You can enter into a nursing-related career with just a couple of months of CNA training in Alabama by pursuing a rewarding career in the medical field. A CNA will provide a range of care services including assistance with daily activities for patients in healthcare settings. You might be a bit surprised to find out that there can be methods of obtaining your nursing assistant certification for free in Alabama.
Nursing care facilities often offer free certified nursing assistant training for qualified individuals. They will hire men and women to work for their facility and then will cover all costs related to obtaining the certification. To receive training for free in this way, you will generally be required to sign an agreement stating that you will work for that healthcare provider for a certain amount of time as long as the employer provides the training to you for free. This provides a great way to land your first CNA job while also receiving a high level of training for free.
Prospective CNAs can sometimes receive free training through WIA programs and other programs intended to help individuals who are unemployed or under-employed. There are even some CNA schools offering scholarships to help pay for nursing assistant training. Below we have compiled different options to access free training, these are through:
- Scholarships and Grant Programs
- WIA Approved Colleges
- Via Nursing Homes
You can keep scrolling down to read more about available opportunities or click on a different state:
CNA Training FAQs.
How long does it take to become a CNA in Alabama?
Certified Nursing Assistant Training programs in Alabama comprise 75 hours of training which includes 55 hours in a classroom setting and 20 hours of practical training.
What is the salary for CNAs?
For CNAs in Alabama, the average annual salary is approximately $32,000 as of September 2022. Salaries vary widely depending on what city you’re working in as well as your certification and any additional skills.
How do I get my CNA license in Alabama?
To get your license as a CNA in Alabama, you are required to complete an approved CNA program which includes a total of 75 hours of training and then take the State Nurse Aide Competency exam. Upon successful completion, you will be licensed as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
How much does the Alabama CNA exam cost?
The cost of the CNA exam depends on whether the candidate chooses an oral or practical exam. Both sections cost between $80-$100.
Free CNA Training in Alabama Opportunities:
Scholarship Opportunities:
Rubye and R.M. Walker Fund – Gadsden State Community College 1001 George Wallace Drive-Gadsden, AL 35903
Prospective nursing assistant students can contact the financial aid office of the Community College to determine if they are eligible to apply for this scholarship program. Students who apply for the fund will need to be able to show that they have some level of financial need for the scholarship. The student should also show that they are and will continue to be successful academically. Nursing assistant students have the potential to apply for this program since the fund is geared towards students in health or science-related program.
Women’s Economic Development Council Foundation Scholarship – J.F. Drake State Technical College – 3421 Meridian Street North Huntsville, AL 35811
This scholarship is intended to give women the opportunity to pursue a degree or technical training program, who might otherwise struggle to have this opportunity. If a woman has children who are her dependents, this will carry some weight when applying for a scholarship. One of the programs for which this program could be applied is for the Nursing Assistant Certification tract. The CNA program will make graduates eligible to sit for the CNA certification exam after completing 90 hours of training.
Trenholm State Technical College – Foundation Scholarships – PO Box 10048 Montgomery, Alabama 26108
The Trenholm State Technical College is one of many colleges in Alabama offering foundation scholarships. These scholarships are often need-based with some also being based on a student’s achievements. Some of the scholarship funds can potentially be applied to the comprehensive nursing assistant training program offered at Trenholm State. This program covers 645 total hours of study including classroom instruction as well as hands-on experience in clinical settings. This is a fully accredited CNA training program.
WIA Approved Centers:
Lawson State Community College – 1100 Ninth Avenue NW-Bessemer, AL 35022
This community college is one of the Alabama colleges that participate in Workforce Investment Act programs. Students who are eligible for WIA benefits to pay towards training for a new career and who are considering a career as a nursing assistant, should apply to Lawson State. The community college offers a nursing assistant program that covers 9 semester hours of study. Students will receive the instruction and hands-on experience requited to sit for the nursing assistant competency exam. Prospective students should contact the WIA investment office at the college if they have already been certified in their community to receive WIA benefits.
Northeast Alabama Community College – Rainsville, Alabama 35986
Individuals who are eligible to receive, WIA investments to provide them with training to begin a gainful career, should note that Northeast Alabama Community College is one of the participating WIA providers within the state. They offer a range of certificate and skill training programs. Among these programs is the certified nursing assistant training class. This class is one of the state-approved training programs for individuals who wish to sit for the certified nursing assistant exam in Alabama.
Shelton State Community College – 9500 Old Greensboro Road-Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
SSCC is among the colleges in the Alabama community college system that participates in the Workforce Investment Act. Students who qualify for tuition assistance through the Workforce Investment Act can enroll in several training programs at Shelton State Community College. One such option available to some students is the nursing assistant training program. This program covers six courses including clinical experience. Upon completion of the CNA class, students can sit for the exam to become state certified as a nursing assistant.
Northwest-Shoals Community College – P.O. Box 2545 Muscle Shoals, AL 35662
The Nurse Assistant course is an 80-hour certificate program that includes instruction in theory, nursing skills lab, and a clinical rotation in a health care facility. The cost of the program is approximately $650 inclusive of tuition, textbooks, background check and certification exam. For more info, contact program advisors at 256-331-5363.
Other WIA-Approved Colleges:
Alabama Southern Community College Thomasville Campus – 30755 Highway 43, South | PO Box 2000 | Thomasville, AL 36784
American Red Cross Madison/Marshall County Chapter – 1101 Washington Street | Huntsville, AL 35801
Bevill State Community College Fayette Campus – 2631 Temple Avenue, North Fayette, AL 35555
Central Alabama Community College Alexander City Campus – 1675 Cherokee Road | PO Box 699 | Alexander City, AL 35011-0699
Drake State Technical College – 3421 Meridain Street | North Huntsville, AL 35811
Easter Seals Alabama, Inc. – 510 West Thomason Circle | Opelika, AL 36801
Reid State Technical College – Hwy 83 & I-65 | P. O. Box 588 | Evergreen, AL 36401
Free Training via Nursing Homes
Nursing homes always have vacancies and sometimes they also have programs whereby they pay for your tuition fees if you agree to work for that home for a specified time frame. Ask around in nearby nursing homes to see if any offer this option, to start off we have a few listed below you can inquire from.
Glenwood Healthcare, Inc. – Florence, AL
Nhc Healthcare – Moulton, AL
Englewood Health Care Center – Monroeville, AL
Fairview At Redstone Village – Huntsville, AL
Canterbury Health Care Facility – Phenix City, AL
Valley View Health And Rehabilitation, Llc – Madison, AL
LICENSE TRANSFER TO ALABAMA.
It is sometimes possible to transfer your CNA certification from another state to Alabama. Your certificate is required to be official and active in the other state meaning that you must be listed with an active certification on the Nursing Aide Registry in the other state. You must not have any negative records such as abuse of patients against you.
If you are employed in a nursing care facility, you will be able to apply for your nursing assistant certification to be transferred to the state of Alabama. You will then be registered on the Nursing Aide Registry in Alabama.
Most of the time, you will not be able to transfer your certification if you are not employed at a nursing care facility. Even if you have a certification as a nursing assistant in another state, you may need to receive certification straight from Alabama. This implies that you will need to take a training program and pass the certification exam.
LICENSE TRANSFER FROM ALABAMA TO ANOTHER STATE.
- Complete an application for a new CNA license for the state you are moving to.
- Submit a current and active official copy of your CNA license from your current state.
- Provide proof of continuous employment as a CNA from your employer in your current state.
- Submit a form for a criminal background check.