Free CNA Classes

The growing demand for CNA’s has increased the number of free CNA training classes for new students. While not all CNA classes are free, there are still many low-cost options to consider if free CNA classes are not available in your state.

Free CNA programs might seem like an irony to this modern world’s “nothing is free” concept, but they do exist, and that’s a thing to rejoice about. However tight your budget condition is, you would still be able to pursue the profession of a Certified Nursing Assistant in a cost-free manner.

Scholarships, Grants and Financial Aid

Since it is the responsibility of the government to ascertain education to the economically backward students, you ought not to be surprised if I told you that the nursing schools and other educational institutions are from time to time offered grants and donations from your state’s government as well as from some private sectors. And, it is thanks to these donations that the nursing schools can maintain funds for offering scholarship and such other financial aid to the worthy students. So, if you can secure yourself scholarship awards, then that way you could attain free but quality CNA education.

Scholarships are not given to all the applicants, but to those who excel academically. You can check it at various nursing schools and try to visit their Financial Aid office. There are certain requirements for the program, and applicants are selected based on the institution’s criteria.

There is more than one scholarship or grant available, which will be able to help you pay for school when you need it. The financial aid department of your nursing school is one right place to start looking for scholarships and grants.

Often the people working in these departments will have an abundance of knowledge, which will become useful when it comes to your current predicament. You will be able to pay for part or all of the education with some of these scholarships. This is one of the best places to start, as there are many resources to fall under your usage.

WIA ( Workforce Investment Act)

As a whole, the sole reason the workforce investment act was created, was to give people a chance of becoming employed. By using the local workforce office, you are eligible for free training, mainly if you have not been employed for some time. You will find that the nursing assistant training is among the programs, which you can obtain for free through the WIA. If you are qualified, you will not need to pay any charges for the training.

Opportunity Grants

The opportunity grant is created especially for those, who are for some reason not eligible to obtain traditional financial aid. As a whole, the requirements always differ, but in general, you will see that based on income, you could become eligible for training at a community college. The Oregon Highline Community College has a program, which could benefit from the Opportunity grant for instance. To understand more about qualification, you should talk to the financial aid office in some community college located in the state you are living.

Disability Grants for CNA Training

There are a lot of places that offer free CNA training programs to disabled individuals who cannot afford any healthcare training. These are available at most of the local offices dedicated to residents with disabilities. In fact, to fill up the vacancies for CNA jobs, a lot of today’s colleges and organizations offer some excellent scholarships.

The US Department of Health and Human Services is giving money to over 100 different educational facilities, to make CNA training much more affordable. The money is mainly used for the creation of grants and scholarships, for those, who cannot afford to go for training.

There are schools, which also offer NA scholarships for all of us, who are planning on continuing the education after becoming CNAs. If you want to work as an LPN or RN, you will quickly discover that there are even more scholarships.

You will also see many federal, state and private establishments that will provide NA Scholarships for all those who are practicing as CNAs in rural areas, and areas which are either under-served or with a high demand for professionals. If you are planning on working in this type of area, you should seek out these scholarships only.

All those who are looking to hire CNAs will offer scholarships or tuition aid to employees, who are done with their CNA training. You should be on the lookout for all agencies and institutions, which provide this scholarship, coupled with job graduation. You will need to make commitments to the company for a while if you are receiving this award.

If you are planning on training as a CNA, there is an abundance of grants and scholarships, which could be of assistance when training, and you should just commit to some research to find the right one. If you want to become more eligible for the scholarships, you should try out volunteering in nursing homes or other institutions, to show your dedication. It does not matter how you are going to pay – becoming a CNA is one of the most rewarding experiences ever.

School Scholarships

There are a lot of scholarships offered in schools providing a CNA training program. Individuals with good academic standing can take advantage of these scholarships to lessen the cost of the healthcare course or get it for free. Most of the time, scholarship programs are available in the school’s Financial Aid Office, and these are limited. Interested students have to check its availability first and requirements that are needed to be considered. Meeting the standard grades is also an important thing to remember when applying for a scholarship program.

Private Organizations

Depending on the state where you are at, several private organizations provide free CNA training programs to qualified beneficiaries. These agencies are created for a good cause, and some of them will help you get a CNA training program to let you start a rewarding and fulfilling career in the healthcare field. Try to check some of the organizations in your community that focuses on improving the welfare of elderly residents and unemployed adults. They might sponsor your CNA education once you meet their criteria and you agree with the conditions they set for their beneficiaries.

Job Corps

Job Corps has been helping several residents who wish to start a career in nursing. They provide free CNA training programs to qualified individuals who excel academically and those who are economically disadvantaged. Aside from the free tuition, they also give books, uniforms, accommodations, supplies, and living expenses of their CNA students. They even assist their graduates to become successful in the certification exam and in finding a job that enables them to work as a CNA. However, getting into the free CNA training program of Job Corps is often challenging because of the selective admission process. If you do not meet their criteria, you might not be given a chance to study for free.

Employment Service Providers & Career Training Centers

The Department of Education’s “Employment & Workplace Relations” has most considerately established agencies like Employment Service Providers across the nation, with the view to help the jobless people get assistance for employment. So, provided you are jobless & have no income source, the Employment Service Providers can aid you financially to complete your desired career training program, be it of CNA or any other professions.

By the way, aside from the Employment Service Providers, some other notable places where you can expect job assistance go with the names of Career Training Centers, Human Services, Department of Labor and US Air Force Aid Society. Try to check their website or visit their office. The free CNA training program is often limited to a certain number of participants that is why you have to know if this is available and submit an application right away.

Take note; Employment Service Providers give free CNA training to qualified applicants only. If you think you are not qualified for the program, you can always try other options. However, if you are granted a free CNA training, you will also have an opportunity to get employment after you pass the certification exam. Most of these organizations have an affiliated local facility. Thus, you can work as a CNA once you make it to the licensing test.

Free CNA Training in Hospitals, Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Centers

If you work in a healthcare facility as a non-certified professional, you can ask your employer for a sponsored CNA training. The employer may give you an opportunity to study and will bear the cost of the education once you agree to work for them for a specified period. On the other hand, if you are not employed in a healthcare facility, and you have the desire to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, you can look for nursing homes that offer free CNA training.

These employers are often searching for qualified people who can potentially work in their facility as nursing assistants. If you have a high school diploma or GED equivalent and you are passionate about serving other people, start searching for potential employers and apply. They will train you to become a part of their institution and will help you pass the state certification exam, but you have to agree to the contract given.

Local Red Cross Training

American Red Cross Society also tends to offer free CNA training to the economically-backward or homeless persons; hence, if you have a Red Cross Chapter in your locality, then see whether you are eligible for their cost-free CNA classes.

Free nursing assistant training in American Red Cross can be availed at the institution itself or through different healthcare facilities. Qualified applicants will have to provide a proof that their work is 20 hours or less per week or $8 or less per hour. Whether you availed the training for free or with a fee, there are still requirements to complete before the class.

First, they have to present a clean criminal record or an FBI check. If there are prohibitive offenses in the past, it might disqualify the applicant to take the program. Second, a complete immunization record including 2-step Mantoux test should be provided.

Nursing assistants should be physically healthy because they are the primary healthcare provider for patients. If an applicant is pregnant, she has to present a document signed by her OB physician that she can meet the occupational responsibilities. Occupational responsibilities mean that a student can use her full hands, stand for long periods of time and can push, pull, bend, lift or move a patient weighing 35 to 50 lbs. Third, students have to pass a reading test, attend the orientation session and must have the qualifying age to take the certification exam. Some states will require the applicant to be 18 years old or above while others allow a 16-year old to take the exam.

The free CNA training program in the American Red Cross is not offered at all times, but individuals can check it at their Financial Aid office. You will be asked to submit certain requirements for the tuition assistance, but once you are given this opportunity, it will be easier for you to study the course without financial hassles.

Online Training & Support From Your Employer

Attending the traditional classroom CNA programs might not give time to do full-time or even part-time jobs, but with the online CNA classes, it’s indeed possible for you to pursue CNA training, while, at the same time, doing small jobs to support your living expenses as well as the CNA tuition. The online training for CNA’s, however, does not contain the practical training, so you will need to do that still somewhere should you consider taking your CNA exam.

Individuals who are pursuing an online CNA class should make sure to get it from a reliable school. It should be legit and recognized by the state’s governing body. Otherwise, the online CNA education will be a waste of time and money because graduates will not be allowed to sit for the certification exam.

Furthermore, an online class can be convenient for everyone, but students have to take the program seriously and must be able to attend lab training and clinical practicum. Schools having this kind of program would require all their online students to meet the required number of hours for clinical and lab instruction. If they fail to do so, they will not receive a certificate of completion and will not become eligible for the certification exam.

Free CNA Classes Through Nursing Boards

Each different state houses a State Board of Nursing, which takes care of overseeing nursing careers all over the state. As a whole, all the people, who would like to get work as RNs, LPNs and CNAs will have to register and maintain licenses using the State Board of Nursing. There is no better party to understand the demand and therefore shortage for CNAs, and this is why the State Board of Nursing offers some free courses for people, who would like to be CNAs.

The Board will have a good and certified list of programs, where you can complete your training. The Board also has ways of finding programs, which will assist you in payments for training. These programs will all include scholarships and other bonuses, which are issued by various institutions to help you train with different agencies throughout the area. The State Board of Nursing can also help you contact some employers, who are prepared to pay for your training, as long as you agree to work with them for given amounts of time. Some city hospitals will also be able to provide you with free training within the confines of the given hospital. All of these ways offer immense help when it comes to not worrying about tuition fees and student loans to cover up all your necessities.

The State Board of Nursing generally receives funds by the fees, taken from the nurses and various establishments found within the state. The Board is also capable of offering you alternatives to receiving free training. In a few states, it is possible to petition the Board with regards to their scholarship and tuition fee waiver programs, which can help you out in obtaining your whole training for free. The ideal way of extracting information about this, is by directly contacting the board and making an appointment with someone, who is dealing with this.

Of course, for most of these programs, you will have to supply proof that you cannot afford the tuition in order to make use of it. There are also cases in which the Board will receive money for such operations from the Federal Government. A lot of the Boards across the states will dedicate this money to opening scholarship programs for people who cannot afford this type of education.

List of State Nursing Boards: