Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) are healthcare team members who help patients with daily activities and report their vital signs and other data to nursing staff. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nevada has a high CNA employment rate, with over 88,000 workers. In addition, the state ranks 3rd in the nation for top-paying metro area jobs, with CNAs earning nearly $17/hour. Nursing Care Facilities employ almost 50% of all CNAs, and over 2,500 registered nursing facilities in Nevada offer employment. The need for CNAs in Nevada is also expected to rise by 22% until 2026.
How to become a CNA in Las Vegas?
To become a CNA in Las Vegas, you must be certified by the state, which requires you to be 18 years old and have an up-to-date immunization record, including a TB test. There are state-approved training centers in or near Las Vegas where you can obtain your CNA certificate. After graduating, you can register on the Nevada Nurse Registry and look for CNA job opportunities in Las Vegas.
Requirements to become a CNA in Nevada
There are two requirements to become a CNA in Nevada:
- First, you must complete a state-approved nursing assistant training program that meets OBRA requirements with a minimum of 75 hours or complete fundamentals of nursing to be approved for testing. Competency testing is done through the Nursing Assistant Competency Exam administered by Prometric, and candidates must get permission to test from the Board of Nursing.
- Second, Fingerprint-based criminal background checks are also required, and candidates can opt for Livescan (electronic) fingerprinting if in-state. The Board will provide fingerprint cards with application forms, and candidates can either include the completed card with their application, or the Board will send one. The processing fee for submitting fingerprint cards to the Board is $51.25.
Testing
Testing centers are located in Las Vegas, Reno, and Elko. The exam consists of a written or oral knowledge section and a skills section, with 75 multiple-choice questions to be answered within 90 minutes for the written part. Walk-in testing is available in certain locations. The skills section requires completing four randomly selected CNA skills within 35 minutes.
Factors to consider before choosing a CNA program
Students should consider program length, cost, board approval, and online vs. in-person options when choosing a program. The state’s board must approve the nursing program, or the department of health services. Though online CNA programs are available, hands-on clinical training is mandatory in Nevada, meaning that students must also complete in-person training.
When looking for a top CNA program in Nevada, it is important to consider several factors that can impact a person’s career. These factors include:
- Accreditation of the program
- Tuition and program fees
- Pass rate on the state certification exam
- Student success rate, graduation, and retention rates
- Program longevity
- Instructor qualifications
- Program awards and recognition
- Availability of financial aid, scholarships, or grants
- Partnerships with local healthcare facilities
These factors can help individuals choose the best CNA program for their needs.
The salary rate of CNAs in Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, the average annual salary for CNAs in 2020 was $33,448, which falls between $30,483 and $36,932. It is slightly higher than the national average of $32,271. However, the salary can vary based on factors such as full-time vs. part-time work, level of experience, and type of employment (e.g., working for an NGO or a mobile hospital). Salary.com provides this information.
Top schools providing CNA Classes in Las Vegas
There is a high demand for certified nurse assistants in Nevada. Pursuing a career as a CNA is a great way to enter healthcare, which is projected to have significant ongoing job opportunities. Attending an accredited CNA program is necessary to become a CNA in Nevada. If you are located in Las Vegas, various CNA classes are available to help you begin your journey toward this career.
According to our research at Top Nursing (https://www.topnursing.org/), the following schools offer CNA programs in Nevada:
1. Truckee Meadows Community College
Truckee Meadows Community College is a college that was founded in 1971 and is located in the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area in northern Nevada. It is a two-year college accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and has a student-faculty ratio of 20:1. TMCC’s science department offers a CNA course (NURS130) compliant with the Nevada State Board of Nursing requirements and is worth 6 semester credit hours.
The course includes classroom lectures, lab instruction, and clinical training, which is supervised and takes place in healthcare facilities in Reno and Sparks. Students can choose a weekend course that runs on Saturdays and some Sundays, or the Fast Track version of the course, which can be completed in just nine weeks and is taught at TMCC’s High-Tech Center in Redfield, with lectures from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm and lab instruction and clinical training from 6:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Tuition Fee: Students who reside in Nevada and enroll in TMCC’s CNA program should expect to pay approximately $592 and extra fees. On the other hand, out-of-state students should anticipate paying roughly $1,242.
Website: https://www.tmcc.edu/certified-nursing-assistant
2. College of Southern Nevada
The College of Southern Nevada, a publicly funded community college in Clark County, was established in 1971. It has three main campuses in the Las Vegas Valley and eight learning centers. The college is a part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. CSN offers a 15-week nursing assistant course called NURS130, which the Commission accredits for Education in Nursing and the Nevada State Board of Nursing. The course includes classroom lectures, laboratory work, and clinical training. The CNA lecture component of the program is a combination of online and in-person classes.
Tuition Fee: Individuals who are residents of Nevada planning to enroll in CSN’s Certified Nursing Assistant program can anticipate a cost of $592 in addition to extra fees. However, out-of-state students can expect to pay $652 plus additional fees.
Website: https://www.csn.edu/schools/school-of-health-sciences/department-of-nursing/nursing-program
3. Western Nevada College
Located in Carson City, in the northwestern part of the state, Western Nevada College is a community college that was founded in 1971. The college has three locations: the main campus in Carson City, Fallon, and Minden, and eight instruction centers. WNC offers a 6-credit, 150-hour Certified Nursing Assistant course, preparing students to become certified nursing assistants. The course is available in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters and combines classroom lectures, laboratory practice, and clinical skills experience. WNC also offers a hybrid web-enhanced class option for students.
Tuition Fee: To obtain up-to-date information on tuition and fees, it is recommended that you contact WNC directly at (775) 445-3000.
Website: https://wnc.edu/nursing-and-allied-health/index.php
4. Great Basin College
Great Basin College is a public community college in the northeastern city of Elko, Nevada, established in 1967. Before settling on its current name, the college has undergone several name changes, including Elko Community College and Northern Nevada Community College. While its primary campus is located in Elko, it also has smaller satellite campuses in 20 communities throughout the state. GBC is affiliated with the Nevada System of Higher Education.
GBC provides a 120-hour Certified Nursing Assistant course, which can be completed in as little as six weeks. During the winter months, students can take a faster three-week CNA course. GBC also offers an online/in-class hybrid option for students. Regardless of the program’s duration, the curriculum includes 80 hours of lectures and laboratory practice and 40 hours of clinical training. To get further information about the college, please contact GBC directly.
Tuition Fee: Attending GBC’s Certified Nursing Assistant program will cost between $900 and $1,000, which covers fees for requisites, tests, and exams.
Website: https://www.gbcnv.edu/programs/health_sciences/cert_rnasst/cert_rnasst_faq.html
5. Standards of Excellence Academy
Standards of Excellence Academy is an educational institution in Las Vegas that provides vocational education for individuals seeking professional training in specific fields. SoE Academy has been offering a Nursing Assistant program since 2015. The program’s curriculum focuses on medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, CPR, infection control, and law and ethics. Students participate in in-class lectures, eight hours of clinical training at a local healthcare facility, and four hours of laboratory lessons per week.
Tuition Fee: For additional information regarding tuition and fees for the CNA program offered by SoE Academy, please contact them directly at (702) 550-3261.
Website: https://standardsofexcellencelv.org/certified-nursing-assistant/
6. Saint Therese Learning Institute
Saint Therese Learning Institute is an educational institution chartered in 2014 by a group of healthcare professionals. The state of Nevada has approved the CNA program at STLI. STLI provides students with a 130-hour Nursing Assistant Program that can be completed in six weeks. The program consists of 65 hours of didactic lecture, 40 hours of laboratory instruction, and 25 hours of clinical skills training. Class sizes are limited at STLI, so space is limited as well. Students have the option of attending day or evening classes. Day classes occur from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, while evening classes are held on weekdays from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Clinical skills training is scheduled for the last week of the program and comprises three days of training – two Saturdays and one Sunday – from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Tuition Fee: To obtain up-to-date details about the costs associated with the CNA program offered by Saint Therese Learning Institute, please contact them directly at (702) 395-1802.