CNA Classes in CT | 9 Best Connecticut Nursing Assistant Schools

Healthcare is one of the most stable industries around in an increasingly automated economy. If you aren’t interested in medical school and want to see whether nursing might be the right choice for your career, then you will want to know about CNA classes in CT. 

Certified Nursing Assistants are in high demand, so there are tons if CNA jobs in Connecticut. This article will help you understand what it will take to become a CNA in the state of Connecticut and introduce you to the best programs for CNA training in CT. Keep reading to have all your questions answered and decide whether this is the right path for your new career.

Who is the regulatory body for CNAs in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, the Department of Public Health is in charge of CNA certification. They will determine who is licensed to apply for CNA jobs in CT.  In order to become a licensed Certified Nursing Assistant, the Department of Public Health requires a minimum amount of training and that you pass their standardized exams. 

Connecticut State Requirements for CNAs

To become a CNA, you are required to attend an approved training program. These programs are usually much shorter than universities, only lasting a few months at a time. 

Once you graduate from your approved CNA training program, you will be required to take a 2-part Prometric CNA competency examination. This exam consists of a written section and a practical section that will evaluate your skills. 

The good news is that these are the only requirements. It is pretty easy to get your CNA license in Connecticut. Passing both sections of your exam will get you automatically added to the Nurse’s Aid Registry in Connecticut. Also, the only fee they require for licensing is the testing fee; there’s not an initial certification fee in CT right now. 

Connecticut CNA Exam Details

connecticut cna exam details

Prometric is the company that handles the Connecticut CNA examination process. Their website offers a ton of great information and study guides to prepare you for the exam.

First, candidates will need to complete the registry application. Once they have shown that their training is complete, they schedule their test at a nearby location.

You will be taking Clinical Skills and Written examinations on the same day. If you pass both tests, your certification will be mailed to you and your name will be added to the Connecticut CNA Registry, 

Once you send your application and fees to Prometric, they will schedule you at a regional test site for your exam. Make sure you let them know what city you want to take your exam in to get the right location.  On the test day, arrive 30 minutes early so you can sign in and have your identity verified. 

For the practical exam, you will need to wear flat, nonskid, closed toe shoes and scrubs are recommended. A watch with a second hand is also required. 

The written exam will be administered on a computer. It will be 60 multiple choice questions, and you will have 90 minutes to complete the exam. If you need to, you can take the written test in an oral form instead. You will have the questions read to you while you answer questions on the computer and can replay the questions as often as needed. This must be requested prior to your exam date.

testing skill on cna exam

Your skill test involves 5 skills – 3 assigned skills that are randomly chosen by computer at your time of scheduling and 2 standardized skills – hand washing and indirect care. Indirect care relates to resident safety, comfort, needs, rights, and preferences. 

The time for this test varies based on which skills you are asked to perform. You will be told how much time you are given during the instructional period, but on average it will be 30 to 40 minutes. 

Finally, you will be required to volunteer as a resident for another CNA’s certification exam. If you’re unable to perform any of the requirements, let them know when you check in at the site. 

A comprehensive list of guidelines and what is permitted and forbidden are all available on the Prometric site to prepare you. 

How much does the Connecticut CNA exam cost?

The CNA exam accepts payments from credit cards issued through Visa, American Express, or Master Card. They also take money order or certified checks. Personal checks and cash payments will not be accepted.

Testing fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable, so make sure that you are ready and confident that you can pass. 

The Clinical Skills test and Written test costs $118. The Clinical Skills test and Oral test costs $128. A retest on Clinical Skills tests costs $73. Written test retakes are $45 and Oral retests cost $55. 

Reciprocity certification for CNAs currently licensed in other states cost $55. If you need to reschedule a testing appointment, the fee will be $25. If you need to appeal your test results and have them scored by hand, it will cost $25, and to receive duplicates of your certificate it is $15 per copy. 

Where can you take the CNA exam in Connecticut?

There are 8 Prometric test centers throughout the state of Connecticut. These centers are located in the following cities: Litchfield, Hamden, Derby, Stamford, Norwich, Naugatuck, Wethersfield, and Waterbury. The Waterbury facility is only open for testing from July through September. 

In some cases Prometrics will allow a house-scheduled exam for students in a training program or career facility. In these rare exceptions, your instructor will schedule the exam for you.

How much does a CNA get paid in Connecticut?

One of the biggest things that people want to know about is CNA salaries in CT. This is a stable career path, with salaries ranging from $24,000 to $31,000 per year. This roughly translates to a little over $13 an hour. 

This makes Connecticut one of the friendliest environments for a CNA in the country because their CNAs make more money than nearly every other state, especially when you factor cost of living into the equation. 

With time, CNAs can even become their own boss. Experienced CNAs are in very high demand, so employers will pay them handsomely to entice them to work. Furthermore, there are a lot of clients who want to hire personal CNAs for home care, so in these instances you can set your own hourly rates and negotiate for a very comfortable living. 

Approved CNA Programs in the State

Now that you know about the process, you are likely wondering where you can take CNA classes in CT. Here’s some basic information about the programs available.

Manchester Community College

This college offers an accelerated training program. In just 120 hours, you will complete your training requirements and be eligible to certify. This course dedicates its first 16 hours to the state mandated instruction required before clinical rotations. They require you to achieve a 70 or above after 100 hours of attended course time to sit for your exam. 

Norwalk Community College

norwalk community college

Norwalk offers a 108-hour course with 36 hours of classroom instruction and 72 hours of practical training. At the end of their program, they will administer the state certification exam. Their course includes training on physical and emotional changes as they relate to aging. Students are required to attend all lectures, labs, and clinicals before sitting for the certification. 

Three Rivers Community College, Norwich

Three Rivers offers a 120-hour course that prepares students for certification. Along with the ability to sit for the CNA exams, this course also prepares students for the Home Health Aide exams as well, so they can test through any home health agency that is licensed to administer the evaluation. 

Goodwin College

Goodwin offers an accredited practical program for becoming a CNA. They review your transcripts quickly, have a super easy enrollment process, and accept financial aid applications. If you wish to continue your education after the CNA program, they can feed you right into their RN program so you can get your Associates Degree in Nursing and certify as a Registered Nurse. 

Housatonic Community College

housatonic community college

Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport is a great place to complete CNA coursework. Their program takes less than 4 months to complete. This program can also extend past CNA certification to help students become CPCTs (Patient Care Technicians), LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses), and RNs (Registered nurses). They structure their program as the first step among many to launch a healthcare career anywhere in nursing. 

Naugatuck Valley Community College

Naugatuck Valley is the state’s original CNA facility, and among the most prestigious and respected. They exceed every minimum standard set by the state and offer significantly more practical hours. Their course culminates I the competency exam, offered on site. Their first time pass rate is nearly 100%. 

Tunxis Community College

Tunxis holds a 3-month, 100-hour course program for CNA training. It is offered with flexible hours, including days, nights, and Saturdays. Their class sizes are limited to 8, so each students gets the maximum amount of one on one instruction time and practical experience. 

Stone Academy, Hamden

Stone Academy is a fully accredited nursing school. Their goal is to allow students to advance their career to the next level. This means that you can go from CNA to their Practical Nursing Program with ease, quickly certifying to work as an LPN in the state’s best facilities. 

Northwestern Connecticut Community College

northwestern connecticut community college

This college offers a 120-hour program to prepare students for the state examination. They offer a mixture of class lectures and lab skills that prepare students for real world jobs. They also allow clinical rotations at an area nursing facility, helping students make connections that can lead to their first job. They offer weekday and evening programs. They also offer a refresher course if you’ve let your certification lapse and need to refresh before sitting fro recertification exams. 

Conclusion

As you can see, a beginning a career as a CNA is a great investment for residents of Connecticut. It is a stable, long-term career where you can make a very comfortable living, and it is a relatively small investment up front to certify. Many preparation programs actually cover the exam cost in their program fees.