Program Type
Certificate
Estimated Time to Complete
One Semester
Format
On Campus
Program Description
The Nursing Assistant Certificate Program prepares students for entry-level employment in healthcare by providing the foundational knowledge, hands-on skills, and professional behaviors required to deliver safe and compassionate patient care. Students learn essential competencies such as personal care, vital signs, infection control, communication, documentation, and patient safety through a combination of classroom instruction, skills lab practice, and supervised clinical experience. Emphasis is placed on dignity, respect, cultural responsiveness, and teamwork to ensure graduates are prepared to serve diverse populations in long-term care facilities, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. Upon successful completion, students are eligible to take the state competency examination and pursue placement on the Nurse Aide Registry, positioning them for immediate employment or continued study in nursing and allied health fields.
Career Outlook
The career outlook for nursing assistants is strong, with demand expected to grow as the population ages and the need for quality long-term and acute care services increases. Nursing assistants can find employment in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies. With experience and additional training, opportunities may also arise for advancement into specialized care roles or further education in nursing and healthcare.
Credit Hours
15 Credits
Requirements
Requirements
Program Required Courses
| MCA 101 | Foundations of Healthcare | 3 |
| MCA 105 | Certified Nursing Assistant Training/Lab | 5 |
| BOTE 171 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| BIOL 115 | Human Structure & Function | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 7 |
Nursing Assistant Certificate Pathway
|
Program of Study
|
|
Fall or Spring Semester
|
|
Course #
|
Course Title
|
Credit
|
|
BIOL 115
|
Human Structure & Function
|
4
|
|
BOTE 171
|
Medical Terminology
|
3
|
|
MCA 101
|
Foundations of Healthcare
|
3
|
|
MCA 105
|
Certified Nursing Assistant Training Lab
|
5
|
|
TOTAL CREDITS
|
15
|
Total Credits Required: 15
Total Credit Hours: 15