Atlanta CNA Classes

As one of the largest and most popular metropolitan areas in the Southeastern United States, Atlanta, Georgia, is an amazing place to live and work. It combines Southern charm with amazing dining and other cultural opportunities. Families will enjoy the Georgia Aquarium and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta while adults can treat themselves to a night with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra or an afternoon browsing through the World of Coca Cola Museum.

Job opportunities abound in Atlanta especially in the realm of health care due to the rapidly aging population. With 11 percent of the population over the age of 65, there is a real need for certified nursing assistants to fill jobs in hospitals, home health agencies, and long-term care facilities. There are currently 19,340 CNAs employed here, and this number is expected to rise by 11 percent by 2026.

It does not take long to become a CNA in Atlanta. Many training programs only run for one to two months, allowing students to get a job quickly.

While some individuals can become CNAs here by reciprocity or by using their RN or LPN education, most candidates in Atlanta choose the new candidate route, which is undertaken by completing a state-approved training program and bypassing the CNA examination. To begin CNA training, one must be at least 16 years old and must know basic English for reading, writing and speaking. However, candidates do not have to have a high school diploma. In addition, many programs require students to complete background checks.

Approved courses must provide at least 85 teaching hours. However, students must complete at least 16 hours in basic patient care topics, such as safety, infection control, and patient rights, before heading to a clinical setting. Students will also learn how to take vital signs, how to recognize changes in symptoms and how to communicate with patients and supervisors.

Upon completing training, individuals will need to pass the National Nurse Assistant Assessment Program, which includes a written test and a skills evaluation.

There is a real need for CNAs in Atlanta. With a population of over 420,000 in Atlanta itself and hundreds of thousands of more people in the outlying suburban areas, CNAs have plenty of opportunities for finding jobs at the nine hospitals and numerous skilled nursing facilities in the city. CNAs in this metro area make an average hourly rate of $11.70 with total annual pay of up to $32,663 depending on one’s experience and the number of overtime hours worked.

CNAs provide the hands-on care that individuals need as they are recovering in hospitals or staying in long-term care facilities. They may also help with activities of daily living in patients’ homes through a home health agency. Some common duties include feeding, bathing and dressing patients, helping patients ambulate, and communicating patient concerns to nurses.

Those who need to travel to their CNA training program or to their new job in Atlanta will want to feel confident in getting around this busy and typically congested area. Those who own their own cars can take advantage of the Downtown Interactive Parking Map and the World Congress Center Parking Map, which give them thousands of parking space options. However, they should beware of all freeways, which can be horribly congested nearly all day long, and stick to side streets, which can take them easily through most neighborhoods. Those who prefer to

There are four approved CNA training schools in Atlanta itself, and Atlanta Technical College is one excellent option for students wanting a solid foundation for their careers. ATC has an enrollment of over 4,000 of which a majority of students are part-time students taking advantage of the technical programs that can put them on the pathway to success for the rest of their lives. The school’s focus is not only on the skills needed to complete each academic program but also on the knowledge and attitudes that will help students be successful throughout adulthood. ATC strives to help students obtain that competitive edge that they need in order to find jobs in today’s booming employment market.

The Nurse Aide Certificate Program here is available to anyone over the age of 16 who has an official high school or GED transcript by the completion of the program. In addition, students must be proficient in reading, English and mathematics. The program covers Introduction to Healthcare, Diet and Nutrition, Medical Terminology and Nurse Aide Fundamentals for 13 credit hours and 270 contact hours. The course can be completed in one semester for a cost of $3,656.

Those needing to save money or wanting to get started with their jobs immediately can look into free CNA training programs in Atlanta that often provide courses at no charge as long as the student agrees to work for the agency upon completion of the program. Many skilled nursing facilities offer this type of training. In addition, individuals can find very low-cost CNA training here, such as the 17-day program at the Atlanta Career Institute that one can start for only $100.

Finally, individuals should be sure to look into scholarship programs and grants that may be offered to help them complete their training for free. While some types of federal aid do not apply to these shorter classes, the PELL grant is an excellent option for CNA students. Of course, students will usually have to agree to work at a specific facility for a certain length of time upon graduation. Students may also want to check into the Workforce Investment Act, which provides financial help to low-income students.