Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Pre-Certification
Tuition-free 180-hour noncredit CNA pre-certification; get clinical training and sit for California's CNA competency exam in under 2 months.
3171 S. Bundy Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90066
Cohort-based with limited seats and application deadlines; contact the Noncredit/Health Sciences office for the next available cohort
No experience required
Program Philosophy
Santa Monica College's noncredit (School of Continuing & Community Education) initiative offers tuition-free, short-term training to help adults build job-ready skills and bridge into credit college or the workforce. Classes are open to the community with no prerequisites, removing cost and access barriers so motivated learners can gain marketable, entry-level skills and a certificate of completion in a single semester.
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Adults ready for fast, hands-on entry into healthcare as a nurse assistant
Cohort-based, about 8 weeks. Foundational theory (HEALTH 985) and concurrent clinical lab (HEALTH 986) - e.g., theory Wed/Thu on the Bundy campus and clinical lab Mon/Tue at a local hospital. State requires concurrent enrollment in both; dates vary by cohort.
180-hour clinical training and eligibility for the California CNA competency exam in under 2 months
Cost & Outcomes
Tuition is free, and most program supplies are loaned to students. Because training takes place in a clinical setting, students pay out of pocket for a required background check, drug screening, and current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification; Santa Monica College estimates these expenses at $250 to $350. With no tuition to finance, students take on no program debt.
Who This Program is Built For
This program was specifically designed with these communities in mind. If you see yourself, you belong here.
What Sets This Program Apart
Tuition-free 180-hour nurse assistant pre-certification
Can be completed in less than 2 months
Hands-on clinical training at a local hospital site
Most program supplies are loaned to participants
Prepares graduates to sit for the California Nurse Assistant Competency Exam
Cohort-based with dedicated noncredit/health-sciences support
Day in the Life
- Two days a week of classroom theory at the Bundy Campus, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- Two days a week of supervised clinical lab at a local hospital, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Practicing patient care skills such as vital signs, safe transfers, and help with activities of daily living
- Clinical groups supervised by a licensed nurse instructor, with no more than 15 students per instructor under state rules
- Preparing for the California Nurse Assistant Competency Examination
Taught by California-licensed registered nurses or licensed vocational nurses with at least 2 years of nursing experience, 1 of them caring for chronically ill or elderly patients.
Soft and technical skills you'll gain by program completion.
California Nurse Assistant Competency Examination (state CNA certification)
Highs & Lows
The pace: 180 hours of classroom and hospital clinical training in about 8 weeks, with early mornings four days a week, followed by the state competency exam.
Giving real patient care in a hospital setting and becoming eligible for state certification in under two months, without paying tuition.
Employment Support
SMC Career Services Center: career counseling, resume and interview support, and job-search resources
Academic and noncredit counseling to plan next steps into credit programs or the workforce
Certificate of Completion documenting job-ready skills for employers
How It Works
Apply to SMC as a student (free) at smc.edu/apply
Contact the Noncredit office (310-434-3399 / NoncreditRegistration@smc.edu) or the Health Sciences department (CertifiedNursingAssistant@smc.edu) to request the application and join the next cohort list
Submit required clearance documents in one email from your SMC student email - application plus American Heart Association CPR/BLS certification
Complete the required background check and drug screening (student expense)
Once placed in a cohort, enroll concurrently in HEALTH 985 (theory) and HEALTH 986 (clinical lab)
Complete the program and sit for the California Nurse Assistant Competency Exam
Frequently Asked Questions
If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to contact us.The program is tuition-free, but students must pay for a required background check, drug screening, and current CPR/BLS certification. Most supplies are loaned to participants.
About 8 weeks (180 hours) - you can get certified in less than 2 months.
Be 18+, have a high school diploma or GED, live in California, hold current American Heart Association CPR/BLS certification, and pass a background check and drug screening. F1 visa holders are not eligible.
The California Nurse Assistant Competency Examination to become a CNA.