GHS students can receive certified nursing assistant training while they are still in school.

Gardendale High School’s health sciences class has another accolade to add to its outstanding program.  

Students can now work on becoming certified nursing assistants (CNA) while in high school.  The health sciences program, which is part of the school’s career technical program, has five students that became certified  nursing assistants this summer.

Cathy Thomas, a registered nurse, worked with the five students this summer and helped Gardendale High become a site that can certify nursing assistants.  

“These students have worked very hard to reach their goal; however, this is just a one of the goals they have set for themselves. They will continue in their education, go to college and become a registered nurse and specialize in the area of their choice,” Thomas said. “I’m very proud of these girls.”

Students have four requirements to meet before becoming a certified nursing assistant. First, they must have 37 hours of classroom training on theory. Second, candidates must have 29 hours of lab time, which they complete at GHS.

Third, they must have 24 hours of field training or clinical training.  GHS students completed these hours at a community nursing home.  

And fourth, they must take two exams, one that is written and one that is skills based. Both exams are proctored by licensed test monitors.  

After completing the program, students are qualified to begin working at a hospital or nursing home, where beginning salaries range from $10-$12 per hour.