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Nurse Aide

Nurse Aide

Next classes are scheduled to begin July 7, 2025 and October 6, 2025

  • Must be 18 or over
  • No diploma needed
  • Students over age 21 without a diploma may be eligible for funding if they also attend GED classes

This program is designed for individuals who are interested in obtaining employment as a Nurse Aide. A combination of classroom and clinical experience is offered, which will prepare individuals to become a Nurse Aide and be able to take the New York State Department of Health certification examination. Students learn skills in a modern skills laboratory and practice skills using each other and manikins prior to attending clinical. Students are assigned to care for one or more residents in a facility and provide all the care that the client needs.

*Disclaimer: A criminal background may affect your ability to be employed as a Certified Nurse Aide.

  • You are now able to make payments online! To do so, please visit the following link (also located at the bottom of this page):

    • The Life Cycle
    • Care of the Elderly
    • Body Systems/Function
    • Mental Health Care
    • Personal Care, Nutrition, and Diet
    • Infection Control
    • Lifting, Moving, and Transporting Patients
    • Circulatory and Respiratory Care

    The course includes:

    • 144 hours of instruction
    • 53 hours of clinical experience
    • 91 hours of classroom and laboratory experience

    Please call (315) 253-4899 to sign up for the required orientation before the class start date.

  • Tuition is $1,550

    This includes:

    • Uniform (top, pants, patch, name badge)
    • Textbook
    • Certification examination fee
    • Physical (if needed)

    Funding may be available to assist individuals with tuition. Please contact The Center for Learning for a more individualized discussion regarding what funding you may qualify for.

    The Center for Learning
    12 Allen Street
    Auburn, NY 13021
    (315) 253-4899

    c4learn@cayboces.org

    • Passing grade is 75% for all units.
    • Student must demonstrate the ability to provide patient care safely at clinical sites.

  • Clinical Affiliations

    • Finger Lakes Center for Living
    • The Commons on St. Anthony

    Click here to find out how you might qualify for free Nurse Aide Training!

  • Contact The Center for Learning today for more information on the next class start date.

  • Nurse Aide Online Payment

Contact

FAQs

  • The nurse aide provides a great amount of physical care to clients, including:

    • Bathing
    • Dressing
    • Feeding
    • Lifting
    • Assisting with mobility
    • Toileting

  • The characteristics a nurse aide should possess are:

    • Caring
    • Compassion
    • Physically and mentally well
    • Good listener
    • Good observation skills
    • Hardworking

  • A CNA can work in:

    • Nursing homes
    • Residential care facilities
    • Hospitals
    • Home care agency
    • Doctors' office

  • The following requirements are needed before clinical and are included in tuition:

    • Physical exam

    The following requirements must be met by a CNA student:

    • Must be free of physical restrictions
    • Must be physically and mentally able to handle the stressors of the job

  • Certification is required for any person employed in a Nursing home as a CNA. Requirements include:

    • Satisfactory completion of an approved program for CNA
    • Successful Completion of the Certification examination
    • Cost of exam is included in the tuition for this program
    • Computer-based multiple choice test is given to a group of students by an outside evaluator
    • Clinical skills portion is taken in the campus lab with an outside evaluator
    • Each tester is given 5 skills to complete with the evaluator observing.
    • The evaluator is NOT an employee of the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES

  • All nursing homes are required to do a criminal background check for direct care employees. Once hired the nursing home/home care agency will run a background check. The operator must review it to determine the applicant’s suitability for employment. If the check reveals a conviction for any of the following offenses, then the operator is PROHIBITED from hiring or utilizing the individual in a direct care or patient supervision capacity.

    • ANY Class A felony, no time limitation
    • ANY Class B or C with the last 10 years
    • The 10 years starts at the time of conviction
    • ANY Class D or E Felony listed in Article 120, Assault, 130 Sexual offense, 155
    • Larceny, 1260 Robbery for 10 years
    • ANY crime defined in Section 260.32 or 260.43 of the Penal Law (endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person) occurring with the 10 years preceding the CHRC report
    • ANY comparable offense in any other jurisdiction