CNA Classes and Certification in Colorado
Since the 80’s Colorado has had high standards for their nurse and nurse aides working with long term care facilities patients. The Colorado Nurse Aide Practice Act makes it a law that anyone working in a nurse aide position needs to be trained properly and certified by the standards of Colorado state. If you are looking to get a start in the medical field but would like to get out of the classroom setting and find a job quickly, CNA Certification Colorado may be the track to look into. After a few shorts months of CNA classes in Colorado and clinical practice hours, and following 2 exams, you could be working as a certified Nurse Aide in a nursing home or a hospital setting.
CNA Classes in Colorado Springs, Denver & more
The first step to becoming CNA certified in Colorado is to find an approved program by the Colorado state Nursing Board. The following is a short list of some of the state approved programs for CNA license training. These training programs include CNA classes in Denver, Colorado Springs, and more:
- Aims Community College, Greeley
5401 W. 20th St., Greeley, CO 80634 - Arapahoe Community College
5900 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, CO 80160 - Beo Nurse Aide Training Program
1442 Hancock Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 - Colorado Mountain College, Glenwood Springs
831 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 - Colorado Northwestern Community College
500 Kennedy Drive, Rangely, CO 81648 - Community College of Denver
1111 W. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80204 - Community Health Institute
4705 Paris Street #100, Denver, CO 80239 - Emily Griffith Technical College
1250 Welton Street, Denver, CO 80210 - Front Range Community College
3645 W 112th Ave, Westminster, CO 80031 - Front Range Nurse Aide Training Program
7870 North Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920 - Morgan Community College
920 Barlow Road, Fort Morgan, CO 80701 - NTSOC Nurse Aide Training Program (formerly TSOC)
1130 W. Woodmen Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 - Otero Junior College
1802 Colorado Ave, La Junta, CO 81050 - Pueblo Community College
900 West Orman Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81004 - Red Rocks Community College, Denver
13300 W Sixth Ave, Denver, CO 80228 - South Denver School of Nursing Arts
7853 E Arapahoe Ct, Centennial CO 80112 - Trinidad State Junior College
600 Prospect St, Trinidad, CO 81082 - Trinidad State Junior College, Alamosa
1101 Main Street, Alamosa, CO 81101
Colorado CNA Certification: What to Expect
Once you have selected a Colorado State approved CNA training programs, you will begin your course work. During your CNA classes in Colorado work you will study things such as medical terminology, patient’s rights, patient safety, emergency procedures and safety protocol. You will also learn how to take a patient’s vital signs, how to administer medication, how to take care of patient’s needs such as feeding and clothing and how to properly document everything. A typical Colorado CNA program consists of over a hundred hours of in classroom studies and a at least 16 additional hours working in a medical setting with the supervision of a registered nurse.
One of the nice things about CNA certification Colorado is that in order to get trained for the CNA examination a prospective student does not have to have a diploma. Some Colorado high school students opt to get trained as they are finishing up their high school degree. This enables students to enter the job force directly after graduating high school.
Before testing, prospective CNA registrants need to receive a background check and be fingerprinted in the state of Colorado. You will also need to have a documented medical physical and TB test. Some programs require that you take care of these steps prior to enrolling in CNA classes in Colorado, but the state requires that these steps are completed prior to sitting for the Colorado State CNA exam.
Colorado CNA Testing & Certification Exam
After completing your CNA classes in Colorado, the clinical hours, and having all necessary documentation of the background check, fingerprinting and physical – a student may register for the exam through the Colorado Division of Registration. The test consists of 2 parts, the first part being multiple choice test. The multiple choice, or written test, tests your theoretical knowledge of the skills and lessons you learned during your classroom time. The second part of the exam consists of a skills test. This part of the test requires that you demonstrate skills required of a nurse aide in front of a licensed examiner. This could include skills like taking a patient’s blood pressure, or the proper steps to administering medication. It is important that you perform each skill and all that’s required of that procedure in the way you learned throughout your training. Each step is vital for the examiner to witness in order for you to pass the skills portion of the test.
Colorado students are encouraged to study prior to sitting for the Colorado CNA exam. There are practice tests available online for the use of studying. Some people also choose to have their supervising nurses quiz them on steps of the skills in order to prepare in advance for the test. Make sure you get plenty of rest and eat a healthy breakfast the morning of the test.
In the state of Colorado you may apply for certification if you have been certified by another state. Colorado recognizes certification that is valid, so long as the CNA candidate has a clear background check and has not been convicted of abuse. This is great news for licensed CNA’s looking to move to Colorado.
Contact the Colorado Board of Nursing with questions on CNA classes in Colorado, certification requirements, or your CNA license Colorado status:
Colorado Board of Nursing
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-894-2430 | Alternate: 303-894-2458
Fax: 303-894-2821 | Email: dora_nursingboard@state.co.us
CNA Jobs in Colorado
After completing your CNA classes in Colorado Springs, Denver, or whichever area you chose, and obtaining your state certification license, you will need to look for a job. The CNA job outlook in Colorado is strong, with the state’s North Central nonmetropolitan area ranked 5th highest paying rural area in the country. At almost $16/hr in 2014, this equates to an annual salary of $32,790, which is a great starting block for building your nursing career. The Denver, Aurora & Broomfield, CO area is booming, with U.S. BLS employment estimates nearing 10,000 CNA jobs. Colorado Springs, CO is second in job opportunities, with over 2,300 jobs. The Fort Collins – Loveland, CO area is strong as well, with over 1,200 jobs, despite it’s smaller population. Pueblo, CO was also strong with an estimated 1,000 CNA jobs. The higher-than-average wage rates, especially in rural areas, coupled with the abounding job opportunities in the Denver and Colorado Springs metropolitan areas are promising for CNA prospects in Colorado.