CNA Classes Ontario, CA

Nurse assisting is one of the fastest paths to a career in nursing. Jobs are plentiful, and the educational requirements could be completed in just four weeks. For certification in California, you must enroll in a state-approved program that will cover basic nursing principles in the classroom and hands-on practical experiences in a long-term care facility. The CNA class is offered in vocational schools, community colleges, rehabilitation centers, and proprietary centers. A high school diploma is optional for some programs, but participation in the clinical activities will require background clearance, immunization, TB clearance, CPR certification, and drug screen. You must apply for and pass the Written and Skills components of the California State Competency Evaluation for certification before you begin working in a long-term care facility.

As a nursing assistant, you’ll meet patients’ health care needs under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. Key duties include personal care such as bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, making beds, emptying bedpans, turning and repositioning bedridden residents, monitoring patients’ response to treatments, measuring and recording vital signs, and assisting nurses with rehabilitation treatments.

Dignity College of Healthcare

Dignity College of Healthcare offers Nurse Aide training to prepare adults for state certification. The training is approved by the California Department of Public Health and includes didactic and practical training. Course topics will include but not limited to human anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, vital signs, infection control, range of motion exercises, rehabilitative treatments, Alzheimer’s care, feeding and nutrition, communication and interpersonal relationships, personal care, and hospice care. Two schedules are available at the Oceanside campus. The evening class meets Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 3:00 pm for five weeks. A Sunday only program is also available. Classes meet from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm for three months (13 Sundays).

Admission criteria:

  • Submit an application online or in person. Walk-in registration is available Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Oceanside campus
  • Provide proof of a negative TB test – completed within 2 months before enrollment
  • Provide a completed physical exam report – completed within 2 months prior to enrollment
  • Have active CPR certification
  • No GED is required for admission to the program

Tuition for the program is $2,150. The registration fee of $300 is included in the cost.

Mission Career College

The Nursing Assistant Certificate course at Mission Career College is conducted by instructors who are approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. The California Department of Public Health course covers 160 clock hours in the classroom and clinical site. Students will spend 60 hours in the classroom and lab followed by 100 hours of supervised patient care experiences in a skilled nursing facility. Instructors will emphasize aspects of residential care, including Six Principals of Care. Areas of study include basic nursing skills, role and responsibility of the nurse aide, patient rights and independence, medical terminology, safety and emergency procedures, feeding and nutrition, communication techniques, range of motion exercises, infection control, and laws and ethics. Graduates will acquire 9.3 Credit Units and will qualify to take the State Competency Test to become a Certified Nurse Assistant. CPR training is included in the program. The duration of the program is five weeks. Full time, part-time, and weekend schedules are available. Students are expected to attend all classes and be on time. Make-up classes are not available.

Admission criteria:

  • Attend a personal interview with a member of the Admissions Department
  • Submit a completed Enrollment Application
  • Schedule and attend a facility tour
  • Take the entrance exam and Ability to Benefit exam – if applicable
  • Complete and sign the Enrollment Agreement
  • Must be at least 16 years old
  • Applicants 18 years or older with no high school diploma must take an Accuplacer test and score a minimum of 12. The test evaluates Reading Comprehension, Sentence Skills, and Arithmetic
  • Provide a copy of Social Security card
  • Purchase personal liability/health insurance
  • Submit a physical exam report indicating up-to-date immunizations
  • Complete the Live Scan form

Tuition for the program is $1,850. Students must wear medical scrubs for the duration of the program. Payment plans and job placement assistance are available for all students.

School of Career Education – Branch Campus

The Certified Nursing Assistant program at the School of Career Education prepares students to take the California competency exam. Graduates must take the exam to practice as a CNA in an acute or long-term care facility. Students will learn how to observe patients and record their condition, take vital signs, support nurses with rehabilitative treatments, measure and record fluid intake and output, and assist patients with personal care activities such as bathing, feeding, and dressing. Key topics will include the role of the nursing assistant, patients’ rights, elder abuse, emotional and psychological effects, ethical and legal considerations, interpersonal skills, restraints, reporting accidents and errors, body mechanics, medical and surgical asepsis, personal hygiene, bed making, nutrition, and introduction to anatomy and physiology. Students will also be First Aid and CPR. All students must maintain a minimum 76% grade average and 93% attendance rate to graduate from the program. Classes meet Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm for 24 weeks.

Admission criteria:

  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Take and pass the assessment test
  • Provide a current government-issued ID
  • Submit a copy of Social Security Card or Right to Work Documentation
  • Submit to fingerprinting and background check

The program cost is $5,800 for the nursing assistant, Acute Care for Nursing, and Home Health Aid Training. The program cost includes 600 clock hours of instruction, textbooks, two sets of uniforms, American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR and First Aid training, fingerprinting, and Nurse Assistant Certification Exam.

Riverside City College-School of Nursing

The Nurse Assistant Training Program at Riverside City College’s School of Nursing operates with the approval of the California Department of Health Services (CDPH). There will be an emphasis on caring for the geriatric population in long-term care settings. Students will learn effective communication, basic care, and emergency care. Other areas of study in the 6-unit program include basic anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, hospice care, range of motion exercises, body mechanics, nutrition and feeding, fluid intake and output, patients’ rights, law and ethical concepts, and personal care. New students are admitted in the Fall and Spring semesters. The duration of the program is 16 weeks for full-time students. Students who successfully complete all the classroom and clinical requirements will receive a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible to take the California Competency Exam administered by the American Red Cross or the National Nurses Aide Assessment Program for Certification as a Nurse Aide.

Admission criteria:

  • The application and required documents must be submitted by the last day in September for the Spring semester and the last day in April for the Fall semester
  • A high school diploma or GED
  • Be 17 years or older
  • A valid state photo ID and Social Security card
  • Submit a physical exam report indicating up-to-date immunizations
  • Complete a background check through Live Scan fingerprint
  • Submit to a drug screen
  • American Heart Association (BLS) Healthcare providers CPR card

Expenses include parking, health services, student services fee, uniforms, books and supplies, physical exam, background check, CPR, and personal health and accident insurance. Tuition costs $46 per unit. The program covers 6 units.

  • Website:https://www.rcc.edu/
  • Address: 4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506-1299
  • Phone: (951) 222-8000

California Health Skills

The nursing assistant program at California Health Skills prepares students for state certification. The training will include classroom theory and clinical rotations in a long-term care setting. Areas of study include body mechanics, patient rights, interpersonal skills, medical and surgical asepsis, vital signs, long-term care patient, prevention management of catastrophe and unusual occurrence, death and dying, rehabilitation nursing, nutrition, emergency procedures, observation and charting, and patient care skills.

Admission criteria:

  • Submit a completed application and application fee
  • Study the NATP student handbook
  • Submit a completed background check release form
  • Complete and sign the enrollment agreement
  • Provide a valid photo ID and social security card
  • Demonstrate the ability to read and write English proficiently
  • Complete TB screening within 14 days of the clinical
  • Complete a medical/physical exam
  • Provide proof of flu shot

The enrollment fee is $250. Additional fees for textbooks, background check, immunization, TB screen, uniform, and insurance must be covered by the student.

Riverside County Office of Education

The nursing assistant course at RCOE combines lecture and lab courses to equip students with the knowledge and skills to care for residents in a skilled nursing facility. Course modules will include communication and interpersonal skills, vital signs, emergency procedures, nutrition, body mechanics, asepsis, rehabilitative care, observation and charting, patient care skills, and patient rights. Students will participate in clinical rotations at a skilled nursing facility to develop basic nursing skills in a real-world setting. Full attendance to all classroom and clinical assignments is required. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the State Competency Exam administered by the American Red Cross.

Admission criteria:

  • Provide proof of a current physical exam
  • Submit a negative TB test or chest x-ray
  • Documentation of immunization – hepatitis B, Tdap
  • Be 17 years or older
  • Pass a background check and drug screen

Students must wear the required uniform and purchase watch with a second hand, stethoscope, and sphygmomanometer for the class.

  • Website: https://www.rcoe.us/
  • Address: 3939 Thirteenth Street, Riverside, California 92501
  • Phone: (951) 826-6530

Crystal G

Crystal is a certified Registered Nurse (RN) with a passion for writing about nursing education. Through her articles, Crystal shares insights and tips to help fellow nurses enhance their skills and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. With a focus on practical advice and relevant topics, Crystal's writing is a valuable resource for nursing professionals seeking to advance their careers.