Certified Nursing Assistant/Geriatric Assistant, Letter of Recognition

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Career Programs Building, Room 110, 240-500-2218

Award: Letter of Recognition

Total Credit Hours: 7 credit hours

Purpose: This career oriented program qualifies the successful student to be registered with the Maryland Board of Nursing as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Students completing the program will also be eligible to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination for geriatric nursing assistants.

Curriculum: Course content includes basic nursing skills, standard of care related to basic nursing skills, disease processes, systems review, nutrition, and infection control. The program consists of lecture, laboratory, and clinical experiences.

Admission Requirements:

College placement tests in English and math (Students must contact the Testing Center to complete)
Completion of ENG 099
Completion of MAT 098

Final Acceptance: Completion of required paperwork prior to program deadline. Deadlines are dependent upon the college semester calendar and are different each semester. In addition:

Students must be able to meet the program’s technical standards
Satisfactory completion of a health examination record and all required tests and immunizations
Current American Heart Association “Healthcare Provider” CPR certification
Completed Hepatitis waiver (if applicable) and Medical Expense form
Students must successfully pass a drug screen and criminal background check

Program Requirements: Students practice skills and procedures in the college laboratory. All students must receive a minimum grade of 80% in the theory portion of the course. Students must also receive a mark of satisfactory in the skills laboratory to advance to clinical experience. Students are required to successfully pass the clinical experience in order to pass the course. Students who receive a final mark of unsatisfactory in the clinical laboratory or clinical experience, despite a passing theory grade, will not be permitted to complete the program and will receive a final grade of “F” for the course.

Students who do not meet program or course standards that result in termination from the Certified Nursing Assistant/Geriatric Nursing Assistant program by the Director, Nursing Division are not eligible for readmission. This includes students who cannot meet safety standards, and students who violate the college’s Honor Code and Standards of Conduct.

Students must have a Social Security Number or Federal Tax Identification Number for certification as a nursing assistant in Maryland per Maryland Board of Nursing requirements.

Fact Sheet

View the CNA/GNA Fact Sheet.

Program Requirements (7 credits)

NUR 121 - Certified Nursing/Geriatric Assistant (7 Credits)

Letter of Recognition Requirement (7 Credits)

Criminal Background Checks

All students in the CNA/GNA program will be required to complete a criminal background check. A separate criminal background check may also be required by a clinical site prior to beginning a clinical experience. Criminal background check results are disclosed to clinical facilities as required. If a student is denied access by a clinical site because of the background check, and as a result, cannot meet program requirements, the student will be dismissed from the program.

The Maryland State Board of Nursing requires a state and federal background check to be completed prior to granting certification. The background check fees are separate from the course required background check and are not included in the course fee. State boards of nursing may deny an individual the opportunity to sit for an examination, or grant licensure, even if the individual has completed all course work and graduated from the program, if the individual has a criminal history, has been convicted, or pleads nolo contendere to a felony or other serious crime.

Additional Information

The Maryland State Board of Nursing requires an application fee that is not included in the cost of the course fee.

Successful students wishing to become Geriatric Nursing Assistants must take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination. This examination includes a competency test, including a written and skills test. The application fee for the NNAAP exam is not covered in the course fee.

Successful completion of the CNA/GNA program at Hagerstown Community College does not guarantee certification, the opportunity to sit for certification examination or employment in a related health care occupation.

Technical Standards

There are technical standards and skill requirements which students are expected to possess and demonstrate in order to be successful in this program. More information on these standards can be found on the Web page for this program.

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