CNA Programs In Bakersfield

CNA Programs In Bakersfield

2025 CNA Program at Bakersfield Adult School

The CNA certification program at Bakersfield Adult School is 10 weeks long.

The cost for the CNA program is $800.00, which covers ALL costs, including books, tuition, fees, uniforms, and State Exam. The CNA program at Bakersfield Adult School fulfills the CNA prerequisite for entry into the Licensed Vocational Nurse program. This intensive program includes both clinical and classroom experience in a local Bakersfield Long Term Care(LTC) facility.

More and more nursing programs, for both LVN and RN, are requiring an accredited CNA program as a prerequisite. This makes sense, in order to give the student direct experience. That way, they know whether or not they have what it takes for a career in nursing!

CNA Certification for LVN Programs

There are currently 6 LVN programs in Kern County. If you're taking a CNA course to fullfill a prerequisite for an LVN program, 3 public vocational nursing programs in Bakersfield(Bakersfield Adult School, Bakersfield College, and Kern River Valley Community College) require CNA certification as a prerequisite.

The 3 private vocational nursing programs(Unitek College, San Joaquin Valley College, and High Desert Medical College) DO NOT require CNA certification as a prerequisite.

There are currently 8 LVN programs in Bakersfield.

CNA Certification for RN Programs

There are 4 RN programs in Bakersfield. The 2 public programs(Bakersfield College, Cal State Bakersfield) require CNA certification as a prerequisite. The 2 private programs(Unitek College, North-West College) do not require CNA certification.

There are currently 6 RN programs in Bakersfield.

Bakersfield Adult School

(661) 861-1151

2727 F St, Bakersfield, CA 93301

https://bakersfieldhealthcareers.org/programs/

Other CNA Programs in Bakersfield

CNA Programs in Bakersfield

Kern Valley Medical College ➕

Kern Valley Medical College(KVMC) has 2 CNA classes: a 21 day full-time program, and a 5 week evening program.  Graduates of both programs are eligible to take the exam which is approved by California's Department of Public Health.

KVMC is the only state approved CNA program in Bakersfield that doesn't require a high school diploma or GED as a requirement. Applicants must be at least 16 years old.

The cost of the program is $2,500. There is a $500 deposit that is required at time of registration.

Other programs at KVMC:

  • Medical Assistant: This is a 17 week program.
  • Medical Billing & Coding specialist.: This is a 17 week program. It is a "hybrid" program, which means at least part of the program can be completed online. After completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for NHA's Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBSC) exam.

Kern Valley Medical College

661-395-4011
1401 Commercial Way, Bakersfield, CA 93309
https://kernvalleymedicalcollege.com/
Read more about KVMC's CNA program
Cellan Central Valley College ➕

Cellan Central Valley College(CCVC) is one of the few schools in Kern County that offers current CNA's the chance to earn continuing education units(CEUs).

CCVC currently offers 2 CNA programs: a part-time, 46 day CNA program, and a full-time 23 day CNA program. The 23 day program is the most accelerated program in Bakersfield.

Both of their CNA programs are approved by the Department of Public Health(CDPH) in California. 

Once the program is completed, graduates can sit for California Department of Public Health's CNA certification exam.

Other Programs at CCVC:

  • 3 day CNA certification review
  • 40 hour Home Health Aide(HHA) program
  • 24 hour Restorative Nursing Assistant(RNA) program
  • 4 hour CPR class for Healthcare Providers

Cellan Central Valley College

661-861-0877
2901 H St Suite 110, Bakersfield, CA 93301
https://cellancentralvc.com/
Read more about Cellan College's CNA program
Bakersfield College➕

Bakersfield College has 6 CNA courses per semester. None of them are fulltime. They all take a semester to complete. These classes tend to fill up quickly, so returning students usually have the best chance of getting in. 

Medical Terminology(MEDS B37) is not a prerequisite class, but BC "strongly encourages" prospective students to take this course.

Here's an example of the schedule for a CNA program at BC:

Classroom instruction is from 8:30am to 1:05pm every Monday during the semester, and hands-on at a local skilled nursing facility every Thursday from 9:00am to 4:30pm.

on the positive side, Bakersfield College has multiple classes every semester. The downside is, it can be difficult to get a spot.

Bakersfield College

661-395-4011
1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305
https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/nursing/na/
Read more about Bakersfield College's CNA program
KHSD ROP➕

The CNA program at Kern High School District Regional Occupational Center(KHSD ROP) takes 1 year to complete. It is a part-time program. After completing the nursing assistant program, students take the state's CNA exam.

This program is ONLY open to high school juniors. All other programs at KHSD ROP are open to juniors AND seniors.

The classroom portion of the program is 60 hours. Medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, and effective team communication are some of the topics that will be studied.

The "lab" portion of the course is the hands-on clinical rotation. This is the part of the class where students will work at an actual skilled nursing facility.

Other programs at KHSD ROP:

  • 1 year Medical Assistant program
  • 2 semester Pharmacy Technician program
  • 2 semester Sports Medicine: Personal Training program. Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer (National Strength and Conditioning Association) certification exam

KHSD ROP

661-831-3327
501 S Mt Vernon Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93307
https://roc.kernhigh.org/
North Kern VTC➕

North Kern Vocational Training Center (NKVTC) serves students from 2 districts: Wasco Union High School District, and Delano Joint Union High School District. They have been serving the Central Valley for more than 30 years.

The NKVTC-Delano campus currently has 2 CNA programs. Both take 2 semesters to complete. The early-morning program runs from 6:45am to 9:45am, Monday through Friday. The late-morning program runs from 10:10am to 12:30pm, Monday through Friday.

The NKVTC-Wasco campus has a 2 semester CNA program that runs from 6:45am to 9:45am, Monday through Friday.

The programs at both Delano and Wasco are both a total of 540 hours. 

North Kern VTC-Wasco

661-758-3045
2150 7th St, Wasco, CA 93280
https://nkvtc.org/nursing-assistant/

North Kern VTC-Delano

661-758-3045
1732 Norwalk St, Delano, CA 93215
https://nkvtc.org/nursing-assistant/
Cerro Coso CC➕

The CNA program at Cerro Coso Community College(CCCC) takes one semester to complete. Students who complete the program with at least a "C" letter grade are awarded 5.5 college credits.

Graduates of the program can then sit for the exam, which is approved by California's Department of Public Health(CDPH).

The class is broken up into 2 parts: the lecture, and the externship. The lecture is done in the class, or online. The externship is 108 hours, spent at a local skilled nursing facility.

Other Programs at Cerro Coso

CCCC has 2 different medical assisting programs. One is a 2 year associate degree, and the other is a 1 year certification degree. There are also 5 other medical assistant programs in Bakersfield.They also have a 3 semester LVN program. There are now 6 LVN programs in Bakersfield.

Cerro Coso CC

760-384-6100
3000 College Heights Blvd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
cerrocoso.edu/academics/aldh
Read more about Cerro Coso College's CNA program
Other Healthcare Careers
Related Careers

More Information

The Nurse Practice Acts of most states(including California) require a CNA to be able to:

  • Answer all patient help signals.
  • Skillfully reposition bedridden patients to keep them from getting bedsores.
  • Feed patients by mouth or through a gastric tube if needed.
  • Observe patients’ well-being, vital signs, fluid charts, food intake, monitor alarms and report all data to the nursing staff.
  • Help patients walk, get in and out of bed, exercise and adjust to post surgery positions.
  • Transport patients by using stretchers or wheelchairs.
  • Clean room, change bed linens, and disinfect as needed.

Now you’re ready to prepare for the California Department of Public Health(CDPH) test, a competency examination which will test your clinical skills. Administered by Pearson VUE, eligibility requires that:

  • You’re at least 16 years old
  • Submit to a Department of Justice criminal background check
  • Have completed a CNA training course during the last 24 months

This exam is administered in 2 parts. Both parts are given on the same day. In order to be certified by the CDPH, both parts of the exam must be passed. The written part of the test is comprised of 70 multiple choice questions. The second part of the test is the Skill Evaluation.

You must perform 5 randomly selected skills that nursing assistants are expected to know. In order to receive CDPH certification, you must be able to successfully perform all 5 skills.

A Day in the Life of a CNA

The typical workday for a certified nursing assistant is busy as soon as they clock in! CNAs are involved in nearly every aspect of patient care. Most of a CNAs day will be spent doing hands-on work. Whether it's in a nursing home, assisted living facility, hospital, or clinic, CNAs will be there. They assist patients with ADLs(Activities of Daily Living) like bathing, dressing, hygiene & grooming, and getting into/out of wheelchairs.

In many states, CNAs may hold additional certifications, such as Wound Care, which opens up additional career opportunities.

Who is in Charge of CNAs?

In almost all cases, CNAs will report directly to an LVN or RN. For very small facilities, the CNA may answer directly to a medical doctor. CNAs will be the most visible healthcare provider, and will spend the most time directly with patients. CNAs are keen observers. They are often the first staff member to spot a potential problem with a patient. When CNAs are present, patients know they'll be receiving personal attention.

How Your Day Will Start

As soon as you clock in at your facility, you'll report to the nurse in charge. This is usually an RN or LVN. You'll then receive your assignments for the day. You may also be given specific tasks that need to be completed in a timely manner. Depending on the type of facility you work in, you stay in the same area every day, or you might "float" between departments. You may also be providing break relief for your colleagues.

CNA as a First Step

Many students need to become certified as a nursing assistant because it is a prerequisite for nursing school. But it's not just a stepping-stone for nurses!Medical assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, phlebotomy technicians, occupational therapists, surgical techs, dental hygienists, chiropractors, and home and personal care aides also got their start by working as a certified nursing assistant.

There are currently 7 CNA programs in Bakersfield.