What is a Nursing Assistant?
Nursing Assistants are people who assist licensed nursing personnel in providing nursing care. Duties include assisting with patients' daily living activities such as ambulation, bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, grooming, and measuring of vital signs, in a variety of health care settings. The ability to work well with people, as well as to listen and care about the patient, is essential.

What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) provide the same services as non-certified Nursing Assistants. The basic course of training is the same for both types of Nursing Assistants, the only significant difference is that in order to be a Certified Nursing Assistant, you must take and pass the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) exam. Some employers will only hire Certified Nursing Assistants.

How to become a CNA:
To become a "Certified" Nursing Assistant (CNA), you must complete at minimum, 150 hours of training (75 classroom, 75 clinical instruction) and pass the OSBN state exam. Exam dates may be scheduled in as few as four weeks from the date of Nursing Assistant class completion. CNAs are required by law to have a valid Oregon CNA certificate. We encourage Nursing Assistants to become CNAs. The CNA examination costs approximately $100.

What should I know before I start?
The training is state approved and follows all standards established by the State of Oregon. The Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) requires CPR certification and a criminal background check. Local employers may require drug screening and physical capacities testing prior to employment.

What are the minimum qualifications?

For an RCC class:

• Must be 16 years old or older
• Ability to read and write English
• Basic math skills
• Ability to follow oral and written directions
• Ability to pass a criminal history background check
• Ability to handle the physical demands of the job including lifting, pushing, pulling, and standing for long periods
• Be prepared to commit to a highly structured and demanding training schedule for six full weeks
• Have a current Health Care Provider CPR card and up-to-date immunizations

Classes at other facilities may have different minimum qualifications.

Take Your First Step:
For further information on how you can begin your career in the health care field call: