CNA with patient

Nursing Assistant (CNA)

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Program Information

Degree Type
2-credit Technical Diploma

Program Code
30-543-1

Time to Degree
75 hours

Start Date
Year-Round

How You'll Learn

On Campus
Hybrid
Daytime
Evening
Weekend

Learn fundamental nursing assistant skills through lectures, demonstrations and skills practice in this 75-hour program. After mastering the skills, complete training in a nursing home or hospital setting under the supervision of an instructor. A Certified Medication Assistant course is available for qualified CNAs.

Please note: To be eligible for testing and/or licensing in the state of Wisconsin, you may be required to obtain a social security number.

Tuition Costs

The cost of your degree depends on a number of factors, including where you live, how your program is delivered, how long it takes to finish your program and the financial aid you receive. Explore current tuition and fees.

Additional Estimated Costs

Any computer or tablet
Uniform: $50
Immunizations/testing: $36-$116
Caregiver Background check: $15
Certification test: $125

How To Apply

Ready to get started? Complete the steps listed below:

How to Start the CNA Program

Create an Account

Set up a WCTC student account to get your username and ID.

Before You Register

Review the Nursing Assistant Technical Standards to determine if you need assistance from WCTC's Student Accessibility Office to support your success in this course.
Review background check information. Obtain a caregiver background check. Save your background check as a PDF. View a sample background check.
Complete the Nursing Assistant Application and Background Information Disclosure.
Once your documents have been reviewed, you will receive an email from NA@wctc.edu with next steps to complete health requirements. Please see "Health Requirements" in the Frequently Asked Questions below for details.
After health requirements are complete, you will receive a permit to register.

WCTC coordinates the placement of Nursing Assistant students at clinical sites while adhering to the clinical agencies’ background check requirements. WCTC submits student background checks to clinical agencies, and the agency has the right to refuse clinical placement based on review of the background check.

Please note that if you have lived outside of Wisconsin within the last three years, you will need to obtain a background check from the state in which you lived. Email the completed background check to NA@wctc.edu.

Register for the CNA Course

Find upcoming courses through our Course Search tool. Select your desired term, search "Nursing Assistant," then select "Find Courses." Explore offerings to find the course that works for your schedule. There are three ways to register:

1. Online (recommended):

Log into MyWCTC or create an account.
- If you have not registered for a course in over a semester, your account may be disabled. Please contact Registration at 262.691.5578 to reactivate your account and register.
Select "Register for Classes."
From the Registration menu, select "Register for Classes."
Select term and click "Continue."
Enter the class CRNs on the "Enter CRNs" tab and click "Add to Summary."
Click "Submit" to complete registration.

- OR -

2. Phone: Call 262.691.5578 to register.

- OR -

3. In Person: Stop by Ollie's Compass (Enrollment Center, C-019) to register in person. Bring your registration form.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Finding a Course

How do I find out when courses are offered?

Find upcoming courses through our Course Search tool. Select your desired term, search "Nursing Assistant," then select "Find Courses." Once you find the list of courses, select "view schedule" to see when the course meets.

Health Requirements

Health requirements can be completed at any health facility, but we encourage using designated ProHealth Care Occupational Health sites. These facilities manage health requirements for all of WCTC's School of Health and are most familiar with our forms. If you go to another site, be sure they follow the timing of necessary tests and vaccinations as explained below.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Our clinical partners recommend the COVID-19 vaccine, declination or an approved medical or religious exemption. The booster is not required at this time.

Vaccine Waiver/Declination Information

Reasonable accommodations may be available for students with documented disabilities and/or sincerely held religious beliefs. Students seeking accommodation due to documented disability should contact the Student Accessibility Office. Students seeking accommodation due to a sincerely held religious belief should complete the Religious Exemption Request Form.

Students seeking to decline the COVID-19 vaccination may complete one of the following forms:

Flu Vaccine

A flu vaccine is required for all students scheduled to be in a clinical site between October 1 and March 31.

TB Test

Tuberculosis Screening is completed initially and annually thereafter with a 2-step TB skin test or Quantiferon blood test. Please note that a 2-step TB skin test means you get two skin tests, 7 to 21 days apart. This will require four trips to your doctor: two trips are to receive the skin tests, and two trips are to have the skin tests read.

If you have a positive TB skin test or have received the BCG vaccination, you will then need to have a Quantiferon blood test drawn. The blood test must be drawn within one year of the end of the course. The Quantiferon blood test can be done in place of the 2-step TB test, but the test is generally more expensive.

Registering and Courses

What if I need to miss a portion of the class?

All class time is required by the State of Wisconsin. You must plan to attend all course time.

Where do I find the course syllabus?

You will receive and review the course syllabus on your first day of class.

Program Details

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Program Questions

262.691.5425
NA@wctc.edu

General Questions

We'd love to help! Connect with our Enrollment team by filling out our online form or by email at enroll@wctc.edu.

Potential Careers

If you are interested in getting an introduction to the nursing field and learning basic skills, the Nursing Assistant program may be right for you. Those working as Nursing Assistants have compassion for others, and possess strong time management, organizational and communication skills. Many who complete the Nursing Assistant program continue their studies to become a registered nurse.

Nursing Assistant
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

High School Eligibility

This program is open to qualified high school applicants. Learn more >

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Career Salaries

$27,400 – $35,300 annually

Salary range estimates based on wages for related occupations in Waukesha County as reported by Lightcast. Individual wages may vary based on experience, industry, location and specific job requirements. Find our graduates' entry wages in the most recent Graduate Success Report.

Financial Aid

This program is not eligible for financial aid.

Technical Standards

The students enrolled in the Nursing Assistant program should be able to meet the established technical standards identified below with or without reasonable accommodation. The technical standards for the Nursing Assistant program are representative of those found in the Nursing Assistant profession.

Review the Nursing Assistant Technical Standards.

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