Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Certificate

Certificates

Start Your Healthcare Career with MNU’s Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Program.

Fast Facts

Meets on-site in Olathe

4 credit hours

Complete in 1 semester

Niche Ranks MNU the Top Nursing School in Kansas

Rigorous courses of study, state-of-the-art facilities, subject matter experts in the classroom, academic partnerships with regional hospitals, hands-on learning, and excellent career preparation — current students and recent grads alike sang the praises of MNU’s School of Nursing in the 2025 Niche rankings of Best Colleges in America. MNU was ranked the top nursing school in Kansas and #2 in the KC metro area.

Accelerate Your Career

At MidAmerica Nazarene University, our Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program equips you with the essential skills needed to provide compassionate, high-quality care in a variety of healthcare settings. Through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on lab and clinical experiences, you’ll be prepared to begin your career in just one semester.

Program Overview

In our CNA program, you will learn how to:

Provide safe and respectful bedside care
Measure and record vital signs, including pulse and blood pressure
Safely assist patients with daily hygiene and mobility
Prevent and control infection
Communicate effectively with patients and their families
Support residents in long-term and adult care facilities

After successfully completing the course, you’ll be eligible to take the Kansas CNA certification exam and take the first step toward a fulfilling career in healthcare.

Dates: 1/5/26 to 5/3/26

Days: Monday and Thursday

Time: 1:30pm to 4:00pm

Application Process

Submit an application

For more information contact the School of Nursing department at nursing@mnu.edu or call 913.971.3844.

APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM

Immunizations

Many of our affiliate rotation sites that students attend require proof of vaccination. Therefore, all students entering the CNA program will need to provide proof of immunization and/or immunity for the following:

Flu vaccine
- Must be completed annually between August 1 and October 31
TB screening – One of the following is required:
- 2 Step TB Skin Test (administered 1-3 weeks apart)
- 2 consecutive annual skin tests (administered 10-12 months apart)
- QuantiFERON Gold Blood test (Lab report required)
- IGRA blood test (Lab report required)
- Clear chest X-Ray (Lab report required)

Clinical Documentation

CPR for Healthcare Providers – Offered at MNU
Background Check and Drug Screen – This will be completed on the first day of classes.
Social Security Card – Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) requires an SS card for state licensure.
Valid state identification (Driver’s license, State Issued Identification, Passport)
Must be a minimum of 18 years old or parental permission.

What You Need to Know Before Enrolling

Our CNA program follows state guidelines, including required hours for both class and clinical work. Please make sure your schedule allows you to attend all sessions.

Class, lab, and clinical attendance is mandatory. Missing class may result in being dropped from the course.
Clinical experiences take place in person at local long-term care facilities and are built into the course.
Some clinical sites may require proof of additional vaccinations.
Physical ability is important. In labs and clinicals, you’ll need to:
- Push, pull, lift, or support up to 50 lbs.
- Move lighter objects up to 10 lbs. frequently
- Stand, walk, kneel, or crouch as needed throughout your shift

What course materials do I need to purchase?

You will only need to purchase gray scrubs for the lab and clinical. Your textbook will be provided on the first day of class.

Where can I purchase scrubs?

Basic Gray scrubs can be purchased from any store. Any style can be purchased; the only requirement is that they are sold dark gray.

You will only need to purchase gray scrubs for the lab and clinical. Your textbook will be provided on the first day of class.

University Cooperative Program

Advantages of the MNU & K-State Cooperative Program:

Exposure to graduate-level courses not offered at MNU
Opportunity for an accelerated pathway for a master’s degree from K-State Olathe
Access to additional professional development resources offered through K-State

To qualify for program entry at MNU students must:

Be a junior or senior at MidAmerica Nazarene University
Be majoring in biology or similar field
Maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher
Have the recommendation of MNU faculty

To qualify for program entry at K-State students must:

Complete a minimum of 75 hours of undergraduate degree prior to applying for program
Complete a minimum of 90 hours of undergraduate degree prior to attending K-State classes
Provide a short essay detailing why the student wants to participate in the advanced sciences program
Complete the application process

Other restrictions and qualifications may apply. For more information visit https://olathe.k-state.edu

For additional information, contact Jill Speicher at jspeicher@mnu.edu

University Cooperative Program

Advantages of the MNU & Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences partnership program:

Students spend 3 years at MNU and 4 years at KCU
Requirement for Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is waived
Students graduate with a degree from both institutions (B.S. from MNU and D.O. from KCU)
The Program is available at both Kansas City and Joplin campuses

To qualify for entry into the program at MNU students must:

Enter the program at MNU at the beginning of the freshman year through the application process
Have a minimum ACT score of 28
Participate in community service
Have a dedication to the field of osteopathic medicine
Meet regularly with the MNU pre-professional committee

To qualify for program completion at KCU students must:

Complete all General Education requirements at MNU
Complete a minimum of 99 hours of course work at MNU
Maintain an overall GPA of 3.25
Maintain a science coursework GPA of 3.5
Participate in KCU-Com’s weeklong Summer Learning Enhancement Program
Complete the following course with a grade of “C” or higher at MNU:
- Biological Sciences 12 hours
- Chemistry 13 hours
- Biochemistry 3 hours
- Physics 8 hours
- English Composition 6 hours

Other restrictions and qualifications may apply.

For additional information, contact Rion Taylor at rgtaylor@mnu.ed

University Cooperative Program

Advantages of the MNU & Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science cooperative program:

3+2 Option: Students spend 3 years at MNU and then transfer to WashU for 2 years to earn an undergraduate engineering degree from WashU and a bachelor’s degree from MNU, or
3+3 Option: Students spend 3 years at MNU and then transfer to WashU for 3 years to earn an undergraduate engineering degree from WashU, a bachelor’s degree from MNU, plus a master’s in engineering from WashU.
Combines the best of MNU with the strength of a top engineering school
Students participating in the 3+3 options receive a 50-60% tuition discount at WashU
GRE is not required for admission

To qualify for entry into the program at MNU students must:

Enter the program at MNU at the beginning of the freshman year through the application process
Maintain an overall GPA of 3.25 or better in science and mathematics courses
Meet regularly with the MNU pre-professional committee

To qualify for program completion at WashU students must:

Complete all General Education requirements at MNU
Complete a minimum of 90 credit hours of transferable college credit
Complete the following courses:
- Chemistry: one semester of general chemistry with lab
- Computer Programming: One course or certified proficiency in a high-level language
- English Composition: One course or certified proficiency
- Humanities and Social Sciences: At least 15 hours (see WashU website for specific prerequisites)
- Mathematics: See WashU website for specific prerequisites
- Physics: One year calculus-based physics with lab
See WashU website for department-specific prerequisites

To learn more about program offerings at MNU and degree specific prerequisites, visit engineering.wustl.edu/dualdegree

Other restrictions and qualifications may apply.

For additional information, contact Craig Masters at cmasters@mnu.edu

Dr. Abby Hodges

Vice President for Academic Affairs

PhD; Organic Chemistry, Yale University
MS; Organic Chemistry, Yale University
BS; Chemistry, Denison University

Dr. Hodges began her career in higher education at Azusa Pacific University as a chemistry professor from 2008 to 2014. She then moved to MNU where she taught and in 2018 was appointed Chair of the Department of Natural, Health, and Mathematical Sciences. From 2022-2023, before accepting the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Hodges was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Hodges’ career research has focused on protein folding and protein engineering, and she has mentored over twenty students in these research projects. She has also furthered the MNU first-year experience program and chaired the General Education committee for five years. Dr. Hodges was recognized as the MNU Faculty of the Year in 2021.

Dr. Hodges lives in Olathe with her husband Ryan and two boys.