Top 3 CNA Programs in Charlotte

The path to becoming a CNA, or Certified Nursing Assistant, is easier than you probably think. If you live in Charlotte, NC, and want to kick-start your nursing career by earning your CNA license, the first step is to find and complete an approved CNA program. Several CNA programs are available in Charlotte and the surrounding metropolitan area, so you don't have a lack of options. However, it's important to know what to look for in an educational program. In addition to suiting your financial and scheduling needs, the ideal program will have a stellar reputation for helping students pass the state certification exam, which is the next step in the process. It will also include clinical experiences that help you gain real-life experience as a CNA before you even graduate.

Like many aspiring CNAs in the Charlotte area, you may have been holding off on pursuing your dream of becoming a CNA because you don't know where to begin. With so many CNA programs in the area, it's easy to feel pretty overwhelmed. Cut to the chase more quickly by taking a closer look at some popular programs in the Charlotte area. These programs tend to be popular because they're affordable, relatively short in duration, and have high pass rates. Quickly find the right program by considering these three especially popular options:

Gaston College

This school is located in Dallas, NC, which is about 20 miles away from downtown Charlotte. If it's close to your neck of the woods, it's a good option to consider. Its Nurse Aide program is geared toward preparing students for the state certification exam, so it includes theory, lab, and clinical practice portions. That's necessary because the certification exam has a written portion and a practical skills portion that requires you to demonstrate proficiency with a variety of crucial CNA skills. Gaston College's program is 12-credit hours, so it's fairly involved.

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Located about 20 miles from Charlotte in Concord, NC, Cabarrus College of Health Sciences offers a Medical Assistant program that helps aspiring CNAs acquire the skills and knowledge that they need to pass the state certification exam. Once you've passed the exam, you can apply for your license, so it is important to focus on your studies while completing the program. A standout in the region, Cabarrus's CNA program boasts a 100 percent pass rate, so you can feel confident about its ability to prepare you for the test and for your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant. At just 38 diploma hours in length, it's a quick, affordable way to get the ball rolling on your new career.

Cleveland Community College

You will find this school in Shelby, NC, which is about 40 miles away from Charlotte. As long as it's within a reasonable driving distance of your home, you should take a closer look at it. The school offers a Nursing Assistant Certification Program that consists of 15 credit hours of instruction. As with most programs of this kind, it includes many hours of classroom instruction, including lectures. You will also complete labs at the school, which will familiarize you with the tools that CNAs commonly use in their line of work. The program also includes clinical practice at local healthcare facilities like nursing homes. The clinical portion is crucial because it prepares you for the skills portion of the certification exam and gives you a feel for what working as a CNA is actually like.

Don't hold off on pursuing your dream of becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. For most CNAs, the hardest part of the process is completing the program, which tends to be fairly intense. Of course, it all depends on which CNA program you select. Regardless of your scheduling needs, budgetary requirements or other criteria, you should be able to zero in on several viable options in no time. Just take your time and do plenty of research because the right program will help you get your career off to a fantastic start.