Find Your CNA Classes HERE
Being the second largest city of California and the eighth most populous city of the country, San Diego harbors one of the largest populations in the US. With this huge population also comes the need of qualified healthcare workers who can provide the people with basic medical and healthcare services and, this need of qualified healthcare and allied healthcare workers is only expected to rise as the population of San Diego increases and ages in the years to come. So, if you are looking for a new career and are interested in the healthcare sector, working as a nurse aide (CNA) is one of the best places to start.
The training is relatively short and can be completed within a matter of just a few weeks yet it can land you a long-term entry level employment position in any of the thousands of healthcare facilities throughout the state. CNA candidates need to be at least 16 years old, be in good physical health, have up to date immunization and medical records in order to get enrolled in a training program. In addition to that, they also need to clear a criminal background check as well before the state competency exam.
In order to get a CNA license, candidates need to complete at least 100 hours of training in classroom and clinical settings from a state approved CNA facility. Once the training is complete, candidates need to sit in and pass the nurse aide state competency exam (both written and skillset section) in order to get registered. Many training institutes offer CNA training services throughout the state and some of them offer the training totally for free. Here we have compiled a list of some of the free, discounted and subsidized nurse aide training programs in the city to help you get started and choose the best CNA training program for yourself.
San Diego College of Continuing Education
If you are someone who cannot afford to pay for your CNA training and are looking for a nurse aide (CNA) training program in the San Diego area to enter the allied healthcare task force and serve the people in need, San Diego College of Continuing Education offers a comprehensive CNA training program at their facility to help you achieve that. The training can take anywhere between eight to sixteen weeks to complete depending on the type of program you choose to enroll in and it consists of around 250 to 330 hours of training in a range of classroom, laboratory and clinical settings.
In order to get into the training program, candidates need to be at least 16 years old and attend a mandatory training session prior to the class beginning which is around two and half hours in duration. During the session, candidates are familiarized with the basics of the CNA program and the eligibility criteria. Eligible candidates are then given an application packet which they have to fill out and submit in order to be considered for enrollment. Candidates also need to verify their fingerprints and clear a criminal background check as well in order to secure an admission into the training program.
Even though the training is totally free, there are still some expenses such as the cost of uniform, books and nurse aide state competency exam which students have to pay on their own. Nonetheless, it is an excellent opportunity for the financially challenged people who are looking to get trained as a CNA.
Arbour Hills Nursing Facility
Arbour Hills Nursing Facility is a nursing home and rehabilitation center in San Diego that has been providing basic healthcare, elderly care and nursing services to the people of the area since 1989. Because of the immensity of their nursing facility and ever-growing number of people in need of nursing care, they are in continuous need of qualified allied healthcare workers such as certified nurse aides (CNA). To meet this ever-rising demand, they offer a nurse aide training program at their facility from time to time to recruit promising candidates that can join their allied healthcare task force after training completion.
The program is specifically designed for such people who cannot afford to attend a regular CNA training class but show great devotion to serving people in need and a general interest in the healthcare and medical sector. Individuals can visit the nursing home to find out about any upcoming free CNA training program and to directly apply for the free training program once a class is available in the near future. The training can be completed in a matter of just a few weeks and since the training has almost no out of pocket cost to the trainees, they are needed to work for the nursing home for some time, once they have successfully graduated and earned their CNA license.
Also, candidates need to be at least 18 years old, be in good physical health and have up to date medical and immunization records in order to get into the training program. Moreover, they also need to verify their fingerprints and pass a criminal background check in order to it in the nurse aide state competency exam.
International Health Group, Inc.
With more than 6000 graduates to the date, International Health Group, Inc. has been offering many allied healthcare training programs in San Diego to meet the ever-growing demand of allied healthcare workers. Their graduates have been known for their skills, efficiency and high success rate in finding job placement at healthcare facilities throughout the state. Among the training programs that they offer at their facility, there is also the fast track 22-day long nurse aide (CNA) training program. Currently, they are offering $500 scholarship to the deserving, eligible and qualified candidates.
The training program is approved and regulated by California Department of Public Health and is completely in line with the rules and regulations of the state nursing department as well. In order to get enrolled in the nurse aide training program, candidates need to submit their resume and recommendation letters to the admission office after which they are called for an interview with sponsors present. After acceptance, candidates are required to maintain regular attendance throughout the training program. The training is available in morning, evening and weekend options but the evening and weekend options are longer in duration.
Since the training is sponsored, candidates need to commit at least one year of full-time work contract or a two years of part time work contract with their sponsor after successful graduation. This is an excellent opportunity for the people who are looking for a free CNA training, CNA work experience and entering the allied healthcare task force as soon as possible.
California Medical College
California Medical College is another state approved provider of allied healthcare training programs in the San Diego and neighboring areas. Since 2005, they have been providing quality education at affordable rates to the people who are interested in starting a career of getting educated in the healthcare field. The nurse aide (CNA) training program at California Medical College is currently being offered only in weekend classes which take around 8 weeks to complete. The classes meet from 9AM to 3PM on weekends for the lectures and laboratory practical whereas the hours of clinical externship vary.
The training includes a total 172 hours of training in a range of classroom, laboratory and clinical settings during which students learn all about the fundamentals of providing basic healthcare and nursing services to the people in need. They get trained on a number of topics and skills such as healthcare ethics, effective communication, patient rights, anatomy, physiology, dos administration, vital signs, emergency procedures, nutrition, vital signs and basic nursing practices among many other things.
Even though the training is not free, the college offers a number of financial aid options to its students to help the economically challenged students. There are flexible payment options as well as loans, grants and scholarships in place so that no one is left behind because of the financial hurdles. For finding out more about the training program, financial aid options or anything else you can visit their website or visit the college yourself, today.
The American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties
The American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties is offering the seeking individuals with an excellent opportunity to get trained as a CNA with almost no out of pocket cost to the trainees, whatsoever. The training is aimed at helping those individuals who are interested in working as a nurse aide and are looking to get trained but cannot afford to pay for their training. Since the training is totally free, there are a lot of potential candidates for each training program offered.
This makes the screening criteria a bit strict and all candidates are needed to have a GED certification or a high school diploma in order to be considered for enrollment. Moreover, candidates are also required to be in good physical health, have up to date immunization and medical records as well as they must clear a criminal background check and verify their fingerprints. You are ineligible for sitting in the nurse aide state competency exam in case you fail to clear a criminal background check.
During the training candidates are all the topics and about all the skills that are necessary in order to provide basic healthcare services to the people in need. These include being trained in a range of classroom, laboratory and clinical sessions. In these sessions students learn to take vital signs, prevent infection spread, help elderly, administer dose, take vital signs, learn about healthcare ethics and groom the people in need among many other things.
San Diego Job Corps Center
To meet the growing demand of allied health care workers as well as to help the people who are looking to start a new career at entry level employment positions in the rapidly emerging healthcare sector, San Diego Job Corps Center offers a free nurse aide training program. the training program is partly funded by the USA department of labor and has almost no out of pocket cost to the trainees, whatsoever.
During the training students are trained to take care of the people in need and to provide them with basic nursing and healthcare services. They learn these skills and abilities in classroom and clinical training sessions under the supervision of expert medical professionals. Eligible and qualified individuals are also given allowances during the clinical and classroom training as well. But candidates might have to pay for their fingerprint verification as well as for their criminal background check on their own.
In order to enroll into the training program, you must be ages between 16 and 24 and have up to date medical and immunization records. Moreover, you are also needed to have a clear criminal background and involvement into any kind of criminal activity makes you ineligible for the nurse aide state competency exam. Once the training is complete, candidates are fully ready to enter the allied healthcare taskforce by passing the state exam. For any other query, you can visit the Job Corps website or their training center in San Diego.
Goodwill San Diego
With a mission to transform people’s lives through the power of work Goodwill San Diego, California has been serving the people in need with education, training and job placement assistance for many years now. They also provide free CNA training services in San Diego as well as many other cities in the United States. The CNA training is almost 125 hours in length which comprises 60 hours of lectures and laboratory training sessions as well as 40 hours of clinical externship and another 25 hours of work readiness curriculum.
During the training students are provided with free American healthcare provider CPR certification, free textbooks, free background checks, free sets of scrubs, a free TB test, and a free drug screening as well. In addition to that, the facility also pays the fee for the nurse aide state competency exam and bears any other course-related expenses as well. Since the training is totally free with no out-of-pocket cost to the trainees, whatsoever, there are a lot of potential candidates for each class offered. That is why there are strict screening procedures in place and all candidates are required to have a high school diploma or GED certification, successfully clear a criminal background check and a drug screening test and be at least 18 years of age.
Once accepted into the program, candidates must attend an orientation session as well as a 25 hours long work readiness curriculum before the training begins. Other than the nurse aide (CNA) training, they also offer many other free training in allied healthcare and other emerging sectors of the modern industry which you can find all about by visiting their website, in case you are interested.
Grossmont Health Occupations Center
Grossmont Health Occupations Center is yet another provider of nurse aide (CNA) training services in the San Diego area. They have been providing numerous allied healthcare training programs to meet the growing demand of medical workers for many years now. The training program is not free but it only costs around $550 in total. Still, if you are someone who cannot afford to pay for your training, they offer a student scholarship for the financially challenged candidates. You can find more about the scholarship options by visiting their website or meeting an admission representative at the facility.
The training is offered in both morning and evening options. The morning program takes around 3 months to complete whereas the evening program is 5 months in duration. Program includes a total 240 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical training sessions which make it one of the most comprehensive nurse aide training programs in the area. Training is offered twice a year and before the classes start, there are some information sessions held to familiarize the students with the program and admission requirements.
Candidates must be at least years old and have up to date records of immunization in order to be considered for the enrollment. Moreover, they also need to clear a criminal background check before sitting in the nurse aide state competency exam. Passing both sections of the competency exam, the written and the skills section is mandatory in order to get licensed.
Southwestern College
Southwestern College is the only public institution in Southern San Diego County which provides higher education programs to the people of the area. They offer many degree programs as well as numerous career training programs at affordable rates to help the people pursue their dreams. Among these programs is also the nurse aide (CNA) training program which is aimed at meeting the ever-rising demand of nurse aide workers in the country.
The CNA program is an 8-unit course which includes two components: lectures and clinical externship. Training is offered four times a year in January, March, June and August. The duration of these classes varies from nine weeks to 18 weeks. You can check further details about the class schedule on their website. You can submit an application for enrolling into the program by visiting their website as well. Candidates need to be at least 18 years of age, be in good physical health and have up to date medical and immunization records in order to be considered for the enrollment. Moreover, they also need to verify their fingerprints and clear a criminal background check in order to sit in the nurse aide state competency exam.
In order to get the training totally free of cost, candidates need to apply for the scholarship, grants or any of the many other financial aid options available at the college which you can find all about on their website. If you do not qualify for the financial aid, you still have to pay only $46 fee per unit which is one of the lowest in the area.
Villa Rancho Bernardo Care Center
Villa Rancho Bernardo is a nursing facility and care center in the San Diego area that has been providing elderly care, rehabilitation and nursing services to the people of San Diego and surrounding areas for many years now. Because of the immensity of their care center, they are always in need of skilled healthcare workers to take on a number of jobs. To meet this growing demand of healthcare workers such as CNAs, not only they hire qualified CNA workers but they also offer free CNA training classes from time to time to train and recruit youngsters that want to start a new career and show devotion to help the people in need.
You can call the care center or visit the center yourself in order to find about any upcoming free nurse aide training programs. Since the training is totally free, candidates are required to work at the facility for some time, once they have graduated and earned their CNA license. Some promising candidates are also offered full time jobs at the care center with additional health benefits. No doubt, this is an excellent opportunity for those people who cannot afford to pay for their training and are looking to enter the healthcare sector as soon as possible.
You must be at least 16 years old, have up to date medical and immunization records and be in good physical health in order to get into the training program. Moreover, you also need to verify your fingerprints and clear a criminal background check before sitting in the nurse aide state competency exam.
List of All the State Approved CNA Classes in San Diego.