The five-credit bursing assistant/CNA program at Emily Griffith Opportunity School covers both clinical experience and theory; it takes four to eight weeks to complete with 86 total contact hours. Potential students must past a reading test and provide proof of a negative tuberculosis test prior to their clinical rotation. In addition to tuition, extra fees cover the textbook, uniforms and state board testing. Successful graduates may take the state certification exam.
The nurse aide program at the Community College of Denver covers basic lab skills, theory and clinical practice in two courses on health care skills and clinical experience; the college also offers nurse aide certification. The five-credit program is seven weeks long: two evening classes a week and 40 hours of clinical work over two weekends. Students interested must have a high school diploma or GED and apply to both the Community College of Denver and to the nurse aide program. Students with no prior college must also successfully complete the Accuplacer Test, which covers arithmetic, sentence skills and reading.
Stillwater College is a Colorado-approved private vocational/occupational school, which offers a six- to eight-week CNA program with flexible scheduling to accommodate working students. Students can take classes during the week (morning, day or evening) or on the weekends; classes are taught in English and Spanish. To be admitted, students must interview with a program coordinator to assess potential for successful program completion and motivation. After students complete the required lab, classroom and clinical hours, Stillwater provides a certificate of completion and a Training Affidavit; this allows students to take the State Board Competency and Skills Exam for Nurse Aides.
The Career Education Center is a career and technical magnet school open to high school students. The medical prep course, available to students in grades 10 through 12, covers basic patient care, CPR, first aid and technical skills. Students can also participate in practicums and internships. This program is one to three semesters in length, and students earn college credit. Upon successful completion of coursework and clinical experience, students may take the CNA exam with the State Board of Nursing.