Certified Nursing Assistant (Nursing 399A)
This 12-week class offers everything you need to become eligible for State certification and employment as a Nursing Assistant in long-term care facilities, acute care, and home care settings. Emphasis is given to safety principles, infection control, methods for providing physical care, and emotional and social support. Classes are offered during Spring Semester and Fall Semester duirng evening hours, and Summer Intersession during day hours, in a 9-week format.
The CNA course includes 72 hours of theory and 128 hours of clinical work. Clinical work is scheduled at local nursing facilities on Saturdays and Sundays. Classes are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Students must attend all classes to complete the required hours. See the class schedule for class dates and times.
Upon successful completion of the course, students are eligible for the State of California certification Examination. The State application for certification requires fingerprinting and a background check. Applicants who have been convicted of a criminal offense may not be eligible for certification. Please contact our office at (310) 287-7226.
Prerequisites
Admission to the Nursing program is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must meet the following requirements:
- Complete the admission application for West Los Angeles College and obtain student ID number
- Complete Nursing Assistant Program Application.
Prior to the start of the clinical rotation, students will need to have completed the requirements listed below. Your professor will review these requirements with you during class by using the program's checklist. The West Los Angeles College Student Health Center provides many of these at no or low cost. Contact them at (310) 287-4478.
- Physical examination (completed within two months from the application date).
- Proof of vaccination or titer:
- Tetanus (within past 10 years). Offered at the Student Health Center.
- Hepatitis B
- Current flu vaccine
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella). Offered at the Student Health Center.
- Proof of Absence of Tuberculosis (negative skin test or negative chest x-ray within two months of start of program). Offered at the Student Health Center.
- Varicella (Chicken pox - titer or proof of vaccination).
- Drug screen (completed within two months from the application date)
- American Heart Association CPR card for the Healthcare Provider. You can meet this requirement by enrolling in Allied Health 21 (open to students enrolled in the program ONLY). Click on the class schedule for available dates/times.
- Malpractice insurance with coverage that includes $1,000,000 single occurrence & $3,000,000 aggregate. For more information regarding malpractice insurance, call 800-247-1500 for rates.