This article is intended to help you learn about opportunities to receive CNA training at a very low cost and sometimes even at no cost to you. There are good job opportunities for well qualified nursing assistants in California. On average, an individual can expect to earn about $26,000 per year with some nursing assistants also receiving other benefits in addition to their salary.
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California CNA Training Programs
You need to complete some training to become a CNA in California. This will include classroom instruction that totals at least 60 hours. You then need to spend another 100 hours receiving hands on training under direct supervision. Sometimes this training can be completed through your employer in the healthcare industry. Visit this website to find state approved programs: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/CNA.aspx
[su_note]If an individual received at least 100 hours of healthcare training in the military, they can be exempt from a state approved training course. The same is true for nursing graduates and even some nursing students as long as enough nursing training has been completed.[/su_note]
You must have fingerprinting done before you can start your direct patient care segment of your training requirements. Your school may be able to help you with tihs process.
Financial Help for CNA Classes
Summit Career College
1360 South Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805
Summit Career College offers a CNA training program for students who are looking to start working in an entry level healthcare position. There are various opportunities for students to obtain help in order to pay for the training they need to be eligible to sit for the CNA certification. For instance, Summit Career College accepts funding through the Rehabilitation program. Students who are able to receive assistance through the California Vocational Rehabilitation program may be able to obtain the training for free or at a very low cost to them when attending Summer Career College for the CNA career training. The Vocational Rehabilitation program is intended to help individuals with mental or physical disabilities who have the ability to be gainfully employed but who simply need training to learn to work in a career field that they can successfully do regardless of their disabilities. Depending on a person’s health conditions, they may very well be able to work successfully as a Certified Nursing Assistant. They can apply for training help through Vocational Rehabilitation to see if their tuition for the CNA program at Summit Career College. For more information, students can contact a local office of Vocational Rehabilitation and/or the financial aid office at Summit Career College.
Palo Verde College
One College Drive, Blythe CA
A prospective CNA student at Palo Verde College should determine if they are eligible to apply for the Palo Verde Choice Scholarship. This scholarship will cover tuition for a student’s first semester when attending the school. An individual must be either entering the college for the first time or having not taken any credits at the school for more than 2 years. The applicant should have attended Palo Verde High School, Needles High School or the Twin Palms High School. Students living in those areas who were home schooled may also apply. Individuals cannot apply for this scholarship until after they have applied to the school and have attended orientation. Any applicants will need to have completed the Federal Aid Application at https://fafsa.ed.gov. The student can then go online to the financial aid page at Palo Verde College to download the application that is specific to the PV Choice Scholarship. This application form will provide students with all information they need to supply when they are applying for consideration to this financial assistance program. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with a financial aid officer to learn more details on this scholarship as well as other grants and scholarships for which the individual might be eligible.
CA CNA Programs (Paid Colleges and Institutions)
Pass Institute
405 Boulder Court Suite 100-Pleasanton, CA 94566
The Certified Nursing Assistant course is among the career development programs offered at Pass Institute. Students will be charged about $1295 for tuition and related expenses for the Certified Nursing Assistant Training Class at Pass Institute. This course is offered at 3 of their locations. Those studying this course will learn about a variety of topic areas including: how to prevent patient fall, how to reduce the spread of infection, patient rights, preventing skin breakdown in patients and preventing accidents and injuries on the job-just to name a few. This program requires students to finish 60 hours of lecture and classroom instruction. They will also receive 100 hours of clinical instruction and experience where they will gain experience working directly with patients. The course meets all requirements for an individual to be able to sit for the California CNA certification exam and to become employed as a CNA.
Eastlake Medical College
2572 Waterline Way-Chula Vista, CA 91914
Eastlake Medical College offers both a weekday and weekend CNA training course. The weekday course lasts for 20 days, while the weekend course takes 10 weeks. The CNA program is offered several different times throughout the year. This course is offered on a first come first service basis as only a select number of students can be enrolled at a time. Tuition for the course does total about $1200 and it can be made in more than one payment. This is a state approved program that will allow graduates to sit for the state licensing exam for certified nursing assistants. The school provides all the classroom as well as clinical instruction people need to be able to pass the licensing exam and then to enter into the job force as a nursing assistant. Eastlake Medical College provides students with help to be a well prepared for the certification test as possible. They even offer job placement services to help individuals to work as nursing assistants.
Niles College
1290 Old Bayshore Highway, Suite 152-Burlingame, CA 94010
The Nursing Assistant Training Program at Niles College takes 19 classroom days to complete. Theory is being taught three days per week and then clinical rotations are done 2 days per week. There is also a clinical component of this course where students will put their newly learning skills to practice at an actual health care facility. This training class included 16 modules of instruction and was recently expanded to include some more areas of study. Students who complete this class will have the hours and instruction required to sit for the exam for certificate. Niles College even offers a mock exam where students can practice what it will be like to take both the written and practicum portions of the test. The entire course includes 150 total hours of study with both instructions and real life experience. Those who are interested must contact the school for specific tuition requirements and financial assistance information.
Exam Requirements for California
California uses the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program to determine if candidates are eligible for certification. The process includes passing an exam that tests both theory and the hands on demonstration of various nursing skills. Both a written or an oral format are available for you to take for the theory portion of the test.
Applications to take the testing and to become certified can be located here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/CNA.aspx. This form will need to be completed by the supervisor of the CNA course. If someone is applying based on equivalent training, they will need to attach other documentation with the application. There are fees for your exam and they vary depending whether you opt for the written or oral test.
Students will need to schedule their exam through a regional testing center. They can look for locations and other testing information by heading to this website:
http://missioncollege.org/depts/HWI/regional_testing.html. It is necessary to sit for the test within two years of having completed all applicable training.
Out of State Certification
You can apply to become a CNA in California if you have an active certification in another state. You will find your application for certification by reciprocity here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/CNA.asp. If it has been more than 2 years since you became certified in that state, you will need to submit proof of your current employment as a nursing assistant in the other state.
Places to Work in California
Acc Care Center
7801 Rush River Drive, Sacramento, CA 95831
Arroyo Grande Care Center
1212 Farroll Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Atterdag Care Center
636 Atterdag Road, Solvang, CA 93463
Banning Healthcare
3476 W. Wilson St., Banning, CA 92220
Bayside Care Center
1405 Teresa Dr., Morro Bay, CA 93442
Brandel Manor
1801 N. Olive Avenue, Turlock, CA 95382
Casa Dorinda
300 Hot Springs Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Cloverdale Healthcare Center
300 Cherry Creek Rd, Cloverdale, CA 95425
Courtyard Health Care Center
1850 East 8th Street, Davis, CA 95616
Creekview Skilled Nursing
2900 Stoneridge Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588
Hillview Convalescent Hospital
530 West Dunne Avenue & LA Selva, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Lakeside Special Care Center
11962 Woodside Avenue, Lakeside, CA 92040
CNA Training Center Reviews
Eastlake Medical College – The teachers prepare you in the best way possible for the state exam, Eastlake taught me that there is way more to being a CNA than just caring for the old. They have weekend classes and very flexible dates so almost anyone can attend.
Pass Institute – The instructors are very professional in their work and they provide a quality education. It is a good, high standard and friendly school.
CNA Training FAQs
Do I need a high school diploma for the CNA program? No. You do not need a high school diploma to take classes for the CNA program.
How long is the CNA program? It varies since there are a variety of different class options, classes may be between 7 weeks to 3.5 months long. Class options may include: days, evenings or weekend classes.
How old do I have to be to take classes for the CNA program? You must be 16 years of age or older to take the CNA program classes.