How Can I Get My CNA License Online?
The classroom portion of the Certified Nurses Aid (CNA) training and training process can be done online. The clinical portion of becoming a CNA must be done on-site, usually through a local nursing home or hospital. CNA training typically takes three to six weeks, but some online training programs let students work at their own pace, allowing for a more relaxed schedule. Online classes for CNA certification require more independent study, planning and self-discipline than a class taken in a traditional classroom.
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Instructions
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Check with your state's Nurse Aide Registry or state licensing board to learn about laws and regulations regarding CNA certification. Each state has requirements for obtaining a CNA certificate, and some states do not allow online training.
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Determine your career goals. Obtaining a CNA certificate can be a step toward becoming a nurse. If your long-term goal includes a college degree in the health care field, take an online program that is accredited through the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).
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Complete your classroom work. Some courses require students to follow a schedule, while others allow students to work in their own time frame. Most accredited online CNA programs require the student to check in with the professor regularly and keep in contact throughout the certification process.
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Participate in an interview and background check, if required, to be accepted into an internship or clinical. The cost for a background check is usually paid for by the student.
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Complete the clinical or internship portion of your CNA training program. Most online programs administered by local schools provide places for their students to do their clinical work. Students who go through online training programs that are not local may be required to find an internship or clinical program themselves to fulfill all CNA certification requirements.
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Complete your state and clinical testing. State testing is done on campus or through a secondary training facility. For students completing online training, the training facility directs their students where to test.
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Tips & Warnings
Federal regulations require all CNA courses to have 75 hours of classroom training and 16 hours of clinical practice, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Applicants for a CNA certificate must pass a background check and be at least 16 years old. Some states require applicants to be 18 years old.
Before paying for a CNA online training program, contact the company you would like to work for; many employers pay for CNA training.
State testing costs are usually not included in an online CNA training program.
CNA state board testing often involves a written and multiple-choice section. Students will also be required to pass a clinical test given by their on site supervisor. The test goes over areas such as patient care and the use of common medical tools.
Avoid taking online CNA training programs that advertise that a CNA certificate can be done completely through online training. Most employers don't recognize training that does not involve clinical study.
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