If you are thinking about becoming a certified nurses aide (CNA), but you don’t have the time to devote to training in a classroom, online CNA classes may be a good option. Look for classes that are certified by a recognized nursing authority as well as those that meet your state or region’s requirements. It is also a good idea to find classes that arrange your hands-on training for you.
The most important thing when choosing online CNA classes is making sure your training will count towards getting your certificate. The best way to do this is to call the certification testing facility in your area and ask them which schools are accredited. You can also talk to other CNAs in your area to see which schools they went to, but keep in mind that accreditation status can change over years. For example, a school can lose their accreditation if they fail to adhere to certain standards, while another school could make the list if they improve their classes to meet the criteria.
Online CNA classes should also fulfill your state or region’s requirements for nurse’s aides. Although the basics are typically similar, each state may have different criteria when it comes to clinical hours or test scores. Again, the testing facility in your area should be able to help you determine the requirements for your state. Consider choosing classes that meet the requirements for the strictest region, that way if you move later, you won’t have to attend additional classes.
Before you can take the test to become a CNA, you will need a certain amount of hands-on training, or clinical hours. Choosing online CNA classes that schedule your clinical hours for you is a good way to save time and frustration. If you are responsible for arranging the hours yourself, you will need to call hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities to arrange for someone to supervise you while you complete your training. If the school arranges the hours for you, all you have to do is arrive on time and follow directions.
Keep in mind that while online CNA classes can be beneficial because they tend to have a more flexible schedule, you will be missing out on seeing procedures performed in person. It can be difficult to learn the proper method of changing bedding, bathing a patient, or observing specific hygiene rules from a book. If you typically need to see something performed to really grasp the method, online CNA classes may more challenging for you.
