How to Get a CNA License in California

California has an overwhelming number of certified nursing assistant (CNA) training programs. When you visit the California Department of Public health website, there is an extensive list of training programs you can download. This includes facility-based nursing assistant training program.

A section on the California Health and Safety Code is dedicated to regulations on overseeing the certified nursing assistants programs. The code acknowledges the important work that CNAs do in terms of patient care. It only means that people who deal directly with the patient should have skills and competence required for the job. California has a set of guidelines that should be followed:

• Applicants to a CNA training programs should have a criminal record clearance upon enrolment.
• Applicants should submit their fingerprints to the Department of Justice for background checks.
• There should be 160 hours of training:
  • 60 hours of classroom work and
  • 100 hours of clinical training.
• There should be a 16-hour orientation to newly employed nursing assistants.
• A checklist of 100+ skills should be evaluated and approved by the instructor before the nursing assistant completes the program
• Training programs are evaluated according to the average test scores their trainees received. These programs should at least have a 60% passing rate.
• The CNA applicant should be at least 16 years old.

Here are several nursing schools with state-approved CNA training program:

1. Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria
   800 S College Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454
   
2. American Career College, Los Angeles
   4021 Rosewood Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90004
   
3. American River College
   4700 College Oak Dr, Sacramento, CA 95841
   
4. Antelope Valley College, Lancaster
   3041 West Ave K, Lancaster, CA 93536
   
5. Bakersfield College
   1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305
   
6. Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education
   4640 Maine Ave, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
   
7. Barstow Community College
   2700 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311
   
8. Butte College
   3536 Butte Campus Drive, Oroville, CA 95965
   
9. Butte College, Chico Center
   2320 Forest Aveune, Chico, CA 95928
   
10. Butte College, Glenn Center
    604 East Walker Street, Orland, CA 95963
    
11. Career Networks Institute
    702 W Town and Country Rd, Orange, CA 92868
    
12. Carrington College California, Pleasant Hill
    380 Civic Dr Ste 300, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
    
13. Carrington College California, Sacramento
    8909 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95826
    
14. Cerro Coso Community College, Indian Wells Valley
    3000 College Heights Blvd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
    
15. Chaffey College
    5885 Haven Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737
    
16. Chapman University
    One University Dr., Orange, CA 92866
    
17. Charles A. Jones Career & Education Center
    5451 Lemon Hill Ave, Sacramento, CA 95824
    
18. Citrus College
    1000 W Foothill Blvd, Glendora, CA 91741
    
19. City College of San Francisco, San Francisco
    50 Phelan Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112
    
20. College of the Canyons
    26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd, Valencia, CA 91355
    
21. College of the Desert
    43-500 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260
    
22. College of the Sequoias
    915 S Mooney Blvd, Visalia, CA 93277
    
23. College of the Siskiyous
    800 College Ave, Weed, CA 96094
    
24. College of the Siskiyous, Yreka
    2001 Campus Drive, Yreka, CA 96097
    
25. Concorde Career College, Garden Grove
    12951 Euclid Street, Suite 101, Garden Grove, CA 92840
    
26. Contra Costa College
    2600 Mission Bell Dr, San Pablo, CA 94806
    
27. Copper Mountain College
    6162 Rotary Way, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
    
28. Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo
    Highway 1, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
    
29. Evergreen Valley College
    3095 Yerba Buena Rd, San Jose, CA 95135
    
30. Fresno City College
    1101 E. University Ave, Fresno, CA 93741
    
31. Gavilan College, Gilroy
    5055 Santa Teresa Blvd, Gilroy, CA 95020
    
32. Glendale Community College of California
    1500 N Verdugo Rd, Glendale, CA 91208
    
33. Golden West College
    15744 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach, CA 92647
    
34. Martinez Adult Education
    600 F St, Martinez, CA 94553
    
35. Merced College
    3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348
    
36. Merritt College
    12500 Campus Dr, Oakland, CA 94619
    
37. Miracosta College
    One Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056
    
38. Mission College
    3000 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054
    
39. Modesto Junior College
    435 College Ave, Modesto, CA 95350
    
40. Mt Diablo Adult Education
    1266 San Carlos, Concord, CA 94518
    
41. Mt San Jacinto College
    1499 N State St, San Jacinto, CA 92583
    
42. National Career College
    6850 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91405
    
43. Palo Verde College
    1 College Drive, Blythe, CA 92225
    
44. Pasadena City College
    1570 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106
    
45. Reedley College
    995 N Reed Ave, Reedley, CA 93654
    
46. Riverside Community College
    4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506
    
47. Saint Francis Career College
    3680 E. Imperial Highway, Lynwood, CA 90262
    
48. Santa Barbara City College
    721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
    
49. Santa Rosa Junior College, Petaluma
    680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma, CA 94954
    
50. Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa
    1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
    
51. Sierra College
    5000 Rocklin Road, Rocklin, CA 95677
    
52. Solano Community College
    4000 Suisun Valley Rd, Fairfield, CA 94534
    
53. Southwestern College, Chula Vista
    900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910
    
54. University of Antelope Valley
    44055 Sierra Hwy, Lancaster, CA 93534
    
55. Victor Valley Community College
    18422 Bear Valley Rd., Victorville, CA 92395
    
56. West Coast Ultrasound Institute
    291 S La Cienega Blvd Ste 500, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
    
57. West Los Angeles College
    9000 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230
    

Competency Evaluation Program

Other states have certification exams. California has a Competency Evaluation Program (CEP) handled by the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross has different fixed locations where you can take the test. They also accept walk-in applications for those who need a computer-aided exam due to reading difficulties. As soon as you have completed the State-approved training program, you can take the test. The test consists of two parts: written and skills tests. CEP tests in California are free of charge. However, you have to pay re-test fees once you fail any parts of the tests. You will be given completion cards when you pass each test. These cards are your proof that you are certified to work in as a CNA in California. A separate certificate from the California Department of Public Health will be mailed to you within 16 days. Your name will also be added to the Department of Heath Services (DHS) nurse aide registry.

Certification Renewal

California requires a CNA to complete a 24-hour in-service training every year. This totals 48 hours of training every two years before the certification expires. A CNA with good standing in the DHS registry can renew the certification for another two years provided that the CNA has at least one day of paid CNA service for the past two years. If you are unable to meet the renewal requirements, you can still have your CNA certification activated (without retraining) by getting clearance from the Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS). The ATCS will recommend you to take the CEP tests and you will have your certificate again when you pass the tests.

California has approved more than 1,000 nursing assistant training programs and shouldered the CEP tests. The support for nursing aide programs is also backed by their stringent laws to protect patients. These efforts made the quality of nursing care effective in elevating the standards in health care.