Health Occupations Center

 

The Nursing Assistant program is approved by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and meets all requirements for completers to qualify to take the state certification exam required to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

 

 

• Be at least 18 or older
• Attend a Career Training Orientation - sign up on the How to Get Started page
• Attend First Class day for the certified nursing assistant program
• Provide proof of required immunizations (list will be provided on the First Class day)

 

We offer 4 nursing assistant courses with various schedules each semester. These schedules are subject to change, but in general we offer:

Students will have the opportunity to complete clinical hours in a local care facility as part of the required coursework unless CDPH specifies otherwise based on pandemic conditions.

 

 

 The program registration fee is $550. We are partnered with LeadingAge CA on The Gateway-In Project through Spring 2024. Students that register with LeadingAge CA and agree to work in long-term care facilities for at least one year after certification will have their registration/supply fee paid and can receive up to $3,000 for support services. More information is available on their website (linked above) and an opportunity to register will be available on the CNA First Class day.

 

 

Additional costs are approximately $315 and can also be covered by LeadingAge CA for those that enroll in the Gateway In Project. All students will need to purchase scrubs ($40), textbooks ($150), immunization tracker ($17), Live Scan fingerprints ($53) and complete an American Heart Association (AHA) approved Basic Life Support course ($55). 

 

 

As a K-12 adult school we are unable to offer financial aid. We do partner with the San Diego Workforce Partnership, local career centers, and other organizations like LeadingAge CA whenever possible to find opportunities for fees to be reduced or covered for qualified participants. For more information on what is available for this program, attend the orientation and/or connect with a transition services specialist.

 

 

Students have until the last day of the second week of class to request a refund for the registration fee minus a $25 processing fee.

 

• San Diego Workforce Partnership
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
• California Economic Development Department
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Thomas Phillips has been an instructor for the HOC Nursing Assistant program since 2015.  He holds a Designated Subjects Teaching Credential to teach Career Technical Education courses in California.  Thomas worked in the field as a nurse for over 5 years.

 

 

Skills lab practice for the Nursing Assistant program is performed in one of our two nursing assistant training labs located at the Health Occupations Center in Santee. Each lab has 5-7 patient beds, training manikins, wheelchairs, and all of the equipment required to be trained successfully as a nursing assistant.  As a bonus, the Regional Testing Center conducts state testing to certify nursing assistants use our facility to conduct their testing for HOC and other local training programs.  This means that you will be able to test in the same environment that you have trained.

 

 

 

          

     

 

The Nursing Assistant program accepts students twice a year through the orientation and First Class day process.  Check the Program Guide for the next class start dates. Visit the How to Get Started page now.