Free CNA classes are available from a number of health care providers in Phoenix; a little research should reward you with a suitable situation. The links and resources that follow will provide you with a variety of local organizations you can contact.
You will, however, need to clarify how each organization defines "free”. Scholarships and financial aid are available through a number of programs and there are community agencies such as Human Services to assist you. Some CNA employers train onsite and will cover your costs or reimburse you upon course completion, but you may be required to work for a certain period of time with them, or to repay them from your earnings.
The Arizona State Board of Nursing website at "www.azbn.gov/” has a full listing of training institutions you can query. Try "www.nursegroups.com/CNA-Programs/Arizona/Phoenix” for much valuable CNA-related information. Along with extensive state-by-state lists of training providers you will find links for practice tests, video tutorials, study tips and assorted CNA publications.
You may also want to consult some of the job search engines on-line (e.g. www.job-search-engine.com/keyword/cna-tuition-reimbursement/) which will list facilities in various states where training reimbursement is part of their hiring package.
The AZBN stipulates that you must have a high school education or equivalent and complete a minimum of 120 hours of coursework plus 100 hours of hands-on clinical training to be eligible for the Arizona CNA Certification Exam. Alternatives to employer-assisted training are 6 to 8 weeks as a full-time student at a vocational school, medical college, or one of several state-funded healthcare facilities, or a semester (3 months) at a community college or university in Arizona.
The AZBN further requires that CNA applicants provide two forms of photo ID and fingerprint cards, pass a competency evaluation, pass state and federal criminal background checks, and provide proof of current immunizations.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that health care in Arizona generates more salaried jobs than any other industry and anticipates that this pattern will continue through 2018. This suggests a welcome degree of job security in a world where that’s becoming increasingly rare.
