Clone of Your Guide to Becoming A Medical Assistant (CNA)
JOIN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD AS A CNA
Search Certified Nursing Assistant Programs Near You.
Welcome to Nursing Assistant Guides, a comprehensive resource for individuals researching nursing assistant degree programs. To help you navigate our site, we have listed the most commonly asked questions below along with detailed answers and additional resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Answers to the Most Common Questions about Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant.
What is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?
A certified nursing assistant, or CNA, is a person who assists registered nurses as they perform their duties. CNAs often work in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, or provide in-home care, but they are also employed by hospitals and clinics. The typical job responsibilities of a CNA include:
- Help determine patients’ needs and promptly respond to those needs.
- Document observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
- Communicate with patients to determine possible need for assistance or social and emotional support.
How do I become a CNA?
To obtain a nursing assistant job, a CNA most often needs to have at least a high school diploma, or GED, and at least some form of post-secondary nursing instruction. This can be obtained from a variety of institutions, including online schools, community colleges, trade schools, and so on. Students are then usually required to pass an examination for their certification.
While a degree is typically not required, it can help prepare students for their CNA responsibilities as well as help provide a path to career advancement later on. The following associate degrees in healthcare can help train students for nursing assistant positions:
| School | Programs |
|---|---|
 Kaplan University Accreditation
|
|
 Ultimate Medical Academy Accreditation
|
|
 Herzing University Accreditation
|
Click here to see more Nursing degrees…
What is the career outlook for nursing assistants?
The job outlook for medical assistant positions, including CNAs, is excellent, with employment projected to grow 29 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industries with the highest level of employment in this occupation are listed below along with salary information:
| Industry: | CNAs Employed: | Annual Mean Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians | 337,690 | $30,880 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 79,190 | $32,240 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 58,560 | $27,630 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 36,190 | $32,390 |
| Employment Services | 7,570 | $31,060 |
The job growth for CNAs and other related occupations won’t be slowing down any time soon. People are living even longer due to medical advancements, which contributes to the growing need for more healthcare and medical assistants.
How I can learn more about becoming a CNA?
Our site features a number of useful resources designed for prospective students and anyone interested in learning more about the job of a CNA and how to become one. Below you’ll find a list of articles and other materials that you may find helpful:
- Test Taking Tips for the CNA Exam: Our tips and strategies will help you prepare for the CNA exam and assure your preparedness for the real test.
- Nursing Assistant Job Board: This page is an up-to-site job board with listings for various healthcare positions throughout the country.
- Are Nursing Assisting (CNA) and Medical Assisting the Same?: You might be surprised to know that a CNA and a medical assistant are not entirely the same. Learn more about the differences between the two roles to determine which matches your career goals.
- Notable Sites on Hospice & Palliative Care: Many CNAs work in hospice and palliative care so we’ve put together a handy list of sites to help you on the job.
- Careers and Average Salaries for Nursing Assistants: To learn more about careers and job outlook for CNAs, we’ve put together a useful resource with statistics and industry data.
To learn more about what we do and how to become a CPA, follow us on Twitter @CNAINFO. We regularly tweet important news and updates and direct our followers to helpful articles about CNA classes and certification.