Find Your CNA Classes HERE
Over the recent years, the healthcare and medical sector has seen a very significant growth both in terms of quantity and quality and this growth is only projected to increase in the future as the population of the world increases and ages. Amid this boom, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) can be a quick path towards a long-term and rewarding career in the rapidly growing healthcare and medical industry. Unlike many other degrees and training programs in the healthcare sector, becoming a CNA only required a few weeks of training and anyone with or without a background in healthcare and medicine can join the training given that they met the criteria as set by the state.
In the state of Maryland, you have to be at least 16 years of age in order to enroll in a state approved CNA training program. Some training facilities might require the candidate to be at least 18 years of age in order to be eligible for the enrollment. In addition to that, applicants for the Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam also have to pass a background check as well as verify their fingerprints either electronically or manually. Further guidelines state that candidates for the Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam must be in good physical health and should not have a history of substance or drug abuse.
Certified nurse aide workers can easily make anywhere between $14 and $17 an hour working at a healthcare facility such as nursing home, hospital, rehabilitation center, elderly home or in a home care setting. Average yearly salaries for the nurse aide workers in Baltimore range from $28000 to $34838. The yearly income or hourly wage can increase with the experience and many of the workplaces also offer additional benefits to the nurse aide workers. These benefits include health insurance, paid time off, flexible work schedule and tuition reimbursement etc.
So, if you meet all of the eligibility criteria as stated above and are interested in becoming a CNA, there are many training institutes in the city of Baltimore which could help you get ready for the Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam. Most of these training programs are roughly 100 hours of training which includes both theory and clinical practice components. Some extensive training programs may incorporate supplementary training hours in addition to the state required 100 hours of training in order to better prepare the candidates for Maryland State Nurse Aide.
Most of the training programs are paid but again, many of them offer financial aid or other financing options in order to help the economically disadvantaged people in completing their training. Here in the following paragraphs, we have tried compiling a list of some of the best CNA training programs in Baltimore that offer free CNA training or offer training at a subsidized rate in order to get you started.
St. Ambrose Family Outreach Centre
St. Ambrose Family Outreach Center has been offering food, housing as well as educational assistance to the economically disadvantaged people in Baltimore for many years now. The outreach center was established in 1972 and since then it has supported hundreds of individuals and their extended families through their food aid, house aid and educational career training programs. The outreach center has a wide network of dedicated volunteers, generous donors and health and human service collaborators to help them achieve their mission and expand their activities in the area. The outreach center also offers a free certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program from time to time.
The CNA training program is aimed at helping such individuals who come from a financially disadvantaged background and are looking for a new career but cannot afford to attend a paying training program due to their financial circumstances. Not only they offer this career training program to help people in the community and to help those get ahead but also later help the graduates of the free nurse aide training program in finding jobs in the dynamic healthcare system of the city which is often not a really good experience for many. Moreover, the center specifically pays attention to veterans and the members of veteran families in case they are facing trouble in getting education due to financial circumstances.
The training is only 100 hours in length which can all be completed within a matter of a few weeks. Enrolled individuals work and learn under the supervision of experienced teaching staff at St. Ambrose Family Outreach Center to get prepared for the Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam. Once certified, graduates have a huge number of options to work in a range of healthcare settings as a CNA. The demand for CNA workers is also on the rise which is another plus for the CNA graduates.
Baltimore City Community College
Baltimore City Community College is a provider of numerous degree programs and career training in many leading sectors of the industry in the area. More than 50,00 students apply in various of these programs every year, many of which go on to become a valuable part of the society after graduation.
Among the career training programs that they offer at Baltimore City Community College, there is also the certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program which is targeted at meeting the growing demand of allied healthcare workers in the area by preparing the enrolled students for Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam as both a Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). The program is almost 12 weeks in duration from start to end and requires the students to participate in a face-to-face orientation session at the beginning of the first-class session.
No high school diploma or GED is needed for the admission but students with a high school diploma have a better chance of admission and job placement. Classes are not free but for the individuals who come from a financially disadvantaged background, Baltimore City Community College offers financial assistance options under Continuing Education program. Additional assistance options include partial payment and tuition waivers through Nelnet Business Solutions for those who qualify. Financial Assistance Resources outside of Baltimore City Community College may also be available through sponsor paid tuition and the Department of Rehabilitation Services which you can find all about by visiting the college.
Caroline Center
Caroline Center offers a career training program to dedicated and committed women who would not otherwise have the opportunity to start a career of their own because of their inability to pursue education due to their social or economic hurdles. Caroline Center has a mission of empowering women so that they can create a better future for themselves. The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program at Caroline Center consistently scores well above the similar training programs in the area. During the 12-week training, enrolled individuals spend their time learning about the fundamentals of nursing, healthcare and elderly care in a range of classroom, lab and clinical settings.
The training prepares the students for the Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam as well as for the demanding job of working as a CNA in a range of healthcare settings such as nursing homes, elderly homes, rehabilitation centers, hospitals and clinics. The school also offer many resources to its graduates in terms of career planning, job seeking and job placement assistance. Any woman over the age of 20 and lives in the Baltimore area can apply for enrollment into the CNA training program. Applicants must also have a high school diploma or GED certification in order to be considered for admission. Classes begin online and trainees are called for clinical training at varying times. The program is an excellent choice for financially disadvantaged women as enrolled trainees only have to cover their licensing fee.
American Red Cross – Central Maryland Chapter
Encompassing the whole Baltimore City and the neighboring counties Harford and Carroll; nearly 1.9 million residents of Central Maryland are served by the Central Maryland Chapter of American Red Cross. In collaboration with a robust volunteer task force, The American Red Cross supports the resilience and vitality of Baltimore and neighboring counties by providing blood donations and emergency relief services with a mission to alleviate and prevent human suffering in the face of disasters and emergencies by assembling the power of volunteer workers as well as the generosity of donors.
In addition to the services mentioned above, Central Maryland Chapter of American Red Cross also offers career training programs in allied healthcare. These allied healthcare training programs such as the certified nurse aide (CNA) or Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) are designed to train people for providing basic nursing and healthcare services to the people in need during emergency and disaster relief situations. Moreover, after being trained by the highly knowledgeable, dedicated and robust staff from American Red Cross, the trainees of these programs can also take the Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam in order to become a certified nursing assistant which could help them secure a long-term and rewarding career in the healthcare sector.
The training program is not all together free but special grant money is used to offer partial scholarships to a few students from Baltimore which could help them get trained at a subsidized rate. So, if you are someone who enjoys helping people and takes pride in it, the CNA training program at Central Maryland Chapter of American Red Cross could not only help you achieve that but also can set you on a path towards a rewarding career in healthcare and medicine. For information regarding any upcoming classes, you can visit the Central Maryland Chapter of American Red Cross during the working hours.
Health Focus, Inc.
Health Focus, Inc. intends to promote the professionalism and growth in health care practices by creating a learning atmosphere that enhances a high level of practical training and knowledge that is needed to pursue a dedicated career in the rapidly booming field of healthcare and medicine. The certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program at Health Focus, Inc. is aimed to provide the skills that will enable the trainees to become valuable members of allied healthcare teams. The Geriatric Nursing Assistant (CNA/GNA) certification program prepares the enrolled students to land jobs as either a CNA, a Home Health Aide (HHA), Personal Care Aide or companion care provider in healthcare facilities such as assisted living communities, nursing homes, hospitals, clinics and elderly homes.
The nurse aide training program is almost 114hours in length which includes 24 clock hours of lab practice, 48 hours of theory as well as another 42 clock hours of clinical experience at a local healthcare facility under the supervision of experienced nurses and senior medical staff. You can find all the information regarding class schedule and admission process online at the website of Health Focus, Inc. Baltimore. Flexible payment plans are offered to such students who cannot afford to pay for the training at once as well as Health Focus, Inc. offers Tolbert grant which could help the eligible candidates to complete their training at no charge.
Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake
Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake offers a wide range of career training classes and career management services in the Baltimore areas which are all designed to help the financially disadvantaged individuals in finding employment, in improving their skills as well as in changing career paths for a better future ahead. The staff at Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake seeks to place dedicated job hunters in high growth sectors of the modern industry where there is an immense potential for career growth with high wages and additional benefits.
Various training programs are offered which include information technology, web/graphic design, cybersecurity, carpentry, coding and programming as well as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program. These training programs are all individually tailored so that the trainees are able to achieve their career goals. The CNA program is almost eleven weeks in length and contains nearly 100 hours of classroom, lab and clinical training. Not only the Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake offers this free CNA training program but also helps the graduates of the program with local healthcare providers after graduation. The Goodwill center at Baltimore trains dozens of individuals each year for the Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam.
This no charge CNA training program is an excellent opportunity for such people who enjoy helping people and are interested in starting a career in the healthcare sector. Anyone can apply for an admission into the CNA training program at Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake given that they meet the eligibility criteria as set by Maryland state for nursing assistant certification. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing assistants are in high demand and in the coming years with the rapid growth in the healthcare medical sector, their demand is likely to increase even more. So, becoming a CNA could really help in starting a long-term rewarding career if you are interested.
It Works Learning Center, Inc.
It Works Learning Center, Inc. is one of the leading healthcare career training schools in the Baltimore and Maryland area which is committed to providing the seeking individuals in the area with very best CNA/GNA nursing assistant training that prepares them for the Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam and a successful future in the healthcare industry. Their faculty consists of the finest registered nurse educators in the city which are dedicated to providing the very best training to their students. The facility is approved by Maryland Higher Education Commission and Maryland Board of Nursing as well as licensed by the Workforce Investment Act Occupational Training Program.
Anyone can apply for enrollment in the CNA training program as long as they are 18 years old, are drug free and have the ability to clear a criminal background check. Having a GED certification or a high school diploma is not a requirement for enrollment in the certified nurse aid (CNA) training program. Classes at It Works Learning Center, Inc. are available in both morning and evening options with morning classes running for nine weeks and evening classes running for 13 weeks. Training at It Works Learning Center, Inc. takes place in classroom and on-site skills lab and clinical settings.
CNA training at It Works Learning Center, Inc. is not free but if you are someone who are not able to afford the tuition, they occasionally offer grant funded certified nurse aide (CNA or GNA) training programs as well. Qualifications for these grants funded CNA programs are different bases in the sponsorships. But you should keep in mind that these free training programs are only available when a sponsor makes them available and because of their free nature a lot of applicants apply for the admission so you should keep an eye for any upcoming sponsorships which you can find out all about by visiting the training center in person during the working hours.
Stein Academy
Stein Academy is yet another provider of certified nursing assistant (CNA) training services to seeking individuals in the Baltimore and neighboring areas. The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program or Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) training program is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing and Stein Academy is one of the very few approved programs for Private Career Schools in the State of Maryland. In order to enroll in the CNA training program at Stein Academy, applicants must have a high school diploma.
Moreover, applicants are required to pass an admission test and are also required to provide health and immunization records at the time of admission. Further requirements include the ability to pass a background check test as well as a fingerprint verification process. In addition to that all the applicants need to be at least 17 years old in order to apply for the program. There is a list of funding sources at the Stein Academy’s website which could allow you to complete your training at no cost.
Woodstock Job Corps Center
Job Corps works under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Labor and offers free career training programs in many sectors of modern-day industry from information technology to healthcare at no charge to the deserving and eligible candidates throughout the United States including Baltimore. These career training programs at Job Corps are specifically designed to improve the living standards for financially disadvantaged people by providing them with career training and better career options. Anyone who is aged between 16 and 24 can apply for these free career training programs in Job Corps Centers throughout the United States and at Woodstock Job Corps Center in Baltimore.
In addition to being aged between 16 and 24 years, applicants for this free CNA training program at Job Corps must also meet one or more of these three conditions: they earn poverty-level income, receive public assistance or are homeless or a foster child. The enrolled individuals in the CNA training program at Woodstock Job Corps Center in Baltimore receive bi-weekly basic living allowance in addition to the free training as well. Moreover, eligible trainees are also provided with free accommodation and free meals during the whole clinical and classroom training duration of the program.
Applicants need to have a high school diploma or GED certification as well as they must be eligible to work in the United States in order to be considered for the enrollment into the nurse aide training program at Woodstock Job Corps Center in Baltimore. Further requirements state that the trainees must also be able to verify fingerprints and clear a criminal background check. Job Corps trainees are required to follow very strict moral and disciplinary practices which might not sit well with some. So, talk to an early graduate before applying for a career training program at Job Corps. Nonetheless, the CNA training program is an excellent opportunity for starting a career in the healthcare sector with no cost.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore
The University of Maryland, Baltimore also provides certified nursing assistant (CNA) training to seeking individuals in Baltimore and neighboring areas. The program is an excellent opportunity for individuals who are interested in making a career in healthcare but do not want to attend any expensive and lengthy degree programs. The training for the CNA can be complete within a matter of just a few weeks at The University of Maryland, Baltimore after which students are fully ready for the Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam for GNA or CNA licensing. Passing both sections of Maryland State Nurse Aide Competency Exam i.e., the written and skills section is mandatory for licensing.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore offers a number of financial assistance options through scholarships, loans and grants to the deserving and eligible candidates so that they can complete their training without their financial difficulties becoming a hurdle in their future. The program is approved by Maryland Higher Education Commission as well as by the Maryland Board of Nursing. After graduating from the program, students can get jobs as nurse aide workers at any of the hundreds of healthcare facilities in Maryland State.
List of All the State Approved CNA Classes in Baltimore.