As the population increases and more importantly ages, the demand for qualified healthcare workers such as CNAs is also going to increase. So, if you are looking for a career in the medical or healthcare sector, you should definitely consider getting trained as a CNA. The training is relatively short and inexpensive but given that you pass the state competency exam, it could set you up for an entry level yet rewarding and long-term employment position in healthcare. There are many state-approved and non-approved training programs in the Tucson area and choosing the right one could be a bit of a headache. So, here we have compiled a list of some of the best CNA training institutes and programs in the city to help you choose the best program for yourself.
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How long does it take to become CNA in Tucson?
Students in Tucson, Arizona are required to complete at least 80 hours of classroom training and 40 hours of clinical training at a state-approved CNA training program to sut in the nurse aide competency exam. It can take anywhere between four to ten weeks depending on the institute and type of classes (morning, evening or weekend).
How much does it cost to become CNA in Tucson?
Cost of the CNA training in the Tucson area ranges from $500 to $2350. These prices may or may not include the cost of textbooks, uniform, course-related material supplies and state competency exam fee. Also, many institutes offer affordable payment plans and financial aid options to facilitate the financially challenged students.
Nursing Assistant Salary in Tucson
In Tucson, Arizona nursing assistants can make $15 on an average working at a healthcare facility. While, the average yearly salaries for CNAs can range anywhere from $29,000 to $34,901 depending on the experience in the workplace.
Pima Community College
The Pima community college is a public community college that trains students for various nursing and health care careers throughout the USA. Among the allied healthcare courses that they offer, there is also the nurse aide training program that is aimed at training the students to obtain entry level employment positions in the rapidly emerging and growing healthcare sector. The program is very affordable and can be completed in a matter of just six-weeks during which 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 120 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. Financial aid options are available as well at the college and if you are deserving, you may get to complete the training with any fee.
Caregiver Training Institute
Caregiver Training Institute is a privately-owned training school in Tucson that has been providing career training services to people since 2003. With over 2200 graduates, they offer one the most extensive and through CNA training programs in Arizona. It involves roughly 212 clock hours of training sessions in classroom, laboratory and clinical settings. The CNA training costs around $2200 which also includes book fees, tuition fee, lab fee, uniform cost and course related medical supplies. Students have to pay the fingerprint testing fee and Arizona state nurse aide competency exam on their own. Classes are offered in both morning and evening options which you can find all about by visiting their website.
Not only they offer the best training services to their students but they also have many industry partners and help their students in job placement once they complete their training and pass the nurse aide state competency exam. In order to get into the training program, you must be at least 17 years old, be in good physical health, have up to date medical records, be able to pass a drug screening test and provide a negative TB test result. Moreover, you must also clear a criminal background check as failure to do so makes you ineligible for the CNA license. Also, GED certification is not necessary for getting into the program.
Brookline College, Tucson Campus
Brookline College is another state-approved provider of CNA training services in the Tucson area. They offer a 146-hour CNA training program that runs for almost 7 weeks. Their CNA program is approved by both, Arizona State Board of Nursing and the Department of Health, Arizona. In order to get into the program, you must have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent. Moreover, candidates must also be at least 16 years of age, able to pass a drug screening test, have up to date medical and immunization records as well as be able to pass a physical examination.
In addition to that, candidates are also required to clear a criminal background check and failure to do so will make them ineligible for the CNA license. The training is offered several times in a year which you can find all about on their website along with the program cost and admission requirements. Financial aid options and affordable payment plans are also available for the financially challenged students as well. Students are required to wear scrubs and closed-training shoes during the training hours and complete attendance in mandatory for all lectures, laboratory hours and clinical training sessions. Once the training is complete, students can sit in the state competency exam.
Fred G Acosta Job Corps Center
If you are interested in seeking a job in the rapidly growing healthcare sector but cannot afford to pay for your training classes? Then you should definitely check out the free CNA training program offered by Fred G Acosta Job Corps Center in Tucson. Here you can get trained with almost no out-of-pocket cost to you. The program is supported and in part funded by the Department of Labor, USA. The program is specifically designed to help people aged between 16 and 24 in finding a career in the healthcare sector by helping the people in need of care and support. The training includes 80 hours of classroom lectures supplemented with 40 hours of hands-on clinical practice.
The free CNA training course prepares the students for the state certification exam and during the training students are taught about several topics such as human anatomy and physiology, medical and pathophysiological terminologies, nutrition and health ethics among many other things. The course prepares graduates with highly competitive nursing skills that can go on to provide quality services to the elderly and patients in hospitals and care centers. In order to get into the program, candidates must demonstrate efficiency in reading/writing English and math. Candidates also have to complete a fitness test and clear criminal background check as well.
Academy for Caregiving Excellence
With their accelerated CNA training program, you can get a certificate of CNA training completion in just a matter of 4 to 7 weeks. Classes start every few months and are offered in morning, evening and weekend sessions which you can find all about on their website. Regular weekday classes take 4 weeks to complete and weekend classes can take 7 weeks to complete. Since the course is hybrid, training includes online zoom sessions as well as 40 hours of in-person clinical training sessions. The course is divided in a total of 3 modules totally around 125 hours in duration. All modules must be positively completed in order to get a certificate of training completion.
Also, since some of the classes are online you must have a computer and internet connection to access the online sessions. You do not require a GED or high school diploma for this program but you need to pass an admission test arranged by ACE in order to get into the program. Students must also verify their fingerprints and clear a criminal background check as well. Program fee is $2520 in total and flexible payment plans are also available for the financially challenged students. The CNA program is also approved by both, Arizona State Board of Nursing and the Department of Health, Arizona.
Arizona Medical Training Institute
If you have a busy schedule or a regular daytime job and you are looking for a CNA training program with flexible schedules, Arizona Medical Training Institute has got you covered. The offer classes in 3 options: an accelerated 4-week daytime program running through Monday to Friday with classes meeting from 7AM to 4PM, a 6-week evening program with classes running through Monday to Friday and classes meeting from 5PM to 10PM, lastly, the weekend program running for 7 weeks with classes meeting from 7AM to 5PM. All options cost around $1355 and the fee includes textbook costs, lab fees, the cost of course-related medical supplies and uniform as well as the cost of class supplies.
Flexible payment plans are also available for the students who cannot afford to pay their fee at once. In order to get into the program, you must complete a criminal background check and must have any active felony report in the past 3 years. Moreover, you must also pass an admission test, provide a negative TB test result and have an American healthcare provider CPR certification. Also, the course is hybrid with online lectures, so you must also have a computer and a good internet connection in order to attend the online classes. While, for the clinical training sessions and lab activities students must be able to attend the classes in-person.
Kino College of Northwest Medical Center
For those who are interested in medical sector and in helping people, Kino College of Northwest Medical Center offers a hands-on CNA training course that can be completed in a matter of just a few weeks yet it can set you up for a long-term entry level employment position in the rapidly booming healthcare sector. Students must complete at least 120 clock hours training in clinical, laboratory and classroom settings in order to get a certificate of training completion. The program is also approved by both, Arizona State Board of Nursing and Department of Health, Arizona.
Only a few students are accepted into the class every year to maximize individualized attention so you must apply as soon as the admissions open to reserve a seat. In order to get into the program, candidates must be at least 17 years old, have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent as well as they must provide a negative TB test result, be in good physical health, have up to date medical records, be able to pass a drug screening test and a criminal background check as well. For those who cannot afford to pay the training fee at once, there are flexible payment plans in place along with financial aid through loans, grants and scholarships for the financially challenged students.
Providence Training Institute
With a tuition fee of around $1200, Providence Training Institute is another state-approved provider of the CNA training services in the Tucson area. The training is 120 hours in total and consists of 80 hours classroom and laboratory instructions along with 40 hours of clinical externship. In order to get an admission, students must be at least 16 years old, have a GED certification, be in good physical health, have up to date medical records, provide a negative TB test result, be able to pass a physical examination, a drug screening test as well as a criminal background check. Any sort of active criminal inquiry makes you ineligible for the nurse aide state competency exam.
Moreover, students are required to ensure complete attendance during the training, wear standard training scrubs and shoes and once the training is complete, they must also pay the nurse aide competency exam fee on their own as well. The state competency exam has two sections i.e., the written section and the skill set section which both must be positively completed in order to get your CNA license. All the information regarding admissions, admission process, requirements and training costs etc. is available online on their website which you can visit today to get into the program.
Tucson College
Tucson college has been providing career training services at affordable costs to the people of Tucson and surrounding areas for many years now. Among the training programs that they offer, there is also the nurse aide training program which costs around $900. The training is totally free for the students who qualify for the scholarship. The program is approved by both the Arizona State Board of Nursing and Department of Health, Arizona. Students are asked to make sure complete attendance during the whole training which spans over a period of at least 120 clock hours. Training is divided into 3 parts: the classroom lectures, laboratory instructions and clinical externship.
All e parts of the training must be positively completed in order to get a certificate of training completion. During the training students are taught about basic health care, nursing responsibilities, emergency procedures, caring for the elderly, healthcare ethics, interpersonal skills and effective communication among many other things. Upon successfully completing the training, students are ready and eligible to sit in the state certification exam. In order to get into the program, students must have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent as well as they must clear a criminal background check, provide a negative TB test result, pass a drug screening test and be of at least 16 years of age at the time of enrollment.
American Red Cross, Tucson
The American Red Cross offers various nurse assistant training programs throughout the United States in multiple places. These courses are often free and if you are looking to enter into the healthcare sector at an entry level position, you can join these programs for free and prepare for a career as a licensed or certified nursing assistant (LNA or CNA). Every year more than 5000 people apply for this course, with almost 90% completing the training and 80% successfully passing the state exam to become a certified nursing assistant. These hands-on comprehensive classes last from four to eight weeks and contain three modules that must be positively completed in order to graduate.
The first part of the course is theoretical where a student learns about various ethical and legal issues of dealing with people in need as well as they are given instructions on safety training, recording vital signs and human anatomy and physiology. The second part is lab training where students are trained to carry out practical activities such as bathing, feeding and grooming a patient. Last part of the training is a clinical trial, where students work directly at an elderly home, care home or at a hospital under supervised guidance in order to complete their training.
Catalina Foothills School District
The Catalina Foothills School District nurse aide program is aimed at training the students to learn about and perform nursing responsibilities such as taking care of the individuals in need, within the scope of nursing. The training can be completed in only a few weeks during which students learn basic problem-solving skills, ensuring patient health and safety, communication skills, principles of nutrition, human anatomy and medical physiology as well as many other things related to nursing and healthcare. In order to get into the program, you must attend an information session which you can find about on their website.
In addition to that, students must be proficient in English and Math, be in good physical condition, provide a negative TB test result, be of legal age and have no criminal background whatsoever. Once you complete your training successfully, you are eligible to sit in the state competency exam for nurse aide certification. After successfully passing the state certification exam, candidates are given the license to start working as a nurse aide. Only a few students are accepted into the class each session so if you are interested you must apply for the program as soon as the admissions open. Also, any sort of active criminal case makes you ineligible for the Arizona nurse aide state competency exam.
Joint Technical Education District
Joint Technical Education District offers many technical and career training courses and degree programs that are targeted at preparing the students for a range of jobs in the emerging industries such as the healthcare sector. During their training, students not only learn about their course but also about the various careers in the healthcare sector. These training programs include CPR certification, first aid training, EKG testing training, phlebotomy course and a Nurse Aide Training (CNA) program. Their CNA program is specially focused on extended laboratory practice as well as hand-on clinical exposure to produce highly skilled nursing graduates.
Students also get a CPR certification, a first aid certification and an OSHA 10 certification on completing their training. After the training is completed, students are required to sit in the state certification exam which they have to pass. Once they pass the exam, they are given the license to practice as a nursing aide in Arizona. In order to get into the program, you must have a high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent. Moreover, candidates must also be at least 16 years of age, able to pass a drug screening test, have up to date medical and immunization records as well as be able to pass a physical examination. Moreover, the candidates must also clear a criminal background check.
Mountain View Care Center
Mountain View Care Center is another state-approved provider of CNA training services in the Tucson area. Their Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training program is targeted at meeting the growing demand of qualified healthcare workers in the rapidly growing healthcare sector. During the training students are trained and taught on a number of topics 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. The training is divided into two parts: 1) classroom and lab instruction that take almost 80 hours to complete and 2) clinical training that takes almost 40 hours to complete.
Due to the Covid-19 situation, many classes are online but students are required to attend the clinical visits in person during which they receive hands-on training on dealing with the people in need. After completing the training, students are required to sit in and pass the state certification exam to successfully get registered in the nurse aide registry, after which they are allowed to practice. A high school diploma, GED certification or equivalent is necessary to get into the program along with a clear criminal background and up to date health records. Since the training is free of cost, candidates are required to work at the care facility for some time, once they graduate.