9 Best (6-WEEK) CNA Online Programs
Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Did you realize you could qualify for a dynamic career in healthcare in just six weeks? That’s right! There are online certified nursing assistant courses that will only take you a month and a half to complete. What are the best 6-week online CNA programs? They’re programs that teach you essential information about patient communication, safety protocols, and infection control but let you learn at your own pace. Enrolling in an online CNA course lets you learn from home where you’re most comfortable. That will improve your learning comprehension. Find out more about how a distance learning CNA pathway may benefit you with the guide below to the 9 best 6-week CNA online programs.
What are the Best (6-WEEK) CNA Online Programs in the Nation?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 9 best 6-week CNA online courses in the nation. You can complete these programs in 6 weeks or less.)1. Nebraska Methodist College - Omaha, NE
Program Length: 6 Weeks
The CNA program includes a minimum of 76 hours of classroom, competency, and skills training. Although you will learn comprehensive care for patients of all ages, the program has a major focus on geriatric care. The curriculum prepares you to recognize the psychological and physiological factors associated with aging and will help you learn to direct patient care toward holistic well-being.
Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible to sit for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services skills competency and written exams to earn your Certified Nurse Assistant certification.
Clinical Training: In this program, you will participate in clinical sessions in long-term healthcare and rehabilitation facilities. Program faculty are with you during clinical training, ensuring you have a smooth transition from classroom learning to clinical practice and overseeing opportunities for learning and skills development.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the CNA program at Nebraska Methodist College in six weeks.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the 6-week online CNA program at Nebraska Methodist College, you must be at least 16 years old. You must have the ability to read, speak, and write English. You must be physically healthy and able to lift up to 50 pounds and have no history of abuse or neglect. All candidates must complete a health history form and provide proof of current immunizations. You may begin the admission process by completing the CNA online registration form.
Why Choose This Program
• The college offers flexible learning options with day, evening, and weekend class schedules available.• At Nebraska Methodist College, CNA faculty are registered nurses with diverse experiences and specialties, which means you will access real-world insight from them that you can apply to practice as a CNA.
• Graduates of the online 6-week CNA class at Nebraska Medical College have excellent state certification exam pass rates!
2. High Desert Medical College - Lancaster, CA
Program Length: 6 Weeks
The program consists of 164 total clock hours. The intense curriculum includes training focused on anatomy and physiology, safety, body mechanics, nutrition, and individualized patient care. You will learn basic skills, such as how to measure vital signs, calculate intake and output, use medical terminology and documentation, and promote therapeutic communication.
Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and become eligible to take the California State Certified Nursing Assistant Certification Examination.
Clinical Training: In addition to classroom learning, you will complete 104 hours of in-person learning in a clinical externship. The college arranges and maintains clinical contracts. You will complete clinicals under the direct supervision of program faculty and clinical preceptors.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The CNA program at High Desert Medical College is a six-week program.
Admission Requirements: Candidates seeking admission to the online 6-week CNA program at High Desert Medical College must be 18 years old or older and have a high school diploma or GED. When applying, you must provide proof of a physical examination conducted within the last 90 days, TB test results, and documentation of Flu, COVID, and Hepatitis B series vaccinations.
Why Choose This Program
• High Desert Medical College’s 6-week CNA program offers a low faculty-to-student ratio, which means you have access to more individualized attention, when needed.• The program features more than 100 hours of clinical training, preparing you for independent practice as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
• High Desert Medical College offers job placement assistance to all graduates.
3. Aims Community College - Greeley, CO
Program Length: 5 Weeks
The five-credit curriculum includes two classes: Nurse Aid Health Care Skills and Nurse Aide Clinical Experience. In this program, you will learn basic nursing skills, including how to provide personal care to patients, emergency and safety care issues, restorative services, and communication skills.
Clinical Training: After completing the Nurse Aide Health Care Skills class, you will transition and complete the Nurse Aide Clinical Experience. Clinical training consists of a 30-hour rotation working with patients in a long-term care/residential living facility.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The Certified Nurse Assistant program at Aims Community College can be completed in as few as five weeks.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the 6-week CNA online course, you must attend a mandatory orientation session. You must demonstrate proof of reading assessment by providing either an ACT score of 18 or higher, an SAT score of 470 or higher, a college-level English transcript with a grade of "C" or better, or an Accuplacer Reading score of 241 or higher.
Why Choose This Program
• Aims Community College reports program graduates have excellent job placement rates following completion of the program.• Graduates of the program consistently score well on state certification exams, which indicates being well-prepared in the classroom and in clinicals.
• At Aims, you will learn from experienced, dedicated faculty whose main objective is your success.
4. Holyoke Community College - Holyoke, MA
Program Length: 5 Weeks
The program prepares you with entry-level skills needed to prepare for and pass the Massachusetts State Board Examination for CNAs and begin working as a Certified Nursing Assistant. You will study major topics, such as personal care basics, infection control and prevention, safety and emergency procedures, and patient rights.
Clinical Training: At Holyoke, you will complete one week of clinical training in an off-site healthcare setting. Clinicals are from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for five days and take place at designated sites, including nursing homes and hospitals.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Although most students complete the program in six weeks, you can take as few as five weeks or up to eight weeks to graduate.
Admission Requirements: To be accepted into the online 6-week CNA course at Holyoke Community College, you must be a Massachusetts resident who is 18 years old or older. All applicants must have a high school diploma, GED, or HiSET. You must show proof of having a COVID-19 vaccination, a clean drug screen, and meet other Health Records Requirements.
Why Choose This Program
• Holyoke Community College offers graduates of the 6-week online CNA program job placement assistance.• You will receive training and certifications in not only CNA but CPR/AED, & First Aid, Home Health Aide, and Alzheimer's & Dementia.
• Candidates receiving SNAP, TAFDC, or other benefits can attend the program for free.
5. Drake State Community & Technical College - Huntsville, AL
Program Length: 6 Weeks
The Certified Nursing Assistant program features a curriculum designed to help develop the attitude, skills, and knowledge needed to perform as a long-term care nursing assistant. You will learn to promote patient independence with activities of daily living, identify risk factors associated with patient health, and develop essential skills such as measuring and recording vital signs and working with a multi-disciplinary team.
Clinical Training: In addition to classroom and online learning, the CNA program includes 12 hours of laboratory instruction where you will learn basic skills, such as measuring vital signs and proper body mechanics. You will also participate in clinical assignments in long-term care facilities where you will apply your skills.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: It takes six weeks to complete the program offered at Drake State Community and Technical College.
Admission Requirements: Admission to the online 6-week CNA program at Drake State Community and Technical College requires meeting the following criteria. You must be at least 16 years old. After completing an application for admission, you must also provide proof of a negative TN skin test and Hepatitis B immunizations.
Why Choose This Program
• Drake State Community and Technical College has clinical partnerships with several healthcare facilities where you will learn hands-on patient care in a clinical setting.• Dedicated program faculty work closely with you from the time you are admitted to the program until graduation to help promote your success.
• The college offers job readiness and career placement assistance to program graduates.
6. Mid-America College of Health Sciences - Merriam, KS
Program Length: 5 Weeks
The curriculum plan for the CNA online program is comprehensive. You will study in classes focused on hydration, nutrition, diet, infection control measures, and human anatomy. You will learn to apply principles of patient assessment, identify problem behaviors, and promote safety and mobility.
Upon completion of the program, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion and be eligible to take the Kansas Certified Nurse Assistant State Exam to become a CNA in the state of Kansas.
Clinical Training: The CNA program includes 45 clinical hours. You will complete 20 hours in the school’s simulation lab. The remaining 25 hours will be conducted at approved clinical sites. All laboratory simulation and clinical hours are conducted with program instructors or clinical preceptors approved by the school.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: At Mid-America College of Health Sciences, you can choose a weekday evening schedule and graduate in five weeks. You may also choose a hybrid or weekend schedule and complete the program in six weeks.
Admission Requirements: To be admitted to the 6-week CNA online program at Mid-America College of Health Sciences, you must be at least 16 years old and have a valid state ID, driver's license, or government-issued ID and a valid social security number. Additionally, you must have a current CPR/BLS certification, a negative TB test, and a current immunization record. Candidates aged 16 or 17 years must have signed permission from a parent or legal guardian to enroll in the program.
Why Choose This Program
• At Mid-America College of Health Sciences, you will learn from dedicated instructors with several years of experience in the field.• You will have access to the college's high-fidelity labs, where you will learn hands-on skills before going to clinicals.
• Mid-America works with students to find every available financial aid resource to help offset the cost of earning your certificate.
7. Metrowest Healthcare Academy - Framingham, MA
Program Length: 5 Weeks
You will complete the theory portion of the program online via Zoom with a state-approved instructor. This component of the program is 69 hours. Then, you will complete in-person skills training in the classroom before completing clinicals.
The Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide hybrid program features a combination of games, videos, lectures, role-playing, and laboratory simulation experiences. When you enroll in the program at Metrowest, you will receive a wide range of training, including communication and interpersonal skills, restorative services and skills, infection control measures, and quality improvement.
Clinical Training: After completing the theory and laboratory training, you will complete 21 hours of clinical training at an approved hospital or long-term care facility.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The Certified Nursing Assistant program is designed to be completed in five weeks.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the 6-week online CNA program at Metrowest Healthcare Academy, you must have a high school diploma or its equivalent or have a 10th-grade comprehension level. You must be at least 16 years old and pass a pre-entrance English examination with a minimum grade of 80%. Candidates must have a valid government-issued photo ID and pass a criminal background check through the CORI system. Additionally, you must have an American Heart Association CPR/BLS certification by the end of the second week of the class to proceed in the program.
Why Choose This Program
• Metrowest Healthcare Academy offers job placement assistance services to program graduates to help ensure they find acceptable employment following graduation.• The program at Metrowest Healthcare Academy blends CNA and Home Health Aide instruction, preparing you not only to work in hospitals or other healthcare facilities but also to provide care in patients' homes.
• Metrowest Healthcare Academy offers performance-based training taught by professionals with decades of experience.
8. Kansas College of Nursing - Lenexa, KS
Program Length: 6 Weeks
The online CNA program prepares you with classroom and clinical instruction to help you prepare for work in various settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult day care centers, and patients’ homes. You will learn to assess and record vital signs, provide assistance with activities of daily living, and assess the nutritional needs of patients to promote patient health and wellness.
Clinical Training: After completion of classroom learning and practice in the school’s learning lab, you will participate in 45 hours of clinical training at a nursing home. Clinicals are completed under the supervision of program faculty and licensed nurse preceptors.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The Certified Nursing Assistant program offered at Kansas College of Nursing is designed to be completed in six weeks.
Admission Requirements: Candidates for the CNA 6-week online program must be at least 16 years of age. You must meet the physical requirements of being a nursing assistant, including having the ability to move objects up to 50 lbs. and reposition or move patients. You must have a valid driver’s license or state-issued photo identification, a social security card, and a negative TB skin test. Background checks are performed during the first class, and you must pass the check to proceed in the program.
Why Choose This Program
• The online 6-week CNA program is a part-time program, which makes it an excellent option for students who need to work or have other obligations outside of school.• The program is backed by Kansasworks, a top job-matching and labor marketing information system in Kansas.
• At Kansas College of Nursing, you will learn from dedicated faculty with several years of experience educating Certified Nursing Assistants and allied health students.
9. Difai City College - Los Angeles, CA
Program Length: 6 Weeks
The program features a 160-clock-hour plan. At Difai City College, CNA students learn about important topics, including Death and Dying, Observations and Charting, Body Mechanics and Body Dynamics, and Prevention and Management.
Clinical Training: 100 hours of the online 6-week CNA program at Difai City College is dedicated to clinical training. You will learn essential skills relevant to the Certified Nurse Assistant role in a lab setting and then transition to on-site care in long-term care facilities and/or hospitals.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the 6-week online CNA class at Difai City College in six weeks.
Admission Requirements: Admission to the program offered at Difai City College requires having a California state identification and social security card. You must be at least 16 years old to be considered for admission. If you are under 18 years old, you must have a parent, spouse, or legal guardian co-sign your enrollment agreement. Additionally, you must pass a physical examination and criminal background check.
Why Choose This Program
• Graduates of the program receive career readiness and job placement assistance.• Difai City College reports program graduates perform exceptionally well on the state CNA Certification exam.
• The program’s curriculum includes a Certification Exam Review course led by dedicated faculty to help you prepare for your state certification exam.
Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.