Pittsburgh residents who are looking to start a career as a nursing assistant must first complete a certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program that has been approved by the State of Pennsylvania.
CNA programs in the United States are approved by individual state governments, rather than by the federal government. The State of Pennsylvania approves several CNA Pittsburgh nursing programs located across the city.
This article explains how prospective nursing students can find state-approved Pittsburgh CNA training schools and describes the Pennsylvania certification guidelines.
CNA Pittsburgh Nursing Certification
Prospective students who have never attended an accredited nursing program must complete the following steps in order to legally seek work in Pennsylvania as a Pittsburgh CNA:
- complete a state-approved nursing assistant program
- pass the PA certification examination for nursing assistants
- pass a criminal history background review
Individuals who already hold an out-of-state nursing assistant certification can contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education at 717-772-4868 and inquire about the state's reciprocity process.
Pittsburgh CNA Schools' Curricula and Courses
While individual nursing schools and educational providers can craft their own course schedules and class offerings, every state-approved CNA Pittsburgh nursing program must offer the following to students:
- at least 75 total hours of training (which is the federal minimum)
- a classroom-based, theoretical component
- a supervised clinical training component
Pittsburgh nursing students learn numerous medical and general skill areas in the classroom, including:
- Patient care
- Human anatomy
- Interpersonal skills
- Safety techniques
- Infection control
- Medical terminology
- Nutrition
- Vital signs
In the experiential training portion of state-approved Pittsburgh CNA schools, students are supervised by a nurse educator as they work with patients in long-term care facilities. This training, which cannot begin until a student has fulfilled a minimal number of classroom hours, both trains students for their future nursing careers and prepares them for the PA certification exam.
CNA Pittsburgh Nursing Programs
The State of Pennsylvania approves numerous nursing assistant training programs across the state, many of which are hosted by care facilities, career institutes and technical schools.
To find accredited programs in the Pittsburgh area, see the state's CNA school list and search by county.
Benefit of Pittsburgh CNA Training
Students who are able to both complete a state-approved CNA Pittsburgh nursing program and pass the state's certification examination are able to work as a nurse aide in long-term care facilities throughout the State of Pennsylvania.
For information on additional nurse training options in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, see also:
The Best Nursing Programs Online
David Harris-Gershon - David Harris-Gershon – a blogger for Tikkun magazine and a freelance writer on Israel, the Middle East and America’s role in ...
Join the Conversation