Certified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A.)
The Nursing Assistant is a skilled health professional who provides nursing care to the sick, confined or rehabilitating client under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. Upon completion of the C.N.A. course students are eligible to sit for the state certification exam.
Step 1 – Application and Eligibility Screening
Interested candidates should contact Garon Jackson at (843) 560-1616 or (803) 829-1805 to make an appointment to fill out the LOUD application and to determine eligibility to participate in free training services.
Step 2 – Testing
Once accepted into the program, candidates will be scheduled for the appropriate placement tests through Adult Education. LOUD will cover the cost for all required tests.
Step 3 – Remediation (if necessary)
If needed, candidates will work with Adult Education to improve test scores and then re-take the placement test in order to enroll in future classes.
Step 4 – Medical and Criminal Background Screening
Because of legal requirements for hands-on training in a medical facility, all training participants are required to get a two-step PPD (tuberculosis) screening, have an updated shot record, and undergo a SLED criminal background check. All expenses for PPD and SLED tests will be paid by LOUD.
Step 5 - Training
The pre-C.N.A. curriculum (40 hrs) covers academic skills, stress/time management, and employability skills. This required component of the LOUD C.N.A. program is taught by Adult Education.
The Certified Nurse Aid curriculum (96 hours) is a SC DHHS approved course that prepares students to pass the certification exam to become a CNA. It includes an academic component that will be taught in a classroom setting and a clinical component where the student will gain clinical experience in a long-term care facility. The C.N.A. curriculum is taught by instructors from either Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College or Trident Technical College.
Step 6 – Job Placement
Once a student has successfully completed the CNA curriculum, the LOUD staff assists them in gaining employment, although employment is not guaranteed. The average starting salary for C.N.A.’s is $8.00/hr.