Healthcare jobs remain at the top of the fastest-growing jobs in the United States. According to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the trend is not likely to change in the next decade. The industry will need another 5.7 million professionals by 2029. Support occupations will account for 35 percent of the total healthcare workforce. Certified Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides are among the leading support services in health. Certified Nursing Assistants work primarily in long-term care, where they assist patients with daily living activities under the direction of a licensed nurse or physician. The aging population in need of round-the-clock care contributes to the demand for these competent health care professionals. CNA programs help adults acquire the knowledge and technical skills to assume the role and function in long-term care. Program graduates must take the Nurse Aide Evaluation to be added to the Pennsylvania Nurse Adie Registry.
Holy Redeemer
Holy Redeemer Health System offers a nurse aide training opportunity to adults who want to begin a career in healthcare. The program prepares graduates for employment at Holy Redeemer where there will receive numerous benefits including flexible working hours, medical and life insurance, vacation and sick days, childcare, tuition reimbursement, and scholarship programs. The nurse aide program is offered in collaboration with the American Red Cross. Graduates of the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved program will be eligible to sit for the Nurse Aide Exam to be added to the Nurse Aide Registry. Small class sizes, hands-on experience, and extensive course materials will help students achieve success in the field. The program will include in-class training and clinical rotations. The clinical sessions will be conducted at Holy Redeemer’s facility, and the instructor to student ratio will be limited to one to ten. Students will learn and practice infection control, adult CPR, taking vital signs, range of motion exercises, positioning and transferring, personal care skills, legal and ethics in practice, caring for persons with dementia and other conditions, communication and teamwork, and medical terminology. The duration of the program will be approximately four weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Attend an information session
- Submit an application for enrollment
- Pass a criminal background check and drug screen
- Complete TB screening
- Submit documents of completing a physical exam and required immunization
Contact the school for a current schedule and tuition costs.
- Website: https://www.redeemerhealth.org/
- Address: 1648 Huntingdon Pike, Meadowbrook, PA 19046
- Phone: 1-800-818-4747
Prism Career Institute – Philadelphia
Prism Career Institute – Philadelphia prepares students for Nurse Aide Certification in the State of Pennsylvania. The short-term CNA training includes learning in the classroom, hands-on lab skills, and a supervised clinical experience in the long-term care facility. Areas of study will include medical terminology, basic anatomy and physiology, infection control, rehabilitation and restorative techniques, basic nursing skills, role and responsibility of the nurse aide, range of motion exercises, laws and ethics, patients’ rights and independence, and hospice care. Prism offers experienced instructors, small class sizes, and hands-on training opportunities. Students will also receive job placement support, CPR training, affordable payment plans, and free prep classes for the state exam. Flexible day, late morning and evening classes are available. A high school diploma or GED is not required to enroll in the program.
- Website: http://cna-education.com/
- Address: 8040 Roosevelt Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19152
- Phone: 215-331-4600
Philadelphia Academy for Nurse Aide Trainers
PANAT prepares students to succeed on the Nurse Aide Registry Exam and practice as a Certified Nurse Aide in Pennsylvania. The curriculum covers 135 hours in the classroom, skills lab, and clinical site. It will aide learning and skills development in the role and function of the nurse aide, communication safety and emergency procedures, infection control, patients’ rights and independence, personal care skills, nutrition, care of cognitively impaired, restorative skills, behavioral health and social needs, and observation and reporting. The training will include a theory review and hands-on skills practice to help students prepare for the state exam. Students will qualify for certification in CPR and First Aid and Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care. The duration of the program is four weeks. PANAT maintains small class sizes to provide personalized instruction, flexible schedules, hands-on practice, and exam prep.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 17 years of age
- Demonstrate a minimum fifth-grade reading level – a reading test will be administered
- Demonstrate ability to perform math functions at a seventh-grade level or above – must pass the entrance math test
- Submit the completed Physical Exam/Health Form (completed by a licensed physician) demonstrating good physical health, no infectious or communicable disease, ability to lift 40 lbs, and pass a TB test
- Clear a criminal background check – must have no felonies or other offenses. The cost of the criminal background check is $25
- Submit a completed application to the program
Registration for the program is $100. The cost of tuition and class schedule will be provided during an information session. Students must pay for textbook and workbook, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, lab fees, CPR certification, graduation pin, First Aide, state background check, math and reading tests, and PPD. Job placement assistance is available for all graduates.
- Website: https://mypanat.com/
- Address: 5070 Parkside Ave Suite 1422 Philadelphia, PA 19131
- Phone: (215) 495-3473
- Email: contactus@mypanat.com
Community College of Philadelphia
The Community College of Philadelphia prepares nurse assistant students for an entry-level career in the field of healthcare. The curriculum includes 124 hours of classroom lectures, lab skills, and clinical experiences in a skilled nursing facility. Students must participate in the mandatory clinical rotations where they will care for patients under the supervision of a licensed nurse instructor. Training will cover the role and function of the nurse aide, infection control, basic nursing skills, resident rights, personal care skills, communication skills, legal and ethical principles, nutrition, prevention of abuse and neglect, psychosocial needs, and Alzheimer’s care. Graduates will receive a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible to take the Pennsylvania State Nurse Aide Competency and Training Exam to the added to the Nurse Aide Registry. The written and skills components of the exam will be administered by Pearson Vue. Morning and evening schedules are available. Classes meet for approximately 8 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Submit an application register for the program at least two weeks before the start of class
- Must have a high school diploma or GED – must provide appropriate documentation
- Pass a general physical exam conducted by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant
- Take and obtain clearance from a 2-step TB test
- Underdo a criminal background check – must have no felonies or other offenses
- Complete the Pennsylvania Residency verification form
- All requirements and documents must be submitted two weeks before the start of the program
Tuition for the program is $1,495.
- Website: http://ccp.edu/academic-offerings/professional-development/non-credit-courses/nurse-aide-training
- Address: 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Phone: 215-751-8000
Entry Level CNA
Entry Level CNA enrolls students who are desirous of entering the health care profession in the role of the nursing assistant. Licensed nurses will instruct students in the classroom and oversee their activities in a skilled nursing facility. There will be an emphasis on patient respect and dignity, so graduates will provide safety and patient-centered care. The CNA curriculum will cover 120 hours of theory and practical training. Students who successfully complete the four-month program will receive a Certificate of Completion and be eligible to take the CNA State Board Exam. Areas of study include basic anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, infection control, observation and reporting, range of motion exercises, communication, nutrition, safety and emergency, personal care skills, patient rights and independence, and basic nursing skills. Morning and evening classes are available. Morning classes meet from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Evening classes meet from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Submit the completed registration form
- Pay the registration fee of $100
- Submit a copy of a valid photo ID and social security card
- Attend a brief orientation one week before the class begins
Tuition for the program is $1,300. It includes the program textbook and uniforms.
- Website: https://www.entrylevelcna.com/
- Address: 6334 Stenton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19138
- Phone: (215) 843-4262
Fair Acres Geriatric Center
The CNA Training Program at Fair Acres Geriatric Center is offered free of charge to prospective employees. Applicants must be interested in a career as a nursing assistant. The state-approved program will cover 120 hours of classroom instruction, lab skills, and supervised patient care experiences in a skilled nursing facility. Theory and practical instruction will cover measuring vital signs, assisting patients with personal care activities, feeding and nutrition, communicating effectively with patients and the health care team, turning and positioning patients, observing and monitoring patients, maintain a safe and clean environment, infection control, and assisting nurses with restoration procedures. Classes will meet Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm for 4 weeks. Daily attendance and punctuality are mandatory. Absenteeism and tardiness will result in dismissal from the program. Graduates will be prepared to take the American Red Cross Certification test comprising of a written and skills evaluation. They will also be ready to work at Fair Acres. Persons interested in enrolling in the program can find out more about the registration process by attending an information session offered every Thursday at 10:00 pm. A valid photo ID and Social Security card must be presented at the session.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Complete the pre-employment application process
- Submit a complete written application
- Take and pass the reading rate and comprehension test
- Answer the practical thinking questions
- Obtain state and federal background clearance
- Complete a physical exam conducted by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant
- Pass a 2-step TB test
Training is free.
- Website: https://www.fairacres.org/
- Address: 340 N. Middletown Road, Lima, PA 19037
- Phone: 610-891-5610
Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science Institute
Students enrolled in the Certified Nurse Assistant program at Job Corps will learn how to control infections, assist patients with daily activities like bathing, eating, and dressing, take and record vital signs, position and turn patients, follow safety guidelines inpatient care, and care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Areas of study include basic anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, infection control, observation and reporting, range of motion exercises, communication, nutrition, safety and emergency, personal care skills, patient rights and independence, and basic nursing skills. Students have up to 18 months to complete the program. Graduates of the state-approved program must take the Nurse Aide Competency Exam to be added to the Nurse Aide Registry.
Admission criteria:
- Must be between the ages of 16 to 24
- Comply with the background check requirements and have no felonies or other offenses
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Demonstrate and reading and math proficiency
Training is free for students who complete the admission criteria. Job Corps will cover the cost for textbooks, uniforms, nursing supplies, and the state exam. Students may also receive a stipend throughout the duration of the program.
- Website: https://philadelphia.jobcorps.gov/train
- Address: 2810 S 20th St Bldg 12 Philadelphia, PA 19145-5001
- Phone: 800 733-JOBS
- Alt: 800 733-5627
Reading Area Community College
The Nurse Aide program at Reading Area Community College prepares students for entry-level employment in a long-term care setting. The program will cover 120 hours of theory and practical instruction in accord with the state requirements. The program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, so graduates will be eligible to apply to take the Nurse Aide Exam to the added to the Nurse Aide Registry. Course topics include the role and function of the nurse aide, infection control, basic nursing skills, resident rights, personal care skills, communication skills, legal and ethical principles, nutrition, prevention of abuse and neglect, psychosocial needs, and Alzheimer’s care
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Complete the program application
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Obtain state and federal background clearance
- Complete a physical exam conducted by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant
- Pass a 2-step TB test
Tuition for the program is $1,390.
- Website: https://www.racc.edu/academics/medical-occupational-training
- Address: 10 South Second Street, Reading, PA 19602
- Phone: 610-372-4721