CNA Training in Arkansas

Certified health care professionals are in demand across the United States and this trend is expected to continue as the overall population ages. In Arkansas, along with being able to easily find work as a CNA, there are many other advantages to enrolling in state-certified CNA Training. Unlike many states, in Arkansas the state will often pay for an individual’s training fees if they already have a job lined up. There are also CNA sponsorship programs which allow nursing homes and long-term care facilities to pay the costs for an individual to become a licensed CNA. The fees of CNA programs are lower in Arkansas than in many other states, and there are fewer hours of training required to become a certified CNA.

In Arkansas the state’s Department of Human Services is responsible for all CNA licensing. The state requires that 90 total hours are spent in training. These 90 hours are divided between time spent in classroom learning and time spent in clinical rotations. The classroom learning educates students on medical terminology and other basic introductory skills. Students must complete some classroom based work before starting on clinical rotations. Clinical rotations take place in hospitals, clinics or long-term care facilities and will be supervised by a licensed nurse. This portion of learning prepares students for the practical, daily skills that they will use as a CNA.

After completing a 90 hour state-approved course, candidates must have completed a background check before they are eligible to take the state certification examination. Once a background check and other necessary paper work is completed, an individual is cleared to take the exam. The exam contains two separate sections. There is a written portion of the exam which is made up of 60 multiple-choice questions designed to test general knowledge and comprehension skills and an on-site clinical skills test in which candidates are asked to demonstrate specific skills used in a long-term care setting. Candidates who pass both sections of the test become certified CNAs. The official certificates will be sent to individuals by mail, and the individual’s name will automatically be added to the Arkansas Nursing Assistant Registry.

Some of the CNA programs in the state of Arkansas that offer certified CNA training are listed below:

Phillips Community College, affiliated with the University of Arkansas with campuses in DeWitt, Helena and Stuttgart, offers a one semester CNA certification program. In the program individuals complete ten credits through taking Nursing Assistant Theory and Nursing Assistant Clinical classes. The school offers financial assistance to those who qualify.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (AKCC) located in Bentonville offers a CNA certification program that focuses on helping students develop specific health care competencies. Students in the program spend time working with geriatric patients in long-term care facilities. The program is a three credit hour course.

University of Arkansas Community College Batesville (UACCB) offers a CNA certification program in which students earn a certificate of proficiency and are eligible to take the state CNA exam. The course is seven credit hours and has an emphasis on technical skills, professional relationships and workplace ethics.

Mid-South Community College in West Memphis, Arkansas offers a CNA certification program that takes place over the course of one semester. The program has an emphasis on working closely with patients and nurses to learn the necessary skills to become a successful CNA.