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While becoming a nursing assistant doesn’t require any special training or experience, being certified as one does. If you want to work in any facility which accepts Medicare, this certification will be required by federal and state laws. This can take anywhere between 75 to 150 hours of pre-employment training to attain as well as the ability to pass a state administered test.

So where do you look to get this kind of training? There are a number of different kinds of facilities and organizations that offer CNA training. If you have a local branch of the Red Cross in your area it can be a great place to get fairly low cost and high quality training. If your community doesn’t have these kinds of classes, don’t worry, there are a number of other ways to take courses.

Many community colleges and vocational schools offer nursing assistant training. Often, these programs will require little to no previous experience and some will not even have a high school diploma as a requirement to apply. Training through these kinds of programs will last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on the school and the type of training they offer.

A relatively new kind of option for nursing assistant school it to take courses online. A growing number of distance learning colleges are offering these kinds of courses, though students should be careful and check with their state requirements if they are enrolling in a program located out of their home state to ensure that they get credit for having taken the courses. These types of schools provide reading material and instructional videos to help students learn the basics of what it takes to be a CNA.

If none of these options work for you, check with your local hospitals and health care facilities. Many will offer CNA training programs that can get you the basic education and hands-on training you’ll need to pass the nursing assistant certification exam. In some cases, these courses may even be offered free of charge if the student is willing to commit to working at the facility after they complete the program. For those who lack the initial funds to take classes, this can be a good compromise to get training and experience for a new career.

Top Online Nursing Programs

South University Online
South University - CNA Degree. South University provides you the ability to obtain your medical assisting degree entirely online. Students interested in becoming a nursing assistant will be able to use this degree to start a new nursing career.
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University of Phoenix - A.A. in Health Care Administration.. Offering affordable and convenient degree plans, University of Phoenix is an accredited university with a successful track record of preparing students for new careers in nursing. Phoenix offers campus and online options.
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Rasmussen College
Rasmussen College - A.S. in Medical Administration. For those who are pursuing a career in medical assisting, Rasmussen College's Associate's degree in Medical Administration will provide students with the education needed to help run a healthcare office. Students will be prepared to face the various situations they will encounter in the workforce.
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Herzing University
Herzing University - A.S. in Medical Assisting. For those interested in a career that is dedicated in helping others, Herzing University offers an Associate's degree in Medical Assisting that can be taken completely from home. Their programs will prepare students to work alongside physicians and nurses to perform administrative and clinical work.
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AIU Online, American Intercontinental University Online
American InterContinental University Online - The A.A.B.A. in Healthcare Administration. American InterContinental University has great course programs for students seeking their first college degree in the field of healthcare. With affordable degree plans, going back to school at an accredited online college has never been easier.
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San Joaquin Valley College
San Joaquin Valley College - AS in Clinical Medical Assisting. San Joaquin Valley College provides specialized training to prepare students for work in medical offices and clinics. With their convenient online programs, students have the opportunity to obtain a great education without having to quit their jobs.
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Kaplan University
Kaplan University - A.A.S. in Health Information Technology. Students interested in becoming a nursing assistant will be very pleased with the Associate's Degree in Health Information Technology that Kaplan University offers. Kaplan is a respected online institution with a history of providing high quality classes at affordable prices.
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DeVry University
DeVry University - Associate in Health Information Technology. DeVry University gives students the opportunity to work in the healthcare field alongside nurses, physicians, and other health care providers in a variety of settings. Their Associate in Health Information Technology program prepares students to work with information systems, applications systems, and databases that hold important health and patient information.
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Virginia College
Virginia College - The BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College Online is the perfect online university for students on the go. With classes online, students can take them when they have the free time to do so and from any location with internet access.
Keiser University
California Coast University - A.S. in Health Care Administration. Individuals seeking to learn more about the health care industry and are interested in working with health care providers will find that California Coast University offers a wide array of programs to meet their specific goals. The A.S. in Health Care Administration degree will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for a career in the health care field.
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Keiser University
Keiser University - The Associate of Science in Medical Assisting. Keiser University offers an affordable and flexible online degree program that prepares students looking to pursue a degree in medical assistance. They prepare students to perform under the supervision of a physician or practitioner by providing the skills and knowledge needed to enter the fast-growing healthcare industry.
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