CNA classes are a great choice for anyone with a desire to work in the health care industry. While many job training programs focus only on the skills you will need to become a certified nurse assistant, CNA training courses provide students with an in-depth look at the responsibilities and duties they will be expected to perform once they have been hired.
In addition to learning about their potential career from an academic standpoint, CNA students also benefit from learning from employers and instructors who have actually worked in the field. This gives them a leg up when it comes time for them to job hunt because they can put what they learned into practice right away.
The main focus of a CNA training program is to educate students about the responsibilities and duties associated with a nursing assistant position. In addition to this, students are taught how to take vital signs, perform basic medical procedures and hygiene, and help patients with dressing and bathing.
If you are someone who is interested, we have compiled a list of some of the best CNA training programs in San Diego to make sure you have all the information you need to choose the best suited program for yourself.
Moreover, we encourage you to also contact these training centers yourself in order to find out the specifics of the training programs and the requirements to get into the training program. Also, many use their CNA training as a stepping stone to pursue further education in the field of nursing.
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How Long Does it Take to Become a CNA in San Diego?
Many institutes offer many types of morning, evening and weekend classes to accommodate the students according to their needs. Depending on the type of program you choose to enroll in, it can take from 21 days to 14 weeks to complete the training process.
How Much Do CNA Classes Cost in San Diego, CA?
CNA training can cost anywhere from $450 to $2000 in San Diego. Some of these training packages with higher cost may cover the state competency exam fee and other course related material cost, while the cheaper one may not.
What Do CNAs Make in San Diego?
A certified nurse aide can make up to $18.3 an hour and between $29,100 to $36,900 in a year. Also, depending on the workplace CNAs may receive additional benefits such as health insurance along with the salary as well.
CNA Classes in San Diego, California:
San Diego College of Continuing Education
Looking for an entry level healthcare position to start a new career? Then, you should definitely check out the nurse aide (CNA) training program by The San Diego College of Continuing Education. Training only takes around eight to twelve weeks to complete, depending on the type of program you choose to enroll in. The training cost is around $905 and it includes the tuition fee, state competency exam fee, book fee and other course related material cost as well.
The training spans over almost 300 clock hours, during which students are trained 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 website to find out more about the program.
Southwestern College
The CNA training program at Southwestern College is aimed at people who are looking to start a new career in the rapidly booming healthcare industry. Not only can you take the state certification exam after completing your CNA training but, you can also further continue your education into nursing as CNA certification has the highest points allotted for entrance into the associate nursing degree program.
They offer four CNA classes during the year starting in January, March, June and August. The classes continue for nine to eighteen weeks depending on the program you choose to enroll in. Only 30 to 40 students are accepted in a class and admissions are granted on a first come, first serve basis. In order to get into the program, you must provide up to date immunization records, a physical exam test result and a negative TB test result. Moreover, you should be at least 16 years old, be in good health and have no criminal background, whatsoever.
The training cost is around $750-850 and you can also apply for financial aid if you are eligible and meet the criteria. Applications are online and you can visit the college website to get more information about the admission process.
MiraCosta College
MiraCosta college has been offering CNA training classes since 1987 and it is without a doubt, one of the best CNA training programs in San Diego. The CNA training course at MiraCosta college is completely in line with the rules and regulations of California state policies and it has one of the highest success scores in the area with up to 97% of the students passing the state certification exam.
In order to get into the program, you must pass an English language proficiency test, have a healthcare provider CPR certification, pass a physical health exam, provide complete and up to date immunization records and have no criminal background, whatsoever. The cost of the training is around $550 and classes are offered in two sessions. The regular program is eight weeks long while the summer program is six weeks in duration.
Training is divided into two parts: 1) classroom and laboratory instruction and 2) clinical training under supervised guidance. Most of the classes are online but students have to join the training in person for the clinical sessions. So, if you are looking to get trained as a CNA, you must hurry up as only 20 students are admitted to each class.
San Diego Medical College
San Diego Medical College is offering a state approved CNA training program with emergency Covid-19 permits. The training is provided in morning, evening and weekend classes to accommodate and facilitate students according to their needs and schedule. The morning classes take 22 days to complete, whereas the evening classes take 42 to complete the training. They have one of the highest success scores for state CNA competency tests with almost 99% students passing the written test and 100% students passing the skill test.
The cost of the training is around $450 and students have to also pay the one time non-refundable $100 registration fee, a state exam fee and they also have to bear the cost of books, uniform and other course related materials on their own. 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.
You do not need a GED certification to get into the program but you must be at least 16 years old, provide a negative TB test and have no criminal background whatsoever. You can register for the training online and visit their website to find out more about the program.
Eastlake Medical College
Approved by the California Department of Health, Eastlake Medical College is offering an entry level course that is aimed at providing the students with quality and affordable education to train them for the state of California nurse aide competency exam. The total cost of the training is around $1160 and classes are offered in both weekday and weekend sessions to facilitate the students according to their needs.
The training can take anywhere between 16 and 29 days to complete depending on the type of classes you opt out for. Training is divided into two parts i.e., the classroom and laboratory instructions and the clinical training where students gain hands-on experience by working under the supervision of professionals. After successfully completing the training, students are eligible to take the state certification exam.
Candidates must pass the state competency exam in order to get their license and start practicing as a registered nurse aide. The process of the admission is completely online and you can visit the college’s website to find out more about the program, class schedule and training guides. Moreover, you are also required to pass a physical health test and have a clear criminal background to get into the program.
Healthcare Academy of California
Healthcare Academy of California, Vista has been a well-known provider of quality education in San Diego for almost ten years. They offer many classes, degree programs and training courses to provide the students with necessary skills that are required to enter and start a career in the rapidly growing healthcare industry. Included in these is the 21-day CNA training program, offered in weekday, night and weekend classes.
Depending on the program you choose to enroll in, the cost will range from $1350 to $1800. This cost includes all the course related expenses such as the cost of books, uniform, scrubs, medical supplies and state exam fee. 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. Registrations closes a few days prior to the beginning of training.
San Diego Healthcare Institute
San Diego Healthcare Institute is offering a 24-day CNA training program that will set you on your way towards becoming a CNA in no time. The training involves a series of classroom, laboratory and clinical instructions that prepares the students for an entry level nurse aide job at hospitals, health clinics, care centers and elderly homes. The cost of the training is around $1700 which includes the registration fee, state competency exam fee, LiveScan fingerprint fee and cost of course related training equipment.
In addition to that, students are also provided worksheets, handouts and textbooks as well. In order to get into the program, you must have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent as well as a valid security card. Moreover, you are also required to pass a physical health test, provide a negative TB test and you must not have any criminal record, whatsoever.
Once you successfully complete the training, you are eligible to take the state certification exam. Candidates must pass the state competency exam in order to get their license and start practicing as a registered nurse aide. The information about the process of the admission is available online and you can visit the college’s website to find out more.
International Health Group Career College
With more than 600 graduates working in a range of health care jobs, International Health Group, Inc. offers a variety of training courses and healthcare degree programs including a CNA training course. The 22-day fast track CNA training program costs around $1500 in total. What sets them apart from other competing CNA training programs is the fact they are not only a state approved CNA training provider, but they are also a state testing center for CNA certification which enhances the chances of passing state competency exam. Moreover, they also provide a range of payment plans and financial aid options, if you cannot afford to pay for your training. The training is divided into two course modules.
The first module involves classroom and laboratory instructions during which students gain a thorough understanding of healthcare ethics, patient rights, safety procedures, vital signs, patient grooming, human physiology, emergency procedures, effective communication as well as elderly care among many other things. While the second module is centered around hands-on clinical training, where students are taken to the nearby care facilities or hospitals to get them accustomed to the real word procedures of the medical care.
Pacific Health Educational Center
Pacific Health Educational Center is a California department of health and State Approved Training center that offers a fast track 22-day certified nurse aide (CNA) training program. The total cost of the training is around $1875 which takes around 176 clock hours to complete. The training involves eight days of classroom instructions and 14 days of clinical practice training at a local nursing facility. Registration fee, tuition cost, scrubs, loaner textbooks, handouts, healthcare provider CPR certification fee and state competency exam fee are all included in the $1875 package.
In order to enroll in the program, you must be 18 years of age or older, have a valid state ID, have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent, provide a physical health test and have no criminal activity, whatsoever. The program is offered in five sessions throughout the year. In addition to the fast track 22-day CNA training program, a weekend program is also offered which spans across 11 weekends and is offered 4 times in a year. You can visit their website to find out more about the exact dates and timings of the training classes as well as other relevant information.
Western Medical Training Center
A private school and training center that has been providing quality education at affordable rates since 2010. Currently, they are offering a CNA training program in three sessions i.e., morning, evening and weekend classes to accommodate as many students as possible. Depending on the type of classes you choose to enroll in, the length of training varies from 22 to 44 days for the morning and evening programs, while the duration is 11 weeks (22 days, weekends) for the weekend program. So, if you are interested in starting a job in the health care sector, you should really hurry up.
They only accept 15 students in a class and they get filled up very quickly. The training includes 60 hours of classroom instructions, 10 hours of laboratory training and 104 clock hours of hand-on clinical practice under supervised guidance. In order to get in to the program, you must be 16 years of age or older, pass a physical health checkup, provide a negative TB test result and clear a criminal background check as well. In addition to providing quality education and extensive training, the training center also helps its students with potential job opportunities, once they complete their training and pass the nurse aide state competency exam.
Healthcare Science Academy
Approved by California Department of Public Health, Healthcare Science Academy, San Diego offers a fast track 5-week CNA training program that meets all the requirements and curriculum of federal and state CNA training requirements. They offer many training sessions throughout the year, and you can check their website to find out more about the exact dates and the classes in session. In addition to offering multiple sessions throughout the year, they also offer morning, evening and weekend programs as well to accommodate the students according to their needs and requirements.
The training costs around $1300 to complete and during the 5-week training, students are trained on a number of topics including healthcare ethics, patient rights, safety procedures, vital signs, patient grooming, human physiology, emergency procedures, effective communication as well as elderly care among many other things. In order to get into the class, you must be at least 16 years old, pass a physical health test and clear a criminal background check.
The training includes 60 hours of classroom and laboratory instructions supplemented with 100 hours of clinical training. Candidates must complete these trainings in order to be eligible for the state competency exam.
Health Occupations Center
Looking for an affordable option to get trained as a certified nursing aide? Health Occupations Center, San Diego is offering you a $550 training program to get yourself trained for an entry level career in the rapidly booming healthcare industry. The program is approved by the California department of health and meets all the state requirements for CNA training. Students are required to complete 14 course modules during their training that include Interpersonal Skills; Patients’ Right; Body Mechanics; Prevention of Catastrophe; Surgical Asepsis; Patient Care; Weights & Measures; Vital Signs; Patient Care Procedures; Emergency Procedures; Nutrition; Long-term Care; Rehabilitative Care; Observation and Data Charting etc.
You must be at least 18 years old, provide complete immunization records and have no criminal background to get into the program. Moreover, in addition to the training fee students also have to pay $55 for healthcare provider CPR training and buy all the books, uniform and other course-related supplies on their own. Tuition assistance is also available to deserving and eligible candidates as well. Each semester, they offer 5 nursing assistant courses with varying schedules. You can visit their website to find out more about the exact dates of these sessions or any other information.
Poway Adult School
In a world of rapidly growing healthcare industry where the need of skilled health care workers is always on the rise, Poway Adult School is offering you an excellent opportunity to train yourself as certified nursing aid and be a part of the growing health care industry. The total training cost is around $1400 and you have to pay a $450 deposit fee at registration, while the rest is paid in multiple payments across the length of the training.
During the training, students are given training on topics such as interpersonal skills, communication skills, healthcare precautions, infection control, personal care skills, basic nursing skills as well as social service needs and care of mentally challenged people. After earning the certification, passing candidates will be able to assist registered nurses, physician assistants or other medical professionals in providing care to the people in need with their day-to-day tasks.
In order to get into the program, you must meet the state eligibility criteria for the certified nurse aide training which is: you must be at least 16 years of age, be in good physical health, have up to date immunization certificates and have no criminal activity in the past, whatsoever.
The Nurse Academy
Recognized and approved by the Bureau of Health Education, The Nurse Academy has been providing training in many healthcare programs and courses for many years in San Diego. They also offer a fast-track CNA training course that only takes around 19 days to complete. Due to the rapid pace of the program, classes are offered only in the morning or regular sessions.
The total training cost is around $1700 and it includes the tuition fee, two sets of uniform, cost of handouts, textbooks and other course related supplies as well. But students have to pay the state competency exam fee on their own, once they complete the training. In order to get into the program, candidates must be 18 years of age or older, be in good physical health, provide up to date health and immunization records, provide a negative TB test and have no criminal activity in the past, whatsoever.
The academy trains its students by providing them with through instructor-led tutorials, classroom instructions, laboratory training and supervised clinical practice. After successful completion of both the CNA training and the State exam, students are certified as a CNA and many often use this certification as a stepping stone to pursue further education in nursing.
PIMA Medical Institute
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 San Diego 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 training, 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.
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.
Healthcare Academy of California
Healthcare Academy of California offers a fast-track 21-day certified nursing aide program that prepares the students for an entry level career in the health care sector. The training cost is around $1700 which includes the nursing work books, text books, state competency exam fee, two sets of scrubs, LiveScan Fingerprinting fee and the cost of other course related supplies as well.
In order to get into the program, you must meet all the state criteria that is: be of 16 years of age or older, provide a negative TB test, provide a current physical health test and clear a criminal background check as well. During the training, students learn commonly used medical and nursing terminology, medical abbreviations, physiology as well as techniques of patient care.
This State-approved program not only covers the basics of care for homebound and elderly, but also teaches the students to care for those in assisted living centers and hospitals. Students are required to learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Anatomy & Physiology, Nutrition, and Career Readiness. Classes are offered in morning, evening and weekend sessions. You can visit their website to find out more about the programs in session and future classes.
California Medical College
Are you holding off from becoming a qualified nurse aide and starting a rewarding career in the health care sector because you don’t have the time? At California Medical College, they are offering a fast-track CNA training program on weekends to train you as a Nursing Assistant and it only takes 170 clock hours to complete. The weekend Nurse Aide Assessment and Training Program is designed in a very comprehensive way to prepare the candidates for the nurse aide certification exam by the State of California.
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.