While there are a lot of people who work in the medical industry without having been certified, getting your CNA certification is a good idea. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) make $14.82 per hour and $30,830 per year, which is more than $0.15 an hour more than injured workers receive on average across the country.
As well as receiving higher pay rates, CNAs also benefit from other advantages and incentives such as tuition savings programs and discounted food costs for their children to attend public schools where they work – CNA course fees may be eligible under some school’s financial aid policies too. If you’re looking to find employment in the medical field, or even outside of it, then gaining your nursing assistant training is definitely a good idea.
Can I work as a CNA without any formal training and certification?
Yes, you can if the employer hires you. In most states, you cannot legally work as a CNA without formal training and certification. However, some states allow unlicensed people to work as CNAs providing they have been trained under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
The most common type of unlicensed nursing in this situation is “paraprofessional” nursing, which includes Nurse Aides and Home Health Aides. Beyond the scope of what may be legally allowed in your state though – there is widespread recognition that it takes significant life experience to be able to do this type of caring work effectively at least with minimal risk for harm or injury. So, You can be a CNA without any formal training. But having formal training does offer better job opportunities and leads to a higher payoff.
Certification for a CNA allows an employee to have clear recourse if they feel their needs aren’t met at work with regards to pay or promotions or providing adequate rest breaks during extended shifts and similar compensation issues. Additionally, certification for a CNA may provide additional protections such as health insurance so it provides an immediate benefit when entering the workforce in terms of added security for your finances should something happen while you’re working such as an injury-related accident or similar event.
Cost vs reward
In general when someone asks a question such as “is it worth doing” they’re probably asking about the cost vs reward for completing something. In this case study, I referenced what’s typically required of CNAs and what they can expect to make annually.
With the cost of an associate degree or certificate program at around $1000 and it’s easy to find one in any major city. On the other hand, most full-time CNA salaries ranging from around $2,425 per month on average with overtime adding up potentially to near about $4,000 a month – you can see why this is such a popular profession for people who are looking for jobs that help others while also being able to make enough money and have plenty of time off as well!
With the demand for healthcare in America increasing at a rapid pace, it’s unlikely that there will ever be enough nurses and other medical professionals to help shoulder the load. So while you might not get rich off of taking a CNA training program, you’ll have an achievement under your belt and can renew your license at any time if need be.