- Become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) by taking training courses that prepare you for the state certification exam. A CNA is also called a nurse's aide, an orderly and a home health aide. CNAs work under a nurse's supervision to care for patients with non-medical services such as bathing, feeding and providing information to patients and their families. A CNA is trained to take patients' vital signs and report the findings to the supervising nurse. Courses to train for a CNA certification are available online through such sites as the CNA Training Course, which provides courses online that cover basic patient care, medical terminology and privacy laws. Most states require hands-on curriculum in order to sit for the state exam, so Internet-based training programs partner with local hospitals, nursing homes and clinics to provide internships. CNA training is widely available through community colleges, the Red Cross and community service training facilities such as Goodwill and other workforce development programs. The coursework can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks and includes 80 to 150 hours of instruction.
- Check with your state Nursing Registry or Department of Health to find out which agency administers the Certified Nursing Examination in your state. Upon completion of an accredited CNA training program, you must pass the Skills Test and Written Test to receive a certificate to work. Most CNA training programs will provide the information you need to find and take the exam. Following completion of a training program, consider taking an online exam prep course such as Test Preparation to get exam tips and take a practice exam. The whole examination takes about 5 or 6 hours to complete and can be taken in 1 day. You receive notice of your grades immediately following the test and receive a CNA certification in the mail. The fee for the test averages $100.
- CNAs must keep up with their training to maintain certifications. An average of 12 hours of continuing education (CEU) is required by most states. Actual numbers vary from state to state. Look for continuing ed credits through the same schools that provided your initial training. Employers sometimes bring in outside training programs such as those offered by In The Know to offer additional training on topics like dealing with Alzheimer's patients or on newly updated technology the CNAs must use. Additional training can be obtained through local chapters of the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the American Ling Association and the American Nurses Association.
