Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is an excellent choice for people who are looking to enter the medical field. In Alabama, there has been a large shortage of CNAs and this blog post will explore the CNA training classes available in Alabama and what they entail. The article points out that some of these courses help prepare prospective students with the skills necessary to pass their state certification exam while others offer classroom lectures and clinical rotations in hospitals.
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Available CNA Training Program in Alabama
CNA classes are available in both an online and offline format in Alabama. Classes can be done at night or on weekends for those who have school or work during the day. Here is a list of Alabama’s CNA education providers:
| Name of the College/Institute | Address | Contact No. |
| American Red Cross | 1101 Washington Street Northwest, Huntsville, Alabama 35801 | (256) 536-0084 |
| Calhoun Community College | 102 Wynn Drive NW, Huntsville, Alabama 35805 | (256) 890-4700 |
| Chattahoochee Valley Community College | 2602 College Drive, Phoenix City, Alabama 36869 | (334) 291-4900 |
| Bevill State Community College | 491 Tuscaloosa Avenue, Carrolton, Alabama 35447 | 800-648-3271 |
| Easter Seals Central Alabama | 2125 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36116 | (334) 288-0240 |
| Gadsden State Community College | 1001 George Wallace Drive, Gadsden, Alabama 35903 | (256) 549-8200 |
| H. Council Trenholm State Technical College | 1225 Air Base Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36108 | (334) 420-4200 |
| J.F. Drake State Community & Technical College | 3421 Meridian Street, North Huntsville, Alabama 35811 | (256) 539-8161 |
| Lawson State Community College | 3060 Wilson Road SW, Birmingham, Alabama 35221 | (205) 925-2515 |
| Liveoak Village Independent and Assisted Living | 2300 North Cedar Street, Foley, Alabama 36535 | (251) 943-6733 |
| Morningside of Cullman | 2021 Dahlke Drive Northeast, Cullman, Alabama 35058 | (256) 737-1088 |
| Morningside of Fayette | 404 25th Street, Northwest, Fayette, Alabama 35555 | (205) 932-4003 |
| Morningside of Sheffield | 413 Cox Boulevard, Sheffield, Alabama- 35660 | (256)-381-1058 |
| NHC Place | 1335 Greenbrier Road, Anniston, Alabama 36207 | (256) 835- 3959 |
| Northwest-Shoals Community College | 800 George Wallace Boulevard, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661 | (256) 331-5200 |
| Northeast Alabama Community College | Rainsville, Alabama- 35986 | (256)-228-6001 |
| Oaks on Park wood | 2651 Laurel Oaks Drive, Bessemer, Alabama- 35022 | (205) 497-4560 |
| Regency Pointe | 510 East Grand Avenue, Rainbow City, Alabama 35906 | (256)-456-0016 |
| Reid State Technical College | P.O. Box- 588, Evergreen, Alabama 36401 | (251) 578-1313 |
| Shelton State Community College | 9500 Old Greensboro Road, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405 | (205) 391-2211 |
| Southern Union State Community College | 1701 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, Alabama 36801 | (334) 745-6437 |
| The Olive Home, Inc. | 1100 Second Avenue East, Oneonta, Alabama 35121 | (205)-625-3190 |
| Westminster Village | 500 Spanish Fort Boulevard, Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527 | (251) 626-2900 |
How to Become a CNA in Alabama?
The first step to becoming a certified nursing assistant is going through the CNA program, meeting prerequisites, and completing training. After this, you can take an exam to be certified.
Here are the steps to become a CNA In Alabama:
- Select a training program
- Meet the prerequisites
- Complete the CNA training program
- Take and pass the state certification exam
Prerequisites for the CNA Courses in Alabama
- To be at least 18 years of old
- Have to pass a background check
- Having Current immunization records
- Having a negative two-step TB test
- Having a High school diploma or equivalent
- Basic skills like good at writing, math, reading etc…
- Physically able to lift 40 pounds or more
How Much Does Alabama CNA Program Cost?
The AL CNA program will cost around $1,000 – $1500. In order to cover all expenses related to the program, there are additional costs that can add up. Students should plan on spending between $300-600 on books and supplies throughout the course. For clothes or uniforms, you’re wearing during labs, expect to spend about another $100 if you need more than what’s given for activewear. You’ll also need money for gas costs spent getting from home to lab/home again in any session where driving is necessary.
Is Financial Aid Available for CNA Program in Alabama?
Yes, financial aid is available for CNA programs, depending on where you live. For example: In Alabama, one of the popular sources for additional funds is AL nursing registry. You can contact them to inquire about your eligibility or how to apply for some funding so that you can enroll in a training program.
Financial assistance may also be available from other grants and nonprofit organizations in your area. If that’s the case, then any time there is a grant opportunity offered by these nonprofits they will usually have something posted on their website with information about it and whether you qualify. You might also want to inquire at your local nursing home or hospital because sometimes they need more staff and offer financial assistance as part of their healthcare team.
Where can I Get Free CNA Training in Alabama?
There are many options for free CNA training classes in Alabama. First, check with the organizations and agencies you are currently working to see if they offer any free training. They may also have a contract in place where students who stay on for a period of time following graduation may be reimbursed up to $5000. It is also possible that universities close by offer assistance through their Veteran’s center or military programs. And as always, Armed Forces might help pay too through Tuition Assistance programs.
You can contact your local hospital or nursing home to inquire about a program in your community. Alternatively, you might want to consider contacting the Red Cross, which may offer free CNA training in Alabama.
What will you be Taught During the CNA Training?
The CNA training program is designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to begin a career as a nursing assistant. The CNA Training Program includes the following topics:
| Classroom Session |
|
| Clinical Session |
|
How Long Does It Take To Become a CNA In Alabama?
It can take up to 120 hours to complete a 12-week which includes 80 hours of classroom training and 40 hours of clinical skills training. It takes about 4 hours a day, 5 days a week for this period of time if you’re following the program schedule without missing any classes or other required work.
| Classroom Session | 80 hours |
| Clinical Session | 40 hours |
| Total | 120 hours |
Prerequisites & Procedure for the State Exam
Before taking the certified nursing assistant exam, you must attend an accredited school and complete the required 120 hours of training. After completing your CNA training, you can sit for the state exam.
The CNA exam is separated into two parts: the written test and practical test. The first step to take towards earning your certification is to pass both tests. The CNA written test requires you to answer 60 to 70 questions within 90 minutes. On the other hand, practical test includes 5 selected skills within 25 to 40 minutes.
| Exam Type | Question Type | Given Time |
| Written Test | 60 – 70 Multiple Choice | 90 – 120 Minutes |
| Practical Test | 5 Random Selected Skill | 25 – 40 Minutes |
If you fail, you can retake the exam. The fee for taking the exam twice is $100. However, you can take it more than once. If you fail again after trying three times, the cost of each additional attempt increases. Below is a breakdown of CNA state exam cost in Alabama.
| Written and skills exam | $100 |
| English Oral & skills exam | $120 |
| Spanish Oral & skills exam | $120 |
| Written retake | $40 |
| English Oral retake | $60 |
| Spanish Oral retake | $60 |
| Skills retake | $60 |
| Oral retake | $60 |
How Much Does a CNA Make In Alabama?
The average pay of CNA in Alabama is USD 30,000 per annum. The annual salary for a nursing aide varies between USD 17K to 40k dollars, depending on their experience and the position they are employed with!
With continued education and experience, you can earn a higher salary. Specializations like psychiatric care aides or pediatric nurses aides are an added advantage to be in high demand. A psychiatric aide can typically earn an annual salary of $45,000. If you take the time to get your degree in pediatric care nursing and work for a hospital or clinic with high standards then maybe you’ll be able to make as much as $90,000 per year!
Listed below is the average annual pay of nursing aides working in different industries.
| Designation | Average Annual Pay |
| Personal Caregiver | USD 17,000 |
| Long Term Facility | USD 34,000 |
| Psychiatric Aide | USD 24,000 |
| Hospital-Based Nurse Aide | USD 24,000 |
What are the Advantages of Getting CNA Training?
Training as a CNA will provide you with the skills to work in a clinical environment. When employers are looking to hire, they’ll see that you’re certified and won’t have to worry about your level of experience; so there’s also an advantage over those who don’t hold these credentials. If you’re enjoying working as a caregiver, then this is also for you. And if all else fails – always be diligent (and lucky) – charging hard into the unknown may just present the opportunity of your lifetime.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a variety of CNA training courses available in Alabama with various lengths and price points. If you’re not sure which program is best for you or how long your course should be, contact us! We would love to answer any questions that might come up as well as help guide the way to making an excellent decision about where to start on your path towards becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
