Certified Nursing Assistant Online Training Cost and Salary Outlook

A Certified Nursing Assistant Credential will be a Great Asset

Having a certified nursing assistant accreditation places you in one of the most in-demand job markets.  The healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the country, or around the world for that matter.  The various support roles, like certified nursing assistants, are actually growing faster than any other fields according to recent labor reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.BLS.gov.  A certified nursing assistant helps patients and doctors in a variety of capacities from assisting with treatments to helping patients get around, and just about anything in between.  These are some of the most rewarding positions within the healthcare industries and are often the stepping-stones to a full and bright career in healthcare.

What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?

A certified nursing assistant is one of the best positions to begin a career in healthcare with, and these positions are vital to the day-to-day operations of hospitals and residential care facilities.  Certified nursing assistant professionals are charged with a host of tasks that can include cleaning rooms, making beds, assisting doctors and nurses with treatments, or taking common measurements like pulse, respiration and blood pressure.  A certified nursing assistant is often the go-between for doctors and patients as well, and this can involve explaining treatments, helping to identify problems, and even addressing common questions or concerns that the patients and their families may have.

Certified nursing assistant jobs are in high demand, and the majority of these positions are supporting doctors in residential care facilities ranging from elderly care to physical therapy for injuries, and the next largest employers are hospitals.  There are many positions in home healthcare such as visiting nurses, but these tend to be for those with more experience, as well as fewer in number than most other positions.

How do Become a Certified Nursing Assistant?

There are many different options to choose from when it comes to certified nursing assistant training, structured classes, part-time study courses, and even the option to study online and take the test when you feel ready.  Some online outlets and schools include www.AlliedHealth.com and www.CNAClasses.org, just to name two, but a quick search of the web will return hundreds of training choices.  One of the main requirements for becoming a certified nursing assistant, besides the actual CNA test, is the federal requirement of at least 75 credit hours of state-approved coursework to apply for licensing.

Certified nursing assistant training courses can range from under $400 to over $1,500, and focus about a third of the training on classwork and textbook learning.  The rest of the training focuses on practical applications and procedures, culminating in assisting with treating real patients in clinics or hospitals.  Most states will also require anywhere from 8 to 12 hours of supervised internship, as well as the certified nursing assistant training and testing, to obtain a license.  Once the requirements are met, mailing the test results and other documentation to the appropriate State Board of Nursing is the last step, and once received and processed, the Nursing Board will issue the license.

Job Outlook and Salary for a Certified Nursing Assistant

The job outlook for a certified nursing assistant is a bright one indeed, and these particular positions are growing in number faster than any other, with an estimated 275,000 new positions becoming available by the year 2018, as predicted on the www.BLS.gov website.  The ability to advance is actually directly affected by the amount of training and experience, and many use this field to branch off into other particular fields or to get right into the workforce as they continue their education and career path.

The hourly rates and certified nursing assistant salary will range with experience, training and location, but on average, most positions start at around $10 per hour, but those with experience or additional certifications or training can expect as high as $15 to $16 per hour, depending on the particular position and job requirements.