Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide (NA)

Nursing Assistants (CNAs) provide essential hands-on care, emotional support, and daily living assistance to patients and residents in medical and long-term care settings. As vital members of the nursing team, CNAs work under the direct supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), serving as the eyes and ears of patient care.

Through intensive classroom instruction, state-of-the-art lab practicals, and direct patient care in a clinical healthcare facility, Pima Medical Institute prepares you to pass your state certification exam and begin a meaningful career in nursing.

Program objective. In this certificate program, you will receive the training needed to work as an entry-level position as a nursing assistant or nurse aide. At Pima Medical Institute, our courses cover a variety of subjects, paralleling the diverse responsibilities of nursing assistants. Clinical topics include infection control, emergency procedures and basic nursing skills, while professional abilities, such as communication and interpersonal skills, are also addressed. The program objective is to develop in students the intrapersonal and professional skills needed to perform as competent entry-level nursing assistants or nurse aides through didactic instruction, hands-on laboratory practice, and externship experiences. Among the topics covered in the curriculum are bed making, patient transfer, personal care techniques, and other topics necessary to be effective members of the nursing assistant or nurse aide team. Graduates of this program receive a certificate and are eligible to apply for state credentialing. Additional state requirements may apply.

Why Choose Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide?

Nursing Assistants are the primary caregivers for patients needing help with daily activities, playing an indispensable role in patient comfort and recovery.

Nursing Assistants perform responsibilities such as:

• Assisting patients with activities of daily living (ADLs): bathing, dressing, grooming, and eating
• Measuring and recording vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature)
• Assisting with patient mobility, positioning, and safe transfers (wheelchair/bed)
• Observing, documenting, and reporting changes in patient physical or mental condition
• Maintaining clean, safe, and infection-free patient environments
• Providing bed care, skin care, and assisting with range-of-motion exercises
• Offering compassionate emotional support to patients and family members

Core skills you’ll develop.

• Clinical: Basic human anatomy, body systems and aging process fundamentals; safe patient handling, body mechanics and fall prevention; nutrition, hydration and intake/output monitoring; dementia care, mental health concepts and developmental care
• Procedures: Infection control principles, personal protective equipment (PPE), and hand hygiene; abuse prevention and legal responsibilities of caregivers
• Professional: Patient rights, dignity, privacy, and HIPAA guidelines; communication skills for nursing teams and family members
• Reporting: Vital signs measurement and clinical reporting

Continuing your education. You can also boost your medical career with our Medical Assistant certificate program , where you will receive the skills and training to expand your medical knowledge and responsibilities.

About Pima Medical Institute. Pima Medical Institute started changing lives in 1972, when Richard L. Luebke, Sr., and his wife, JoAnn, opened the first campus in Tucson, Arizona. Over 175,000 graduates have since advanced their education, and many are serving their communities through meaningful health care careers. The school’s mission is to improve the quality of people’s lives by providing the best value in medical career education.

Eligibility requirements.

• Possess a high school diploma or recognized equivalency
• Additional requirements may apply by campus

High school verification. Proof of valid high school completion or equivalent must be submitted (high school diploma or transcript, GED report and certificate, or an official associate or bachelor’s degree transcript). Pima Medical Institute does not enroll ability-to-benefit students, and applicants under the legal age must have written approval of a parent or legal guardian.

Entrance exams. Applicants for non-degree programs are required to take the Wonderlic SLE and receive a minimum score of 14. The exam may be waived for applicants who submit official transcripts that document completion of an associate degree or higher.

Background check, drug testing and vaccinations. Depending on the program, a background check and/or drug screening may be required prior to enrollment, during the program, and/or prior to externship/clinical training; the cost of the background check/drug screen is an out-of-pocket expense. The cost of required vaccinations and titers is also an out-of-pocket expense, and students are required to follow all clinical experience vaccination requests and policies.

At a glance. Course length: 6 Weeks (approximate); Lab hours: 40; Class hours: 45; Externship hours: 40.

Denver and East Valley campuses. The 2026 tuition price list shows 4.5 semester credits and 125 clock hours over 5 weeks (day) or 6 weeks (night), including 0.5 externship credits (40 hours).

• Certification: Pima Medical Institute's Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide certificate program prepares graduates to apply to sit for state certification exams in Colorado and Arizona.*
• Find out more: Entry-level roles
• Career advancement: Labor and delivery aide, pediatrics support, geriatrics care, patient care technician

Certification and state registration requirements vary.

Careers. The Nursing Assistant certificate program prepares students to apply for roles and other related career opportunities including:

• Nursing assistant
• nurse aide
• home health aide
• caregiver
• personal care aide
• personal care attendant
• companion care provider

Nursing assistants work in a variety of settings including long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, hospitals and acute care medical centers, assisted living communities and residential care homes, home health care agencies and hospice care centers.

Job outlook. 2% Growth — The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this occupation to grow slower than average over the next 10 years with a median pay of $39,430 per year. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nursing Assistants, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nursing-assistants.htm (visited June 07, 2026).

Career Services. When you’re a Pima Medical Institute student, you get access to our Career Services team—here for you when you need extra help with finding the right job opportunities, building a resume, strengthening your interview skills or just looking for general guidance.

Clinical externships. At Pima Medical Institute, most programs allow students to work in their field through clinical externships—a chance to be mentored by full-time professionals and interface with real patients.

In addition to real-world experience, clinical externships offer students resume-worthy opportunities, letters of recommendation from supervisors and sometimes job placement directly after graduation.

Student Services. Our team of student service professionals are on hand to see students through the challenges they might face during their academic career. We offer guidance and resources to ultimately help build employable medical professionals.

Application process.

• Submit the form below. A few quick details so we can get to know you before we connect.
• Chat with our team. They'll ask about your goals, your background, and what's drawing you to healthcare. From there, they'll help you find the right program and campus for where you are in life right now.
• Attend your campus tour. Experience Pima Medical in person and picture yourself in a career that matters. We'll walk you through programs and what to expect.
• We help you complete your application. Our team guides you through every step, including enrollment and financial services, so nothing stands between you and getting started.