Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) & Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) Certificate
At a Glance
Launch a Rewarding Career as a Healthcare Professional!
Carroll’s CNA/GNA workforce training program features practicing in our state-of-the-art nursing lab and clinicals at a local long-term care facility. Earn your Nursing Assistant certification in as little as a few months and join one of the most stable and in-demand job sectors in the U.S.
Approx. Number of Hours/Months:
132 hours/2-3 months (excluding prerequisites)
Schedule:
Program offered a few times each year
Program Cost:*
$2,178 (excluding prerequisites)
Min. Occupational Requirements:
16 years old or older (most employers require 18 years or older & high school diploma or GED®); Maryland Board of Nursing requires fingerprinting and background checks for certification
What You’ll Learn
Looking for a fast, meaningful way to start your career in healthcare? Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Geriatric Nursing Assistants (GNAs) are the heart of patient care, providing essential support and compassion to those who need it most. In this hands-on training program, you’ll learn about:
- Importance of caring behaviors
- How to assist with personal skills such as dressing, feeding, bathing & mobility
- How to check for vital signs
- Monitoring for signs of illness or infection
- Basic admission assessments
Curriculum
This program requires study time outside of class and includes college-level texts. All tests must be passed prior to the start of clinical training. Clinical training requires written documentation of MMR and Varicella immunity, a negative TB test or chest x-ray within the last 12 months, and Hepatitis B immunity or waiver.
The certification exam is administered after successful completion of the clinical. (Cost included in course cost.)
You must pass a reading placement test prior to enrolling in the program.
View all current course offerings. Not all courses are offered within every term schedule.
Prerequisite Courses
BLS Provider training is designed to provide healthcare professionals the ability to recognize several life-threatening emergencies, provide CPR, use an AED and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner. This course is for healthcare professionals who need to know how to perform CPR, as well as other lifesaving skills, in a wide variety of in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings. You must demonstrate competency through both a written test and skills evaluation. Upon successful completion, an AHA BLS Provider card will be issued, valid for two years.
Prepare for the rewards of becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. Get the foundation you need to be successful in the classroom as well as the workplace. Sharpen your skills in taking measurements and basic math. Learn about communication, professionalism on the job and in the classroom, and teamwork. Other topics include resumes, application letters and how to prepare for interviews. This training program includes a clinical component. The clinical site is not currently requiring COVID vaccination but can reinstate the requirement at any time. If that should happen, any student who is not vaccinated will not be able to proceed with their clinicals unless they receive the vaccine. Please note, if you register for this course, but cannot attend clinicals due to your vaccination status, a refund will not be issued.
Core Courses
Become a caring, efficient, safe, and professional member of the health care team. Learn basic patient care skills, the CNA role on the healthcare team, disease processes, infection control and safety issues. Combined with the clinical portion (AHE-580), this course meets all requirements to be eligible for CNA certification in MD and prepares students for the National GNA exam. Requires study time outside of class. Includes exams, which must be passed prior to starting clinical. Prerequisites: AHE-257 CNA Preparation, American Heart Association BLS Provider CPR. Students must take the College’s reading placement test no later than one week before the first session.
Build upon the skills and knowledge in Part I (AHE-042). Assume the role of the CNA in a long-term care facility under the supervision of an MBON approved instructor. Prerequisites: successful completion of Nursing Assistant Part I. Uniform, white shoes, written documentation of MMR and Varicella immunity, negative TB test or chest x-ray within last 6 months, Hepatitis B immunity or waiver, and American Heart Association BLS Provider CPR are required. Flu and Covid vaccines may be required. Cost includes required fingerprinting and the fee for the NNAAP GNA exam which will be administered on campus at a date to be determined after successful completion of this course. Students are responsible for additional costs such as application fee to MBON and background checks. These costs vary. All CNA students are required to attend the GNA skills lab (AHE-455) prior to the GNA exam. Refer to the course listing for the skills lab and register now.
Licensure/Certification Earned
Students who successfully complete the training are eligible to apply for a CNA or GNA certification from the Maryland Board of Nursing.
Financial Assistance
Why Choose Carroll’s CNA/GNA Training?
- Short-Term Program: Complete courses and earn your certification in less then 3 months.
- Supportive Environment: Train in a well-equipped classroom centered on caring, growth, and student success.
- Real-World Experience: Learn from instructors with years of healthcare experience in an actual nursing facility.
- Industry-Aligned Curriculum: Our program is shaped by local healthcare leaders and industry experts, ensuring you learn the skills employers are looking for right now. View our Advisory Boards.
Career Outlook
Job opportunities for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Geriatric Nursing Assistants (GNAs) remains promising, driven by the rising number of older adults requiring assistance with daily activities and medical care.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of Nursing Assistants is projected to grow 4% from 2023 to 2033. On average, about 216,200 openings for Nursing Assistants are expected each year over the decade, primarily due to the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.
The demand is particularly strong in settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and rehabilitation centers, where CNAs and GNAs play a critical role in patient care. The consistent need for CNAs and GNAs across various healthcare settings offers people in these positions substantial job security. Moreover, they may use their CNA/GNA certification as a stepping stone into advanced roles like Medication Aide, Patient Care Tech, LPN, or RN.
- What is Nursing Assistant certification?
Nursing Assistant certification is overseen by the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP), which is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing. After completion of course, students sit for the NNAAP exam to become certified. - Are there any prerequisites?
Yes. You will need to have successfully completed the AHE-257 CNA Preparation and AHE-315 BLS Provider courses. - Where are the training locations?
Training takes place at Carroll Community College (classroom) and Carroll Lutheran Village (clinicals) in Westminster. - Is financial assistance available?
Yes! This program is eligible for tuition assistance. - What is the hourly pay for CNAs/GNAs?
The average wage for CNAs/GNAs is $18-$20 an hour. (Wages are based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are estimates only.) - Who should take this training?
Anyone with an interest in health promotion or nursing who has a desire to help vulnerable populations.
Related Professional Skills and Job Training courses
Prepares persons working as Geriatric Nursing Assistants for the safe preparation, administration, and charting of routine medicines. Requires study time outside class and includes tests which the student must pass prior to starting the clinical experience. Prerequisites: Students must take the College reading and math placement tests or provide college transcripts, have a minimum of one year full-time current employment as a geriatric nursing assistant; submit a letter of recommendation from their DON; provide a copy of a current, active CNA/GNA certification; negative TB test/Chest Xray within the last year; proof of immunity to MMR, Varicella and Hepatitis B or sign a Hep B waiver; and proof of flu vaccine for the current flu season.
Interested in enrolling?
410-386-8100 | cet@carrollcc.edu
*Unless noted, cost does not include any required textbooks and related materials, applicable licensing fees, background check fees, testing fees or prerequisite courses.