Âé¶¹Íø

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Make a Difference Every Day!

Begin a fulfilling career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), where you’ll provide essential care and support to patients under the guidance of nursing staff. CNAs handle tasks like measuring vital signs, assisting with meals, and helping patients with bathing, dressing, and mobility. Each day brings the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in someone’s life. With additional training, you can also learn to dispense medications, opening the door to even more opportunities in healthcare.

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Certified Nursing Assistant At a Glance

Award
Workplace Certificate
Length of Study
8 weeks
Total Program Credits
3.5
Classes Meet
Daytime, Evening
Face-to-Face, Hybrid
Program Start
Fall, Spring, Summer

See all Nursing options at Âé¶¹Íø

Your Certified Nursing Assistant Career

As a certified nursing assistant, you work in diverse settings like hospitals, nursing homes, and residential care facilities providing basic care and support to patients. Graduates may find jobs as:

  • Nursing Assistants
  • Home Health Aides
  • Patient Care Technicians
1.3M

CNAs Work in the U.S.

62,000+

Open CNA Jobs by 2032

90%

Of Work is Direct Patient Care

The Future of Healthcare Education is at Âé¶¹Íø

Program Overview

You'll learn hands-on skills you can use right away in a healthcare job. You’ll practice helping patients with daily care like bathing, dressing, moving safely, and taking vital signs. You’ll also use special simulators in class that show what it’s like to live with dementia, vision loss, wounds, and hearing loss. These experiences help you build confidence, understand your patients better, and provide care with respect and compassion.

Attending class helps you build skills and stay confident throughout the course. You’ll take part in lectures, labs, and clinicals, complete assignments and quizzes, and arrive on time so you don’t miss important learning.

To stay on track:

  • Earn 80% or higher in lecture

  • You may miss one lab (makeup required)

  • You may miss one clinical

These guidelines are designed to help you succeed and be ready for the job.

After you successfully complete Âé¶¹Íø’s state-approved CNA course, you’ll receive a course completion certificate that qualifies you to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). This certificate does not expire.

You’ll also be prepared to take the Iowa State Skills Test and State Written Exam to earn placement on the Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry. This certification is required to work in long-term care facilities.

In addition, you’ll complete OSHA, HIPAA, and Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) training and receive certificates of completion for each.

How to Get Started

To become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), you'll need to:

  1. successfully complete the Nurse Aide course.
  2. pass both the written and skills portions of the .

Register as a Guest Student

Get Ready for Your Course

Before your class begins, there are a few important things you need to do. Make sure you complete everything below so you are ready for the program.

Complete a physical exam and immunizations, including a TB test. Submit a completed Health Science Programs Medical Evaluation Physical and Immunization Review packet.

As a Health student at Âé¶¹Íø, you'll need to complete a state of Iowa background check. This check will include looking into databases like the sex offender registry, child abuse and dependent adult registries, and Medicare/Medicaid fraud. Enrolled students can begin the background check process by completing the

Mandatory Reporter Training for Adults and Children is required to be completed before your class begins. You will provide a copy of the completed certificate to your instructor.

The course uses a nurse aide textbook and workbook. They are necessary to complete the required assignments. The items can be purchased from the Âé¶¹Íø Bookstore.

You are required to wear scrubs during labs and clinicals. The approved colors are teal-green tops and black pants. Uniforms can be purchased at the store of your choice.

Program Contacts

Nursing Program Coordinator

Elizabeth Cummings
Main Campus
Grundy Hall 204B
319-296-4456
Email Elizabeth Cummings