Become a CNA for Free
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are in high demand at hospitals, nursing homes and home health agencies throughout the country. While becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant requires passing a state administered exam, anyone interested in becoming a CNA can find free classes offered through various agencies. If you are looking to start a career in the health care industry, the Certified Nursing Assistant program may be for you. Below are a few ways to find free CNA training classes in your area.
Accept a Hospital or Nursing Home Job
Many times, hospitals, home health agencies and nursing homes will hold free CNA training courses to potential employees in exchange for their agreement to work for the facility for a certain period of time.
The best way to find a hospital or nursing home that is offering this type of work training is to check your local newspaper, check their website for hiring updates, and to call your local hospitals and nursing homes and ask them.
Find a State Funded Scholarship Program
The Department of Health in many states will periodically fund scholarship programs that cover the costs of training CNAs and the state certification test. These classes are either offered through a local community college or taught at a local hospital. The cost of the certification test is normally left up to the student, but can sometimes be paid for by employers.
Apply for Federal Funding
Many community colleges offer Certified Nursing Assistant training programs that take anywhere from six weeks to two months to complete. If you meet the criteria for Federal student aid (which usually consists of meeting certain income guidelines), you may be able to complete the course with no out-of-pocket expenses.
Tags: Certified Nursing, Certified Nursing Assistant, Nursing Assistant, nursing homes, certification test
