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.