4 Free & Low-Cost Online CNA Courses With Certificates Of Completion

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) provide basic care to patients and help them with necessary tasks of daily life, and if you want to work in healthcare, becoming a CNA can help you get started. This path requires much less time and money than obtaining a registered nurse (RN) license. Below, learn what it takes to become a CNA and browse our list of free and affordable online CNA courses with certificates.

What Is a CNA?

CNAs provide care to patients and assist them with their daily activities. These professionals may work in hospitals, residential care facilities or other healthcare settings. They work under the supervision of licensed nursing staff.

While job duties may vary, typical responsibilities for CNAs may include:

Assisting patients with bathing, dressing, grooming or using the restroom Monitoring vital signs, such as blood pressure and heart rate Serving meals and assisting patients with eating Turning or repositioning patients who may be confined to bed Transporting patients or transferring them to and from their wheelchairs and beds Recording information and reporting to nursing staff Answering patient calls Stocking supplies Caring for wounds Assisting with medical procedures

If you’re ready for a CNA career, get started with our free and low-cost online CNA courses listed below.

Consider These Free Online CNA Courses With Certificates

Start your CNA career for free with one of these no-cost certificate courses.

Ballad Health

Certificate Title: Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Program – Online Hybrid Course

Program Length: 60 hours of classes and 40 hours of supervised clinical experience

Certificate Overview: Ballad Health’s program, which meets state and federal requirements, focuses on bedside patient care with an emphasis on long-term care and geriatrics. Classes take place online, but learners complete in-person labs and clinical experiences in Tennessee. Students must purchase scrubs, but otherwise, the program is free.

To qualify for the program, you must be at least 17 years old, complete a background check and meet Ballard Health vaccination policies. You also must hold a high school diploma or GED certificate or be within six months of graduating high school.

Procareer Academy

Certificate Title: Certified Nursing Assistant Program Length: Six weeks Certificate Overview: Procareer Academy‘s online CNA program offers live classes on weekday evenings and in-person clinical hours on the weekends in Whittier and Escondido, California.

This course, approved by California’s Department of Public Health, prepares students to take the California CNA exam. The content covers patients’ rights, patient care skills, emergency procedures, and death and dying.

California grants allow some learners to take this course at no charge. To qualify, applicants must agree to work as a CNA for one employer for at least a year after graduating.

Low-Cost CNA Courses With Certificates

While free CNA courses with certificates might be hard to come by, you can still find plenty of low-cost options. Check out these cost-effective courses.

Udemy

Certificate Title: Home Health Aide, Nurse Aide, Caregiver Certification Course Cost: $89.99, typically discounted Program Length: Self-paced Certificate Overview: Udemy’s course can help you learn the basics of home healthcare and caring for children and elderly, mentally ill and disabled patients. Other topics include CPR, basic anatomy, nutrition and meal preparation. You get lifetime access to 68 articles, a one-hour video and 19 downloadable resources.

The 10-module program leads to a certificate of completion and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. There are no prerequisites.

American River College

Certificate Title: Certified Nurse Assistant Cost: $552 (in-state) Program Length: About three-and-a-half months Certificate Overview: American River College’s CNA certificate course can help you gain the basic nursing skills to work as a certified nurse assistant. The curriculum includes 86 hours of classroom theory, nine hours of skills lab practice and more than 100 clinical hours. American River College is based in Sacramento, California.

To participate in the program, you must meet California Department of Public Health

regulatory requirements, including passing a criminal background check and providing proof of vaccinations. You also must pass a medical terminology course with at least a C, which you can complete before or during the program.

Conclusion: Act now to start your CNA journey

With the increasing demand for healthcare workers, especially CNAs, now is a great time to get certified. As healthcare systems continue to evolve and the need for qualified caregivers continues to grow, taking advantage of these free and low-cost training opportunities can lead to a rewarding and stable career as a certified nursing assistant.