CNA Classes and CNA Training Programs in Sacramento, California (CA)

The city of Sacramento, California, is home to a thriving medical industry. For those looking to get started in a rewarding medical career, there’s a lot of benefit to becoming a CNA. CNAs in Sacramento can enjoy rewarding, challenging work, good compensation and the ability to move up to other nursing positions if they so desire. You’ll need to know a few more things before you decide to become a certified nursing assistant by taking CNA classes in Sacramento, though.

Finding Information about Jobs in the City

Getting access to important job information in the city is vital for anyone contemplating becoming a CNA. Knowing more about jobs in the city will help you truly understand your career choice. You need to find information about what employers are routinely hiring, and what positions they need most. You need to learn more about the average pay within different facilities, as well as where to go to find a job in the first place.

You can start your information search with Sacramento’s Craigslist page – this page contains a tremendous wealth of information that you can glean simply by perusing the job listings. Of course, if you already have your CNA training and license, you can also apply here as well.

Beyond online classifieds, you’ll find that the city boasts quite a few medical staffing companies. These agencies offer temporary, as well as temp to permanent jobs, and work with some of the city’s largest healthcare providers. A few of the agencies in Sacramento you should know include the following:

• Pacific Staffing
• RX Nursing
• Cascade Healthcare Services

CNA Classes and Licensing Requirements in Sacramento

Becoming a CNA in Sacramento is identical to pursuing that career within any other city in California. The state mandates that all aspiring CNAs take one of the qualifying CNA programs in the area that include 175 hours of classe and clinical training. It’s vital that you choose an education provider that is state approved, or you risk not being qualified to take the licensing exam. Out of state providers with existing licensing can challenge the exam if they like.

Once you graduate from your CNA training program, you will have to take the state’s licensing exam. This is a two-part test that combines multiple-choice questions with skills assessment testing. If you fail the test, you can retake it up to three times before you have to reenroll in CNA programs. Once you have passed the test, your license will need to be renewed every two years.

CNA Training Programs in Sacramento

As you can see from the information above, getting the right CNA training and education is a vital consideration for anyone hoping to become a CNA in Sacramento. Thankfully, residents of the area have access to a wide range of excellent CNA programs and classes. Some of your better options for CNA classes in Sacramento can be found below:

• Charles A. Jones Career & Education Center
• Curam College of Nursing

The CNA training programs in Sacramento listed above are all state approved. If you opt for a training provider not included in this list (and there are many others), make certain that their program is approved by the state of California.

Key Employers in Sacramento

When you have completed your CNA classes and passed your licensing exam, you’ll need to worry about finding employment. While those medical staffing agencies listed above can be of enormous help, you’ll find that you can also apply directly with some of the area’s top employers. The following employers of note can be found in and around the city of Sacramento:

• Sutter Medical Center
• Mercy General Hospital
• Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California
• UC Davis Medical Center
• Methodist Hospital of Sacramento
• Saylor Lane Healthcare Center

Salary Information

In terms of salary, certified nursing assistants in Sacramento earn slightly above the national average, though this is in keeping with California’s higher cost of living. The median annual Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Sacramento, CA is $34,890, as of August 17, 2020, with a range usually between $28,968-$41,825 (Salary.com).

Key Skills Learned in CNA Training Programs

During your CNA  classes and training, you’ll learn vital skills to better care for patients and become part of the medical team where you are employed. These skills can include:

• Basic first aid skills
• Wound care and cleaning
• Infection prevention measures
• Care and cleaning of patients (bathing, dressing, shaving and general grooming)
• Proper transfer techniques for moving patients when necessary

Ensuring that the CNA training program you attend is approved by the state of California will help guarantee that you learn the skillset necessary to become effective and successful as a certified nursing assistant in Sacramento.