Nursing Assistant Training
An 84‑hour, 3‑credit, state‑approved course that prepares students with the skills and knowledge needed to begin a rewarding career as a nursing assistant. This course meets Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) standards and includes classroom, lab, and clinical experience.
Location:
Prerequisites:
Students must bring a photo ID with a signature on the first day of class. A Minnesota Department of Health background study, which includes fingerprinting and a photo, will also be started that day. Students need to have their social security number on the first day of class to start their background study. The recommended minimum age for this course is 16.
Great For:
- Individuals beginning a career in healthcare
- Students entering the Practical Nursing program, which requires CNA certification
- High‑school students (16+) exploring healthcare pathways
- Anyone seeking CNA certification to work in long‑term care or healthcare settings
- Career changers looking for a fast, strong entry into patient care
What This Course Is About:
The Nursing Assistant course at Alexandria Technical & Community College is a state‑approved, 84‑hour (3‑credit) class that builds the essential skills required to provide safe, supportive care in long‑term care and healthcare settings. Students learn foundational skills in a supervised skills lab and gain hands‑on experience through clinical training in a local long‑term care facility. After completing the course, students will need to take the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Test to become certified.
This course meets all Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) training standards and is a prerequisite for ATCC’s Practical Nursing program.
Registration for this course is managed through ATCC. The “Register for this course” button will take you directly to their official course page.
What You’ll Learn:
- Provide safe and effective care to residents in long‑term care and healthcare settings
- Support basic human needs and understand growth, development, and common chronic conditions
- Communicate effectively with residents and healthcare staff
- Maintain a safe and clean environment and apply infection‑control principles
- Accurately measure and record vital signs and other key observations
- Perform personal care skills for residents
- Assist with mobility, positioning, transfers, and range‑of‑motion exercises
- Support nutrition, hydration, diet needs, and feeding techniques
- Provide care related to elimination, bowel/bladder needs, colostomy care, and catheter care
- Offer compassionate support to residents with dementia, behavioral health needs, and those at end‑of‑life
Why EDGE?
The EDGE Center works closely with ATCC to support your pathway into healthcare. Students benefit from hands‑on learning, experienced instructors, and strong connections to local healthcare employers. The Nursing Assistant course provides the foundation for immediate employment and also serves as the first step toward advanced nursing education.
Additional Info/FAQs
Students are expected to attend all classroom, lab, and clinical hours because the course is fast‑paced. If any of this time is missed, the student will need to work with the instructor and pay for tutoring to make it up. A full schedule with dates, times, and topics is provided on the first day. Textbooks and materials are included in the course fee. Course schedules change each semester, and upcoming options can be viewed on the ATCC registration page.