The first step you should take so that you can become a certified nursing assistant in Pennsylvania is to take up CNA training in Pennsylvania. That makes a whole lot of sense, right?
Because the career of a CNA is certification-based, you would have to complete certain prerequisites in the form of hours spent in classroom training, in the laboratory, and in nursing home service. These are all important aspects to becoming a full-fledged CNA, and this should help you be better able to deal with the patients once you start your practice.
Preliminary requirements would include your high school diploma (or GED if you don’t have one), a medical certificate proving you are physically fit to be working with patients, and a police clearance to make sure you have not been convicted of any health industry-related felony. If you are all in the clear with these preliminaries, then you can go ahead and sign up for your school of choice.
But what should your considerations be when choosing a school where you will take your CNA classes? The most common factors you should put into the equation would be the location, the curriculum, and of course, the cost.
For the location, you would want to go somewhere that is going to prove to be a convenient commute or drive for you. Especially if you are juggling jobs and school, you wouldn’t want to spend much of your time on the road when you can instead be using it productively in school. If in case you cannot afford to be too far away from the campus, you might want to check out the in-campus dorm options of the school you are looking to get into. Not only will this save you time, it should also allow you to cut back on living expenses.
As for the curriculum, this will ultimately depend on what kind of schedule you’re running. Are you going to be a part-time or full-time student? Will you be an out-of-campus student, meaning you will be most likely taking your classroom lessons from online? Are you an adult learner who would need a different kind of pacing with the studies? All these are important, because if the curriculum doesn’t fit your needs, then most likely, you will have an even more difficult time than necessary.
On average, the CNA classes in Pennsylvania, as in other parts of the country, will take up about two months. After that, you will have to take the certification exam and pass it. Once you do, then that’s the only time you can really call yourself a full-fledged certified nursing assistant.
All the hard work and expense should be worth it, anyway, because the returns are among the most lucrative in the healthcare industry. With healthcare institutions never running out of patients, you can guarantee that you will be working in one of the more stable, “”recession-proof”" industries the world over.
A. W. Beattie Career Center
9600 Babcock Blvd., Allison Park, PA 15101
County College
Downtown Center 625, PA, PA 15222
Consulate Healthcare
3876 Saxonburg, Cheswick, PA 15024
Forbes Road East Career Technical Center
607 Beatty Road, Monroeville, PA 15146
Harmar Village Care Center
715 Freeport Road, Cheswick, PA 15024
Highland Park Care
745 North Highland, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Parkway West Area Vocational Technical School
7101 Steubenville Pike, Oakdale, PA 15071
Pittsburgh Job Corps Center
7175 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Riverside Nursing Center
100 8th Street, Mckeesport, PA 15132
Southwestern Nursing Center
500 North Lewis Run Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15122
St. Barnabas, Inc.
Meridian Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044
Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School
565 Lewis Run Rd., Jeff Boro, Clairton, PA 15025
Kittanning Care Center
R.D. 1, Route 422 East, Kittanning, PA 16201
Lenape Area Vocational Technical School
2215 Chaplin Ave., Ford City, PA 16226
Beaver County Area Vocational Technical School
145 Poplar Drive, Monaca, PA 15061
Providence Health Care
900 Third Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Rochester Manor
174 Virginia Ave., Rochester, PA 15074
Bedford County Technical Center
195 Pennknoll Road, Everett, PA 15537
Berks Career and Technology Center
1057 County Road, Leesport, PA 19533
Reading-Muhlenberg Career and Technical Center
2615 Warren Road, Reading, PA 19604
Altoona Center For Nursing Care
1020 Green Ave., Altoona, PA 16601
Grtr Altoona Career and Technical Center
1500 Fourth Ave., Altoona, PA 16602
Penn State
1444 11Th Ave., Altoona, PA 16601
Presbyterian Home
220 Newry St., Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Ashton Healthcare Nursing and PA
200 South Main St., Athens, PA 18810
Memorial Hospital
One Hospital Drive, Towanda, PA 18848
Northern Tier Career Center
Rr #1, Towanda, PA 18848
Attleboro Nursing and Rehabilitation
300 East Winchester Ave., Langhorne, PA 19047
Bucks County Community College
1020 South Main St., Quakertown, PA 18951
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology
2740 Old York Road, Jamison, PA 18929
Valley Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation
7650 Route 309, Coopersburg, PA 18036
Autumn Grove Care Center
536 South Main Street, Harrisville, PA 16038
Concordia Lutheran Health
134 Marwood Road, Cabot, PA 16023
Evergreen Nursing Center
191 Evergreen Mill Road, Harmony, PA 16037
LSL Passavant Retirement
401 South Main Street, Zelienople, PA 16063
St. John Lutheran Care Center
500 Wittenberg Way, Mars, PA 16046
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
5 St. Francis Way, Cranberry, PA 16066
Admiral Peary Area Vocational Technical School
948 Ben Franklin Highway, Ebensburg, PA 15931
Commonwealth Technical
727 Goucher Street, Johnstown, PA 15905
Greater Johnstown Area Vocational Technical School
445 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown, PA 15904
Carbon County Area Vocational Technical School
150 West 13th Street, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
Lehigh-Carbon County College
24 East Locust Street, Nesquehonin, PA 18235
Central PA Institute of Science and Technology
540 North Harrison Road, Pleasant Gap, PA 16823
Central Pennsylvannia Institute of Career
540 North Harrison Road, Pleasant Gap, PA 16823
Chester County Opportunities Center
790 East Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382
Center For Arts and Technology
1635 East Lincoln, Coatesville, PA 19320
Saint Martha Manor
470 Manor Ave., Downingtow, PA 19335
Tel Hai Nursing Center, Inc.
Beaver Dam Rd. Honey Brook, PA 19344
Clarion County Career Center
447 Career Road, Shippenville, PA 16254
Clarview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
14663 Rt 68, Sligo, PA 16255
Clearfield County Career and Technology Center
1620 River Road, Clearfield, PA 16830
Dubois Nursing Home
212 South 8th Street, Dubois, PA 15801
Susque-View Home, Inc.
22 Cree Drive, Lock Haven, PA 17745
Columbia-Montour Area Vocational Technical School
5050 Sweppenheiser Drive, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Community Health System
801 East 16th Street, Berwick, PA 18603
Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School
110 Old Willow Mill Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
TLC Institute
Box 6567, Harrisburg, PA 17112
Delaware County Technical School
Delmar Dr. and Henderson, Folcroft, PA 19032
Delaware County Community College
901 South Media Line Road, Media, PA 19063
Elk Haven Nursing Home Association, Inc.
785 Johnsonburg Road, St. Mary’s, PA 15857
City of Erie Regional Career and Technical School
3325 Cherry Street, Erie, PA 16508
Edinboro Manor
419 Waterford Street, Edinboro, PA 16412
Fairview Manor
900 Manchester Road, Fairview, PA 16415
HVA Educational Center
4544 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA 16506
Pleasant Ridge Manor
8300 West Ridge Road, Girard, PA 16417
Tri-State Business Institute
5757 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA 16506
Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center
720 Locust Street Extention, Connellsville, PA 15425
Fayette County Area Vocational Technical School
175 Georges Fairchance, Uniontown, PA 15401
South Fayette Nursing Center
252 Main Street, Markleysburg, PA 15459
Franklin County Career and Technical Center
2463 Loop Road, Chambersburg, PA 17201
Institute for Caregiver Education
612 Chambersburg Mall, Chambersburg, PA 17202
Fulton County Medical
216 South 1st Street, Mcconnellsb, PA 17233
Huntingdon County Career and Technical Center
Box E, Mill Creek, Pennsylvania 17060
Indiana County Technology Center
441 Hamill Road, Indiana, PA 15701
Dubois Area Vocational Technical School
576 Vo Tech Road, Reynoldsville, PA 15851
Jefferson Manor Health
R.R. #5, Brookville, PA 15825
Lackawanna College
501 Vine Street, Scranton, PA 18509
Marywood University
2300 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509
Mountain Rest Nursing Home
100 Linwood Ave., Scranton, PA 18505
Mountain View Care Center
2309 Stafford Ave., Scranton, PA 18505
LCCTC Career Link
1016 North Charlotte Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
Golden Hill Nursing Home, Inc.
520 Friendship Street, New Castle, PA 16101
Jameson Memorial Hospital
1211 Wilmington Ave., New Castle, PA 16105
Overlook Medical Clinic
520 New Castle Street, New Castle, PA 16142
Silver Oaks Nursing Center
715 Harbor Street, New Castle, PA 16101
Cedarbrook Lehigh Home
350 South Cedarbrook Road, Allentown, PA 18104
Lehigh Career and Technical Institute
4500 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville, PA 18078
Lehigh-Carbon Community College
718 Hamilton Mall, Allentown, PA 18101
Highland Manor Nursing Home
750 Schooley Ave., Exeter, PA 18643
Luzerne County Community College
1333 South Prospect, Nanticoke, PA 18634
Mountain City Nursing
1000 West 27th Street, Hazleton, PA 18201
Valley Crest Nursing
1551 East End Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
West Side Area Vocational Technical School
75 Evans Street, Pringle Borough, Kingston, PA 18704
Muncy Valley Hospital
215 East Water St., Muncy, PA 17756
Bradford Regional Medical Center Nurse
116-156 Interstae Parkway, Bradford, PA 16701
Sena Kean Manor
Rt 6, Smethport, PA 16749
Grove Manor
435 North Broad St., Grove City, PA 16127
Health Link Services
2921 East State St., Hermitage, PA 16148
Mercer County Area Vocational Technical School
776 Greenville Rd., Mercer, PA 16137
Trinity Living Center
400 Hillcrest Ave., Grove City, PA 16127
White Cliff Nursing Home
110 Fredonia Road, Greenville, PA 16125
Mifflin-Juniata Technical Center
700 Pitt Street, Lewistown, PA 17044
Monroe Career and Technical Institute
Box 66, Laurel Lake Drive, Bartonsville, PA 18321
N. Montco Technical Career Center
1265 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale, PA 19446
Professional Healthcare
1333 Cheltenham Ave., Melrose Park, PA 19027
Regina Nursing Center
550 East Fornance Street, Norristown, PA 19401
Western Center Technical Studies
77 Gratersford Road, Limerick, PA 19468
Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School
3300 Chester Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18020
Easton Nursing Center
498 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042
Northampton County Home
Gracedale Ave., Nazareth, PA 18064
Northampton Community College
3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Kramm Healthcare
743 Mahoning Street, Milton, PA 17847
Albert Einstein Healthcare
5501 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19141
Alpha Education Center
100 East Roosevelt Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19120
American Red Cross
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
American Center for Technology
2375 Welsh Road, Philadelphia, PA 19114
Cathedral Village School
600 East Cathedral Road, Philadelphia, PA 19128
Clinical Pathwys
4918 Penn St., Philadelphia, PA 19124
Health and Technology Training Institute
100 South Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19110
Holy Redeemer Health
8580 Verree Road, Philadelphia, PA 19111
Germantown Home
6950 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19103
Nursing on Demand Education
858 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130
Professional Nurses Services Training Center
6334 Stenton Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19138
Roxborough Memorial Hospital
5800 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19128
Charles Cole Memorial
1001 East Second St., Coudersport, PA 16915
Sweden Valley Manor
1028 East Second St., Coudersport, PA 16915
Broad Mtn. Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
500 West Laurel St., Frackville, PA 17931
Friendly Nursing Home
200 Taylorville Mtn Road, Pitman, PA 17964
Schuylkill Center
1000 Schuylkill Manor, Pottsville, PA 17901
Schuylkill County Home
401 University Drive, Schuylkill, PA 17972
Schuylkill Technical Center
101 Technology Drive, Frackville, PA 17931
Shenandoah Manor
101 East Washington St., Shenandoah, PA 17976
Tremont Health and Rehabilitation Center
44 Donaldson Road, Tremont, PA 17981
Somerset County Technical Center
281 Vo-Tech Road, Somerset, PA 15501
Red Rock Job Corps Center
Rt. 487 North, Lopez, PA 18628
Barnes-Kasson Hospital
400 Turnpike St., Susquehanna, PA 18847
Broad Acres Health
1883 Shumway Hill Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901
Pennsylvania College
12280 Route 6, Wellsboro, PA 16901
Albright Care Services
1 Maplewood Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837
Sun Area Career and Technology Center
815 East Market St., New Berlin, PA 17855
The Caring Place
103 North 13Th St., Franklin, PA 16323
Venango Technical Center
1 Vo-Tech Drive, Oil City, PA 16301
Greenery Special Care Center
2200 Hill Church Houston, Canonsburg, PA 15317
Humbert Lane Health Care
90 Humbert Lane, Washington, PA 15301
Mon Valley Career and Technology Center
5 Guttman Ave., Charleroi, PA 15022
Western Area Career and Technical Center
688 Western Ave., Canonsburg, PA 15317
Wayne Woodlands Manor
295 South Street, Waymart, PA 18472
E. Westmoreland Career Technical Center
4904 Rt. 982, Latrobe, PA 15650
Greensburg Care Center
119 Industrial Park Road, Greensburg, PA 15601
Hempfield Manor
Rd #6, Woodward Dr., Greensburg, PA 15601
Mt. View Speciality Care Center
R.D. #7,Sand Hill Rd., Greensburg, PA 15601
Quest Healthcare Development
2030 Ader Road., Jeannette, PA 15644
Redstone Highlands Health Center
6 Garden Center Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601
St. Anne Home
685 Angela Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601
West Haven Nursing Home
151 Goodview Drive, Bx 278, Apollo, PA 15613
Westmoreland County Community Center
145 Pavilion Lane, Youngwood, PA 15697
Westmoreland Manor
2480 South Grande Blvd., Greensburg, PA 15601
Homewood at Plum Creek
425 Westminster Ave., Hanover, PA 17331
York County School of Technology
2179 South Queen Street, York, PA 17402