Nursing
Through a partnership with Arapahoe Community College (ACC) and University of Colorado (CU), DCSD students will be able to complete their Certified Nurse Aide Certificate. This program will prepare the student for employment as a nurse aide in hospital, home-care, skilled care and hospice facilities. The entry level skills of a nurse aide are an excellent introduction to a broad range of health professions. Basic nursing skills, including activities of daily living, use of assistive devices and recognition of the emotional, social, cultural and individual rights of patients are all competencies that will be covered in the coursework.
Successful completion of the Nurse Aide Certificate course at ACC qualifies the student to take the State Certification Examination, also known as the NNAAP exam, to become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA).
Applications must be completed by the student; submissions from parents or guardians will not be accepted.
Applications will remain open through February 27, 2026.
The application process is NOT first-come, first-served, so students are encouraged to take their time and complete all sections thoughtfully.
Pathway Requirements
Students must meet these requirements prior to taking the courses; however, they do not need to be completed before applying to the CNA pathway.
Pre-req: For CNA courses, there are no academic requirements, but students MUST attend a CNA orientation meeting AND submit all required vaccinations, background check, and paperwork by the due dates. CNA students will need to provide some of their own equipment such as
stethoscopes and scrubs. Students must be able to perform physical skills and keep up with rigorous reading & online work.
Students must:
- Supply their own uniform, shoes, and a watch.
- Abide by the grooming specifications (hair, nails, tattoos, jewelry, etc. More information is provided at orientation.
- Complete the ACC application for acceptance to college.
- Complete a Criminal Background Check through ACC/Castle Branch. Should the background check reveal any disqualifying factors or a positive drug screen, the student will be required to drop the program.
- Provide your BLS Certification Card from an American Heart Association Training Center.
- Create a My Clinical Exchange account. This database provides facilities with the necessary documents to achieve Regulatory Compliance. Cost is $39.50.
- Obtain the required vaccinations (this is required by healthcare facilities, not by DCSD or ACC):
- 2 MMR Vaccines/positive titer, 2 Varicella Vaccines/positive titer, 3 Hepatitis B Vaccines/positive titer/waiver, Tdap vaccine (within the last 10 years)
- Provide documentation of seasonal Influenza vaccine,
- Provide documentation of COVID-19 Vaccine(s): 2 Moderna, 2 Pfizer, or one J&J COVID vaccine
- Documentation of a negative Tuberculosis Test completed within the year of program completion.
- Be able to perform physical skills and keep up with rigorous reading & online work.
- Be able to complete clinical rotations on occasional evenings or weekends and provide their own transportation.
- Note: Some clinical facilities require a student to be 18-years-old but not all.
Please see the full list of requirements and checklist at http://www.arapahoe.edu/departments-and-programs/a-z-
programs/nurse-aide on the Nurse Aide Page.
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