Explore Details About Training Programs For CNA Certification In The State Of California

Certified nurse assistants, or CNAs, are licensed caregivers at the entry level classification of nursing. CNA certification in the state of California is achieved through completion of a course of study prescribed by the state’s Department of Public Health, which also oversees the programs which provide CNA training. After completing the training program, students must pass an exam, which the state also has responsibility for administering.

You must be at least 16 years old, in good health, and able to clear a criminal background check. You will likely work in either a hospital, a nursing home, or a residential care facility once you are licensed. In your job, you will typically take care of the elderly and/or acutely ill patients by assisting with eating, bathing, and dressing and checking vital signs.

To become a certified nurse assistant in California, you have choices in where you get your training. Vocational schools, nursing homes, and community colleges offer the required courses. But you want to make sure that the program you choose is licensed by the state.

Regardless of which program you choose for your training, the program must offer a core curriculum that includes at least 150 hours of clinical training and classroom instruction. One hundred of those hours must be in clinical training under the immediate supervision of a director of staff development or an instructor. At least 50 hours of classroom instruction are also required.

There are 16 required training modules that must be included in the certified nurse assistant preparation courses. The first is an introduction module that includes a description of the roles and responsibilities of the CNA, an overview of the regulations that govern the job, details about the certification requirements, and discussion about professionalism, ethics and confidentiality. Before trainees are allowed to interact directly with patients, they must complete at least 16 hours of training in communication and interpersonal skills, infection control, safety and emergency procedures, and respecting patients’ independence and rights.

Topics covered in the rest of the modules include patient care skills and patient care procedures, vital signs observation and charting, nutrition and body mechanics, and death and dying, among others. Classroom instruction is coordinated with the clinical instruction, which typically happens in a care facility.

CNA certification in the state of California opens up opportunities for qualified licensees to earn around $19,000 to $30,000 annually, on average. The training requirements restrict the clinical instruction class size to 15 students under the supervision of one instructor, ensuring that candidates receive direct and proper preparation for their future job.

To find out more information about your CNA certification in California, visit CNA Certification today to give yourself the best head start.