Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Home Health Aide (HHA) Program
The Certified Nursing Assistant course is designed to prepare students for immediate entry into the healthcare workforce by developing the knowledge, skills, and professional values necessary to provide safe, competent, and compassionate care across a variety of healthcare settings, including long-term care facilities, acute care hospitals, and patient homes.
The course combines classroom instruction with supervised clinical practice, providing real-world experience before entering the workforce. Upon completion, successful students are eligible to take the California CNA certification exam.
The Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide (CNA/HHA) Program prepares students to provide high-quality, compassionate care in a variety of settings. Certified Nursing Assistants support patients in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinics by assisting with daily activities, taking vital signs, and working closely with nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Home Health Aids extend these skills into the home environment, helping clients with personal care, mobility, meal preparation, and companionship, while promoting independence and comfort.
Graduates of this program gain the knowledge, hands-on experience, and certification needed to begin rewarding careers in healthcare in hospitals, nursing facilities, or home health care.
NURS 103
NURS 103 prepares the student to function in the role of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in acute care, long-term care, and home health settings. CNA's provide basic patient care directed at the safety, comfort, personal hygiene, and protection of elderly, disabled, or injured individuals, and are certified as having completed the state training requirements. After successful completion, this course qualifies students to take the CNA exam through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Upon passing the CDPH CNA exam, students will be certified as a CNA.
*Students must attend a mandatory orientation prior to the beginning of class.
**For students intending to become a Certified Home Health Aide (HHA), in California, students must also complete an additional HHA course. At SCC this course is NURS 104 Home Health Aide.
NURS 104
NURS 104 extends the Certified Nursing Assistant curriculum (NURS 103) by emphasizing the application of skills in the home setting. This didactic course prepares students to meet state requirements for Home Health Aide certification, which is mandated by select agencies and healthcare organizations in California.
The competencies gained through the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Home Health Aide (HHA) Certificate prepare graduates for employment in a variety of entry-level healthcare settings:
- Long-term care facilities (nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and rehabilitation centers)
- Acute care hospitals and clinics
- Assisted living and residential care facilities
- Hospice and palliative care programs
- Home health agencies providing in-home supportive and personal care services
- Community-based healthcare programs serving older adults and individuals with chronic illness or disability
These employment opportunities align with the mission of the California Community Colleges to provide workforce preparation and meet critical healthcare needs in the community, while also establishing a pathway for continued advancement in nursing and allied health professions.