The Certified Nurse’s Aide is a person who has gone through the proper training to help patients with all aspects of daily living. These aspects can include the little things that we often take for granted like eating, dressing and bathing as well as bigger things like ambulation. Many people choose to start their healthcare career and training with their CNA certification since it is fairly simple to earn and makes a great stepping stone should you want to eventually enter into a nursing program. The problem lies when prospective students do not have the cash on hand to pay for the program. There are many different programs to choose from, something for virtually everyone that will pay for all of the prospective students training to become a CNA. From community college classes and federal funding to free on the job training through nursing homes, there is a course and a financial option for anyone who has the desire to become a CNA. The following are a couple of options you can pursue to get free CNA Training:
- Grants and Scholarships for CNA Classes
- Free On the Job Training
- Job Corps Constraining
- Workforce Investment Act and CNA Training
Grants and Scholarships for CNA Classes
Federal funding is available for those who qualify for CNA certification. The Pell grant can be used when the classes are taken through a participating community college. Should the student choose to go through another program such as a training program offered at a convalescent home, they are often not eligible for federal funding. The Pell grant is easy to apply for either online or through the college’s financial aid office. There are some cases where there are left over funds which can go directly to the student.
Should a student not qualify for the Pell grant they can also apply for the opportunity grant. This grant has different stipulations depending on the state; the best practice is to ask the financial aid office for the college where the classes are offered to see who qualifies. Some community colleges are also given funds from the USDA for scholarships to deserving students. These scholarships tend to have eligibility requirements that are set by the college, not the government. There are also specialized scholarships and grants for students who have disabilities or are considered a minority.
Free On the Job Training
If a traditional college CNA training course is not an option due to finances or location, there are more options. One of the more popular ways to go through free CNA certification training is to get a job at a nursing home or convalescent center. Since the demand for qualified CNA’s is so high all of the time, these facilities often offer free CNA training to those who come to work for them. One of the attractive things about these free programs is that students are not just getting their CNA training for free but they are usually getting paid for the time they spend in the training program as well. The nursing home will also make sure that the student is ready for the state certification exam and will guide them through the entire process. The only downside to this type of CNA training is that there is generally some form of contract to sign, stating that the CNA will not terminate employment for a given time to make it worthwhile for the facility to pay for the training, but this also ensures that the CNA will have steady work as the nursing home will not want to terminate employment either.
Job Corps Constraining
Job Corps is a great program with campuses’ nationwide. They are geared towards those who are between the ages of 16 and 23 who have not yet completed high school. In Job Corps, the student will earn their diploma or GED while they are getting the training for the job they want, including CNA training. Like the on the job training, the student in Job Corps will enjoy free on the job type training while earning a monthly salary as well. There is no cost to the student or their parents when they are in Job Corps, only the training needed to begin a successful career. Once graduated from the Job Corps, they will also help the graduate to find a job as a CNA in the area of their choice.
Workforce Investment Act and CNA Training
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) helps people to get the professional training they need to be able to further their careers. This program is available for just about anyone who is low income, both youth and adults. While most states require that students are 18 to enroll in a CNA program, teens, ages 14-21 who are, or have been pregnant or those who do not have a permanent residence due to being in the system, can get the training they want for a career they can be proud of. Adults who have been laid off and cannot find work in the field they are trained in can also take advantage of this program and earn their Nurse’s Aide Certification. Presently, only select colleges and vocational schools are equipped to provide this type of financial aid. Anyone who needs information as to which colleges participate in WIA programs and what the qualification requirements are should contact the local job service office as these are generally the governing body for the local WIA disbursements.
Resources:
Federal Student Aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov/about
Pinnacle Healthcare Careers; CNA Training: http://www.pinnacle-healthcare.com/careers/cna.html
Joliet Job Corps; Career Training: http://joliet.jobcorps.gov/vocations.aspx
State of California Employment Development Department; Workforce Investment Act: http://www.edd.ca.gov/Jobs_and_Training/Workforce_Investment_Act.htm
barbara bradbury says
I live in noel missouri,I would like to get back into cna,Is there a nurseing home in the 15 mile radius that offers free cna classes if you go to work with their nurseing home?Im a single mother and finances are tight.Thanks for your time,sincerly Barbara
nurses aide says
Trenton NJ cna training
Bianca Coates says
I would like to get my c.n.a as soon as possible.
barbara says
i am very interested in cna free course i have just started receiving assistance and i really dont want to be on that for long where can i go thanks
Quiana says
I was a CNA in state of Connecticut a couple of years back got free training and all and to top it off even got paid for attending, but here in this crazy state of South Carolina everything has to be paid upfront or some financial aide assistance, I think it’s just messed up how if someone wants to do something or rather enjoys doing what they do but always has to pay; what kind of state is this? I like what I did and still would like to do it but nothing is free. Someone I need a CNA class like yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Catherine says
Hi Barbara,
Have you tried contacting any of the nursing homes listed on our page for free cna classes in your state. usually you can talk to a nursing home to financially help
you with paying for your cna class if you agree to work for them for a certain amount of time (depending on their contract terms and conditions). hope that helps.
Michelle says
I live in Brownsville, Texas and would like to know if you had information on free CNA trainning down here ?
Thanks ,
Michelle
Catherine says
make sure to visit our dedicated page on free cna programs in your state. here is the direct link to the dedicated page on texas
michelle says
I have called the place listed but they said they no longer help . they stoped two years ago.
Priscilla Smith says
my name is priscilla i am looking to become a cna and have no idea where to go to get the training and i really need help in doing so i have a very very very low income cuz my boyfriend is the only one working so i need cna classes that i can afford or even better free i have experience working in the nursing field and in hospitals and such
plz if anyone can help me plz
i live in pa
Catherine says
Try approaching one of the nursing homes in your area, they will be the best place to start and given that you have some experience in the nursing field it will be easier for yoy to get a job. What happens is that if a nursing home is looking for staff and they choose you, they will pay for any training that you require provided you are willing to work for them for a couple of month. So this will mean that you will get your cna training for free if you get selected.
Heather says
Yes, it is best to start calling around to Nursing homes and ask if they offer CNA courses. Ask for the Director of Nursing. I took one in WA state and I got my training for free (still have to pay the fee for your state examination) provided I worked there for half a year… I think that is the norm. If you quit before the time you agreed upon, I believe you have to pay them back, but I could be wrong. Good luck! At the very least, you could attend a community college to get your training.
missy says
im looking to get back in the cna field and i was wondering if there is any free classes in norman oklahoma or moore okla
Catherine says
Check with local nursing homes around your area, usually nursing homes are always looking for new staff and are sometimes willing to provide free training as well.
Dorothy says
I have a valid CNA license from Georgia where can i go to change over to nj or where can i work until i change them over.
mohamedi says
hey everyone live here Columbia Missouri is there anyone known free cna classes or paid please let me known hope to hear you guys.
katrina a moore says
i was hurt on the job and missed my testing dates. ive been out for so long i need to be retrained. how do i go about being retrained.please responed. could really use some help. thank you. katrina a. moore
Catherine says
Hi. You will have to join a Class in your state to get re-trained, once you’re through with your classwork you can then take on the certification exam and after passing you can start working. Hope that helps.