Find Your CNA Classes HERE
If you want to pursue a career in medical care, but don’t know where to start, the CNA course might be the perfect choice for you. From providing basic patient care and following physician orders, to giving shots and passing out prescriptions, CNAs play a valuable role in helping doctors and nurses do their job.
CNAs also play a vital role by sitting with hospitalized patients, visiting them every day, and even talking to them on the phone. In many nursing homes and hospitals, CNAs tend to do even more than that. CNAs may take care of the patient’s medications, feed them certain foods, give them baths or doctor’s orders, or drive patients to appointments.
Even though these classes and hugely popular, finding free options may be difficult. Still, there are few options out there-
Free CNA Classes In Nursing Homes & Hospitals
In many cases, you will find that there are CNA classes in nursing homes and hospitals. In fact, if you want to get a job in a nursing home or hospital, then taking these free classes can be a great way to learn how to care for the elderly and also get the experience that you need. Many of these facilities will pay you a small stipend for attending, teaching courses yourself or just doing general chores around the place. This is a great way to get paid while learning at the same time.
You should keep in mind that these programs can be somewhat limited. For example, while many nursing homes and hospitals offer free CNA training, they may not offer other forms of training such as phlebotomy or medical billing and coding. However, if you are just looking for the CNA certification, then these programs can provide a great way to learn how to work in a medical facility.
No facility offers these types of classes completely free of charge- they usually require you to work for them afterward. The exact time you need to commit to depends largely on the facility. Keep in mind that in some cases, if you plan to discontinue the program or you do not pass the mandated certification exam, you will be obligated to reimburse the training fees.
The upside to these kinds of programs is that you do not need to go and find a job afterward. So it is 2 in 1 really. You can find many free listings in nursing homes here. Always check with the nursing home directly. Normally the free places fill up very fast so you need to be quick.
Look for Scholarships and Pell Grants
If you are interested in taking CNA classes at your local community college, it would be wise to check with the CNA instructor directly. Ask if there is an opportunity for scholarships. When looking for scholarships, please do not forget to check out the website of the federal government for more information . You can always apply online if you are interested in getting a scholarship through your state.
Pell Grants, on the other hand, are awarded by financial programs which offer grants to individuals who wish to pursue higher education . Pell grants are different from scholarships in that you don’t have to worry about finding a scholarship to use them. However, you must be ready to pay the tuition fees for your classes or school. You can learn more about it here.
Pell Grants are government sponsored subsidies that are available to those who have not yet earned a bachelors degree. Federal Pell Grant does not need to be repaid, unlike a student loan. These grants are not available to those who are incarcerated or who have committed sexual offenses of any kind.
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
For the WIA program you will need to go to local workforce development department. They can provide you with information about programs available in your area. What they are really good for is helping you with job searches and job placement. This type of assistance is quite beneficial, because it can help you find employment before training ends.
It really helps you to meet the minimum requirements needed to be accepted into an accredited CNA program. This government sponsored training option is available both for youth and adults alike, who belong to low-income bracket. These types of programs are available only in certain colleges and vocational schools so you need to check the local state WIA programs like these (Texas).
Job Corps
Job Corps is often described as “rehabilitation for young adults.” With this agency you can get assistance getting into the healthcare field. Job Corps offers training in CNA, medical assistance, various clinical technologies, and nursing. This can be very helpful if you did not complete high school or did not do well enough to go to college. It will help you develop the skills needed to get into vocational training programs.
There are several eligibility requirements for the Job Corps, which is administered by the United States Department of Labor. First, you need to be between 16 and 24 years of age. Then you will need to pass a physical exam and drug test while having a high school diploma or high school equivalency. Your family income must be below the level set for your state and you cannot have any convictions for certain felonies (such as sexual assault). You can find more information about Job Corps here.