Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) provide intimate, hands-on healthcare to patients in medical settings, helping with bathing, dressing and completing other basic activities. While CNAs can be found in hospitals, the majority of them work in nursing and residential care facilities, where CNAs interact with patients on a regular basis and get to know them personally. If you’re interested in joining the booming health care field, becoming a CNA—also known as a nurses’ aid, home health aide, orderly or attendant—can be a good place to start.

$22,000 – $31,000

Average Annual Salary

Where can I train to become a CNA?

Bevill State Community College
Certified Nursing Assistants help care for ill, injured, disabled or infirm individuals confined to hospitals, nursing or residential care facilities, and mental health settings. Nursing Assistants work under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. CNA students must be 18 years old with a High School Diploma or GED. Job prospects for nursing aides are always good. Employment of nursing aides is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations in response to an emphasis on rehabilitation and the long-term care needs of a rapidly growing population of those 75 years old and older. Employment will increase as a result of the expansion of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities for people with chronic illnesses and disabling conditions, many of whom are elderly.

Legacy School of Healthcare  
Legacy School of Healthcare was founded in 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Legacy School of Healthcare was founded to improve the quality of care patients receive and improve the work environment. Legacy School of Healthcare Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Training Program meets and exceeds federal and state guidelines. We offer flexibility so you can easily start your new career path. We offer Traditional classes as well as hybrid online classes to suite your education needs. Classroom sizes are small to make sure students receive an individualized learning experience. Legacy School of Healthcare is approved by the Alabama Community College System and Alabama Department of Public Health. Successful completion of the certified nurse aide program will allow students to take the NNAAP National Nurse Assistant Assessment Program certification exam and be placed on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry.

Shelton State Community College
The Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (NA/HHA) program is a twenty-five (25) credit hour program. A combination of classroom theory, lab, and supervised clinical experiences is offered during the program and is taught on the campus and at local healthcare facilities. The NA/HHA program prepares the student to sit for the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program Exam (NNAAP) administered by Pearson VUE in conjunction with NACES Plus Foundation, Inc.

University of West Alabama
The CNA Training Program is one of several programs aiming to strengthen the workforce in West Alabama. The creation of short-term programs like the CNA Program successfully helps individuals gain quick entry into the marketplace and among the regional workforce. The theoretical and practical curriculum used focuses on the skills required to obtain a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant. It is designed to provide a wide range of opportunities that will improve the self-sufficiency of low-income students and enhance their ability to sustain long-term employment. The curriculum for the class includes a total of 75 clock hours, including 55 hours in a classroom setting and 20 hours in a clinical setting (nursing home/assisted living facility).