Nurse Aide (CNA)

North Iowa Area Community College offers training programs for those interested in becoming Certified Nursing Assistants. Courses are offered several times a year in a variety of locations and are taught by Registered Nurses. The course is designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to care for patients/residents in a variety of long-term care facilities and in preparation of the Iowa Direct Care Worker registry exams. The first 55 hours of the course are held in a classroom/lab and the remaining 45 hours of clinical will be in a nursing home. You will give patient care under the supervision of your instructor. At the end of this course, you must take the Direct Care Worker registry written and skills exam to be eligible for employment in long-term care. Successful completion of these exams is required by State Legislation in order to work in a long-term care facility. Certification requires identification with a social security number and government-issued identification.

Upon successful completion of the Certified Nurse Aide curriculum with a grade point average of 2.00 (C) or higher and a minimum overall cumulative college grade point average of 2.0 (C), the student is awarded a Certificate.

The Nurse Aide courses are offered for college credit and are prerequisites to the nursing program.

Entrance Requirements for Nurse Aide:

1. Must be 16 years or older.
2. Strength and endurance to meet the Iowa Core Performance Standards for Health Care Career Programs, which include skills such as lifting and moving residents.
3. High school diploma or HSED (Note-if you are currently in high school, you must submit a letter of acknowledgment from your high school counselor).
4. Health History Self-Assessment.
5. Current immunization records are required prior to beginning clinical. Immunization requirements include a current two-step TB test, Hepatitis B vaccine, or the signing of a Hepatitis B vaccine waiver, COVID-19 vaccine or declination, and Influenza vaccine or declination.
6. A criminal and adult abuse background check must be initiated prior to the start of the class.
7. A clear criminal and adult abuse check will be required prior to enter clinical; the cost is included in the tuition.  

Criminal background checks and adult/dependent and child abuse checks are required by law. Results of those checks will be used to determine clinical eligibility (a student may be denied clinical access and be unable to complete the course). Costs for background checks will be included in tuition costs.

For further information, visit niacc.edu/health-science/nurse-aide or contact the health professions counselor at 1-888-466-4222, Ext. 4207 or 641-422-4207.