Overview
Train for a CNA Certification. Build a Career of Care.
Our Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Training Program prepares you with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience needed to pursue CNA certification and begin a career in healthcare.
The program includes 110 hours of training, with classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience designed to meet Connecticut requirements for CNA training. You’ll develop essential patient-care skills while learning in a supportive, hands-on environment that prepares you for the state certification examination.
Training includes:
- Classroom instruction and skills training
- Supervised clinical experience
- Course materials
- Preparation for the Connecticut CNA certification examination
Students may enroll in the CNA course beginning at age 16. Program completion and eligibility to take the state certification examination are subject to applicable Connecticut requirements.
After earning your CNA certification, you’ll be prepared to pursue employment opportunities in healthcare and patient care settings. Career support and connections to employment opportunities may be available through our healthcare partners.
Certified Nurse Assistant Experience
CNA Training with Purpose
Build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to care for others and pursue your purpose in healthcare.
- Career-Focused Training — Develop the essential skills needed for CNA certification through classroom learning, skills practice, and supervised clinical experience.
- Hands-On Experience — Gain real-world experience through 40 hours of supervised clinical practice, putting your learning into action in a healthcare setting.
- Career-Ready Skills — Learn essential patient-care skills, including infection control, vital signs, personal care, restorative services, and more.
- A Supportive Learning Community — Learn in a caring, supportive environment with small classes, dedicated faculty, peer support, and resources designed to help you succeed.
- Purposeful Career Preparation — Connect your CNA training to your goals through the Center for Experiential Outreach, where career exploration, preparation, and connections to experiential and employment opportunities help you turn your education into action.
- A Meaningful Path Forward — Prepare to enter a growing healthcare field where compassion, skill, and purpose come together to make a difference in the lives of others.
Certified Nursing Assistant Curriculum
Every assignment, every clinical hour, and every step brings you closer to a career of service — one that makes a difference for patients, families, and your own future. Upon successful completion of the Certified Nurse Assistant Training program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills to support residents' emotional, psychological, and social well-being, including the appropriate use of communication devices, therapeutic techniques, and professional documentation.
- Apply principles of infection control and safety, including proper hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and adherence to standard precautions, while maintaining a safe environment for residents and staff.
- Perform fundamental nursing skills, such as measuring and recording vital signs, assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), and recognizing and reporting changes in resident conditions.
- Deliver respectful and person-centered personal care, including hygiene, grooming, nutrition, hydration, toileting, skin care, and mobility support, in alignment with individual resident needs and dignity.
- Support residents with cognitive impairments and mental health conditions through behavioral interventions, environmental modifications, and appropriate communication to promote safety, comfort, and engagement.
- Provide basic restorative services that encourage resident independence, including assistance with mobility, range-of-motion exercises, use of assistive devices, and participation in self-care.
- Advocate for and uphold residents’ rights, including the right to privacy, dignity, informed decision making, and freedom from abuse or neglect, while adhering to legal and ethical standards of care.