NURSING

Certified Nurse Assistant

To be a successful Certified Nurse Assistant you should...

be caring, trustworthy, dependable and honest, be able to follow written and verbal instructions, be able to make good judgements, work well with a variety of people, have patience and communicate positively with people, enjoy working, closely with people, work accurately and safely, like to learn new things.

What will my job be like?

Certified Nurse Assistants play a vital role in health care delivery by providing routine patient care. Working under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), they respond to patient’s needs, and check blood pressure, temperature, pulse and breathing. CNAs also assist patients while helping them change position, walk, bathe and eat. They generally have a great deal of patient contact and are important members of the health care team who help to develop patient relationships that foster trust.

Where could I work?

Certified Nurse Assistants work in:

  • Hospitals
  • Nursing Homes
  • Clinics
  • Home Health Agencies
  • Mental Health Institutions
  • Physician’s Offices
  • Private Homes

Average Annual Salary

$38,130 per year

What is the future of this career?

Overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is projected to grow 4 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.


About 216,200 openings for nursing assistants and orderlies are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Type of Education/Training

Training is available at many regional vocational technical schools (RVTS) and community colleges. It may be offered by employers and usually consists of at least 100 hours of lectures, demonstrations, and supervised clinical practice.

Where could I get the education/training?

  • American Institute
  • CT State Capital
  • CT State Gateway
  • CT State Housatonic
  • CT State Manchester
  • CT State Naugatuck Valley
  • CT State Northwestern
  • CT State Quinebaug Valley
  • CT State Three Rivers
  • CT State Tunxis
  • Valley Medical Institute

Licensing/Certification

In Connecticut, Nurse Assistants must be certified and registered on the Connecticut nurse aide registry. Please visit the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health website for more information.