CNA & PCA+ High School Concurrent Program | NorthWest Arkansas Community College
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High School Concurrent

Certified Nursing Assistant & Patient Care Assistant+

Female CNA Assisting a Female Patient in Wheelchair

Through NWACC's high school concurrent certified nursing assistant (CNA) and patient care assistant plus (PCA+) course, you'll gain an introduction to health care, didactic instruction, hands-on skills and clinical training. You'll also develop health care competencies in safety, infection control, vital signs, personal care, Alzheimer’s and dementia, and work with geriatric residents in long term care facilities.

NOTE: Prior to registration in the CNA and PCA+ course, it is recommended that you take Intro to Medical Professions, Medical Terminology and Human Anatomy and Physiology, if available.

After successful completion of the CNA and PCA+ course, you will receive 6 hours of college credit from NWACC and a certificate of proficiency. You will also be eligible to take the Arkansas Nurse Assistant Certification Exam.

Program Approval

NWACC’s CNA and PCA+ high school concurrent course is approved by the Arkansas State Office of Long Term Care.

Application & Admissions

 

Courses, Cost, Certificates & Careers

Concurrent CNA and PCA+ course:

  • Certified Nursing Assistant CNA/PCA+ (Concurrent Credit CNA)

Location of course:

  • NWACC Bentonville campus
  • Don Tyson School of Innovation (Springdale)
  • Ledbetter (Farmington)

NWACC offers this high school concurrent CNA/PCA+ program through its Secondary Career Center. Through the center, courses are free of charge and certification fees are waved for currently enrolled high school students.

By taking the CNA and PCA+ concurrent course, you can earn the following certifications from NWACC before graduating from high school:

  • Certificate of Proficiency in Nursing Assistant

You will also be eligible to take the Arkansas Nurse Assistant Certification Exam.

Other certifications you can earn:

  • American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers
  • American Heart Association First Aid
  • HIPAA Training Completion Certificate
  • Stop the Bleed Training Certificate

With CNA and PCA+ training, you can find job opportunities as:

  • Patient care technician
  • Nurse assistant
  • Pharmacy technician
  • Sterilization and reprocessing technician