CNA Classes in San Antonio

San Antonio is the second most populated city in the state of Texas with an estimated population of more than 1.4 million people. Also, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. This increase in city size along with the obvious increase in population size has left the healthcare facilities of the area understaffed. Moreover, the increase in the population of aged individuals needs more and more allied healthcare staff such as certified nurse aide (CNA) workers along with the senior medical staff. In the upcoming years, the demand for CNA workers is expected to grow by more than 12 percent.

Without a doubt, this is an excellent time for the people who are looking to start a new career in the medical sector as well as are interested in becoming CNA and helping the people in need. The training can be completed within a matter of just a few weeks but despite being short in length, it can still land you an entry level employment position at any of the hundreds of healthcare centers throughout the state. In the state of Texas, you are required to complete almost hundred hours of training at a state approved training center which consists of a clinical externship component as well.

Once training is complete, trainees are then allowed to take the state competency exam for nurse aide certification which they must pass in order to get their CCNA license. On an average, CNA workers can make anywhere between $27,400 to $34,500 working at a healthcare facility in San Antonio, Texas. Moreover, many workplaces also offer additional health benefits to their workers such as paid time off, free dental or health insurance etc.

So, in case you are interested in pursuing a career as a CNA, the first thing you need to do is to look for a state approved program. A lot of these programs are paid and require the candidate to pay the training fee as well as also pay the additional course related costs but if you are someone who cannot afford to pay for your training and cannot attend a regular CNA training program, you are in luck! Here, we have compiled a list of some of the free, discounted and subsidized CNA training programs which could help you to get your training totally for free or at a discounted rate.

Alamo Heights Health and Rehabilitation center

Alamo Heights Health and Rehabilitation center has been providing long-term care services, elderly care services and rehabilitative nursing services in the San Antonio area for quite a bit of time now. The facility is very large and contains around 237 beds spread throughout the many caring units in the center. To run this huge setup and to provide the short-term and long-term residents of the facility with quality healthcare services, they are always in need of qualified and skilled healthcare workers, especially allied healthcare workers. Moreover, the population of the city is increasing and so is the number of people with medical needs which has made even the largest healthcare facilities of the area understaffed.

To meet this growing demand of allied healthcare workers, Alamo Heights Health and Rehabilitation center offers a free nurse aide training program at their center from time to time. This is an excellent opportunity for the people who are looking for a free nurse aide training program in the San Antonio area. Since, the training is provided for free, candidates are require to work at the facility for some time once they have graduated and if they are interested and show dedication and commitment to the profession, some of the promising individuals are also offered full-time jobs at the facility after graduation.

You can visit their website, call their center and visit the facility in person in order to find out about any of the upcoming free CNA training programs. You will need to have up to date health records as well as you will be needed to complete a criminal background check and verify your fingerprints in order to enroll into the program and, once enrolled, you must attend all the training sessions and maintain regular attendance throughout the whole training.

The Enclave

The Enclave is a skilled nursing center which also offers rehabilitative services, support services, memory care services, respite care services as well as short-term and long-term care services to the people of San Antonio. It is a large facility with nearly 142 beds and continues to expand as the population of the area increases along with the number of people who need some sort of healthcare assistance. Because of their large setup and continuous expansion, they are in continuous need of highly skilled allied healthcare workers such as certified nurse aides (CNAs). To meet this huge demand, they sometimes offer a free nurse aide training program at their facility in order to recruit young and talented people.

The training prepares the students for taking care of the people in need as well as providing the people in need with basic healthcare services. Also, the training prepares them for entry level employment positions as a CNA in the nation’s thousands of healthcare facilities such as nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and elderly homes. Trainees are required to work part-time at the facility as they are offered the training with no out-of-pocket cost to them, whatsoever. Interested candidates can also apply for full-time CNA jobs at the facility, once their training is complete and they have successfully passed both sections (the skillset section as well as the written section) of the nurse aide competency exam.

In order to find out about any upcoming nurse aide training programs, you can calm them at 1-800-583-1639 or visit the nursing facility yourself in person. But before applying, you need to make sure that you meet all the eligibility criteria which includes being at least 17 years of age, having up to date health records and being able to successfully clear a criminal background check. Failure to clear a criminal background check makes you ineligible for taking the nurse aide state competency exam.

The Institute of Allied Healthcare

Founded in 2015, The Institute of Allied Healthcare has been providing career focused training programs in the area of allied healthcare sector to the people of San Antonio, Texas. Their fast-track nurse aide training program is approved by the Department of Aging and Disability Services as well as Texas Work Force Commission and can be completed within a matter of just 18 days. Not only is this training program extremely short but it is also one of the best in the area with nearly 100 percent success rate in the nurse aide state competency exam.

During the 18-day training, candidates are introduced to long-term care, basic nursing skills, personal care skills, elderly care skills, rehabilitation care, mental healthcare needs, social skills, effective communication and basic medical terminologies among many other things in a series of classroom lectures. Moreover, they are also given training on CPR, dose administration, handling patients, grooming the people in need as well as taking and noting vital signs in a series of laboratory and clinical training sessions. All of this trains them and prepares them for their role as a CNA in the future and they are fully ready to take and pass the nurse aide state competency exam, once the training is complete.

Now the training program is not totally free, but they offer many financial aid options as well as some scholarships which you can learn about on their website. Scholarships and grants are available for those individuals who successfully qualify under DARS and WIOA programs. Whereas, for the people who cannot qualify for the grants, they offer financial aid through loans. The training is offered many times a year and you can also get a schedule of class beginnings on their website or to reserve a seat in any upcoming program.

Touchstone Communities

If you are interested in starting a career at an entry level employment position in the rapidly booming healthcare sector, Touchstone Communities is currently offering you an excellent opportunity to join their dynamic team of senior medical and junior allied healthcare staff with their free CNA training program. The training program is aimed at fulfilling the growing demand of qualified and skilled allied healthcare task force at their ever expanding nursing facility. Also, the need for CNA workers is expected to rise by more than 10 percent in the upcoming years which makes the profession of CNA even more attractive.

Not only is the training completely free but trainees are also paid during the classroom and clinical training sessions for their time. Without a doubt, this is one of the best opportunities in the area for the financially challenged people who are looking to get trained as a CNA. Once the training is complete, candidates have the option to work part-time or full-time at the facility in order to reimburse them for the free training and allowance. Some promising and committed individuals are also offered long-term jobs at the facility as well which includes additional benefits such as paid time off, flexible schedule and dental insurance as well.

So, in case you are interested, you can call their center at +1 210 828 5686 or visit the nursing facility in person in order to find out about the upcoming free nurse aide training program. Since the training is paid, there are a lot of potential candidates who apply and the competition to get into the program is quite intense. All candidates need to have a GED certification or a high school diploma in order to be considered for enrollment. In addition to that, candidates’ physical capabilities, their commitment to the training as well as their economic background is assessed during the admission process in order to select the best suited candidate for the free training.

Yates Health Career Institute

With an aim to meet the growing demand of nursing services and nursing workers and also to improve the quality of nursing services in the area, Yates Health Career Institute offers free CNA training to the deserving, eligible and qualified individuals at their facility. The training program is approved by the Texas Workforce Commission as well as by the Department of Aging and Disability Services. They offer CNA training many times a year and the admission process is continuous so no matter whenever you apply, you will be able to successfully join the next training program when it is available.

Training is offered in both morning and evening sessions and whole training can be completed within a matter of just five weeks. During the five-week training, students learn about the number of topics and skills the are vital to work as a nurse aide in a demanding environment of a healthcare facility. Some of these topics are human anatomy, medical physiology, nutrition, infection control, medical terminologies and healthcare ethics. Some of the skills that the training focuses on includes effective communication, patient handling, taking care of the elderly, helping the people in need with their day-to-day tasks as well as measuring and recording vital signs.

In order to enroll into the training program, you need to fill out an application form and provide the facility with all the required documentation. No high school diploma or GED certification is needed for enrolling into the training program but you are required to verify your fingerprints as well as clear a criminal background check in order to be considered for the training program. Also, you need to have up to date immunization and medical records and be in good physical health as well. The facility also offers free job assistance to its students, once they have successfully completed the training and passed the nurse aide state competency program. 

Quest College

Quest College has been a provider of medical and allied healthcare training programs in the San Antonio area since 1995. They offer many degree programs as well as numerous career training programs to the seeking individuals and with an aim of improving the healthcare sector and to meet the growing demand of medical and allied healthcare workers in the area. Not only do they offer these career training programs but also help their graduates with job placement assistance in order to help their careers.

The CNA training program at Quest College, San Antonio is roughly 5 weeks in duration and is specifically designed for those people who have a busy schedule but are interested in becoming a CNA or in changing their careers. Training is only 4 hours a day and classes meet through Monday to Friday from 8AM to 12PM. Currently, the program is only being offered in the morning session but keep an eye open for the evening and weekend programs as the demand of CNA workers continues to rise. Training is divided into two parts: the first part is centered around building a theoretical understanding of some nursing and medical topics in classroom and laboratory lectures while the second part is centered around building practical skills in the trainees via a clinical internship session.

Although the training program is not free, eligible and qualified candidates can apply for the financial aid which might allow them to get their training totally for free or at a discounted rate. You can find all the information regarding financial aid on their website. Also, you can get all the information regarding the admission process and requirements on their website as well. The seats are limited and only a handful of students are accepted into each class, so you might want to hurry up in case you are interested.

Windsor Mission Oaks

Windsor Mission Oaks is another skilled nursing facility in the San Antonio area that also offers free nurse aide (CNA) training program from time to time in order to meet the continuous demand of allied healthcare workers at their 138-bed facility which continuous to expand as the population of San Antonio increases and the number of old individual increases along with it. You can call their center or visit the nursing facility in person in order to find out about any upcoming free nurse aide training sessions.

These free nurse aide training classes are an excellent opportunity for the financially compromised individuals who cannot afford to attend a regular CNA training program. The training is only a few weeks and students are provided with all the essential course related supplies for free but the trainees might need to cover some course related expenses on their own such as the fee of nurse aide competency exam, fingerprint verification fee as well as the criminal background check fee.

Trainees are required to work part-time at the facility for some time once they have completed their training. Also, interested people can also apply for full-time jobs which come with additional benefits such as medical insurance, paid time off and flexible schedule, once they have completed their training. You need to be at least 18 years old and be in absolutely good physical health in order to be considered for the free training.

Alamo Colleges District

Under the umbrella of the Workforce training department, Alamo Colleges District has been a part of the “Continuing Education” program which aims to provide the seeking individuals with quality career training programs at no cost. Among these programs is also included the nurse aide training program which is aimed at fulfilling the growing demand of nurse aide (CNA) workers and at improving the nursing services in the San Antonio area. The training is open to everyone who shows a general interest in healthcare, is at least 17 years of age and is in good physical condition and able to pass a fitness test.

Once enrolled, the candidates are required to maintain regular attendance throughout the whole training program and complete nearly 100 hours of nursing training in a range of classroom, laboratory and clinical settings which all takes only a few weeks to complete. This training introduces them to a number of topics and skills that are vital to play their role as a CNA in a tough environment of a healthcare facility.

Once the training is complete, candidates are required to enter and pass the Texas State Nurse Aide Competency exam in order to get licensed. For sitting in the competency test, all candidates need to verify their fingerprints as well as successfully clear a criminal background check. Failure to clear any of these aforementioned screening procedures makes you ineligible for sitting in the nurse aide state competency exam.

Texas Workforce Commission, San Antonio

The Texas Workforce Commission funds many careers training programs throughout Texas in many cities including the US in order to meet the growing demand of rapidly growing industries such as healthcare and medicine. Among the healthcare career training programs that they offer, there is also the nurse aide (CNA) training program which prepares the trainees for entry level employment positions at any of the hundreds of healthcare and nursing facilities throughout the state of Texas. The CNA training program is completely free and has no cost to the trainees of the program, whatsoever.

In order to enroll into the training, you must contact their center in San Antonio and find out about any upcoming CNA training. Then, you have to apply for the program by filling out an application form and submitting all the required documentation along with it. All the candidates need to be at least 18 years of age and have completed medical records in order to be considered for the free training program. Once enrolled, not only the candidates are trained at no cost but also, they are provided with all the course-related supplies for free. In addition to that, the Texas Workforce Commission also pays for the state competency exam fee.

Interested people should enroll and try to apply for the program as soon as the admissions open up as seats are limited and only a handful of candidates are accepted into each class which makes the process of admission somewhat intense. But once enrolled, all candidates are given quality training which prepares them for their jobs as a CNA.

American Red Cross – Greater San Antonio Chapter

Throughout the United States of America, in many cities, the American Red Cross offers free nurse aide training classes to the deserving and qualifying individuals. These training programs not only offer free training but also pay for the candidates’ course related supplies as well as for their state competency exam. Without a doubt, this is an excellent opportunity for the financially compromised individuals who are interested in pursuing a career as a CNA or are looking to change their careers by becoming a CNA.

Not only is the program totally free but it is also one of the best wherever it is available. The program has a graduation rate of more than ninety percent and a success rate of almost eighty percent in the nurse aide state competency exam. The training is usually divided into three parts which all students need to complete in order to get a certificate of training completion. The fist part includes a series of classroom lectures, the second part includes a series of lab activities while the third part includes a clinical internship.

Almost 5000 people apply for the program each year which makes the process of admission into the training program very competitive, so before you apply make sure that you have all the required documents and commitment to complete the training. 

List of All the State Approved CNA Classes in Texas.