Responding to a statewide shortage of certified nursing assistants, College of Alameda is planning to offer a no-cost Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program starting with the Spring 2021 Semester. Demand is growing for CNAs. According to labor market information in California, the number of Nursing Assistants is expected to grow faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. Nursing assistant jobs are expected to increase by about 15 percent, or 15,800 jobs by 2026.
Starting salaries for CNAs are above average. In San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CNAs can expect to earn on average $41,410 annually. Successful CNA program graduates will have the skills needed for employment in inpatient hospital settings, long-term residential facilities, rehabilitation centers, or adult day care centers.
CoA’s new CNA program has been spearheaded by Dean of Career and Workforce Education Eva Jennings. The program is specifically designed to prepare students for successful completion of the CNA certification examination. California is among the 25 states that use the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) for certification purposes. Candidates must pass knowledge and skills tests. The knowledge test is available in written and oral formats. In addition, students who successfully pass the CNA examination, will be well- positioned for future advancement in healthcare careers by continuing their education to become Licensed Professional Nurses (LPN) or Registered Nurses (RN).
CoA’s no-cost, noncredit CNA program requires student participation in a mandatory orientation. As a condition of program acceptance, CNA candidates also will be required to successfully submit to drug testing, take a Tuberculosis (TB) test, and pass a criminal background check by the California Department of Justice (DOJ). Instruction will take place in-person at the College of Alameda campus and students must complete clinical rotations at the following sites in the local geographical area: Telecare, Piedmont, Elders Inn, and The Point Rockridge.
