Cecil College’s Nursing Assistant program prepares students through curriculum that includes classroom instruction and clinical practice leading to eligibility for certification through the Maryland Board of Nursing. Graduates may also apply for reciprocity to work in Delaware.
About the Program
Nursing assistants are the foundation of in-patient care. Whether in a hospital setting or a long-term care facility as a nursing assistant, they are on the front lines, caring for patients’ daily needs.
Upon successful completion of this evening/weekend program, students will be eligible to request certification through the Maryland Board of Nursing and can sit for the nursing assistant certification exam.
Admissions & Program Requirements
Admission to the health professions programs require an admission procedure separate from and in addition to the general admission to Cecil College. Prospective students must be at least 18 years of age to participate in clinical experiences. The health professions programs have limited enrollment and require specific admissions criteria.
You will need a high school diploma or a GED®. Additionally, the majority of healthcare facilities require a background and drug screen of all students who enter their facility; therefore all healthcare career students are required to successfully complete a background check and drug screen upon entering any healthcare career program. Students who are not successfully cleared will be unable to complete the clinical portion of the healthcare careers program and thus, will not be eligible to complete the healthcare careers program.
Completion of a student health profile and current American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Provider certification are also required prior to clinical.
For program inquiries, please visit the Applicant Portal and create an account with Cecil College. A representative from the Healthcare Careers team will contact you within one business day. If you have any questions, you can contact Mark Henkelman at mhenkelman@nullcecil.edu or (443) 674‑1542.
Required Courses
You will need to complete the following courses, totaling 150 hours of instruction/clinical experience:
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HHL 129 | Nursing Assistant Theory |
| HHL 131 | Nursing Assistant Clinical |
Program Approval
Maryland Board of Nursing
The Nursing Assistant program at Cecil College is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing:
Maryland Board of Nursing
4140 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland, 21215-2254
(410) 585-1900
health.maryland.gov/mbon
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
Cecil College is approved by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) to offer distance education in the member states and territories. Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution. The student should begin the complaint process with the institution and if resolution is not found, the student would contact the Institution’s Home State SARA Portal Entity, Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). For more information, please refer to the SARA complaint process.
Supervised Clinical and Field Training Experiences
Through participation in NC-SARA and compliance with statutory regulations related to training in individual states, Cecil College is approved to offer limited, supervised clinical field experiences in 3 U.S. states to eligible students. The states include Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. These are the locations currently approved for student supervised clinical and field training. Individual state regulations are subject to change without prior notice and the College does not guarantee locations for clinical and field training experiences.
Certification Requirements
The Nursing Assistant program prepares the graduate to request certification through the Maryland Board of Nursing and to take the nursing assistant certification exam. Students that complete the Nursing Assistant program at Cecil College can apply for reciprocity to work as a CNA in Delaware by contacting the Board at (302) 421-7403 or through the Delaware CNA website. Reciprocity requirements in the state of Pennsylvania can be found on cnacertificationschools.net. Since requirements may change, prospective students should contact their state for information on the applicable certification board to determine whether the program meets requirements for licensure in the state where students are located. Nursing assistants working in Maryland long-term care facilities have a unique opportunity for advancement by becoming a Certified Medicine Aide. The Medicine Aide is a designation for the state of Maryland and does not guarantee practice in other states.