Basic Nurse Assistant Certificate

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好色先生

Care that changes lives.

Start your path in healthcare by building the skills and confidence needed to provide compassionate patient care as a Basic Nursing Assistant.

Moraine Valley’s Basic Nursing Assistant Program combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training to prepare students for real-world healthcare settings. Students learn essential patient care skills, safety procedures, communication techniques and daily living support while gaining experience working directly with patients under the guidance of experienced healthcare professionals.

Whether you’re ready to begin working in healthcare or plan to continue your education, this program provides a strong foundation for your future. Many students use the Basic Nursing Assistant Program as a first step toward careers in nursing and other in-demand healthcare professions, building valuable experience before advancing to additional education and training.

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3 Locations One Campus

This program is offered at the Palos Hills campusSouthwest Education Center in Tinley Park and the Education Center at Blue Island.

Make A Difference In Patient Care as a Basic Nursing Assistant

With a Basic Nursing Assistant certificate, you can begin a career providing direct patient care in a variety of healthcare settings.

The Basic Nursing Assistant program allows you to work closely with nurses and healthcare teams to support patients with daily care needs, monitor comfort and safety, and help maintain a positive care environment.

Moraine Valley鈥檚 Basic Nursing Assistant Program prepares students for the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam through classroom instruction, hands-on lab training and supervised clinical experience. Students learn the patient care skills required by the Illinois Department of Public Health while gaining real-world experience in a healthcare setting.

Students can complete the Basic Nursing Assistant Certificate Program in one semester.

This six-credit-hour program combines classroom instruction, hands-on lab training and supervised clinical experience to prepare students for entry-level roles in healthcare. Training includes patient care techniques, safety procedures, communication skills and the 21 manual patient care skills required by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

To complete the BNA Program, students must successfully complete and demonstrate:

21 manual performance skills mandated by the Illinois Department of Public Health
64 hours of classroom lecture including Alzheimer鈥檚 instruction
40 hours of lab demonstration of skills
Four hours of Emergency Care Education
40 hours of clinical rotations at a health care facility
Not only that, but students have to attend all lecture/lab/clinical sessions as well as attain a grade of “C” or better in the BNAT Program.
Students who successfully complete this program are eligible to take the written State of Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam. After passing this exam, students may seek employment at long-term care facilities, hospitals and home-health agencies.

Additionally, students must:
Be 17 years of age before starting the program
Possess a valid, U.S. Social Security number or ITIN
Submit to Live Scan electronic fingerprinting and a criminal background check
Be a currently registered student at Moraine Valley

Complete the Reading Placement Test
Students must qualify for the RDG-089 level OR have achieved a score of 19 or above on the reading portion of the ACT or 480 or above on the SAT. Students may also be excused from taking the Reading Placement Test because of previous college-level academic work. If the reading placement test does not score high enough for RDG-089, the student will need to take and pass the reading remedial classes with a 鈥淐鈥 grade or better before registering for the BNAT course.

Submit to and pass an Illinois State Police Electronic Fingerprint Criminal Background Check with photography
The Illinois Department of Public Health mandates that all students taking this course submit to electronic fingerprinting and photography at least one week before the class begins. This is done on Compliance Orientation Days. Failure to comply or a 鈥渇elony hit鈥 will make the student ineligible to take the BNA course. Fingerprinting sessions will be initiated during the first class session. The fee is $32.50, subject to change.

Complete a Medical History and Physical
The following will be needed during the course: Medical History and Physical Exam, COVID Vaccination, an American Heart Association BLS CPR certification Ecard required, QuantiFERON Gold (one visit), proof of TdaP (tetanus, diphtheria, & pertussis) vaccination in the last 10 years, documentation of immunity (titers) to Varicella (Chicken Pox), Rubeola (Measles), Rubella, Mumps and Hepatitis B. Results of blood drawn titers verifying immunity to these diseases must be provided. Booster vaccines must be received if not immune and then an additional blood titer drawn six weeks later to verify immunity. Proof of being immunized as a child is not accepted. If you have not been vaccinated against Hepatitis B (series of three vaccines), you will need to start the series.鈥

Complete BLS certification
Students are required to obtain an American Heart Association CPR for Basic Life Support for Health Care Professionals certification at least 14 days prior to the start of clinical rotation. No other CPR courses are accepted.

Purchase required course materials:
Royal blue scrub top and black pants
Watch with a second hand
Double-head stethoscope
Blood pressure cuff
Course textbook and workbook
*All can be purchased in the Moraine Valley bookstore, located in Building D

Attend the first day of class, all lab and clinical sessions
To meet the program requirements, attendance at class sessions is required. Students who are absent on the first day of class, lab or clinical sessions or Alzheimer鈥檚 training must withdraw from this course if make-up sessions are not available. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Complete Clinicals
After students have submitted their health requirements, completed their criminal background check and fingerprints, all the laboratory sessions, completed the American Heart Association BLS CPR for Healthcare Professionals certification, and earned at least a 78% quiz average, clinical sessions begin. This usually occurs in approximately the sixth week of the course. During a 17-week course, clinical will begin during the 11th week.

好色先生 Notification of Clinical Health Requirements

Moraine Valley partners with healthcare facilities to provide clinical experiences for its students. These facilities prescribe various health requirements for all students who are placed at their clinical sites. Students who intend to participate in the clinical component of any program must submit documentation reflecting their compliance with the following clinical health requirements[1] prior to the deadline established by their program of study:

Measles (Rubeola) Titer
Mumps Titer
Rubella Titer
Varicella (Chicken Pox) Titer
Hepatitis B Titer
QuantiFERON-TB Gold Blood Test Annually
Tdap Vaccine every 10 years
Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Annually
COVID-19 Vaccination
Physical Exam by Healthcare Professional BNA Physical Form
American Heart Association BLS CPR for Healthcare Professionals every two years
Background Check Annually
Drug Screen Each Semester (medical marijuana cards are not accepted)
Medical Health Insurance 鈥 Upload Card Annually
Unless otherwise indicated, in writing, by a student’s assigned clinical site, all of the above health requirements must be met before the student may participate in a clinical rotation.

A student who fails to timely submit documentation by set deadlines reflecting compliance with the clinical health requirements listed above may be unable to participate in the required clinical component of their program in a timely manner, and their graduation may be delayed. The college cannot guarantee clinical placements for students who fail to satisfy all clinical health requirements by the set compliance deadlines.

[1] This list of clinical health requirements is subject to change based upon the policies of the clinical facilities. Students will be notified, in writing, of any modifications to the list of clinical health requirements.

Estimated Cost *These costs are subject to change

Estimated Tuition and Additional Costs
Tuition plus fees (BNA course only)$1,350 in-district
$2,680 out-of-district
Textbook$100
Fingerprinting for Background Check$32.50
Initial Health Requirements$400 (varies)
Uniform, stethoscope, wristwatch$150 (varies)
American Heart Association BLS CPR (good for two years)$50-$100
Viewpoint Compliance Screening & Drug Screen$63
Medical Health Insurance$150 (varies)

Employment Outlook

Basic nursing assistants continue to be in high demand across the country.

Overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations.

Despite limited employment growth, about 211,800 openings for nursing assistants and orderlies are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force because of retirement.

$18.96

Median Hourly Pay

$39,430

Median Annual Salary

Source:

How to get certified?
Upon successful completion of the BNA Program, the student can apply to take the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam. Once the student has successfully passed the exam, he/she is then placed on the State of Illinois Health Care Worker Registry.
The Nurse Aide Competency Exam is administered monthly at 好色先生. The $67 cost to apply for the competency exam has been included in the BNA student course fees. Completion instructions for the online exam applications will also be provided to the student upon the successful completion of the course.鈥
Approximately one week after taking the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam, students can check the Health Care Worker Registry for their results .
Certificate Expiration
You have 24 months without working as a CNA before your certification expires. If your certification has expired and you wish to renew, contact the .
Certification Outside the State of Illinois
If you are looking to use your BNA鈥 certificate outside the state of Illinois, you will need to call the health department of the state where you are applying for certification. Tell them you are certified as a Nursing Assistant in the State of Illinois. They will tell you whether your certification can be transferred, or what further steps you need to take to certify in that particular state.鈥

Moraine Valley鈥檚 Basic Nurse Assistant 鈥婸rogram has been approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health and is eligible for six college credits.

Why should I take BNA150, Basic Nurse Assistant Program?鈥嬧赌
To determine if healthcare, specifically nursing, is the career for you.
To meet the admission criteria to be a CNA required by many nursing programs.
To obtain a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
What qualities do I need to become a Certified Nursing Assistant?
Communication skills: Nursing assistants must be able to communicate effectively, to address patients鈥 or residents鈥 concerns. They also need to relay important information to other healthcare workers.
Compassion: Nursing assistants provide care for the sick, injured and elderly. Doing so requires a compassionate and empathetic attitude.
Patience: The routine tasks of cleaning, feeding and bathing patients or residents can be stressful. Nursing assistants must be patient to provide quality care.
Physical stamina: Nursing assistants spend much of their time on their feet. They should be comfortable performing physical tasks such as lifting or moving patients.
When will the next class start?
Classes are offered during the fall, spring and summer semesters. Sessions are scheduled in the morning, afternoon and evening and are eight to 16 weeks in length.  for a complete list of BNA-150 sections being offered.
How do I apply to the Program?
You must be at least 17 years of age before the start of class and have a valid Social Security number or ITIN. You must enroll as a student at Moraine Valley by completing an online admission form. You must complete a criminal background check and Live Scan fingerprinting.
You must have a documented reading level of eighth grade or higher. Students must qualify for the RDG-089 level OR have achieved a score of 19 or above on the reading portion of the ACT or 480 or above on the SAT. Students may also be excused from taking the Reading Placement Test because of previous college-level academic work. Students who think they may be exempt should meet with an academic advisor. If the reading placement test does not score high enough for RDG-089, the student will need to take and pass the Reading remedial classes with a 鈥淐鈥 grade or better before registering for the BNAT course.
You can then choose and register for one of the class sections for the Basic Nurse Assistant Program, BNA-150.鈥
How do I enroll in the BNAT Program?
Select the section of BNA-150 you would like to enroll in and register for it in person, on the phone (708) 974-2110 (TTY 711) or in .
Does BNA-150 fill quickly?
BNA-150 fills quickly, so it is in your best interest to register as soon as possible. Students are encouraged to register for BNA-150 as soon as possible to assure their seat in the class.
If you attempt to register and find that the seats in the class are all full, don’t give up! Often times people register for the class and then change their minds for a variety of personal reasons 鈥 family emergency, spouse transfer to another location, pregnancy, etc. Unfortunately, there is no mechanism by which a waiting list could be generated. Therefore, if you attempt to register and find the classes are full, continue to check the enrollments.
Per the Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines, enrollment in each section is limited to 24 students.
Can you describe the BNAT Program?
The program will prepare you to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). You will master competency in the 21 manual patient care skills mandated by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Your training will consist of 64 hours of classroom lecture including Alzheimer鈥檚 instruction and 40 hours of lab demonstration of skills. In addition, you will gain hands-on experience by completing 40 hours of clinical rotations at a nearby healthcare facility. Students who successfully complete this program are eligible to take the State of Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam. After passing this exam, you may seek employment in long-term care and assisted-living facilities, hospitals, clinics and home health and hospice agencies.
When and where will I do my clinical training?
After students have submitted their health requirements, completed all laboratory sessions and BLS CPR for Healthcare Providers certification through the American Heart Association, clinical sessions begin. This usually occurs in approximately the sixth week of the course. 鈥
Clinical sessions are established based on clinical site availability and staff scheduling patterns. They are held at nearby hospitals and long-term care facilities. The clinical experience provides students with the opportunity to perform supervised practice of required clinical skills.
Is CPR Certification included in the BNA Program?
No. You must obtain a BLS for Healthcare Providers CPR certification course hosted only by the American Heart Association at the location of your choice. The course is  at Moraine Valley. Search CPR under non-credit courses.
Tuition Refunds
Students enrolled in BNA-150 are subject to Moraine Valley’s tuition refund policy outlined on this page.
How do I obtain certification after I have successfully completed the BNA Program?
Approximately one week after taking the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam, students can check the Healthcare Worker Registry for their results .
How long does my certification last?
You have 24 months without working as a CNA before your certification expires.
If my certification does expire, what should I do?
You have 24 months without working as a CNA before your certification expires. If your certification has expired and you wish to renew, contact the.
Is my certification valid in another state other than Illinois?
You will need to call the health department of the state where you are applying for certification. Tell them you are certified as a Nursing Assistant in the State of Illinois. They will tell you whether your certification can be transferred or what further steps you need to take to certify in that particular state.
I am interested in applying to the associate degree Nursing Program. Should I take the BNA Program?
The BNA is a requirement for admission into Moraine Valley鈥檚 Nursing Program.

*Please read this entire message
Upon registration for BNA-150 students will need to do the following:
Prior to beginning this course, it is mandatory that all BNA students complete a multi-step process including a criminal  form, bring in their Social Security card or ITIN to Building B, room B150, complete Live Scan fingerprinting at least one week prior to start of class and complete a Compliance Orientation.
Fingerprinting must be completed no later than one week prior to the start of the course. Please keep a copy of the receipt from Accurate Biometrics as it will be required for submission on the first day of class.
Please begin to familiarize yourself with this list of 25 introductory vocabulary words for the BNAT Program before the start of the course. You may use your textbook to define these terms and use them in a sentence. This is not an assignment to be submitted.
Students are required to attend the first day of class, any student not present will have to withdraw from the course as very detailed information will be discussed.

The BNA Program will be collecting all health requirements within a secured database. Compliance orientation for this database system will occur at Compliance/BNA Orientation day prior to the start of the course.鈥

Students also will be required to have a royal blue uniform top, black uniform pants and additional supplies that will be discussed during Compliance orientation such as a watch with a second hand, double-head stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff. These items can be purchased in the Moraine Valley Palos Hills Bookstore.

Lastly to help students get a head start on requirements the following will be required during the course: Medical History and Physical Exam, COVID-19 Vaccination, an American Heart Association BLS CPR certification for Health Care Providers Card or Ecard, a QuantiFERON Gold, proof of TdaP (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccination in the last 10 years, and documentation of immunity (blood titers) to Varicella (Chicken Pox), Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella and Hepatitis B. Results of blood drawn titers verifying immunity to these diseases must be provided. Booster vaccines must be received if not immune and then an additional blood titer drawn six weeks later to verify immunity. Proof of being immunized as a child is not accepted.
Student book bundle may be purchased through the .

Start in high school with Dual Credit.

Moraine Valley’s Dual Enrollment program offers the opportunity for high school students over the age of 16 with permission from their high school, to enroll in and receive college credit for successfully completed college courses while still attending high school. The Basic Nursing Assistant course is just one of many dual enrollment classes offered by Moraine Valley.

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Program Details

View the catalog to explore program requirements, a suggested course sequence and prerequisite information.

ProgramType of CredentialCurriculum CodeDepartment or Division
Certificate1546Health Sciences

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