It’s not always easy to find CNA classes in South Dakota. There are many factors that go into finding the right program for you, such as cost, length of course, location and requirements. This blog will help break down all of the things you need to know when looking for a class.
CNA Training Classes in South Dakota
There are a range of CNA classes available in South Dakota. On-campus classes are available at a number of South Dakota community colleges and technical schools. There is also the option to take an online accredited course which is perfect for people who have jobs, already have extensive medical training or who have served in military roles. For those with day jobs and busy schedules, there are evening classes that help you fit your education into your schedule, and they’ll often work with you to complete assignments outside of class time. Additionally, weekend classes allow you to get more hours/week between other obligations.
Some of the most popular CNA classes in South Dakota are conducted at:
- Avera Education and Staffing Solutions in Yankton
- Sinte Gleska University in Mission
- Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City
- Bennett County Hospital and Nursing Home in Martin
- Belle Fourche Regional Senior Care in Belle Fourche
- The Rapid City chapter of the American Red Cross Society
Where can you Find Free CNA Training in South Dakota?
You can find Free CNA training in South Dakota in a variety of ways. The easiest and most convenient method is to contact your local hospital or nursing home for information on opportunities they offer. In other cases you will need pay the tuition cost which will be reimbursed by your employer, with some employers also providing an additional benefit if you complete the course.
Another option is to attend a CNA program offered by an Armed Forces branch such as the United States Army or Navy at certain U.S.-based locations or online courses specifically created for military members (this includes Reserves). You should also contact the South Dakota Board of Nursing which is a state agency that licenses nurses and regulates the practice of nursing in South Dakota. They may be able to direct you with there is any regulation around CNA training requirements in South Dakota.
How to Become a CNA in South Dakota?
There are a few key steps to becoming a CNA in South Dakota. These include selecting a CNA program and meeting the prerequisites, as well as completing the training and taking and passing the exam.
Prerequisites for CNA Courses in South Dakota
- Be a minimum of 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma or GED (Optional)
- Good communication skills (Both reading and writing)
- Having government issued valid ID card
- Having a full physical exam report
- Having a clean criminal record
- Show proof of current immunization
- A negative two step Mantoux test
How Long Does It Take To Become a CNA in South Dakota?
A CNA program in South Dakota consists of a minimum of 75 hours, with 59 being spent in the classroom and 16 taking place on site. Depending on your class schedule it can take anywhere from six to twelve weeks for you to graduate.
| Classroom Session | 59 hours |
| Clinical Session | 16 hours |
| Total | 75 hours |
What You Will Learn During The Training?
These 75 hours of coursework are distributed in 2 sessions – a classroom learning session and a clinical skills session. The first section, held at the facility’s classrooms, focuses on teaching you theoretical aspects of nursing through handouts, lectures audio-visual presentations etc., while ensuring that all course concepts can be easily grasped by making use of discussions with peers or instructors alike.
Meanwhile during the second part which is conducted in an actual living health care setting under complete supervision, students learn essential clinical skills such as wound management or bandage changing from expert professionals who have worked for decades to make this possible.
Topics Covered in South Dakota CNA Trainings are:
- Basic science and human body mechanism
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Medical terminologies
- Basic patient care and safety
- Patient and personal hygiene
- Health and population education
- Infection control techniques
- Assisting in the daily activities of the patients
- Basic life support and emergency services
- CPR training
- Recognizing vital signs from patients
- Preparing health charts and reporting to the doctors
Along with all these topics, the students also learn and understand nursing ethics, residents’ rights, accurate measurement of BP, pulse rate and respiratory rate, interpersonal communication, etc.
Procedure for The South Dakota CNA Certification Exam
After completing your CNA training, you can take the state exam to get certified. This exam requires a written/oral test and clinical skills evaluation test in which candidates are required to solve 75 multiple choice questions – testing their theoretical knowledge of different nursing aspects. You have 90 minutes for the oral or written exams with each being offered at various times throughout the day; however, if taking an oral format there must be specified on examination application form while during these tests listening is key as words will be read aloud before filling out answers via computer screen.
Skills tests have a time limit of 30 minutes and are designed to test your ability in five randomly selected skills. If you do not perform well on all the skills, then you will fail this exam. At least 75% must be scored in both parts (written test and skills test) to pass.
| Exam Type | Question Type | Given Time |
| Written Test | 75 Multiple Choice | 90 Minutes |
| Practical Test | 5 Randomly Selected Skills | 30 Minutes |
South Dakota CNA exam costs are as follows:
| Skills exam | $89 |
| Oral exam | $80.50 |
| Written exam | $70.50 |
How Much Does South Dakota CNA Program Cost?
The cost of CNA training in SD varies from $500 to as much as $1500. The programs that include all the expenses, like books and supplies or exam fees are those who charge higher prices but offer more hours for clinical practice so students can have maximum exposure to these skills.
Is Financial Aid Available for CNA Program in South Dakota?
Financial Aid is available for schools and training in South Dakota, and there are a few options for beginning students. Community colleges offer financial aid to help with the tuition costs of CNA classes when accepted into the nursing program via an Early Admissions program. Hospitals usually have budgeting assistance programs that can be accessed when all other routes are exhausted. You can also look into Federal Grants or state grants by contacting your local public health representative office in your area.
How Much Does a CNA Make in South Dakota?
With the demand for CNAs on the rise, South Dakota is expecting to see an increase in CNA salaries. The average salary currently remains below national averages at $28,120 per year but with more people becoming aware of their obligations as caregivers and increasing education requirements that number can only go up.
Finding the right program for you can be a confusing process, but we hope that this blog post has helped to break down all of the things you need to know when looking for a class. If there is still something that isn’t clear or if you are ready to enroll in one of our courses and want more information about what each course entails, contact us! We have tons of resources on our website including FAQs as well as posts with valuable tips and tricks from students who have been through them before. To learn even more visit out CNA FAQ post here.
