The ever-rising number of elderly individuals in Nashville means that in the coming years, more and more jobs will become available in the health sector with allied healthcare job opportunities being in the limelight. Both online and in-campus classes are offered in the city and you can choose either one of them depending on your needs and schedule. The availability of online classes has made it very attractive for the people to enroll in CNA training programs and seats fill up pretty quickly. So, if you are interested you must hurry up and we have got you covered. Here, we have compiled a list of some of the best CNA training programs in the city to get you started and help you choose the best program for yourself.
Table of Contents
Duration Of The Training
Students must complete at least 75 hours of training out of which 16 hours must be in clinical training. This can take anywhere between 4 to 12 weeks depending on the type of program you opt for (morning, evening, weekend, online) and the training institute.
CNA Training Cost
The training cost can range anywhere between $700 to $1500 on average and it may or may not include the state competency exam fee and the course-related materials cost depending on the institute. Also, many training centers offer financial aid options to deserving and eligible candidates.
CNA Salary
On average, CNAs can make up to $16 an hour in Nashville and as far as yearly salary is concerned, it can range anywhere from $26,907 to $36,443 depending on the experience and workplace.
NGH School of Health Sciences
For the last 62 years, NGH School of Health Sciences has been dedicated to providing affordable quality education in health sciences to the people of Nashville. They offer many programs including a 12-week training course for becoming a certified nurse aide or licensed nurse aide (CNA/LNA). The classes meet on Saturday during which students spend around 96 hours learning about the topics and skills that are vital to function as a nurse aide. The tuition fee is around $750 but students also have to pay an additional $50 for registration (non-refundable), $100 for textbooks, $85 for criminal background check and drug screening test as well.
Moreover, students have to wear uniforms during the classes and clinical training sessions which they also have to buy on their own. In order to get into the program, you must have completed high school, have a GED certification or equivalent as well as you must clear a drug screening test and criminal background check. If you have any sort of criminal offense in the past, you are ineligible for the training. Once the drug screening test and criminal background check are complete, students must provide up to date immunization and vaccination records in order to continue their training. For more information and to reserve a seat, you can visit their website or call their center.
SASH Nurse Assistant Training Program
SASH is a non-profit community development project where you can get trained by the people with many years of expertise in a range of healthcare professions. Classes meet from 9AM to 2PM and run through Monday to Friday and last for almost five weeks. While, the clinical training sessions take place in the 4th week of the five weeks which are arranged from Monday to Wednesday. The total cost of the training is around $800 which includes the tuition fee, textbook costs, worksheet costs, TB test cost and CPR certification fee as well. In order to get into the program, you must be at least 18 years of age or older, have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent, pass a drug screening test, clear a criminal background check, have two letters of recommendation and fill out an application form.
In addition to that, you must also meet with the program coordinator for an interview for completing the admission process. During the 5-week training, students learn about basic medical terminologies, emergency procedures, healthcare ethics, basic nursing practices as well as elderly care and hands-on patient care by working in real world situations at hospitals and long-term care facilities under the supervision of experienced professionals. You can visit their website to find out more about the program and its requirements.
Nashville Red Cross
It is a local office of the American Red Cross in Nashville. They offer free CNA training classes to eligible and dedicated candidates. If you cannot afford the training cost but are dedicated to serving people and interested in the field, American Red Cross Nashville is providing you with an excellent chance to pursue your dream with no out-of-pocket cost to you, whatsoever. Not only are they providing free training services but they also have a monstrous success score of more than 80% in the state certification exam and a training completion rate of almost 90%. So, if you are interested, you should definitely visit their satellite center to find out more about the program as soon as possible as there’s a limited number of seats available and more than 5000 individuals apply for the free training every year.
Candidates are required to have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent as well as complete a health checkup, provide complete immunization records, 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.
NATS Inc, Nashville
NATS Inc. has been a provider of quality education at an affordable price in the Nashville area for many years now. It is a non-profit corporation that is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission as well as approved by the State of Tennessee Department of Health. The program covers a wide range of topics and skills related to healthcare and nursing which prepares the students for passing the nurse aide state competency exam through a series of classroom lectures and clinical training sessions. They offer many allied healthcare training programs including the certified nurse aide (CNA) training program.
The training cost is around $950 which includes the tuition fee and lab fee. In addition to that, students may have to spend extra money on buying course related books, material supplies as well as for buying standard training scrubs and for registering for the state competency exam. They offer classes in both morning and evening shifts with the morning classes running from Monday to Friday meeting at 9AM to 2PM, while the evening classes meet from 5PM to 9PM and run through Monday to Wednesday. The program duration is 4 weeks for the morning classes while it is 7 weeks for the evening classes. Moreover, the timing of clinical hours may vary depending on the situation.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Nashville
If you are someone who is interested in working in the healthcare sector and in helping people, getting yourself trained to become a nurse aide (CNA) is one of the best places to start. Tennessee College of Applied Technology offers many courses and training programs to prepare the seeking individuals for entry level employment positions in a variety of fields and industries. Included in these programs is the two months long CNA training course that can get you started for a rewarding career in the rapidly booming healthcare sector.
The cost of the training is around $1050 which covers the textbook and supplies cost as well. Students have to pay the state competency exam fee and buy the standard training scrubs on their own. Classes are only offered in the night shift and contain around 120 hours of training sessions in classroom, laboratory and clinical settings. In order to get into the program, students must be at least 16 years of age, must be able to pass a physical health test, clear a drug screening test, clear a criminal background check, provide a negative TB test result and have up to date immunization records. Once the training is complete, students must take and pass the state competency exam in order to get their license.
Tennessee Health Careers LLC
With the employment rates in nursing expected to grow more than 11 percent in the next few years, many have started taking interest in starting a career of their own in this rapidly booming sector of healthcare and medicine. If you are one of those people, you should definitely take a look at the three-to-four-week long CNA training program offered at Tennessee Health Careers LLC. The training cost is around $1500 which includes all the course related expenses including the state competency exam fee. In addition to delivering quality education and training to the seeking individuals, staff at Tennessee Health Careers LLC also helps their graduates with potential job opportunities in the future as well.
To secure an admission into the training program, you must meet with administrative personnel at the facility, have a negative TB test result, be in good physical health and have no criminal activity in the past, whatsoever. Also, you need to be at least 18 years old and be able to pass a drug screening test. Once you complete your training, you are eligible to sit in the state competency exam. Candidates must pass the state competency exam (both written and skill set sections) in order to get their state CNA license.
Fortis Institute
If you want to earn money and start a career in the healthcare sector, you can check out the CNA training program at Fortis Institute Nashville, where you can gain all the necessary skills to become a certified nurse aide. Training cost is around $600 and it can be completed within a matter of just a few weeks. What sets their program apart is the fact that they not only ensure quality education and training but also help the students with state certification exams as well as job opportunities, once students clear the test. Moreover, there are many flexible payment options to pay the training fee as well as financial aid options to help financially challenged students.
In order to get into the program, you are required to have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent as well as you must be at least 18 years of age, have up to date immunization records, pass a physical test and clear a criminal background check and a drug screening test. To complete your training, you must attend at least 75 clock hours of classroom and clinical training sessions. Once training is completed, you are all ready to take and pass the state competency exam for getting your CNA license.
National HealthCare Corporation
If you are looking for a free CNA training program, National HealthCare Corporation offers a free CNA training program to give you the skills that you need to start a successful career in the rapidly booming healthcare sector. The program is approved by the state and licensed by the National Healthcare Association as well. In order to get into the program, candidates are required to have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent as well as pass a physical health test, clear a criminal background check and have up to date immunization records. Moreover, you need to be at least 17 years old and able to pass a drug screening test.
The training takes only a few weeks to complete and consists of almost 40 hours of lab and classroom instructions supplemented with almost 35 hours of clinical training sessions under supervised guidance. During the training students are taught about various topics and skills including healthcare ethics, healthcare procedures, emergency procedures, safety procedures, human anatomy, medical physiology, patient grooming, effective communication and legal healthcare issues among many other things. Once they complete the training, they are required to take and pass the state competency exam. On successfully passing the exam, they are registered in the state registry and allowed to practice at hospitals, care homes and at elderly care centers etc.
New Hope Foundation Inc.
New Hope Foundation is another school in the Nashville area that offers CNA training. This CNA training program at New Hope Foundation Inc. consists of almost 120 hours of classroom and clinical training sessions. During the training, experienced qualified teachers help the students in learning the skills and abilities that are vital to function as a nurse aide and in order to take the people in need.
During the training students are also provided detailed instructions on passing the state competency exam for the nurse aide certification. To get accepted into the program, candidates must have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent as well they must be able to pass a physical health test, a drug screening test and a criminal background check. If you have any sort of criminal offense history in the past, you are ineligible for becoming a certified nurse aide. Moreover, you must be at least 18 years in age, have up to date immunization records and provide a negative TB test result report in order to get into the program.
Training programs start every few months and training can be completed within a period of just 6 weeks. To apply for an admission, you must visit the institution in person and apply as soon as possible as only a handful of students are accepted into the program in each session.
NHC Place, Cool Springs
If you are looking for a free CNA training program in the Nashville area, NHC Place has got you covered. It is located just a few miles away from the main Nashville city. The facility has been up and running since 2004 and has been offering comprehensive CNA training to the seeking individuals of the Nashville area for quite a few years now. The program is almost 6 weeks in length during which students spend almost 75 hours in classroom and clinical training sessions learning about a variety of topics and skills that are vital to function as a nurse aide.
These topics include healthcare ethics, interpersonal skills, rehabilitative care, patients’ rights, emergency procedures, surgical asepsis, body mechanics, nutrition, vital signs and long-term care along with many others. Since the training is offered for free, graduates are required to work in the NHC nursing facility for a while after successfully completing their training. Also, only a handful of students are accepted into the program each session and they are screened very extensively. Applicants must apply online or visit the facility in person to get into the training program. Additionally, all candidates must fulfill the state criteria as well in order to be eligible for sitting in the state competency exam.
Onepulse, Inc.
OnePulse, Inc. is a well-reputed institute for providing quality education services in healthcare and other sectors to the people of Nashville and surrounding areas. Among the programs they offer, there is also a 5-week nurse aide (CNA) training program that costs around $800. The costs of book fee, lab fee and registration fee are not included in that. Moreover, students also have to pay the state competency exam fee on their own.
On the plus side, if you are someone who cannot pay the fee at once or at all, they offer many reasonable and affordable payment plans as well as some scholarship and financial aid options to help you with that. In order to get into the program, candidates have to fill out an application form, meet with an admission representative, undergo a drug screening test and a physical health checkup. Moreover, they are also required to have an American healthcare provider CPR certification, have up to date immunization records and clear a criminal background check. During the training students are trained on a number of topics and skills that are vital to function as a nurse aide including nutrition, healthcare ethics, emergency procedures, medical terminologies, elderly care, effective communication, infection control and hands-on patient care etc.
Once training is completed, candidates are fully ready to take and pass the state competency exam.
Saint Thomas Hospital
Are you holding off from becoming a qualified nurse aide and start a rewarding career in the health care sector because you don’t have the money to pay for your training?
At Saint Thomas Hospital, they are offering a free CNA training program to train you as a Nursing Assistant and it only takes a few weeks to complete. The Nurse Aide Training Program is designed in a very comprehensive way to prepare the candidates for the nurse aide certification exam by the State of Tennessee. After earning the certification, you can work as a licensed nurse aide at an entry-level position in a healthcare facility, long-term care center or elderly homes. The curriculum is fully in line with the state guidelines and is structured in a way that teaches the students the vital theoretical knowledge and practical skills that are required to function as a nurse aide.
During the training, the students are taught to assist the people in need with their daily tasks such as bathing, feeding, exercise, personal hygiene, movement and much more. The course is completed via a mix of lectures, classroom activities, skill-building training, lab activities and practical activities. You can visit their website to find out more about the exact dates of class beginning and sessions offered. Also, you must be quick as it’s free training and seats fill up quickly.
Metropolitan Nashville Hospital Authority
Individuals that are seeking a stable and rewarding job in the rapidly booming healthcare sector can look to the Metropolitan Nashville Hospital Authority. At metropolitan hospitals, they offer a free CNA training program to produce high quality and skilled graduates to work as allied healthcare workers in hospitals, long-term care facilities and elderly homes. As the training is totally free of cost, you are required to work at the hospital for a while after completing your training. Candidates are screened very rigorously for the training and only a handful of committed individuals are selected. So, if you think you have what it takes, then you should definitely apply for this free training opportunity.
To get accepted into the program, candidates must have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent as well they must be able to pass a physical health test, a drug screening test and a criminal background check. If you have any sort of criminal offense history in the past, you are ineligible for becoming a certified nurse aide. Moreover, you must be at least 18 years in age, have up to date immunization records and provide a negative TB test result report in order to get into the program. The training can be completed in a couple of weeks, after which you must pass the state competency exam in order to get certified.
Mcgavock High School
Mcgavock High Schoolhas been producing highly skilled graduates that go on to work in multiple nursing jobs. Many graduates go on to become valuable employees of Tennessee-area healthcare facilities. The training cost is around $700 and candidates have to buy the books, uniform and other course-related material on their own. In addition to that, $103 state certification exam fee has to be also paid by the candidates in order to sit in the state exam.
During the training, candidates are taught about basic healthcare, nursing techniques, elderly care, emergency procedures, human anatomy, medical physiology, effective communication, healthcare ethics in comprehensive classroom, laboratory and clinical sessions. Candidates are required to complete 40 classroom training hours and 35 clinical visit hours to be eligible for the state exam. In addition to that, a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent along with complete immunization records as well as a clear criminal background is must in order to get into the program. Once the training is complete, candidates can sit in the state competency exam.
Passing both sections of the exam, the written and the skillset, is a must for getting the CNA license. Once you get your license, you can have a rewarding job at any of the hundreds of healthcare facilities throughout the state.
TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center
For the past 40 years, TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center has been serving patients with a variety of healthcare services. In addition to employing doctors and nurses, they also employ dozens of allied healthcare workers such as nurse aides. To meet the growing demand of these allied healthcare workers, they offer a free CNA training program to train dedicated and committed individuals for becoming a CNA at their facility. In return, graduated students have to spend some time working at the medical center after their graduation. You can check their website or contact the center to find out about the exact dates of classes in session or any upcoming free CNA training programs.
In addition to comprehensive theoretical instructions in the classroom, students gain a very practical hands-on knowledge of working with the patients in the hospital under the guidance of experienced professionals. This prepares them to deal with all sorts of potential problems that they will face while working at a medical clinic, long-term care facility or elderly home. Once they complete the training, they are required to take and pass the state competency exam. On successfully passing the exam, they are registered in the state registry and allowed to practice.
Bordeaux Long-Term Care
Bordeaux Long-Term Care is also another free provider of CNA training in the Nashville area. But the training program is only offered periodically, predominantly during the times when the facility needs more nursing assistants. You can visit the care center or talk to them on phone to find out about the upcoming free training programs. We suggest staying in regular touch as these programs are free and the seats get reserved pretty quickly. In order to get into the program, you must have completed high school, have a GED certification or equivalent as well as you must clear drug screening test and criminal background check.
If you have any sort of criminal offense in the past, you are ineligible for the training. Once the drug screening test and criminal background check are complete, students must provide up to date immunization and vaccination records in order to continue their training. The classes and the schedule will vary depending on the situation. Moreover, students will have to bear all the course related costs such as the fee of the state competency exam on their own and since the training has no out of pocket cost to the students, they are required to work at the care center for a short amount of time after graduation. Also, after training completion students must also take and pass the state competency exam to get their CNA license.