Certified Nursing Assistant

Overview

As a nursing assistant, graduates can work in-home care, assisted living and long-term care facilities, rehab centers, and acute care hospitals. MTC offers this pathway to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.

The Nursing Assistant certificate will provide a foundation in health care careers, communication, soft skills, computers, and anatomy and physiology. Students will develop basic nursing skills required of nursing assistants in skilled health care settings, such as the activity of daily living, vital signs, eating, elimination, and safety measures. Instructional methods will be varied including classroom, online/hybrid, simulation/virtual reality, and clinical rotations. Skills taught in this program are those listed as required for the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Examination. Successful completion of this exam, along with listing on the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry is required to work as a Certified Nursing Aide in South Carolina. The Nursing Assistant Certificate can be combined with the Cardiac Care Certificate and Phlebotomy Certificate to earn stackable, short-term, entry-level certificates in the health care arena.

Employment opportunities in South Carolina include positions in places such as hospitals, skilled nursing home facilities, long-term care facilities, hospices, and home health care. Related careers include patient care technicians, personal care aides, and rehabilitation aides/assistants.

Students must receive a grade of “C” or better on all Nursing Assistant certificate courses. Students must pass a final comprehensive exit examination to graduate from the program. Students may not repeat Nursing Assistant certificate courses more than once, nor may they progress to the next semester until that course is passed. Students may repeat only two Nursing Assisting courses.

Students will rotate through extended care facilities, hospitals, and clinics in the MTC service area for practical experience in Nursing Assisting. Students will be required to comply with regulations required by off-campus clinical sites, which might include fingerprinting, background checks, and drug screenings.

In addition to the college’s placement test and the specific admissions requirements for the Health Sciences department, specific interview eligibility criteria for the Nursing Assistant Certificate program include:

  • Attendance at a program Information Session (optional).
  • Attendance at a program Orientation Session (mandatory).
  • Submission of an Acknowledgement of Intent request.
  • Acceptable Criminal Background Check and drug screening results.
  • Satisfactory compliance with required medical physical and immunization requirements.
  • Current certification in First-Aid and CPR (American Heart for the Health Care Professional).

Program Type

Academic Certificate

How to Enroll

To pursue this degree, you must apply to MTC using our online application.

Apply Now

Questions?

Print Plan

Sample Program Plan and Costs

On-Campus Traditional. Classes meet on campus.
Virtual 100% online. Meets with a live instructor and classmates on specific days, at specific times. Uses web conferencing software, like Zoom.
Hybrid Some classes on campus. Some classes online or virtual.
Online 100% online. Due dates for projects and assignments. Self-paced work on your time.
Semester Course ID Course Title Classroom Online Hybrid Virtual Credits
Semester 1
(12 Credit Hours)
ENG-160 Technical Communications

Technical Communications

ID: ENG-160

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a study of various technical communications such as definitions, processes, instructions, descriptions, and technical reports.

3
AHS-180 Health Careers Preparation

Health Careers Preparation

ID: AHS-180

Credit Hours: 3

This course includes selected topics such as study skills, test-taking skills, critical thinking, problem solving, ethics, health careers test preparation and other topics to promote student success.

3
AHS-102 Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology

ID: AHS-102

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers medical terms, including roots, prefixes, and suffixes, with emphasis on spelling, definition, and pronunciation.

3
BIO-110 General Anatomy and Physiology

General Anatomy and Physiology

ID: BIO-110

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a general introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Emphasis is on the organ systems of the human and their interrelationships.

3
Semester 2
(10 Credit Hours)
AHS-117 The Care of Patients

The Care of Patients

ID: AHS-117

Credit Hours: 4

This course includes a study of concepts required to assist in nurse assisting.

4
AHS-131 Computers in Healthcare

Computers in Healthcare

ID: AHS-131

Credit Hours: 3

This course is the study of the hardware and software used in various healthcare settings including information systems, computerized medical interfaces, telemedicine, networking, as well as other basic computer applications.

3
AHS-205 Ethics and Law for Allied Health Profess

Ethics and Law for Allied Health Profess

ID: AHS-205

Credit Hours: 3

This course is an introduction to ethical, bioethical and legal concepts related to allied health professions.

3
  Total Credit Hours 22
  Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
$4,400.00
Not including fees and equipment
Semester Course ID Course Title Classroom Online Hybrid Virtual Credits
Semester 1
(6 Credit Hours)
ENG-160 Technical Communications

Technical Communications

ID: ENG-160

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a study of various technical communications such as definitions, processes, instructions, descriptions, and technical reports.

3
AHS-180 Health Careers Preparation

Health Careers Preparation

ID: AHS-180

Credit Hours: 3

This course includes selected topics such as study skills, test-taking skills, critical thinking, problem solving, ethics, health careers test preparation and other topics to promote student success.

3
Semester 2
(6 Credit Hours)
AHS-102 Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology

ID: AHS-102

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers medical terms, including roots, prefixes, and suffixes, with emphasis on spelling, definition, and pronunciation.

3
BIO-110 General Anatomy and Physiology

General Anatomy and Physiology

ID: BIO-110

Credit Hours: 3

This course is a general introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Emphasis is on the organ systems of the human and their interrelationships.

3
Semester 3
(7 Credit Hours)
AHS-117 The Care of Patients

The Care of Patients

ID: AHS-117

Credit Hours: 4

This course includes a study of concepts required to assist in nurse assisting.

4
AHS-131 Computers in Healthcare

Computers in Healthcare

ID: AHS-131

Credit Hours: 3

This course is the study of the hardware and software used in various healthcare settings including information systems, computerized medical interfaces, telemedicine, networking, as well as other basic computer applications.

3
Semester 4
(3 Credit Hours)
AHS-205 Ethics and Law for Allied Health Profess

Ethics and Law for Allied Health Profess

ID: AHS-205

Credit Hours: 3

This course is an introduction to ethical, bioethical and legal concepts related to allied health professions.

3
  Total Credit Hours 22
  Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
$4,400.00
Not including fees and equipment

Careers

Certified Nursing Assistant

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) work in skilled health care settings, checking patients’ vital signs; helping patients with the activity of daily living, eating, elimination; and performing safety measures. These skills are sought after in a highly-competitive career path. Related careers include patient care technicians, patient support technicians (PST), nursing technicians, personal care aides, and rehabilitation aides/assistants.

Projected Job Growth

+4.6%

Average Annual Salary

$29,009
According to EMSI data as of 2022

Where Can I Work?

  • Hospitals
  • Nursing Home Facilities
  • Long-term Care Facilities
  • Home Health Organizations
  • Hospice Care Organizations

What’s next after I complete this program?

Enter the workforce

After graduates complete this program, opportunities for employment will be available immediately. There is a high demand for caring individuals who are driven to provide high-quality care. Employment will provide graduates with the opportunity to continue to develop and learn additional skills, network with current practitioners, and become a valuable asset to the healthcare team.

Gain additional credentials

Stand out from the rest by continuing this education path and pursuing other certifications. CNAs can also be cross-trained as phlebotomists and electrocardiogram technicians to become patient care technicians (PCTs).

Advance your career

Continue growth and development as a member of the nursing care team. Many nursing assistants/CNAs continue their education while perfecting their craft. It is very common for many to work their way to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and ultimately registered nurses (RNs) (CNA to LPN to RN).

Want more information?

Academic programs count as academic credit for a certificate, diploma or degree and may transfer toward future academic endeavors at four-year colleges and universities.
Training programs can be completed in a matter of weeks or months, are focused on career training, and provide credentials and certificates needed in the specific fields of study. Coursework does not transfer.
Not sure: Check out these resources to explore what fits your goals.

Get Email Updates

Get occasional updates on the programs we offer and the interesting careers that they lead to!

Talk to Us

If you requested a phone call, an admissions counselor will contact you within one business day.

CAPTCHA