Online Guide to CNA Classes in San Antonio
Becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) is a quick way to enter the nursing field in the San Antonio area. Classes are short, flexible, and relatively inexpensive compared to other skilled nursing programs. There are also a lot of programs to choose from, likely one close to where you live, that allow you to join the nursing profession in less than a month.
This guide introduces you to the top online and on-campus CNA programs in San Antonio. You’ll also learn about the skills you’ll gain, the costs and time requirements of a typical program, and the steps involved in becoming a CNA in the state of Texas. Read on to find CNA classes and programs in San Antonio that can prepare you for certification as a nurse aide.
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Best CNA Classes and Training Programs in San Antonio
There are multiple CNA classes in San Antonio. To help you choose the one that’s right for you, we highlight three that are top-notch in terms of state approval and accreditation, affordability, student support services, and learning flexibility. These classes give you a good idea of what to look for in a CNA program in San Antonio.
The Institute of Allied Healthcare
The Institute of Allied Healthcare’s comprehensive program teaches students the skills and abilities essential to providing basic care for patients and residents in hospitals and long-term care facilities. It also prepares students to meet the licensure requirements established by the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS).
The program consists of eight classes that cover topics like mental health, CPR, basic nursing skills, and restorative services. Upon completion, students can communicate effectively with both patients and other healthcare workers and assist patients in maintaining maximum functional independence while observing patient rights.
Students with proper documentation showing they have 100+ hours volunteering in the medical field are eligible for a $100 scholarship toward tuition. Other financial grants are available through the WIOA and DARS programs.
FAQs About CNA Classes in San Antonio
What skills do you learn in CNA classes in San Antonio?
Skills learned in CNA classes in San Antonio include:
- Effective communication
- Taking vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate
- Safe lifting, turning, and transporting of patients
- Basic personal care: shaving, bathing, toileting, and dressing
- Observing and reporting intake (food, drink, medicine), output (urine, bowel movements, vomit), and abnormal changes (skin discoloration, swelling, etc.)
- Basics of life support: CPR, defibrillation (or AED), and choking relief Infection control
How much do CNA classes cost in San Antonio?
Costs vary for CNA classes in San Antonio because many institutions have significant financial aid opportunities. Goodwill San Antonio, for example, wants students to focus 100% on their education and provide many ways to help students, including financial sponsorship, childcare, etc. Taking financial aid out of the equation, you can expect to pay between $1,200 and $1,600 for a nursing aide program, and it’s typically paid all at once. Below are several examples of what schools and institutions in San Antonio charge for their CNA program.
Where can I get help paying for my CNA classes in San Antonio?
Since CNA programs are different from typical community college programs, you won’t usually find prevalent federal financial aid. Instead, most institutions providing on-campus or online CNA classes in San Antonio have their own financial aid options. Those include private grants, financial sponsorship programs, extended payment plans, private scholarships, and more. Our CNA scholarships guide and main financial aid guide can help you find ways to pay for your CNA classes in San Antonio.
How long do CNA classes in San Antonio take to finish?
Certified nursing assistant programs are fairly short, with most only spanning a few weeks. For example, at the Good Careers Academy, students can finish the nurse aide program in about five weeks with roughly four hours of class, four days a week. But in accelerated programs, where students are in school all day and/or all week, they can complete their nurse aide program much faster.
Inside Look at Online CNA Classes in San Antonio
There currently aren’t many online CNA classes in San Antonio available. Traditionally, CNA students spent their program hours on-campus either as part of an all-day program or by taking morning, afternoon, or evening classes. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, along with a gradual shift in schools offering online courses, some CNA programs do have hybrid models where the classroom portion is completed virtually.
Clinical components still must be completed face-to-face under the supervision of the instructor. The Nurse Aide program at the Southern Careers Institute in Texas, for example, has moved all its classroom learning online for the time being. Learn more about virtual options through our guide to online CNA classes.
Common Questions About Online CNA Classes in San Antonio
Will taking CNA classes online in San Antonio impact my ability to get certified or licensed?
As long as you complete an accredited, state-approved CNA program, you should be eligible to take the licensing exam. The fact that some of your classroom-based courses were completed virtually will make no difference.
Do employers care if I take some of my CNA classes online?
Probably not. Unless you tell them, employers won’t know the format of your classes, only the program you took. An employer’s biggest concern is whether you passed the certification exam, graduated from an approved program, and are licensed in the state.
Are online CNA classes more affordable than campus programs in San Antonio?
There currently are very few online CNA classes in San Antonio. However, since CNA programs typically charge a one-time fee for the whole program that includes both the classroom and clinical portions of the program, there probably won’t be much of a cost difference. You may, however, save money through an online CNA program due to reduced travel costs to and from campus.
Can I complete my San Antonio CNA training faster by taking classwork online?
Because most on-campus and online CNA classes in San Antonio are pretty short to begin with, there isn’t much room to speed things up. Having coursework online or in-person won’t change the time frame. There’s also the fact that some programs are built around a cohort model, where students are encouraged to all proceed through the program as the same pace.
How to Become a CNA in San Antonio
Becoming a certified nursing assistant in San Antonio is straightforward. We’ve simplified the list of requirements below, and you can also check out our Texas CNA page for more detailed information on how to become a CNA in San Antonio.
- Attend a state-approved CNA program requiring at least 60 hours of classroom training and 40 hours of clinical training.
- Pass a background check.
- Pass the two tests making up the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP). The first tests knowledge and is usually a written, multiple-choice, or oral test, and the second tests skills.
- Apply for placement on the Texas registry of certified nursing assistants.
Earnings Outlook: How much does a CNA Make in San Antonio?
CNAs in San Antonio typically make $20,900-$36,380 depending on experience. The median earnings for a CNA in San Antonio are $26,790, which is a bit lower than both the State of Texas and national median earnings for CNAs. San Antonio also falls slightly behind other major cities in Texas, including Dallas, Austin, and Houston.
Annual Earnings for CNAs in San Antonio
| 10th Percentile | Median Earnings (50th Percentile) | 90th Percentile | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $20,900 | $26,790 | $36,380 |
| Texas | $20,740 | $27,020 | $37,660 |
| United States | $21,960 | $29,660 | $40,620 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $21,590 | $28,760 | $39,480 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | $21,820 | $29,350 | $38,030 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $20,470 | $27,450 | $38,670 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2019
