Huntington Beach, Calif. — The California Department of Public Health has approved a new Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) program at Golden West College, clearing the path for the first cohort of 25 students to enroll for the Fall 2024 semester. The CNA certificate is part of GWC’s noncredit program and will prepare students to work as entry-level healthcare workers in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities and rehabilitation centers.
GWC’s Adult Education/Noncredit program has a robust offering of free courses aimed at helping students of diverse backgrounds increase literacy and job skills. The College has recently expanded its free noncredit career and technical education short-term certificate pathways based on student demand.
“We frequently survey noncredit, adult education students to gather feedback on program offerings and support services, and to assess students’ educational and career goals. Healthcare pathways are among the career choices that students are most interested in,” says Noncredit Adult Education Program Director Linda Ju-Ong.
The CNA program is a tuition-free, 16-week program and consists of 60 theory hours and 100 clinical hours, including hands-on clinical training. Students can complete the program within one semester and be ready to take the Competency Evaluation Examination to become licensed Certified Nurse Assistants.
“According to Labor Market Information the number of jobs related to nursing assistants is expected to increase by 12 percent through 2027,” says Ju-Ong. “In addition to there being high demand for CNA’s, the program also is a great foundational first step for anyone who is interested in pursuing additional career opportunities in healthcare.”
GWC currently is building an interest list for the Spring 2025 CNA program cohort. All students must attend a mandatory two-hour information session before enrollment. For more information, please visit www.goldenwestcollege.edu/noncredit/certified-nurse-assistant
