In nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals, patients rely heavily on the nurses and nursing assistants to care for them and assist with daily living activities. In Arizona, Certified Nursing Assistants undergo specialized training to execute their roles and responsibilities on the job. The Arizona State Board of Nursing requires nurse assistants to complete 120 hours of classroom and clinical experience, which will equip them with all the skills they need to provide basic nursing duties to those who are temporarily or permanently disabled. A state competency exam, administered by D&S Diversified Technologies, tests nurse assistants’ work readiness, and candidates who successfully complete the two-part exam qualify for inclusion on the state’s nurse aide registry. Following is a list of approved nurse assistant training providers in Mesa, AZ.
Arizona Medical Training Institute
Time and time again, Arizona Medical Training Institute’s students top the list of “First Time State Board Licensure Pass Rates.” With an average of 97 percent on the written exam and 91% on skills evaluation, AMTI stands out as Arizona’s premier healthcare training institute. The school’s nursing assistant program provides 120 hours of instruction divided into 80 classroom hours and 40 clinical rotation hours. The thorough 3-week program prepares students for success on the state certification exam and the job. The curriculum covers essential areas, such as basic nursing care, physiology, the foundation of resident care, personal care skills, nutrition, rehabilitation and restorative services. Convenient day, evening and weekend classes give prospective students the option to choose their pace of study. Graduates can take the state certification exam at AMTI’s campus within one week of completing the course.
Admission criteria:
- Take and pass the CNA/LNA admission test – covers English proficiency, reading comprehension, and making
- Complete the AMTI Health Declaration Form and meet all the essential functions
- Complete the Voluntary Assumption of Risk – Release of Liability Form
- Pass a TB test or provide prior results – must not be older 6 months
- Provide documentation of current CPR certification – must be healthcare provider level Basic Life Support
- Pass a background check and obtain a negative drug screen
- Provide proof of citizenship or legal residency status – AZ driver’s license or passport
Tuition is $1335 inclusive of textbook, stethoscope, uniform top, and use of class supplies.
- Website: https://arizonamedicaltraininginstitute.com/
- Address: 1530 North Country Club Drive #11 Mesa, AZ 85201
- Phone: 480-835-7679
East Valley Medical College
East Valley Medical College’s instructors prepare nurse assistant students to take the state certification exam in just 4 weeks. The 120-hour curriculum encompasses classroom, lab and clinical instruction with a strong emphasis on providing compassionate care in a long-term setting. Students learn through computer-aided technology, lectures, demonstrations, skill videos and interactive discussions in the classroom and put their skills to work under the direction of a licensed nurse in a clinical setting. Course topics include patient safety and rights, diet and nutrition, ambulatory transfers, and introduction to the healthcare system. The class size is limited to 10 students. Graduates will participate in open interviews with home health companies. Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Proof of age – must be at least 18 years at the time of enrollment
- Submit a completed application for admission
- Provide copy of high school diploma/transcripts, or GED
- Pass a state/national background check
- Must pass a TB test or have a negative chest x-ray
- Pass a drug screen
- Pay the registration fee and make arrangements to pay the tuition
- Provide proof of childhood immunization – MMR, DTap, IPV, Hep V
- Complete an AZ level one fingerprint clearance card
The cost of attendance is $1,358 and includes tuition, registration, textbook on loan, uniform on loan, TB test, CPR card, and state exam fee. Students must provide black scrub bottoms, closed toed shoes, and level on fingerprint clearance card. Scholarships may be available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.eastvmc.com/programs.php
- Address: 1220 S Alma School Rd, Ste 208, Mesa, AZ 85210
- Phone: (480) 776-0070
EVIT Career & College Prep
EVIT’s nurse assistant training prepares students for the state certification exam in 9 to 10 weeks. A total of 170 clock hours in a classroom, lab, and clinical setting equip students with basic nursing skills and know-how for providing direct care to residents in long term care facilities. Classroom and lab skill cover ethics and laws governing patient care, respective patients’ rights, providing compassionate support, medical terminology, anatomy, communication skills, mental health disorders and more. Students complete the 48-hour clinical rotation in a long-term care setting over the course of 6 weekend rotations. Graduates are prepared to take the state certification exam. The duration of the program is 12 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Must complete the student information form
- Provide proof of citizenship – a government-issued ID and social security card
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Complete a drug test prior to the clinical rotation
- Must have current CPR for Health Care Providers certification
The total cost of attending is $1,385 inclusive of tuition, supplies, and textbook.
- Website: http://evit.sharpschool.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=20222051&pageId=20598705
- Address: 1601 West Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85201
- Phone: 480-461-4094
Mesa Community College
The Nursing Assistant class at Mesa Community College is a semester-long program that combines classroom, lab and experiential learning in a clinical setting to prepare graduates for the state exam, entry-level employment, and admission to vocational nursing programs. The instructor, a registered nurse, uses various teaching methods to pass on valuable knowledge to students. Students meet in a classroom setting for 4 to 5 hours one day per week, and spending at least 8 hours in a clinical or lab setting for two days per week.
Admission criteria:
- Must meet and maintain health and safety requirements throughout the program
- Must be in compliance with the MCCCD Supplemental Background Check Policy
- Provide evidence of current Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Must obtain a negative drug screen
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
Tuition is $654 for Arizona residents. Students are responsible for the state exam fee, background clearance fee, and costs for textbook and other supplies.
- Website: https://www.mesacc.edu/
- Address: 1833 West Southern, Mesa, AZ 85202
- Phone: 480-461-7106
Pima Medical Institute
Train to become a certified nursing assistant in just six weeks at Pima Medical Institute. The 4.5-credit class takes students through 125-clock hours of classroom and clinical training. The curriculum is divided into 45 hours in the classroom, 40 hours for skills lab and 40 hours in a clinical setting. Instructors cover a broad range of topics including roles and responsibilities of nurse assistants, communication and interpersonal skills, nursing principles, nutrition and hydration, law and ethics, patients’ rights, transferring patients, safety and emergency procedures. Graduates are eligible to sit the state exam for inclusion on the nurse aide registry.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 16 years of age or older
- Provide proof of citizenship or legal resident status
- Must pass the admission test
- Pass a background check and drug screen
- Obtain medical clearance from a medical provider
- Obtain a negative TB test or chest x-ray
- Complete the immunization requirements
Tuition is $1,913 and includes the cost of textbooks, uniforms, and miscellaneous fees. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
- Website: https://pmi.edu/programs/certificate/nursing-assistant-nurse-aide
- Address: 957 S. Dobson Road., Mesa, AZ 85202
- Phone: 800-477-PIMA
Valley Vocational Academy
Students enrolled in the nursing assistant program at Valley Vocational Academy will learn how to perform basic nursing tasks related to the care of patients in long-term care. Courses include infection control, mental health, basic nursing skills. Safety and emergency procedures, communication and interpersonal skills, care of cognitively impaired, basic restorative services, and proper turning and positioning. The school offers small class sizes, affordable tuition, a positive learning environment, expert instruction, and free practice for the state board exam. The duration of the program is 3 weeks for daytime students and 6 weeks for evening students. The weekend class runs for 7 weekends.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 16 years of age or older
- Provide proof of citizenship or legal resident status
- Must pass the admission test to assess English language, reading, and math skills
- Pass a background check
- Obtain medical clearance from a medical provider
- Obtain a negative TB test or chest x-ray
- Obtain flu vaccination as required by the clinical site
Tuition for the program is $1,335. A convenient payment plan is available for all students.
- Website: https://www.valleyvocational.com/
- Address: 1845 E. Broadway Road Suite 114, Tempe, Arizona 85282
- Phone: (480) 247-9388
The following high school is also authorized by the state to provide nurse assistant training:
Sun Valley High School (High School Students only)
Address: 1143 South Lindsay Road, Mesa, AZ 85204
Phone: 480-497-4800