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CNA Classes in Greensboro, NC: Online & On-Campus Training Programs
Find out about quality CNA classes in Greensboro, NC and how they can get you started quickly in a great career as a certified nurse aide.
Written By
Michael Hoffman
- Bio
A former practicing attorney, Michael Hoffman has years of experience as a freelance journalist specializing in the research and writing of higher education content – from online learning to financial aid, and everything in between. Michael is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara College of Law. Prior to becoming a professional writer, Michael practiced for several years as a civil litigator in Los Angeles and worked in Santa Monica, California as a development executive for a major film producer.
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If you’ve ever been a patient in a hospital, you’ve likely received care from a certified nurse aide or assistant (CNA). CNAs perform many important support tasks for patients at hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. Along with the increasing aging population has come a corresponding increase in the demand for CNAs, making becoming a CNA an attractive option for anyone interested in a career helping others.
Becoming a CNA requires graduating from an accredited CNA course and passing a state examination. If you live in or around Greensboro, North Carolina, there are several local CNA training programs available primarily through vocational schools and community colleges. All of them provide a quick and affordable way to get you started working as a CNA. Some of these programs feature online coursework to make your CNA studies more convenient.
This guide is for anyone in the Greensboro area thinking about a becoming CNA. You’ll find useful information on local CNA programs along with where to get help funding your training, salary expectations, job outlook, and more.
Best CNA Classes and Training Programs in Greensboro, NC
With the many CNA programs available in the Greensboro area, how do you know which one is right for you? To help in your program search, three of the best CNA programs in Greensboro, NC, and the surrounding area are spotlighted below. We’ve selected these programs based on factors like affordability, study convenience, flexibility, and quality support services. Most importantly, all three programs are properly accredited and state-approved. See who stands for Greensboro CNA programs in 2021.
Alamance Community College
The Nurse Aide I (NAS-101) program from Alamance Community College consists of 160 hours of instruction and clinicals offered in both 16-week and 8-week formats. The 16-week program is held twice a year beginning in the Fall and Spring Semesters. Classes are twice a week and taken in either day or evening sessions. The 8-week program is offered four times a year (two sessions in the fall, two in the spring) with classes typically Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. An 8-week summer session is also sometimes offered. Classes are on the school’s main campus in Graham with clinicals completed at various practice sites in and around Greensboro.
Current program cost is approximately $950 and includes the course registration fee, books, uniforms and shoes, CPR class/certification, and the registry exam fee. Vaccination costs may also apply. Admission does not require a high school diploma or GED certificate. However, applicants without a diploma or GED must complete or test out of reading, English, and math courses before enrollment.
Guilford Technical Community College
Guilford Technical Community College’s Nursing Assistant I Training Program consists of 202 hours of in-person classroom and clinical studies and is completed in approximately three months. Both day and evening classes are available at the school’s Greensboro, High Point, or Jamestown campuses. Labs require attendance on Fridays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and are currently offered on the Jamestown campus only. The current registration fee for this non-credit program is $204.50. However, the registration fee does not cover items like textbooks, uniforms, required vaccinations, supplies, the state exam fee, etc. Students in the program may be eligible for workforce training scholarships to help defray program costs.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older when they register for the program. Additional admission requirements include a high school diploma or GED certificate and an unexpired U.S. government-issued Social Security Card. Both documents must be presented at the first class session for instructor verification. Students who have graduated from a high school outside the U.S. must have their diploma validated through the school’s Student Success Center before the start of the program.
Mount Eagle College & University
With its main campus in nearby Winston-Salem, Mount Eagle College & University offers its on-campus Nurse Aide I (CNA-I) Certificate Program with both day and evening class options. The on-campus day option requires attendance either three or four days a week, depending on the student’s choice of one of two annual start dates. Program lengths are approximately two months. The on-campus evening option features classes two days a week and a program length of approximately three months. All lectures and labs are on-campus, and clinical rotation requirements are completed at approved off-campus locations. The current total program cost is $870. Included in that price are uniforms, e-textbook, BLS Certification (CPR course), and the North Carolina State Certification exam. Students must supply their own stethoscope and appropriate footwear.
Mount Eagle will also soon be offering an online/on-campus option as well. Students choosing this hybrid format option (once in operation) will access all lectures online and attend campus for labs and clinicals only. The expected cost of the hybrid program is $1,016.
FAQs About CNA Classes in Greensboro, NC
What skills do you learn in CNA classes in Greensboro?
CNA programs in Greensboro qualify graduates to sit for the state’s certification exam and be placed on the Nurse Aid Registry. CNA classes provide students with the knowledge and skills required to competently perform basic nursing care and services for patients under the supervision of doctors and licensed nursing professionals. Nurse aid tasks include:
- Patient personal care: bathing, mouth care, skincare, haircare, dressing and undressing, etc.
- Body mechanics: positioning and repositioning, transfer to chairs and stretchers, range of motion exercise, etc.
- Nutrition: meal prep and feeding, etc.
- Elimination: bedpan, urinal, bowel, etc.
- Safety: side and call rails, restraints, CPR, infection control, etc.
- Special procedures: taking vital signs, surgical skin preps and scrubs, heat and cold application, etc.
How much do CNA classes cost in Greensboro?
If you look only at the listed program costs on the websites for CNA classes in Greensboro, you might think there are vast differences in prices. That’s because some websites list total program price figures that include all costs associated with the program (i.e., registration fee, books, uniforms and shoes, class supplies, vaccinations, CPR course and certification, state registry exam fee, etc.) while others list the registration fee only.
Total program price tags for Greensboro CNA programs offered by local community colleges are very similar to one another once you factor in all program costs. This means CNA students in the Greensboro area can expect a total program cost of $800 to $1,000. Below are the current registration fees for three CNA training programs in Greensboro and the surrounding area to give an example of what’s available.
Where can I get help paying for my CNA classes in Greensboro?
As the figures above indicate, costs for CNA programs in the Greensboro area are quite reasonable and affordable for most students. This is particularly good news since, due to the non-credit nature of most CNA classes, students in these programs are generally not eligible for most financial aid resources like federal student loans. Fortunately, though, CNA students may be able to obtain funding help through scholarship and grant programs sponsored by healthcare-related professional associations and the schools offering the CNA classes themselves. Contact your CNA program or school’s financial aid office to find out more. For additional funding information and advice, visit our CNA scholarships and main financial aid guides.
How long do CNA classes in Greensboro take to finish?
How long it takes to complete your CNA program depends on the specific program you choose along with factors like whether you study full-time or part-time or opt for day or evening classes. Most standard programs require approximately three months to complete. Exceptions include Alamance Community College’s 16-week program and Rockingham Community College’s 14-week, three-class-per-week option. Full-time, accelerated programs are typically completed in about two months. Examples include the 8-week program from Alamance and programs from Forsyth Tech Community College (9 weeks) and Randolph Community College (Summer Session).
Inside Look at Online CNA Classes in Greensboro
The availability of online coursework provides students an additional level of study convenience and flexibility. Currently, however, most CNA classes in Greensboro are only offered entirely in-person. Lecture and lab classes are usually on-campus with in-person clinicals at approved practice facilities in and around the Greensboro area. At present, in terms of online CNA classes in Greensboro, NC and vicinity, only Rockingham Community College offers a hybrid (online/on-campus) option for its Nurse Aid program with Mount Eagle’s hybrid program promised soon. Also, due to the pandemic, many programs are beginning to move all or some of their didactic classes online. Students in such programs should continue to expect in-person clinicals as part of their program’s requirements.
To learn more about distance learning options for CNA students, visit our guide to online CNA classes.
Common Questions About Online CNA Classes in Greensboro, NC
Will taking online CNA classes in Greensboro impact my ability to get certified or licensed?
As long as those classes are offered by a state-approved CNA training program, online classes will not impact your ability to get certified or licensed. All the online CNA classes mentioned in this guide are both state-approved and properly accredited. By getting your training through one of these programs you are assured of your eligibility to sit for the North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry exam.
Do employers care if I take some of my CNA classes online?
That depends on the individual employer. However, it’s doubtful any employer would hesitate to hire a Certified Nursing Assistant who graduated from a fully-accredited and state-approved CNA training program and passed the North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry exam simply because they completed some of their CNA program coursework online.
Are online CNA classes in Greensboro more affordable than campus programs?
The costs of CNA programs in Greensboro and surrounding areas featuring online classes are the same (and possibly a little higher) than for those exclusively on-campus. However, online students may spend less on their programs after factoring in savings on transportation and related costs, like parking fees, associated with travel to and from campus.
Can I complete my Greensboro CNA training faster by taking classwork online?
Probably not. CNA programs are relatively similar in terms of classwork and clinicals due primarily to the requirements by the state for program approval and graduate eligibility for the state registry exam. As a result, completion times for CNA classes in Greensboro and the surrounding area are generally not affected by online course availability.
How to Become a CNA in Greensboro
Eligibility to work as a CNA in Greensboro, or anywhere else in North Carolina, requires placement on the state’s Nurse Aide I Registry, which lists CNAs meeting all state and federal training and testing requirements. The steps to registry placement for most prospective CNAs in North Carolina are:
- Complete a state-approved Nurse Aide training program, like any of the CNA classes in Greensboro described in this guide. Once you have completed your training program, your program’s school will upload verification of completion to the testing provider.
- Pass the required Nurse Aid I competency testing through the testing provider, Pearson VUE. Testing consists of two components: an oral or written component and a skills demonstration component. Both components must be passed to be added to the Nurse Aide I Registry. Testing is done in-person at one of several Pearson VUE regional test sites. Detailed information on testing can be found in this online NC Nurse Aide I Candidate Guide.
- Candidates who have successfully passed the required competency testing are placed on the Nurse Aide I Registry and are eligible to work as a Nurse Aide I in the state of North Carolina. The Nurse Aide I Registry listing is good for 24 months, during which the CNA must be dutifully employed for pay as a Nurse Aide for at least eight hours. CNAs not meeting this minimum or failing to renew their listing must begin the entire qualification process over (i.e., retrain and retest) to be relisted on the Nurse Aide I registry.
For more information on North Carolina CNA requirements, including a step-by-step guide to becoming a CNA in the state, visit EduMed’s North Carolina CNA page.
Earnings Outlook: How Much Does a CNA Make in Greensboro?
According to the most recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (see the chart below), salaries for CNAs working in the Greensboro area are running slightly higher than those in North Carolina generally and slightly lower than those in other major metropolitan areas in the state. They also run lower than national median salaries for CNAs in the U.S. How much you’ll earn as a CNA, however, depends on factors like your specific employer and level of professional experience in addition to geographic location.
Annual Earnings for CNAs in Greensboro
| 10th Percentile | Median Earnings (50th Percentile) | 90th Percentile | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $20,560 | $25,830 | $34,380 |
| North Carolina | $19,430 | $26,360 | $34,690 |
| United States | $21,960 | $29,660 | $40,620 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $23,330 | $29,500 | $38,050 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $19,770 | $27,100 | $35,670 |
| Raleigh, NC | $20,580 | $26,200 | $35,830 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2019
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Timon Kaple, Ph.D., is a full-time writer and researcher. His work focuses on sociolinguistics, small-group folklore, the anthropology of sound, higher education, and student support services. He has experience as an ethnographer and enjoys conducting fieldwork and archival research.
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Timon Kaple
by: Timon Kaple
Timon Kaple, Ph.D., is a full-time writer and researcher. His work focuses on sociolinguistics, small-group folklore, the anthropology of sound, higher education, and student support services. He has experience as an ethnographer and enjoys conducting fieldwork and archival research.
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James Mielke
by: James Mielke
James Mielke is a freelance writer currently based in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to higher education topics, other areas of research and writing include food history, cooking, dining, and golf. James has a history degree from Belmont University and is an unapologetic fan of the Grateful Dead.