Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Home Health Aides
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Fayetteville Technical Community College and Robeson Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Cabarrus.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Cabarrus.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Robeson Community College, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Bladen Community College, and Richmond Community College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider McDowell, Cleveland Community College, Piedmont Community College, and Richmond Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Brunswick, Cleveland Community College, Fayetteville Technical Community College, and CCC&TI.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Cabarrus, Piedmont Community College, Brunswick, and Robeson Community College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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WPCC • Morganton, NC
Studying CNA (completion in 2002)
• 7/8/2011
"I was very satisfied with WPCC. The school gives you the opportunity to stay close to home and yet receive a valuable education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the school. If you have a family or a work schedule, WPCC allows you to work around your schedule and take classes at a variety of times. Instructors are involved and actually care about students. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I find the CNA class' reputation is mostly average. For everyone that speaks highly of the class you will find someone else that complains. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I feel WPCC is a great school to attend for CNA classes. The instructors are wonderful. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors work diligently to educate all the students enrolled in their classes, as long as the students continues to try and work hard. The instructors give it their all to make sure the course material is understood. |
| How Difficult | 1 | I did not find the CNA class difficult. I felt like a lot of the information is common sense. Also, I had previously taken allied health in high school which better prepared me for the CNA class. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The first half of the CNA class is book work. The second part is hands on training. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Most classes are flexible. They offer classes on varying days and as well as evening classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | During this economic trouble, WPCC is still growing and prospering. Their computer labs and library are excellent and are staffed with instructors to aid you in your research. |
| Social Life | 3 | In order to have a great social experience, you have to be willing to be social. I am quite shy and although given many opportunities to mingle with classmates, I usually decided to decline from those situations. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I think the school does everything in their power to help you locate a job. They offer job fairs and continuing education classes to help individuals find employment. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I feel like the alumni network is average. It is no better or worse than any schools alumni network: mediocre. |
Blue Ridge Technical College • Hendersonville, NC
Studying Nursing Assistant (completion in 1977)
• 7/18/2011
"I was very satisfied with this program for the money it cost. It provided for me the training I needed to work in the hospital at the time."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school even now. It is now my understanding that the rating is even better. Back when I attended, the college was relatively new in the mountains. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Blue Ridge is known as a good mountain technical school. |
| Program Quality | 10 | It was an extremely good program that got me a job shortly after my certification in the local hospital for about a year before I moved. |
| Instruction | 10 | They were thorough and made sure no one was left behind, so to speak. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I wanted to be an RN. This seemed much easier than that option. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Books and school studies. Then some hospital visits. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | You were expected to attend classes at certain times. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There were not too many computers then. Everything I needed at that particular point in time was supplied, however. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not go there to socialize. I went for this 3 month course and to get a job. |
| Placement Services | 10 | It got me into the hospital very quickly. I then learned from on-the-job training at that point. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I simply can't remember too much about this. I went straight to work after completing this course. |
Forsyth Technical College • Winston Salem, NC
Studying Home Health Assisting (completion in 2000)
• 7/31/2011
"I have been pleased with my school since the first day. I made a habit of telling new students about my school's positive aspects."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I know I made a good choice in schools. The field is exactly as I had imagined. although I would better emphasize its physical requirements to new students. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | My school's reputation is top notch. It has even been visited by the President and remains listed as a superior facility. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The school was above average in its teaching protocols. The school was quick to offer more insight into the career itself. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instruction received was up to date and beneficial. The teachings have served me well since graduation |
| How Difficult | 5 | The course was both interesting and tough. The course was neither easy nor too tough to complete. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school is flexible for all students. It has well organized clinical rotations which extend around the clock. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My school has all the latest equipment, both inside the classrooms and the labs. My school is also a major believer in developing green power sources. |
| Social Life | 10 | The social network on campus is great for both young and old students. My school has a very sophisticated social online network as well. |
| Placement Services | 9 | My school's job placement service has worked hard to find jobs for all students. My school has a very high success rate for finding jobs for new and former students. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | The alumni support began well before graduation. The alumni remains influential in my career. |
Caldwell Community College • Hudson, NC
Studying Certified Nursing Assistant - Level 2 (completion in 2005)
• 9/2/2011
"It gave me the information I needed to pursue the career. It was convenient to my location."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | It's too expensive. The teachers at that school don't care anymore. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | The price of the course has gotten way too high. Testing is no longer available on grounds at the school. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It was convenient because I could take my tests there. The teacher was okay, but not the greatest. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instructor was okay. She actually took the time to show you some stuff. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The material was a lot harder than CNA 1. You also had to do hands on work with patients. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The clinicals at other facilities were very hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The only good thing about the scheduling is that they have it set on the same days. If you miss one it just keeps going. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | When I took the course there were no laboratories. We actually had to go to a facility to do the work. The only study help we got was from each other and we didn't even have study guides. |
| Social Life | 3 | I did not do anything except attend classes and go home. The college doesn't have many sports - only an unknown basketball team - and courses were at night. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They just give you your certificate. They didn't help you. I was told they just teach us the course and they don't have to guarantee you a job. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | At Caldwell, once people leave or graduate, the majority never come back. The alumni program is not very strong there. |
Patriotic Health Care Systems • Charlotte, NC
Studying CNA Certification (completion in 2011)
• 9/6/2011
"Patriotic Health Care Systems gave me all of the knowledge I needed to be a successful Home Health Aide. I now know how to respond to emergency situations."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I am confident that Patriotic Health Care Systems will provide others with the necessary training to pursue a career as a Home Health Aide. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The reputation is really good as far as immediate job placement is concerned. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Patriotic Heath Care Systems provided me with everything I needed to know to prepare me to totally care for any type of client. The school also helped me prepare for the North Carolina CNA exam. |
| Instruction | 10 | Patriotic Health Care Systems provided a lot of hands on instruction, which made me fully equipped to deal with my clients' with special needs. |
| How Difficult | 2 | Everything was clearly explained to me. I was provided multiple practice tests. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The classroom is set up to create real life situations with clients. There are a series of hands on tasks that must be completed before each student becomes certified. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The flexibility goes according to the nurses who are teaching the classes. Each prospective student usually gets 2 choices to choose from. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Everything is clean and the classroom is designed as if you were working with a client. |
| Social Life | 1 | The school I attended was strictly about training and job placement. The instructor would occasionally encourage study groups for the state examinations. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Every monday the Career Department conducts interviews for CNA graduates. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The school was very supportive. The alumni support the incoming students in their career paths. |
Wake Technical Community College • Raleigh, NC
Studying Nursing Assistant I (completion in 2003)
• 4/1/2012
"Before we graduated from the program there were recruiters from various home health agencies that came in and talked to us. We were told once we finished with the program to contact them for a job. I think this was very beneficial and was pleased that the school offered this perk to us."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school is one of the best schools in Raleigh, NC. The school provides transportation, has a large cafeteria and more than one campus. The staff members care about all students and treat them in a professional manner. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Everyone in the South knows that if you live in the Raleigh/Durham area Wake Tech is the best two year school to attend. The staff will help you get where you need to be in your life. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The school is great, the instructors were professional and provided us with all the tools needed to be successful in our career. |
| Instruction | 10 | Students had to pass classroom time and then go on to do clinicals. All students had the tools needed to advance to the next step and become certified. |
| How Difficult | 1 | If you know how to read and write then you should be able to pass the course. If you are not afraid to have hands on contact with patients then you will succeed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | If you want to be successful at the school, you are going to have to get your hands dirty. You have to participate in lab assignments and get hands on when you go into clincals, there is no way around it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The nursing assistant program was mainly during the day. You had to take morning classes and when clinicals came around you had to report to the hospital at 7:30 to relieve the first shift. I think the flexibility was ok, not the greatest. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school has a large library, which is filled with computers, audio equipment and just about anything you can think of using. There is always someone in the resource center available to help you. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was not big on social activities. There were plenty of them but, being an older person, I did not pursue any activities. |
| Placement Services | 5 | You have to ask a lot of questions. You may even find yourself going back to ask more questions. Staff will put you on a career path, but you will need to keep checking back with them to make sure you are doing the things that need to be done. Don't expect them to get in contact with you. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I receive information every so often in the mail about different alumni meetings. I am not a participant, but from what I can tell, the schools alumni is very involved. |
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