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Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Program prepares students with basic, hands-on patient care in a variety of healthcare settings such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, and clinics. DSU will provide students with supplies for their training including stethoscopes, gait belts, and blood pressure cuffs. This one-semester course encompasses didactic, lab, and clinical learning opportunities to best prepare for the certification exam upon completion of the course.

We are offering a CNA course in Dickinson. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the CNA job market in both Dickinson, ND, and the surrounding area is very active. People working as a CNA in our area are making on average $20 per hour.*

* https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Cna-Salary--in-North-Dakota

Prerequisites and Registration 

  • You must be at least 16 years of age.
  • You must be able to lift 50 lbs. and be proficient at reading, writing, and speaking English.
  • Required criminal background check, TB, and drug screening (required for clinical practice)
  • Textbook and testing (knowledge and skills exams) fees
  • You must provide a copy of your official vaccination record, including the following immunizations (received or at least, in progress): 
    1. Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccines (2 shot series),
    2. Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP),
    3. Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap),
    4. Varicella zoster – chicken pox (2 shots), and
    5. Hepatitis B vaccination series (3 shots).
    6. The influenza vaccination is highly recommended, although not required, and a copy of the immunization should be included.

Please contact your local public health office and/or your healthcare provider for your records and/or further information. If you need any vaccinations, please note that these are NOT included as part of your CNA course fee.

One-step Tuberculosis (TB) Mantoux skin test and drug screening are available via DSU Student Health on the designated date and time for participants to be screened. Please find content details in the below section. 

Failure to provide these health documents will delay the registration process, and your registration will be transferred to the next available training session. Participants will be allowed two (2) transfers before their registration is dropped and will need to complete the application process again. 

Class size is limited, and enrollment is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. Waiting lists are established once classes have met maximum enrollment.

Certificate of Completion and Testing 

Once you have successfully completed the course, you will be able to take the hands-on skills and web-based knowledge exams on the DSU campus to earn your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate. 

Cancellation Policy 

DSU reserves the right to cancel the course if there are less than six (6) students. Should the class need to be cancelled or rescheduled, participants will be notified one week in advance. 

Registered students may be transferred to the next scheduled class; costs associated with the criminal background check, TB, and drug screening are non-refundable.

If you wish to transfer or cancel registration, you must provide notification no less than one (1) week before the class start date. After this time, you will be charged a processing fee equal to 10% of the class cost in addition to the costs of the CBC, TB, and drug screening. 

Contact

If you are interested in the CNA Training course, do not hesitate to reach out to DSU Nursing at dsu.nursing@dickinsonstate.edu or 701-502-4428.