Top 5 Certified Training Programs for Aspiring Nursing Professionals

Certifications are a vital part of the nursing profession and they are a great way for nursing professionals to advance their career. Certifications demonstrate to an employer that you have specialized knowledge in a field and you value professional development. 

You probably have noticed there are over a hundred certifications available for nursing professionals; deciding which certificates to earn can be overwhelming. To help you out, we've compiled a list of the top five certificate programs for aspiring nursing professionals. Continue reading to learn more about these certifications and how you can earn them. 

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Duration: This program typically takes 4 to 12 weeks to complete, but in some states it could take longer. 

Description: CNAs are healthcare professionals that provide basic care for patients under the direct supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). CNAs work in hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies. CNAs often spend more time with patients than nurses and doctors. This means they are usually the first person to notice mood changes and physical changes in a patient. The job duties of a CNA include but are not limited to: 

• Clinical: helping patients with basic needs such as eating, bathing, and getting dressed
• Administrative: assisting with new admissions, assisting with discharges, attending staff meetings

Admissions Requirements: To enroll in a CNA program you need to have a high school diploma, or General Education Development (GED) diploma and be at least 18 years old.

Medical Assistant (CMA)

Duration: This program ranges from 12 weeks to 12 months to complete depending on the program you choose.

Description: Medical Assistants are healthcare professionals that work under the direct supervision of a physician, physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner. They perform both clinical and administrative tasks on a daily basis. The job duties of a medical assistant include but are not limited to: 

• Clinical: educating patients, explaining treatment procedures, performing basic tests, preparing medications, wound care, assisting the physician during examinations
• Administrative: answering phones, scheduling appointments, updating patient medical records, coding and filling out insurance forms 

Admissions Requirements: To enroll in a medical assistant program you need a high school diploma or GED.

Patient Care Technician (PCT)

Duration: PCT programs vary in length, but they typically take anywhere from 5 weeks to 5 months depending on the program you choose. 

Description: PCTs are healthcare professionals that provide basic medical care to patients. They work under the direct supervision of doctors and nurses. PCTs usually work in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. The job duties of a PCT include but are not limited to: 

• Administering basic medications 
• Assisting patients with basic needs
• Assisting with medical procedures
• Taking patient vital signs 
• Helping patients with mobility and exercise 
• Keep patients rooms neat and sanitized

Admissions Requirements: To enroll in a PCT program you need a high school diploma or GED. 

Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)

Duration: This program takes about 2-6 months to complete depending on the program you choose.

Description: Phlebotomy technicians (also known as phlebotomists) are healthcare professionals that collect a patient's blood and prepare samples for laboratory testing. It is important for phlebotomy technicians to know how diet and medications impact blood samples. Phlebotomy technicians work in hospitals, clinics, blood banks, and diagnostic laboratories. The job duties include of a phlebotomy technician include but are not limited to:

• Explaining procedures to patients while comforting them
• Properly sterilizing equipment and cleaning workspaces
• Take blood pressure, pulse, respiration readings
• Storing blood samples for delivery
• Applying bandages 

Admissions Requirements: To enroll in a phlebotomy technician program you need a high school diploma or a GED. 

Pharmacy Technician 

Duration: This program takes about 9 months to complete.

Description: Pharmacy technicians are healthcare professionals that work under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. They work in a pharmacy that is in a retail setting, or a hospital setting. The job duties of a pharmacy technician include but are not limited to:

• Counting, measuring, and labeling medication
• Contacting physicians for authorization to refill prescriptions
• Order and organize inventory
• Recording patient medical records
• Performing administrative tasks 

Admissions Requirements: To enroll in a pharmacy technician program you need a high school diploma or GED. 

Sponosred Training is a great resource for starting your professional career in healthcare. To utilize our career resources be sure to enroll in a certification training program. Certification programs give aspiring healthcare professionals a head start in their career, and advance the careers of current healthcare professionals. The programs mentioned are often found at vocational schools, and they typically take less than one year to complete.