Olivia Chen, NP
June 24, 2025
The Certified Nursing Assistant programs in Rhode Island educate students to perform direct patient care activities which maintain the operational efficiency of hospitals, nursing homes, and home-health agencies. Through their work with patients CNA staff assist with bathing and dressing tasks while feeding patients, helping them move safely, and keeping track of vital signs before reporting changes to nursing staff. The daily comfort of residents heavily depends on CNAs who serve as critical healthcare professionals in hospitals and long-term care settings.
Warwick, RI - Public 2-Year - ccri.edu
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Community College of Rhode Island offers a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program approved by the Rhode Island Department of Health. This hybrid course spans 160 instructional hours, blending online lectures with in-person lab and clinical training. Flexible scheduling options, including day and evening classes, cater to diverse student needs, with some cohorts providing free tuition through grants. The program covers essential medical skills and includes textbooks and equipment, preparing graduates for professional certification and entry into healthcare roles.
Online CNA training remains impossible because state regulations require hands-on clinical competence but Rhode Island providers now integrate digital convenience into their educational schedules. The educational program combines video-based lectures with self-paced quizzes that students complete from home before attending campus skills laboratory sessions. The hybrid learning format consists of two nights of online theory classes followed by weekend practice sessions to complete all necessary skill assessments. Clinical practice occurs at nursing facilities or hospitals for twenty to forty hours. The evening and weekend programs match the needs of working professionals while summer hybrid programs at some institutions combine their academic periods into brief intensive blocks.
| School Name | Highlights | Retention & Grad Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Community College of Rhode Island |
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| Eligibility Prerequisites | Graduate from a Rhode Island–approved CNA program and clear a fingerprint-based criminal background check and required health screenings |
|---|---|
| Certifying Board | Rhode Island Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry |
| Training Program Requirements | 120 total hours (80 classroom instruction, 40 supervised clinical practice) in a state-approved course |
| Exam and Application Fees | Written/oral exam $55, skills evaluation $110, paid directly to the testing vendor, no state application fee |
| Certification Exam | Pass the NNAAP written or oral test and a five-skill practical evaluation within one year of program completion |
| Registry Activation Time | Vendor submits results electronically and the registry is updated within two business days of passing both components |
| Renewal Requirements | Biennial renewal by completing eight hours of paid nurse-aide work in the prior 24 months and paying a $24 renewal fee |
| License by Endorsement | Active, unencumbered out-of-state CNAs apply via the CNA365 reciprocity system with verification of certification, no additional exam required |
Rhode Island CNAs receive higher wages compared to typical entry-level positions as they earn approximately nineteen dollars per hour with hospital staff in Providence and Newport earning twenty-one dollars or more. The annual salary of full-time aides reaches approximately forty thousand dollars but they can earn higher amounts when they work night or weekend shifts. The state’s high living expenses along with ongoing direct-care staffing requirements drive the competitive compensation rates.
| Salary & Career Outlook | Rhode Island | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual CNA Salary | $38,159 | $62,340 |
| Avg Hourly Wage | $18.35 | $29.97 |
| 90th Percentile Salary | >$46,540 | $80,510 |
| Median Salary | $38,159 | $62,340 |
| 10th Percentile Salary | <$31,390 | $47,960 |
| Projected Job Growth (2022–2032) | ~4% | 3% |
| Annual Job Openings | ~450 | ~54,000 |
| School Name | Highlights | Annual Estimated Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Community College of Rhode Island |
|
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The initial position of CNA creates a hands-on skill base that enables future expansion within the healthcare field. Working directly with patients develops skills in clinical competence and medical terminology alongside teamwork with different healthcare professionals which eases the transition to Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse programs. Students who hold active CNA licensure can earn elective credits at certain Rhode Island colleges which decreases their time and tuition costs for associate or bachelor nursing degrees. Healthcare providers offer support to career development by funding educational costs for hospital staff members and modifying work schedules for nursing home workers to pursue evening LPN classes. CNAs who want to specialize in medication aid work, phlebotomy, physical therapy support, or medical assistance must complete brief certification programs after their initial training.
Additional Nursing Programs in Rhode Island
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