The Pathway
Through a partnership with ACC and CU, DCSD students will be able to complete their Certified Nurses 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).
Students will need to be able to do clinicals on an occasional evening or weekend and have their own transportation.
Some clinical facilities require a student to be 18 years old, but not all. If you turn 18 later in the year, please consider
requesting a spring cohort so you have greater options for clinical placements.
View the course guide for the most recent learning pathway and course descriptions.
Nurse Aide Program Requirements:
- Students must supply their own uniform, complete with scrubs, shoes, and a watch. There are also professional
requirements such as hair and nail grooming specifications, and limited tattoos and jewelry. More information is
provided at orientation.
- Complete the ACC application for acceptance to college.
- Complete a Criminal Background Check through ACC/Castle Branch. Please note: Criminal background checks
require a fee and the applicant's social security number. Should the background check reveal any disqualifying
factors or a positive drug screen, the student will be required to drop the program.
- BLS Certification Card must be from an American Heart Association Training Center.
- My Clinical Exchange is a metro wide requirement for all healthcare programs. The 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.
Please see the full list of requirements and checklist on the ACC Nurse Aide Page.