Certified Nursing Assistant

The Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certificate program provides instruction in the holistic care and health needs of people over 65 years of age, who live in long-term care facilities. Students who successfully complete the program receive a certificate of program completion and become eligible to take the California state exam to become a Certified Nurse Assistant.

We anticipate 40 graduates/completers annually based on the number of students presently enrolling in the Nurse Assistant Training Program.

Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA) have a wide variety of work opportunities. The most common work placement is in long-term care facilities. Additionally, CNA work may be found in acute care settings, assisted care facilities, and rehabilitation care centers.

Upon admission into the Certified Nursing Assistant Program, and before the first class, students must have completed the following: (1) Proof of physical exam no older than three months. (2) Proof of negative tuberculin (TB) skin test no older than three months. (3) If TB skin test result is positive, proof of inactive TB chest x-ray no older than three months. (4) Spring semester students must submit proof of having a current season influenza vaccine. Fall semester students must submit proof of current season influenza vaccine when the vaccine becomes available. (5) Course candidate must submit the Nurse Assistant initial application (CDPH 283B) that will include disclosure of prior or current criminal convictions. There is no automatic denial to take the course however, the California Department of Public Health can determine that the candidate is not eligible to be in the clinical setting or to take the state certification based on the criminal offense. The program reserves the right to make changes in the enrollment criteria, academic requirements, grading standards, and other processes without notice at any time.