CNA Training in New Jersey (NJ) | CNA Certification in New Jersey

The increasing elderly population and the boom in the health industry in general has caused an increase in the demand for CNA nursing assistant staff. A CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) is a nurse’s aide and provides direct care to the patient under the supervision on a RN. Each state runs its own state approved CNA training programs and this is the quickest way a person can start his or her career the health care. The CNA training programs in New Jersey require the approval of DHSS (Department of Health and Senior Services).

There are two types of CNA training in New Jersey depending on the establishment the candidate wants to work at. A person desiring a career in a long-term care facility will need to successfully complete NATCEP (Nurse Aide in Long Term Care Facilities Training and Competency Evaluation Program). This program has a minimum duration of 90 hours of which 50 hours is devoted to training in classroom and lab work, while in the remaining 40 hours the candidate is trained in practical clinical skills of patient care.

People wanting to work in assisted living facilities have to take the state approved PCA (Personal Care Assistants) program which has a minimum duration of 85 hours, divided into 69 hours of classroom training and 16 hours of practical hands-on clinical training. After completing any one of the CNA training programs and passing the CNA certification exam in NJ the candidate also needs to clear a criminal history background check. The candidate will then be eligible to find employment as a CNA in NJ.

There are many centers giving state approved CNA training in NJ, and some of them are Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing, Bergen Community College in Paramus, The Center for Allied Health and Nursing Education in Hackensack, and Burlington County Institute of Technology in Westampton.