Certified Nurse Assistant - Accelerated Program

Department: Health Occupations

Tuition: $900 (in-person), $950 (online)

Dates: 

• Check back next year for summer 2022 classes!

Book: Hartman's Nursing Assistant Care: Long-Term Care, 4th Edition (ISBN #978-1604250749) AND Workbook for Hartman's Nursing Assistant Care: Long-Term Care, 4th Edition (Both are available at the SCC Campus Bookstore along with other book sellers, including Amazon.)

This program, approved by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), provides the instruction and on-the-job training required to become a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) in the state of Missouri. The program teaches basic nursing skills, resident rights, safety, communication techniques and infection control. CNA's are eligible for employment in nursing homes, hospitals, home care agencies and doctor’s offices.

There are three different components that make up the CNA Program and St. Charles Community College offers two of them: classroom instruction and clinical internship. The state certification exam is coordinated and proctored through an outside agency. Students must complete all three components in order to be certified in the state of Missouri. 

Individuals MUST be at least 18 years of age to qualify for this course.

For additional information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions Web page.

Classroom Instruction

The classroom instruction provides the 75 hours of preparation required by DHSS. Students will attend class twice a week. ATTENDANCE IN ALL CLASSES IS MANDATORY. Because of the accelerated nature of this course, no absences will be permitted. Failure to attend class may result in failure of the program.

Clinical Internship

The clinical internship provides the 100 hours of on-the-job training required for CNA certification in the state of Missouri. Students will be placed at one of our clinical partner facilities to complete these hours and will be required to be at the clinical site twice a week. Students will be able to choose either a morning clinical shift (7 a.m.-3 p.m.) or an evening clinical shift (3-11 p.m.). ATTENDANCE ON ALL CLINICAL DAYS IS MANDATORY. Because of the accelerated nature of this course, no absences will be permitted. Failure to attend a clinical session may result in failure of the program.

Prior to beginning their clinical hours, students will be required to complete and pass a urine drug screening (done at a facility designated by SCC). Information and required paperwork will be provided to the student during the registration process. 

Final Exam

The state certification exam is completed through a third-party vendor. Information on how to register and pay for this exam will be provided in class.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have acceptable background screening from the Missouri Family Care Safety Registry (https://health.mo.gov/safety/fcsr/) (no older than 90 days at time of registration)
• Must have be free from TB and provide documentation of negative 2-step TB tests (no older than one year)
• Must apply to St. Charles Community College: https://www.stchas.edu/admissions/apply

Registration Requirements

Complete before registration:

• College Application: all students must apply to St. Charles Community College prior to registering for class. Please complete and submit the application here: https://www.stchas.edu/admissions/apply

Provide the following at time of registration (bring copies with you for in-person registration or send as attachments for email registrations):

• Registration Form (you can download the form here if you would like to register via email).
• Acceptable background screening results from the Family Care Safety Registry (https://health.mo.gov/safety/fcsr/) (no older than 90 days at time of registration)
• Results from 2-step TB Test (no older than one year)

Registration can be done:

• In-person (1 Academy Place, Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368) - office hours are Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 4:00pm
• Through email (healthoccupations@stchas.edu)

Tuition will be due within one business day of your registration being processed. Individualized information will be communicated during the enrollment process.

Salary Outlook

In the state of Missouri, nursing assistants earn a mean average of $25,360 per year. 
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, earnings increase significantly as a worker’s degree of education rises.

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