Becoming a licensed nurse aide (LNA/CNA) in the Denver area is easier than you think. It only takes a few weeks to complete your training which can set you up for a potentially long-term and rewarding job in the rapidly growing healthcare sector. Moreover, as the population in Colorado increases, the number of elderly individuals and people with medical conditions is also on the rise which has caused a significant surge in the demand of allied healthcare workers such as CNAs. Amid this rush, many CNA training centers and programs have been opened up which can make the process of choosing the right program for yourself a mess. Here, we have compiled a list of some of the best training programs in the Denver area to get you started and help you choose the best program for your needs.
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How long does it take to become CNA in Denver?
Candidates have to complete at least 75 clock hours of training in classroom, laboratory and clinical settings in order to sit in the state competency exam. This can take anywhere between 4 to 6 weeks depending on the type of program and the institute.
How much does it cost to become CNA in Denver?
On average, it costs anywhere between $600 to $1500 to complete the training but some comprehensive training programs may charge more. In addition to that, some institutes may also offer financial aid options to support the financially challenged students.
Nursing Assistant Salary in Denver
Nursing assistants can make up to $18 an hour working at a healthcare facility or long-term care center. While, the average yearly salaries can range anywhere from $36,443 to $46,765 depending on the experience and workplace.
Community College of Denver
Within a matter of only seven 7 weeks, you can get yourself trained to become a certified nurse aide (CNA) in the Denver area and get an entry level employment position at any of the state’s healthcare centers such as hospitals and elderly homes. The course is five credits in total with a tuition fee of $1170 but students also have to pay an additional $300 in fees for textbooks, scrubs, background check and administrative costs. The program is not eligible for financial aid, so students have to bear all the expenses of the training by themselves.
Classes are offered in both morning and evening sessions to accommodate the students according to their needs and you can find all the relevant information regarding class schedule on their website. The training program is approved by Colorado State Board of Nursing and meets all the requirements and guidelines of Colorado OBRA certification as well. In order to get an admission into the training program, you must pass an entrance test evaluating your ability of English communication and basic math skills. Also, you must pass a drug screening test, clear a criminal background check, be in good physical health, have up to date medical records and be at least 18 years of age to get an admission.
South Denver School of Nursing Arts
South Denver School of Nursing Arts is offering one of its kind, an all-online CNA training course in Colorado state. The course is 4 weeks in length and despite being short in duration, it involves hands-on comprehensive training sessions in classroom and clinical settings. Classes are offered in both morning and evening sessions with morning classes meeting via an online link from 9AM to 11AM and evening classes meeting from 5PM to 7PM through Monday to Sunday. The fee of the training is $1500 and it is $1300 if you have a GED certification.
This fee includes the cost of background check fee, drug screening fee, textbook fee, lab fee and the cost of all the other course-related material as well. Also, there are many community partners who offer sponsorship to the deserving and eligible candidates to complete their training for free. In order to get into the program, you must pass an online admission test, be at least 16 years of age, pass a drug screening test, clear a criminal background check and be in good physical health. Moreover, since the classes are completely online, you must have a high-speed internet connection to access them and once you complete your training, you can sit in the state competency exam to get your CNA license.
Emily Griffith Technical College
No matter what your routine is, if you are looking to get trained as a CNA, Emily Griffith Technical College offers a part-time as well as a full time CNA training course in order to facilitate the students according to their needs and requirements. Training cost is only $975 which can be completed in a matter of just 8 to 11 weeks. Students may also have to pay other fees in addition to the $975 tuition fee during the training as well. New classes start every few weeks and you can visit their website to find out more about the exact days of class beginnings.
The course is 5 credits in total and many use this initial certification as a means to pursue further education in the field of nursing and healthcare. The program is one of the best in the state and is approved by the state nursing department as well as it is authorized by the Colorado OBRA certification. The training involves 32 clock hours of clinical externship at a healthcare center which prepares the students for dealing with real life nursing issues in the future. Financial aid options through grants, scholarships and loans are also available at the college. You can visit their website today to reserve a seat.
Pima Medical Institute – Denver Campus
The Pima Medical Institute is a privately-owned for-profit medical college that has been training students for various nursing and health care careers throughout the USA. Its Denver campus offers many training courses and programs in the healthcare sector including a CNA training program that is aimed at training the students to secure an entry level position in the rapidly emerging and growing health care sector. The total cost of the CNA training at PIMA is around $1600 which includes the cost of textbooks, handouts, uniforms and other course related training material as well.
During the six-week training program, students are taught about a range of topics including interpersonal skills, infection control, safety procedures, emergency protocols, psychosocial needs, patient care skills, rehabilitative services, nutrition and much more. The training is 130 hours in total which contains 40 hours of clinical training sessions in it. In order to get into the program, candidates must have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent as well as they must be at least 16 years of age, able to pass an entrance test, have up to date immunization records and must not have any criminal activity in the past, whatsoever. On successfully completing the training, candidates are fully ready to enter and pass the state competency exam for certified nurse aide.
Red Rocks Community College
Colorado’s healthcare sector is growing and with it the demand for allied healthcare workers such as CNAs, too. Amid this rush, Red Rocks Community College is offering you with an excellent opportunity to get yourself trained as a CNA which can potentially land you an entry level employment position in the rapidly booming healthcare sector. Their program is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and is in line with the rules and regulations of Colorado OBRA certification as well. The total cost of the training program including textbook costs and other fees is around $1200.
Moreover, the training is offered in an 8-week weekend program and an accelerated 3-week program, both of which include a total 107 hours of the training which is divided into two parts i.e., the classroom lectures and clinical training sessions. In order to get into the program, you must pass an English language proficiency test, clear a drug screening test, be in good physical health, have up to date medical records, have an American healthcare provider CPR certification, provide a negative TB test result and be able to pass a criminal background check as well. Students are also required to attend an orientation session before registration. You can find more information about the program on their website.
Arapahoe Community College
If you are looking for a comprehensive nurse aide (CNA) training program in the Denver area, Arapahoe Community College has got you covered. It offers a semester-long CNA training program that is five credit hours in total. The program costs around $2000 and is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and prepares the students for employment as a nurse aide in healthcare facilities. Students during training learn how to meet the needs and interact with the residents of a healthcare facility as well as the other members of the healthcare team. They also learn about the basic nursing skills such as taking vital signs, emergency healthcare protocols, patient grooming and dose administration etc.
The program is offered in Spring, Fall and Summer semester and you can find out about the exact dates of admissions and admission requirements on their website. Any sort of criminal offense makes you ineligible for admission into the CNA training program. Once the training is complete, students are fully ready to take and pass the state certification exam which they must pass in order to get a CNA license. In addition to the residents of the state, the program is also open to other people but their tuition rates are increased than the usual training and tuition costs.
Pickens Technical College
With an objective of providing career-focused training and education, Pickens Technical College has been producing highly skilled, quality graduates for many years now. Among the many programs offered in allied healthcare fields is also the Nurse Aide (CNA) training program which is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and is in line with the rules and regulations of Colorado OBRA certification as well. Including the tuition fee, lab fee, clinical charges, book costs and all the other course related materials the training costs around $1360 in total. In addition to that, students might also have to pay for the scrubs, wrist watch, flu shots and state board certification exam. Classes run through Monday to Friday and meet at 8AM to 2PM.
Training runs for an entire semester and is 5 credits in total. In order to get an admission into the training program, you must pass an entrance test evaluating your ability of English communication and basic math skills. Also, you must pass a drug screening test, clear a criminal background check, be in good physical health, have up to date medical records and be at least 18 years of age to get an admission. Once the training is complete, candidates are ready to sit in the state certification exam.
American Red Cross, Denver
If you are someone who cannot afford to pay for the education and are interested in healthcare and willing to serve people by pursuing a career in the medical & healthcare industry, American Red Cross training services is offering you with an excellent opportunity to start a training for becoming a certified nursing aide with no out-of-pocket cost to you, whatsoever. Not only do they provide free training to the diligent candidates but they also have a whopping success score of more than 80%.
You can visit their local center in Denver to find out more about the training programs and try to get in as soon as possible as there’s a limited number of seats available in each center and more than 5000 individuals apply for this free training every year. Candidates are required to have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent in order to take the state certification exam. Moreover, they also need to complete a health checkup, provide a complete immunization record and also, clear a criminal background check in order to get licensed as a CNA. The course is divided into three modules: classroom instructions, lab activity and clinical visits, which must all be positively completed in order to get certified.
Aplmed Academy
Aplmed Academy is a privately owned healthcare training center that has been offering entry-level healthcare training services to the students of the Denver area who are seeking to pursue careers in clinical laboratory science and nursing. Among the courses that they offer is also the Certified Nurse Aide or Licensed Nurse Aide (CNA/LNA) training course that costs around $1040 in total. Students have to pay the $135 state certification exam fee on their own. Financial aid options through scholarships, grants and loans are also available for the financially challenged students.
The training can be completed in a matter of just 5 weeks and training programs are offered every few weeks which you can find all about on their website. Classes are offered in both morning and evening sessions to accommodate the students according to their needs and only 9 students are accepted in each class to maximize individualized student care. The admission or registration process can be completed online by visiting their website but before that make sure that you complete all the criteria and requirements for getting into the program. Once the training is complete, students can take the state competency exam which they must pass in order to get their CNA license.
Community College of Aurora
With the demand for allied healthcare workers soaring higher than ever, many schools, colleges and training institutes have started to enroll more and more students in the allied healthcare courses such as the CNA training course which is aimed at providing the seeking individuals with the necessary training vital for landing an entry level employment position in the rapidly booming healthcare sector. Among this institutes is also the Community College of Aurora which offers a five-credit comprehensive CNA training program. The program includes 30 hours of clinical training sessions where students gain hands-on learning experiences at a local healthcare facility under the supervision of experienced medical staff which prepares them to deal with the real-life nursing problems.
Moreover, they also learn about basic nursing skills, medical ethics, medical terminologies, effective communication and patient rights in a series of classroom lectures among many other things. The training fee is around $1200 and financial aid options are also available for the financially challenged students. Training can be completed in a matter of just a few weeks after which students are eligible to sit in the state competency exam. Students must be at least 18 years of age, be in good physical health, have up to date medical records, clear a background check and have no criminal activity in the past in order to be eligible for the license.
Colorado Nurses Aide School
With a whopping success rate of almost 99%, Colorado Nurses Aide School has been training individuals for the nurse aide state competency exam for many years now. The program is licensed by the State Nursing Board of Colorado and meets all the rules and regulations of Colorado OBRA certification as well. The training course contains a total 102 hours of training in classroom, laboratory and clinical training sessions which can be completed within a matter of just 4 weeks with a cost of around $1500 which also includes the text book fee, exam fee, lab fee and other administrative fees as well.
Classes are offered in both, morning, evening and weekend sessions and only 10 students are accepted into each class to ensure maximum attention for each student. Weekend programs might take longer than 4 weeks to complete. Not only the focus on individualized student education but also offer job placement assistance to its students as well. In order to get into the program, candidates must be at least 16 years of age, have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent, pass an entrance test and interview at the school, have proof of a negative TB test, be able to clear a criminal background check and a drug screening test.
Voyager Home Health Care
Not many institutes offer online CNA training and finding a state-approved online CNA training program can be very difficult. So, if you are someone who’s looking for an online CNA training program in the Colorado area, you are in luck! Voyager Home Health Care is the only state approved online CNA training school in Colorado state. Not only is it the only state approved CNA program in the area but also it is the most affordable with a cost of only $699. All lectures are completely online but you have two attend 16 hours of lab training in person as well as 2 days of clinical training sessions. All of this can be completed in as little as 2 weeks depending on your availability and schedule.
Students must complete at least 75 hours of training in order to get a certificate of completion. Students are required to wear navy blue scrubs during the training and must make sure attendance in online lectures, laboratory training and clinical training sessions. In order to get into the program, you must provide a negative TB test result and a CPR certification. Moreover, you must also be able to clear a drug screening test and a criminal background check as well. Any sort of criminal offense makes you ineligible for the training program. Once the training is complete, students are fully ready to take and pass the state competency exam.
Annrose School Of Nursing Arts, Inc.
Annrose School Of Nursing Arts, Inc. is another provider of CNA training services in the Denver area which has been active since 2006. The school is run by skilled nurses who provide comprehensive in-depth training to individuals interested in becoming entry level employees in the healthcare sector. Only 12 students are accepted into each class, so if you are interested, you must reserve a seat as soon as possible. Moreover, the training cost is around $1200 which can be paid in full or divided into two payments. This $1200 fee includes the cost of textbooks, uniform, background check fee and other administrative costs.
Students will have to buy other course related materials and uniforms on their own. Classes are offered in both morning and evening sessions and contain a total 100 hours of training in classroom, laboratory and clinical settings. In addition to this, they also offer a fast track 8-day CNA training program as well. Once the training is complete, graduates can take the nurse aide state competency exam after just 2 weeks. In order to get into the training program, candidates must be at least 16 years of age, have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent, have up to date medical records and be in good physical health.
Front Range Community College
With an 85% completion rate, 90% job placement rate and a 100% state competency exam success rate, Front Range Community College provides one of the best training programs in the Denver area. This comprehensive training program runs over the course of an entire semester and is 5 credit hours in total. The training program is approved by Colorado State Board of Nursing and meets all the requirements and guidelines of Colorado OBRA certification as well. To enroll in the training program, you must be at least 17 years old, have up to date medical records, be in good physical health and be able to pass a criminal background check as well.
During the training, students are trained on a number of topics that include health care ethics, interpersonal skills, rehabilitative care, patients’ rights, emergency procedures, surgical asepsis, body mechanics, nutrition, vital signs and long-term care among many other things. After successfully completing the training, students must pass the state competency exam to get their license. You can register yourself online for getting into the training program. All the required forms, eligibility criteria and other information can be found on their website as well. Registration closes a few days prior to the beginning of training.
St. Luke’s Ministry
Another provider of the CNA training services in the Denver area with a whopping success rate of 92% in the nurse aide state competency exam. The tuition fee is around $900 and the school also offers financial assistance to the deserving and eligible candidates. The whole course can be completed in a matter of just 3 weeks and it includes 84 hours of training in classroom, laboratory and clinical training sessions. Only 15 people are accepted into a single class to ensure personalized student education.
During the training students are educated on a number of topics including professionalism and ethics, interpersonal skills, rehabilitative care, patients’ rights, emergency procedures, surgical asepsis, body mechanics, nutrition, vital signs and long-term care among many other things. Upon successful completion of the training, candidates are fully prepared to take and pass the state competency exam for the nurse aide certification. To get into the training program, you must be 16 years of age or more, have a high school diploma/GED certification or equivalent, pass a criminal background check and must have up to date immunization records as well. You can visit their training center in Denver to find out more about the training program.