There has been plenty of talk on job forums and questions being asked about free CNA training. Looking through the forum threads it seems that most of these questions go unanswered and the individuals looking for free CNA training aren’t receiving much help. If you are in a situation where you’d like to change careers and enter the rewarding and stable field of medicine, but don’t have the finances to afford a traditional CNA training program (which can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand), you’ve come to the right place. Is there such a thing as free CNA training? Yes, there is, and we are going to show you two different ways, depending on your age and financial situation, that you can enter an accredited CNA training program completely free of charge.
Free CNA Training for the Current Student
Dual enrollment has always been available, although it’s never been more popular than today. Forward thinking, career minded high school students have more opportunities than ever before now that dual enrollment has become more common.
If you are a high school student and already have the career goal of becoming a certified nursing assistant, you can get a free ride if your local university or community college offers a CNA training program.
What Are the Qualifications for Dual Enrollment?
You’ll need to check with your school counselor, but generally, the qualifications for dual enrollment rest completely on your current grade point average. For example, if you are a junior in high school and hold a 3.5 grade point average, all you need to do is to take your final grades over to your community college as proof that you qualify for dual enrollment. From that point, you will register for the classes of your choice, which in your case will be a certified nursing assistant training program. Your high school will allow the training program to be a substitution for one or more of your current high school classes and you will attend the training course free of charge. You’ll also be allowed to leave the school grounds in order to attend your college classes and return to your high school to complete the rest of your normal coursework. If the CNA training classes are offered in the evening, it will make it even more convenient for you, since you won’t have to break up your high school day at all.
Dual enrollment is, of course, only offered to high school students, but if you fall into this category, dual enrolling and getting free CNA training while still in school can give you a huge advantage. You’ll basically be graduating from high school with your CNA training already behind you and you’ll be ready to enter the work force right out of school.
Free CNA Training for Disadvantaged and Single Moms
If you are a single parent or fall into a certain financial or income category, you may also qualify for free CNA training by applying for a government grant through the FAFSA program. Although it’s been around for a long time, many individuals don’t check into it or take advantage of it. The FAFSA program will pay 100% of your education or vocational training and there is no repayment on your part, since it is a government grant. If your community college doesn’t have a CNA training program, try checking out the vocational schools. FAFSA also offers grants for many of them.
We hope this information has helped you in your search for free CNA training as you embark on your new career.
I have been wanting to be a CAN, just didn’t have the time, iamhoping I’ve what I am lookn for.