

Online Nurse Assistant

Highline Community College

http://nursing.highline.edu/

Des Moines WA

Online Nursing Assistant

Hopkinsville Community College

hopkinsville.kctcs.edu/academics/programs_of_study/nursing

Hopkinsville KY

Online Nurse Aide

Illinois Valley Community College

www.ivcc.edu/hp.aspx?id=528

Oglesby IL

Online Certified Nursing Assistant

Indian Capital Technology Center

ictctech.com/healthcareerscert.htm

Sallisaw OK

Online Advanced Acute Nursing Assistant

Indian River State College

www.irsc.edu/programs/healthscience/healthscience.aspx?id=1816

Fort Pierce FL

Online Nurse Assistant

Inver Hills Community College & Century College

https://inverhills.edu/Departments/Nursing/

Inver Grove Heights MN

Nursing Assistant Certificate

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College

www.jsr.vccs.edu/jsr_hmt/default.htm

Richmond VA

Certified Nurses Aide

Jefferson State Community College

www.jeffstateonline.com/CCCE/NonCredit/PDFs/NonCreditScheduleFastTrack.pdf

Birmingham AL

Online Certified Nursing Assistant

Kaskaskia College

http://kaskaskia.edu/Nursing/Default.aspx

Centralia IL

Nurse Assistant

Lake Land College

www.lakeland.cc.il.us/alliedhealth/index.cfm

Mattoon IL

Nurse Assisting

Lakeshore Technical College

gotoltc.edu/areasofstudy/

Cleveland WI

Nursing Assistant

Lakeview College of Nursing

www.lakeviewcol.edu/

Danville IL

Basic Nurse Assistant

Lansing Community College

www.lcc.edu/catalog/degree_certificateprograms/current/index.aspx#n

Lansing MI

Nurse Aide: Acute & Long-Term

Laramie County Community College

www.lccc.wy.edu/programs/nursing

Cheyenne WY

Certified Nursing Assistant

Laredo Community College

www.laredo.edu/cms/LCC/Instruction/Divisions/Health_Sciences/Nursing/Nursing/

Laredo TX

Nurse Assistant

Lawson State Community College

www.lawsonstate.edu/academics/healthpro/index.html

Birmingham AL

Home Health Aide
Nursing Assistant

Lincoln Land Community College

www.llcc.edu/hlpr/Nursing/tabid/3460/Default.aspx

Springfield IL

Nurse Assistant

Linfield College

linfield.edu/portland/academics/

Portland OR

Certified Nursing Assistant

Lone Star College - Cy-Fair