CNA Training in Connecticut

As is the case with many of the U.S. states, although the overall job market is not good, the demand for workers in the health sector is high. In Connecticut there is a need for certified workers in the medical field, including nurses and CNAs. Becoming a CNA is an excellent way to quickly become involved in healthcare. Connecticut is an excellent state to earn a CNA Certification in as costs are low and there are many job opportunities.

In order to become a certified CNA in Connecticut, an individual needs to complete a state-approved program. The program must be coordinated by qualifying registered nurse. There are many different locations that offer certification programs across the state. Some training may be free of charge if an individual has signed a work agreement with a healthcare facility and other programs come out of state and federal training funds. When offered through a community college or university a program often has financial aid available for students who qualify. In total, there are over 150 state-approved CNA programs in Connecticut.

To comply with state standards, CNA training programs must be a minimum of 100 hours of learning and work experience. After completing a state-approved course individuals are then eligible to take the Connecticut state certification examination. An individual must complete the exam no later than one year after finishing a CNA training course. The exam includes two parts: a written examination and a competency skills test. The written section of the examination is made up of multiple choice questions about medical knowledge and reading comprehension. Students are required to demonstrate medical techniques for an examiner during the competency skills part of the test.

When an individual has passed the certification exam they are officially a licensed CNA and their name will be placed on the Connecticut Nurses Aid Registry. Being on the state registry proves that an individual has all of the necessary qualifications to work in a healthcare facility.

Some of the CNA state-approved programs available in Connecticut are listed below:

Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, Connecticut offers a twelve week program that is made up of 108 total hours of training. The program is split evenly into classroom experience, skills training in the lab, and hands on clinical experience. Class schedules vary by semester but typically take place on week days during daytime hours.

Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) in Waterbury, Connecticut offers a CNA training program that exceeds state standards in the amount of training that students receive. The fee of the program also includes the state certification exam. For students finishing the program, the exam is administered to students on the campus of NVCC, allowing students to become officially licensed quickly.

The Eli Whitney Technical School in Hamden, Connecticut offers a CNA training program that lasts for ten weeks. Classes take place each day for three hours during five days of the week. Within this time frame there are ten longer days that are spent in clinical settings.