Want to save big and earn big? Get your Nursing Assistant technical diploma and prepare to become a certified nursing assistant for FREE with Gateway’s High School Contract for Service partnership!
High school students (age 16 or older) who participate in this program save more than $300 in tuition and fees and develop the skills needed to play a pivotal role in providing top-quality health care in high-demand settings.
What is a certified nursing assistant (CNA)?
CNAs are entry-level caregivers that work in a variety of settings, ranging from in-home care to health care facilities. They provide personal and daily assistance to clients and work under the supervision of licensed medical professionals – most often registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. As a CNA, your job is vital to communicating client concerns and ensuring consistency of care.
How does the program work?
Local high schools contract with Gateway to offer courses at the high school or Gateway. The program includes a combination of lecture, lab and clinical coursework over the span of 75 hours and is available to students who attend participating high schools.
Students are required to demonstrate the following skills under the supervision of a licensed nurse: communication, basic nursing assistant and personal care skills, attention to client’s rights and care of clients with dementia. Visit the FAQ page to learn more about the program.
Participating schools/districts include:
- Burlington
- East Troy
- Elmbrook-Brookfield School District
- Kenosha Unified School District
- Milwaukee Public Schools (JMAC, North Division, South Division and Hamilton)
- Mukwonago
- Muskego
- Oak Creek
- Racine Unified School District
- Shoreland Lutheran
- South Milwaukee
- St. Catherine’s
- Union Grove
- Waterford
- Wilmot
High schools must have a DHS lab space approved in order to contract with Gateway Technical College for a High School Contract For Service Nursing Assistant partnership. Public high school students who attend a high school that does not participate in the High School Contract For Service Nursing Assistant program are encouraged to apply to Start College Now.
To enroll in the program, students must:
- Be at least 16 years of age
- Have an interest in health care and want to provide care for others
- Have an excellent attendance record
- Attend a high school that has a Contract For Service Nursing Assistant partnership with Gateway
- Complete admissions requirements for the Nursing Assistant technical diploma and be compliant with clinical clearance requirements
What happens after I complete the program?
Upon completion, students take the Nurse Aide Competency Exam to become certified. You can learn more about the exam on the DHS FAQ website. You can also apply what you are learning in the classroom and join a Youth Apprenticeship!
If you’re going into your senior year and want to further your health care studies, you can also join Gateway’s Nursing Academy. Students who are unsure what they want to do next can connect with a New Student Specialist to discuss their options as a Gateway student.
Want to join the program? Get started now!
Begin by talking with your high school counselor to see if your high school has a Contract For Service Nursing Assistant partnership with Gateway. Then, complete the CFS Nursing Assistant Participation Approval Form and apply to Gateway’s Nursing Assistant technical diploma program.
