A Certified Nursing Assistant, also known as a CNA,  must meet certain qualifications to obtain and maintain their certification status. One of the universal qualifications is to have the proper training that leads to a passing state board certification test. If you are planning on enrolling in a CNA school either online or through an area training school, there are few things you should ask first.

Are You Paid During Training?

Paid training is usually an option that nursing home and assisted living based CNA schools offer. You are generally hired on as a student nursing assistant or as an entry-level nursing assistant. You are trained by a representative from the nursing team and paid, usually minimum wage, for the duration of your training. If you are attending a school online, a stand-alone CNA school,  or through a community college you will likely be paying for the training out of pocket.

Do You Receive Clinical Hours?

This is a question you should ask if you are enrolling through a community college, private CNA school, or similar program. Clinical hours refers to the hands on experience and training hours you receive through a nursing home or assisted living community. This is usually part of the training and consists of a set amount of hours determined by your state.  Since some states do not require this as part of your training or to register for the certification exam, the question can be vital to choosing the right program for you.

Will You Be Certified as Part of Your Tuition?

Each state nursing board charges a different amount for the Certified Nursing Assistant exam. If you are attending a CNA school, the cost of the NNAAP, or nurse aid exam, may be included in your tuition. If it isn't included you will have to pay for the exam out of pocket after you have completed your training. If it is included it is usually the final step in completing the training course through the school of your choice.

By knowing the answers to these four questions, you can ensure that you graduate from the CNA school with as few surprises as possible. You will know ahead of time if you need to pay for anything, like your exam, or if you can hit the ground running with a job in the field. Remember, that a CNA may not be certified for home health agencies and additional certifications may be required for positions outside of hospitals and nursing homes. If you feel you are ready to get started, contact a representative from the CNA school (such as MedStar Academy) today.