CNA Training in California

The population growth in California, along with the increased average age of people across the state, have caused the state’s health sector to see dramatic growth as medical needs throughout the state continue to increase. The need for certified healthcare workers is projected to increase as well. Training programs for CNA Certification in the state of California are an excellent resource to get into the healthcare profession. In California there is an option for individuals who sign on for employment with a healthcare agency for a duration of time to receive Free CNA Training. Earning a CNA certification in California is a straight-forward process that can be completed at hundreds of different facilities across the state.

In order to become a certified CNA in California, an individual must be at least 16 years old and must be able to pass a physical medical examination to determine that they are in good health and able to be around patients. The state of California requires that individuals complete a CNA training program that is made up of at least 150 hours. The Department of Health Services sets the standards for CNA training classes and programs. Part of the 150 hours of training is spent in supervised clinical settings where students have the chance to observe and learn practical medical and patient care skills. Areas that are stressed in the training programs are the rights of patients, infection control, medical assisting, and long-term health and safety practices and precautions.

After completing a CNA training program, individuals are eligible to take the California CNA certification examination. The exam has a multiple choice general knowledge section and a clinical skills section. The multiple choice section is a written part and the clinical skills section asks students to demonstrate specific medical skills to an examiner. Once an individual has successfully passed both sections of the exam they will receive an official CNA certificate, and be placed on the California Nurse Aide Registry. Being on the CNA registry authorizes individuals to work in any state healthcare setting.

Listed below are some of California’s state-approved CNA training programs and schools:

Mission College in Santa Clara, California has an Allied Health program that offers a CNA certification course. The program is made up of six credits and three classes: Standard First Aid, Nurse Assistant Fundamentals and Nursing Assistant Clinical. The school also offers a certificate program to home health aides which individuals can complete after earning their CNA certification.

The NCP College of Nursing in San Francisco, offers a CNA certification program called the Nursing Assistant Training Program. This program is made up of classroom training, a skills lab, and clinical experience. The NCP College of Nursing also offers this program at their campus in Hayward, California.

Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California offers a CNA training program through a seven unit course which is split into lecture and lab sections. The school offers classes at four different times throughout the year, with options for either a nine week intensive program or a full semester program.

El Camino College in Torrance, California offers a CNA certification program that is eight weeks long and focuses on providing direct care to patients. The program is offered for the first eight weeks of each semester, in both September and February. The class lasts for 18 hours each week, with students spending two days out of each week in local area hospitals.