Common College Requirements for Aspiring CNAs

Are you thinking about enrolling in a CNA training program? Have you been looking for information regarding college requirements for aspiring nurse aide students? If this is the case with you, we can help answer your questions and get you started on the road to your new and exciting career.

Admissions Criteria

The first set of requirements that you will need to fulfill as a prospective CNA student are admissions criteria. Although this category of requirements may differ slightly from one educational institution to another, there are some requirements that are common to almost all schools. The common requirements include:

• Admissions Application
• High School Diploma or GED
• Official High School Transcripts
• ACT or SAT Test Scores
• TB Test and a Current Vaccination Record
• First-Year Orientation, Interview or Essays

Required Coursework

As a CNA student, part of your program will be spent completing various courses related to the field. These courses may vary a bit from school to school and from state to state. You may also need to take additional courses depending on your placement exam scores. However, some typical CNA coursework are:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Oral Communications
• Introduction to Computers
• College-Level Mathematics
• Medical Terminology
• Medical Ethics and Patients' Rights
• Nutrition
• Infection Control
• Human Diseases and Hygiene

Practical Training

In addition to the course requirements described above, as a CNA student, you must complete a specified amount of clinical training as well. The amount of practical training you will need to complete varies depending on the state where you intend to obtain your education. However, the skills taught in this portion of a CNA program are consistent with:

• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation/CPR
• Administrative Tasks
• Pre and Post-Operative Patient Care
• Taking and Recording Vital Signs
• Re-Positioning, Moving and Transferring Patients
• Dressing, Bathing and Feeding Patients
• Basic Patient Care Techniques
• Monitoring Infections and Managing Bed Sores

Graduation Requirements

Most CNA courses only last about eight to 12 weeks. Of course, this depends on the school's curriculum and the scores you receive on your placement exams. For example, if you need to take additional courses, it may take you a bit longer to finish your program and earn your certificate.

To graduate in a timely manner, you will need to complete all of the required coursework and clinics with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher. However, this is just a minimum-required GPA, and if you are able to earn a higher grade point average, you may enjoy more employment opportunities.

Conclusion

To complete a college CNA program, you will need to fulfill a variety of requirements relating to admissions, coursework and clinical training.