Certified Nursing Assistant Program Admission | NorthWest Arkansas Community College
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Health Professions

Enter the World of Health Care. Become a CNA/PCA+. Apply Today.

Initiate the first step towards a career in health care by applying for the Certified Nursing Assistant or Patient Care Assistant Program.  If you have not applied to be a student, please see How to Apply below.
 
All application materials must be received on the designated deadline date and time. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, then it will be the following business day.

Application Period:

Applications accepted up to one week prior to the beginning of the semester.  Make sure you have applied to be a student of NWACC before completing the CNA/PCA+ application.

Your application and all required materials must be received by the division office by 3:00 p.m. on the final day of the application period.

CNA/PCA+ Application

About Admissions into the CNA/PCA+ Programs:

The NWACC program administrator and faculty, in cooperation with appropriate institutional personnel, establish admissions procedures that are non-discriminatory, contribute to the quality of the program, and allow selection of students with the potential to successfully complete the program. 

There is an established admissions committee that includes the program administrator and an advisory selection committee.

The CNA/PCA+ program only offers a certain number of openings every term, be sure to apply before the deadline.

Further Information and Requirements:

  1. You must have the ability to communicate safely, accurately, and effectively in both written and spoken English.  If English is your second language, you are encouraged to enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) class to enhance your success.
  2. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.
  3. Overall GPA of 2.5
  4. The following placement scores (one of the following must be met):
    • Reading - 19+ on ACT, 83+ on Compass, 78+ on Accuplacer OR
    • Completion of READ 0033 or ENGA 0033 College Reading with a "C" or better
    • Successful completion of at least one semester of college level courses with a grade of "C" or better.

How to Apply:

  • First, you'll need to apply for admission into NWACC. If you are not currently enrolled at NWACC, you will need to apply for admission in addition to applying to the CNA/PCA+ programs.  Apply now to NWACC.
  • Complete your application packet
  • Complete a background check
  • Complete a 10 panel drug screen

Upload the following information to CastleBranch (Set up CastleBranch Account, estimated cost is $120*):

  • Select 'Place Order'
  • Select 'Please Select', choose Nursing (not CNA/PCA) from drop down list
  • Choose Package Code NA00

Once the CastleBranch account has been set up, upload the following documentation:

Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR)
There must be documentation of one of the following:

  • 2 vaccinations
  • Positive antibody titers for all three components (lab reports required)

Varicella (Chicken Pox)
There must be documentation of one of the following:

  • 2 vaccinations
  • Positive antibody titer (lab report required)
  • Medically documented history of disease by date, signed by health care provider

TB Skin Test (2 step), T-Spot, or Negative Chest X-Ray
There must be documentation of one of the following:

  • Annual 1 step test, plus a second TB skin test within the last year or a T-Spot blood test
  • If the results are positive, a clear Chest X-Ray (with lab report) is required

Hepatitis B
There must be documentation of one of the following:

  • 3 vaccinations, series either begun or completed
  • Positive antibody titer (lab report required)
  • Signed declination waiver

Tdap

  • Vaccination within the last 10 years

* CastleBranch account is a lifetime account.  Students must provide CastleBranch with all the required information themselves.  The CNA/PCA program will have access to your information. You do  not need to turn in any of the required information to the CNA/PCA+ Program Director.  PLEASE FOLLOW THE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON CASTLEBRANCH.

 

 

Program Acceptance

Applicants will be notified of acceptance into the CNA/PCA+ program by email two weeks after the application deadline date.

Upon acceptance to the program, register for appropriate classes (classes are not available for registration until documents have been uploaded to CastleBranch).

English as a Second Language:

If English is your second language and you are seeking admission into the Health Professions programs, you are required to complete an English as a Second Language (ESL) listening test. 

Students can receive more information and/or schedule to take the ESL listening test through the NWACC testing center by calling 479-619-4354 or visiting the testing center page.

The ESL listening test is designed to assess a student’s ability to understand standard American English. A score of 92 or higher on the COMPASS ESL listening test (taken within the last three years) OR a score of 120 or higher on the Accuplacer ESL listening test is REQUIRED for students seeking entrance
into Health Professions Programs. A minimum score or higher indicates the ability to understand complex discussions, such as academic lectures and factual reports. Students scoring below the minimum will need to retest and successfully pass by July 1st.