Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Certificate

The Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (NA/HHA) program is a one semester, 16 credit hour program which includes classroom and lab experience at the College and clinical experience at local health care facilities. The NA/HHA program prepares the student to sit for the National Nurse Aide Certification Exam (NNAAP) administered by Promissor, Inc. After completion of the program, a student is eligible to take the Nurse Aide Certification Exam. A student who demonstrates competency on the exam will be placed on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry. Successful completion of all courses in the program would qualify the student for employment as a Home Health Aide. A graduate is qualified for employment in the areas of long-term care, home health care, and acute care. The Nursing Assistant program is approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health. Classes begin each semester. A student must complete all courses in the curriculum to receive a certificate from Shelton State Community College.

Note: Nursing Assistant Program information policies and curriculum are subject to change due to statewide standardization of the program.

Policies for the Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Program

Admission Requirements for the Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Program

1. Completed application for admission to Shelton State Community College
2. Completed application for admission to the NA/HHA program.
3. A copy of an official high school transcript, or GED
4. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale on all previous college credit.
5. Eligibility to enroll in COM 100 Introductory Technical English or higher as measured by COMPASS Testing. Placement testing is scheduled through the Counseling Center, 205.391.2232.
6. Students may be required to take a WorkKeys assessment prior to admission to the program.

Clinical/Laboratory Performance is graded as follows: Satisfactory (S)/Unsatisfactory (U)

Clinical/Laboratory must be satisfactory to receive a passing grade in the course. See Program Student Handbook and each course syllabus for additional information.

In addition, the following policies are required for success and progression in the program of study:

1. Students must achieve a C (75 percent) average on unit exams and comprehensive final exam in each course to successfully complete the course.
2. A grade of C (70 percent or above) is required for all general education (nonnursing) courses.
3. Fulfillment of all concurrent courses. Failure to attain the required passing grades in any course will result in non completion of the program.
4. If a nursing course is failed it may be repeated. If a passing grade is not attained on the second attempt, the student is suspended from the Nursing Assistant Program.
5. A satisfactory level of mental and physical health including maintaining current immunizations, Hepatitis B vaccinations, annual TB testing and ability to meet the Essential Function standards.
6. Current liability insurance is required.
7. Current CPR certification at the Health Care Provider level is required.

Certification in the Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Program

The Alabama Department of Health has contracted with Pearson VUE to develop, score, and report the results of the Competency exam required for certification and placement in the Alabama Nurse Aid Registry. NACES Plus Foundation, Inc. works with Pearson VUE to schedule and administer the examination. To be eligible, candidates must have completed a nurse aide training course approved by the Alabama Department of Health’s Division of Provider Services within the last twenty-four months. Individuals who demonstrate competency on the exam are placed on the Nurse Aid Registry maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Health, 334.206.5169. To maintain certification, a nurse aide must work at least eight hours in 24 months. If not, the nurse aide must retrain and retest.

The examination process consists of two parts, the Skills Evaluation and the Written (or Oral) Exam, which is administered on the same day. A candidate must pass both parts in order to be certified and listed on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry. To obtain registration information, contact the nursing office or call the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP), 1.877.889.0939. A candidate may also download a Candidate Handbook and view the Nurse Aide Practice Written Examination at www.pearsonvue.com