Studying for a certificate from a Certified Nursing Assistant program prepares you to sit for your state’s CNA License Exam, which allows you to work knowledgeably and confidently in hospitals, assisted living communities and urgent care centers. Completing Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training is now often required by nursing schools. As an Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) you will be supervised by a staff nurse. The demand is growing for competent, skilled paraprofessionals who offer compassionate care to patients. There are several options to obtaining your Certified Nursing Assistant Program certificate, including convenient online Certified Nursing Assistant programs.
How To Find A Top Certified Nursing Assistant Program
Obtaining a CNA certificate is a first step to a great healthcare career. The best Certified Nursing Assistant programs will ensure you are ready for employment at graduation. You do not have to possess an undergraduate degree to become a CNA, though many community colleges and top ranking accredited vocational schools offer CNA Associate certification programs. The best online Certified Nursing Assistant programs are self-paced, distance study that provide you with resources to master all the information as well as the required practical skills.
Two strong CNA programs are your local Red Cross chapter and The Atlanta Career Institute, which offers an excellent 17-day program. For online and self-paced CNA training programs, NC CNA Training offers one of the best and is relevant nationwide.
Careers and Salaries For Individuals With Certified Nursing Assistant Program Certificates
Certified Nursing Assistant salaries vary from state to state and also depend on the healthcare setting. For example Indeed.com estimates home health agencies salaries for new inexperienced CNAs to be approximately $9.00 per hour this year, but estimates starting hospital CNA salaries to be approximately $11.00 per hour. The type of work CNAs perform in all settings is similar, tasks such as assisting patients with grooming, eating and mobility.
A CNA education can be the beginning of a wonderful lifelong experience as a healthcare provider. Hospitals will often offer CNAs additional in-house skills training, and with ongoing career development, a CNA can continue their training to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or a registered nurse (RN). The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment demand for CNAs to grow 20% faster than all other professions, making the job outlook for individuals with a Certified Nursing Assistant Program certificate very promising.