Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US but is extremely densely populated, second only to New Jersey. That means that there is a constant need for healthcare provision. An important part of a successful healthcare industry is Certified Nursing Assistants, or CNAs, and the demand for new CNAs in Rhode Island is high. Now is the perfect time to become part of the community that keeps its people healthy and thriving.
Starting work as a CNA in Rhode Island involves gaining a license which will need to be renewed every two years. However, it is not as overwhelming as it seems – CNA classes can be found in a whole host of nursing and retirement homes, clinics, and colleges.
Rhode Island CNA Certification Requirements
No obligatory education requirements exist in order to undertake a state-approved nurse aide course. Potential employees who possess a high school diploma or GED, though, might be favored by employers. There are some requirements a person must meet before they can become a CNA in Rhode Island or even start classes. The most important are:
- Being a minimum of 18 years of age
- Passing your training program’s entry evaluation (if you don’t possess a high school diploma)
- Having a clean criminal record
- Being up to date with your immunization
- Testing negative for TB and drugs
- Having a full physical exam by a physician
Rhode Island CNA Program & Testing Costs
To gain a CNA certification in the state of Rhode Island you must pass a state-approved course. These have a minimum of 100 hours that consist of a combination of in-person and classroom training. This is designed to make graduates job-ready to work straight away.
CNA courses usually run for 3 to 4 weeks if you are a full-time student and 4 to 6 weeks if you attend part-time, but some programs might require more time than that. Your training may be sponsored by a provider such as nursing homes, community colleges, hospitals, employment opportunity centers, and others. The Red Cross also offers quite affordable training. Despite online classes being convenient, many are not state-approved, so it is recommended that you avoid those.
Certification costs vary depending on when and where you train.
CNA classes in Rhode Island will cost around $650 to $900 on average which might not include textbook costs, uniform costs, and the like. However, if you are employed in the first 12 months after graduation, you may apply for reimbursement for the cost of your tuition and testing fees. For a list of locations offering free CNA training in Rhode Island, follow this link.
Free CNA Classes & Nurse Aide Courses in Rhode Island
If all of this sounds like CNA classes might be right for you, the following list are a few suggestions on where to get started.
| Training Program | City | Zip Code | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Creek Manor Nursing | Bristol, RI | 02809 | 401-253-3000 |
| The Walker School of Allied Health | Bristol, RI | 02809 | 401-396-9001 |
| Alpine Retirement Home | Coventry, RI | 02816 | 401-397-5001 |
| Phenix Home Care Inc | Cranston, RI | 02920 | 401-943-6230 |
| A Caring Experience | Cranston, RI | 02910 | 401-453-4545 |
| Cedar Home Health | Cranston, RI | 02921 | 401-944-2100 |
| Cranston Adult Learning Center | Cranston, RI | 02920 | 401-270-8166 |
| Hope Nursing Home Care LLC | Cranston, RI | 02910 | 401-467-8588 |
| Saint Elizabeth Home | East Greenwich, RI | 02818 | 401-471-6060 |
| Evergreen House Health Center | East Providence, RI | 02914 | 401-438-3250 |
| Access Healthcare Inc | East Providence, RI | 02914 | 401-438-4747 |
| At Home Healthcare | Exeter, RI | 02822 | 401-667-0737 |
| CCRI Lincoln | Lincoln, RI | 02865 | 401-333-7000 |
| Grand Islander | Middletown, RI | 02842 | 401-849-7100 |
| Adult Learning Center | Newport, RI | 02840 | 401-847-7171 |
| Roberts Health Center Inc | North Kingstown, RI | 02852 | 401-294-3587 |
| Golden Crest Nursing Centre | North Providence, RI | 02904 | 401-353-1710 |
| St Antoine Residence | North Smithfield, RI | 02896 | 401-767-3500 |
| HItep Inc CSR Training | Pawtucket, RI | 02860 | 401-723-0010 |
| Bastien Academy | Pawtucket, RI | 02860 | 401-369-9174 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor Pawtucket | Pawtucket, RI | 02860 | 401-723-4314 |
| Home Health & Hospice Care of Nursing Placement | Pawtucket, RI | 02860 | 401-728-6500 |
| Genesis Healthcare | Pawtucket, RI | 02861 | 401-722-7900 |
| HITEP, Inc. | Providence, RI | 02907 | 401-785-2202 |
| HItep Inc CSR Training | Providence, RI | 02907 | 401-273-6900 |
| Berkshire Place Nursing and Rehabilitatiin Center | Providence, RI | 02908 | 401-553-8600 |
| Brown University | Providence, RI | 02912 | 401-863-1000 |
| Rhode Island College | Providence, RI | 02908 | 401-456-8000 |
| Cranston Adult Learning Center | Providence, RI | 02905 | 401-919-5532 |
| Saint Elizabeth Court | Providence, RI | 02907 | 401-490-4646 |
| American Safety Programs And Training | Providence, RI | 02907 | 401-273-6900 |
| BAYADA Home Health | Providence, RI | 02903 | 401-273-1112 |
| Your Choice of CNA Training School | Providence, RI | 02905 | 401-919-5532 |
| Health Care Connections Nurse | Riverside, RI | 02915 | 401-437-3515 |
| Elderwood | Wakefield, RI | 02879 | 401-789-3006 |
| Grace Barker Health | Warren, RI | 02885 | 401-245-9100 |
| 911Programs Career Training Institute | Warwick, RI | 02886 | 401-773-7716 |
| Avalon Nursing Home | Warwick, RI | 02889 | 401-738-1200 |
| Knight Campus - Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) | Warwick, RI | 02886 | 401-825-1000 |
| Cathleen Naughton Associates | Warwick, RI | 02886 | 401-773-7401 |
| Cornerstone Adult Services | Warwick, RI | 02886 | 401-739-2847 |
| Brentwood Nursing Home Inc | Warwick, RI | 02886 | 401-884-8020 |
| Exeter-West Greenwich Regional High School | West Greenwich, RI | 02817 | 401-397-6898 |
| Westerly Education Center | Westerly, RI | 02891 | 401-584-4931 |
| Friendly Home Inc | Woonsocket, RI | 02895 | 401-769-7220 |
| The Ballou Home | Woonsocket, RI | 02895 | 401-769-0437 |
CNA Training in Cranston, RI
Cranston Adult Education. This program is approximately 15 weeks long covering 120 mandatory hours. This is comprised of 80 hours of classroom theory followed by 40 hours in clinical training. CPR is included in this course. Students that already possess CPR certification must present their card. Tuition is $850 and includes textbooks, $300 of which must be paid when you register. The rest must be paid fully within 7 weeks from the first class otherwise the student will be terminated. Tuition doesn’t include equipment. Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted. There is an additional fee of $149 for the state application licensing.
Health Care Connections. This Nurse Aide course consists of 80 hours of theoretical knowledge and 20 hours of hands-on training. There might be an addition of extra hours if there is a need. The course is approximately 8-10 weeks long and new classes begin each spring and fall. The classes meet twice on weekday evenings and every Saturday morning. Graduates become eligible to take the state certification exam. Tuition is $650 and includes licensing, BCI check, CPR training, textbooks, materials, uniform, equipment, CNA pin, and certificate after graduation, and must be paid in full at orientation.
Community College of Rhode Island. This state-approved program is 143 hours long and consists of 75 classroom instruction hours, 24 hours of skill instruction, 40 hours of training in a clinical setting, with a final 4 hours of skills laboratory. Classes begin every three months. Upon graduation, students will be scheduled for the State Board exam at CCRI’s testing facility. Tuition is $860 which includes a non-refundable registration fee of $10, books, a blood pressure cuff, and a stethoscope.
CNA Classes in Providence, RI
HITEP. The course is 140 hours long and includes a 16-hour hands-on training as well as a 4-hour challenge module so that students can analyze current events relevant to working as a CNA. HITEP also offers support in Spanish for those limited in speaking English, however, students must be able to read and write in English. For tuition costs please the school directly.
Crossroads Rhode Island. This 7-week course is comprised of both theoretical knowledge and clinical training. Students are trained by specialists who assist graduates in finding and maintaining employment. For more information, you can contact the school directly at (401) 270-7716 to register for an information session.
Community College of Rhode Island. CCRI has multiple campuses, including one on Providence, RI which offers a standard CNA training course. Click here for more information.
Learn more about CNA classes in Providence.
Additional Rhode Island CNA resources
The above information will help you get started on the path to becoming a qualified CNA and beyond. The information below will help as your career progresses, or with further educational goals.
Rhode Island Nurse Aide Registry
To contact the Rhode Island Nurse Aide Registry, use the information below:
3 Capitol Hill, Room 105
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: (401) 222-5888
Fax: (401) 222-3352
Website
Out of State CNAs
CNAs from out of state can begin to work in Rhode Island when they transfer their license through reciprocity. The process will take 4-8 weeks and comprises of the following steps.
- Visit the Department of Health and download the application form.
- Show evidence of your certification. Your home state’s training must be a minimum of 100 hours; for those who attended programs with fewer, you may provide proof of full-time employment as a CNA of a minimum of 3 months.
- Your former employer in your home state needs to complete the employment verification on your application and direct the filled-out document to the Rhode Island registry.
- Consent to a criminal background check at the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General
- Make sure your application is notarized include a passport-sized photo as well as a transfer fee of $40 before sending it to the registry.
CNA Renewals in Rhode Island
Your Rhode Island CNA license is good for two years, after which it must be renewed. Your renewal notice will be sent to you by the registry 60 days prior to your license’s expiration. You will need to fill out the form of renewal and request a signature from an official at a licensed institution that proves you have been employed for compensation within the two years period. Your license must be active for the period indicated. Employment at facilities that aren’t licensed will not qualify for renewal.
How much does a CNA make in Rhode Island?
Like with any job, the location in the state and the employer mean that wages can vary between roles. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, a CNA in Rhode Island makes an hourly wage of $18.99 or a yearly salary of $39,490. More experience and more education help lift the pay rate incrementally, and this is a career with continuous development opportunities to help you thrive.