Are you planning on undertaking a program to become a certified nursing assistant and not quite sure where to find local CNA schools? The process of finding local educational programs is easy if you live in larger metropolitan areas, but can prove more of a challenge if you live in smaller or rural locations. Depending on the state in which you live, you will have to complete formal classroom training that lasts anywhere from six to twelve weeks. This equals anywhere from 75 to 150 clock hours of training and then you will have a clinal supervision period lasting up to 80 hours once you complete and pass your certification.

Ways to Find CNA Schools and Programs in Your Area

The first place to check for local CNA schools is with your local community colleges since they are the most likely to offer the program. You should know that you will study nursing skills, nutrition, infection control, and anatomy. You will also get hands on instruction, which is very valuable once you begin your career as a CNA.

Secondly, check with local hospitals if you live in a smaller or rural area of the country since many times they offer local CNA schools and may even offer to pay for a large percentage of your education if you agree to work for the hospital for a specified number of months once you complete your training. This is a very generous offer and one that more people should take advantage of because it can not only pay for a good portion of your education but you can have a job lined up as soon as you pass your certification exam. This can offer great experience from book to job that many people do not get the chance to experience.

Thirdly, colleges or universities sometimes offer the CNA program depending on the size of the town you live in. Universities are typically more prone to offer the registered nursing option, but depending where you live, they may also offer the CNA in a summer program.

Another way to find CNA programs in your location is checking with the Department of Public Health or Department of Human Services in your area, they can often point you in the right direction and give you a list of school in your city that offers the CNA program. Many of the CNA programs take place in long-term care facilities, so you will also want to check these as well because it truly varies from state to state.

A Word of Warning

It is vital that you find an approved CNA program that is approved by your state or the Board of Nursing in your state, because if not, you cannot sit for the certification, so be very careful with online schools claiming to offer certifications for the CNA because the majority of these programs are not approved and you will only be wasting your time and money.

When you complete training from a state approved certified nursing program and pass your licensure exam, you are then a member of the official state licensing registry. This means employers can and do pull up your licensure when you are seeking employment, so be very careful with the school you choose and make sure it is an approved program.

Final Thoughts

The CNA program is typically just three months in length, but again that depends on your locality and your state’s regulations. However, within that short amount of time, you will be thrust into very demanding course of study so that when you finish, you will have more knowledge than you ever thought possible in such a short period of time. This is why it is vital to choose approved local CNA schools for your education.