How Long Does It Take To Become A CNA?

For students who have chosen to follow the career path of Certified Nursing Assistant, or CNA; they will need to attend state approved classes in order to fulfill their educational and training requirements. Only when these prospective students have taken in the information and have fulfilled their training obligations through a certified program can they go on to find employment as a CNA. 

One of the first questions students should ask is how long does it take to become a CNA? Once they do this, they have a realistic time frame within which they can work toward achieving their goals when they would like to.

The duration of time it takes to achieve certification as a nursing assistant may vary, depending on many factors. Some variables that may determine the time it takes to become a CNA include factors such as what type of facility the student is taking courses. Some facilities may offer accelerated courses that last a few weeks to fulfill the standard state approved requirements. 

Some of these facilities may include local chapters of the American Red Cross or a nursing home whereas students may find a longer and more in-depth program at a local community college or technical school. The information and training that students receive will be the same but the time frame in which they go through the program will vary.

Another step that students need to take in order to become a CNA is in taking the nurse aide competency test as soon as possible once finishing the CNA program. Once the CNA candidate has passed the certification test, they will automatically become certified and receive their certificate within two weeks to a month so they can begin their search for a job as a CNA. 

The next step involves taking the certification and finding the right facility in which to work and feel most comfortable. Candidates should consider what atmosphere works best with their own personality.

What Does A CNA Do?

When students and prospective students are exploring careers in the medical field, it is important to look at all of the possible professions to understand what is best for them. 

For each profession in the field, it is important to understand precisely what each profession entails. In order to help in making the selecting to pursue a career as a CNA, or certified nursing assistant, it is important to ask the question, what does a CNA do?

One of the first answers to the question of what does a CNA do would be that the certified nursing assistant is readily available to assist the nurse or nurses on staff. A CNA acts to alleviate daily pressures of licensed professional and registered nurses with full to overflowing schedules and patient lists. Whether working in a hospital or an assisted living facility, the role of a CNA is vital to keeping the work flow of the nursing staff on schedule, efficient and in ensuring that patients' needs are quickly and thoroughly attended to.

Each time the CNA begins a work shift, the first and foremost task on their list is to review the reports on patients that nurses and CNAs have provided from the previous shift. With this, the CNA understands the status of each patient under their care. A further and more thorough answer to what does a CNA do is that the CNA checks each patient's vital signs and statistics to make sure all of the numbers are as they should be.

The CNA also attends to the general care and comfort of patients throughout their shifts. These types of duties range from rearranging pillows, helping patients to the restroom and other daily tasks.

Additionally, the CNA needs to ensure that they keep proper records by updating charts and keeping the duty nurses posted on each patient's condition and status.

Once all of these duties have been done, the CNA's status is on standby, as needed.

How Long Are CNA Classes?

Among the most frequent questions people have about enrolling in CNA classes relates to the topic of program duration: How long are CNA Classes? The answer to that question depends on where and how you take your classes.

Most conventional CNA curricula deliver 75- to 120- hours of classroom instruction and clinical experience. Full-time students can take classes during the day and complete the course in four weeks. Part-time students can take classes during the evening and complete the course in six- to eight-weeks.

Bear in mind, these estimates are based on the average length of programs offered nationally. Some CNA classes run three months and others run nine months to a year. Community colleges may blend CNA courses with core courses and spread the program over two years. The length of each program may be shorter or longer, depending on the agency or institution.

State requirements also affect the length of CNA programs. Certain states offer multiple levels of CNA certification. For instance, Oregon offers CNA I and II designations. Oklahoma offers CNA I, II and III. Achieving the highest level of certification in these states tacks on additional time to your studies. Also, if you relocate to one of these states, you may need to go back for additional training to meet state requirements.

Now, if you want to know how long it takes to become a CNA, the answer depends entirely on the individual. From initial enrollment to course completion, students can reasonably expect to exit a CNA program within three to six months. Beyond that, students must factor in the time it takes to register and sit for exams, job hunting and interviews. If offered employment, students must complete background checks, physical exams and orientation. Students who meet their requirements in a timely matter will be well on their way toward the goal of becoming a CNA.

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