A Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA) is the person that takes care of a patient for the routine duties such as getting them up and out of bed, hygiene, and other daily tasks that a patient may be unable to perform for themselves. CNA’s are responsible for the daily duties involved in patient care so that nurses are able to perform the duties for which, per regulations, only they may do. Often a CNA certificate is considered to be the first step in obtaining a Nursing degree. CNA's are the basic building block in the total health care of a patient.

In order to become a CNA, a student must have completed the CNA classes that are usually set up through vocational schools, the Red Cross, and other health agencies. States mandate that students must have a certain number of hours in class time as well as a certain number of clinic hours, time spent actually working with patients under a teacher’s supervision. In order to get their certification, students must also pass a state mandated test showing that they have a grasp of the basic details of their job, much like nurses must pass a licensing test to practice. Students need to learn how to care for patients in daily living tasks and to assist the nurses in basic care areas. A CNA must know CPR as well as what to do in an emergency situation and how to respond calmly in order to get the patient the help they need.

CNA classes last for as long as the agency teaching it decides. Some programs are longer than others, most CNA courses can last anywhere from six to twelve weeks again depending on the agency providing the courses. The state mandates a minimum length of time required for certification, usually around 75 hours worth of class time and 15 hours worth of clinic time. Upon successful completion of both the course and the test for licensure, CNA's must also continue to advance their education with approximately 6 credit hours of class time per year in order to keep their licenses.

Some online schools offer CNA instructions. However, the biggest drawback to online schools is that the student will have to find some way to complete their clinicals, or physical hours working with patients. Not many colleges offer CNA classes online because of the physical nature of some of the classes being taught, but certainly some colleges do offer online classroom instruction. A CNA can probably do their continuing education courses online during the year in order to complete the requirements to keep their license.