Nurse Aide Certificate Program

Shalanda Allen, LVN
Instructor
Education II Building, Office 104
Phone: (409) 984-6363
Email: allensr@lamarpa.edu

Eursula Davis
Instructor/Nurse Aide Program Director
Allied Health Building, Office 117
Phone: (409) 984-6364
Email: davise1@lamarpa.edu

The Nurse Aide Certificate program prepares students for an exciting career in healthcare, providing the technical skills and clinical applications necessary to obtain state certification. Strong earning potential and solid career opportunities await you as a Certified Nurse Aide. The CNA certification can also be a stepping-stone to other jobs in healthcare.

What does the CNA Program offer?

The Nurse Aide Certificate Program provides an opportunity for hands-on care and the performance of routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. Students learn basic caregiving skills, infection control, communication techniques, and safety procedures. The program requires classroom hours, laboratory practice, and participation in a clinical experience. Successful completion of the program may qualify the student to complete the competency evaluation program examination, currently offered through Prometric Testing facilities, to become certified and placed on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry.

Lamar State College Port Arthur is an approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program through the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Is there a certification offered?

Upon successful completion of all course elements, students are eligible to take the competency evaluation program examination, currently offered through Prometric Testing facilities, to become certified and placed on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry. Nurse aides who pass the written and clinical skills exams will be titled a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA).

Frequently Asked Questions

What do CNAs do?

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) provide hands-on patient care under the supervision of nursing and medical personnel. CNAs are responsible for basic caregiving skills such as feeding, bathing, dressing, ambulating and other activities of daily living.

Opportunities are available for Certified Nursing Assistants to work in skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, home health agencies. According to O*net Online, occupations for CNAs has a Bright Outlook which means that the demand is expected to grow rapidly in the next several years or there is an anticipated number of job openings. O*NET OnLine (onetonline.org)

Where do CNAs usually find jobs?

Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) are often employed in long term care facilities, assisted living facilities, acute care facilities, home health agencies, hospice agencies, and other agencies where personal care may be needed. CNAs often have more contact with residents than do other members of the staff.

What hours can I expect to work and how much will I make?

Because of the necessary daily care CNAs provide, they typically work 8 to 12 hour shifts during day or night, periodic weekends and some holidays. Those newly certified receive on average $28,670 per year in this Golden Triangle area with a slightly higher average across Texas of $30,860 per year. This can vary dependent upon where you go to work and the shift.

Job Outlook for CNAs?

According to the 2021 U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Occupational Outlook the job outlook for Certified Nurse Aides will increase 8% from 2020 – 2030 as fast as the average for all occupations.

Lamar State College Port Arthur's program is designed to support the local opportunities for Certified Nurse Aides (CNA) so that our students can enter the workforce as soon as possible. The DOL provides the estimated annual salary for Certified Nurse Aides within Texas on average is $30,860.  The salary may range dependent upon whether you choose to work for the local government, employment services, general medical or surgical hospitals, nursing care facilities or community care facilities for the elderly.  Texas is ranked in the top four states in the United States with employing Certified Nurse Aides.

What are the minimum requirements to be considered for admission to the Nursing Assistant Program?

To be considered for admission into the Nursing Assistant program, the student should:

• Apply to and receive acceptance into Lamar State College Port Arthur. Our staff in Enrollment Services would love to assist you: LSCPA - Enrollment Services (lamarpa.edu)
• Make an appointment with an Advisor to help guide you on selecting courses that can assist you in earning a Level 1 Certificate of Completion for Nurse Aide: Note: I would like to put the document for the Certificate here, listing all courses)
• Complete a Criminal Background Check with Castlebranch. Here is the link to begin the process: CastleBranch How to Place Order

What criteria are used to select applicants?

Entrance into the Nurse Aide program is based on completion of minimum requirements in a timely manner. It is important to note that completion of the Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) does not automatically qualify the student as being Certified Nursing Assistant for the State of Texas. Successful completion of the program may qualify the student to complete the competency evaluation program examination, currently offered through Prometric Testing facilities, to become certified and placed on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry.
Lamar State College Port Arthur is an approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) through the Department of Health and Human Services. 

How long is the waiting list?

There is no waiting list. Applicants who are not selected for admission may reapply when the registration for the new semester begins.

Is the Texas State Initiative (TSI) testing required?

Although TSI is not required to enroll into the NATCEP, some courses that are associated with the Level 1 Certificate of Completion for Nurse Aide may require TSI. Ask Advisor for details

How is the size of the admitting class determined?

The total number of students that can be admitted to a class is determined by rules and regulations mandated by the Texas Administrative Code Health and Human Services Division. The rule governing class sizes states: a NATCEP must have “at least one program instructor for every 10 trainees” when considering clinical training (Texas Administrative Code 556.3)

If I am a transfer student, how do I know my classes/credits will transfer?

Courses taken in Texas should have the same reference number. For additional information, please contact the transcript evaluator at (409) 984-6167 or by e-mail@ nelsonhr@lamarpa.edu.

When do classes start? How many days a week are we in class and clinical? Is each semester different from the other?

The Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) requires classroom hours, laboratory practice, and participation in a clinical experience at area nursing facilities. The program admits new applicants each semester; Summer, Fall and Spring. The NATCEP is one semester in length which prepares the student to test for State Certification.  Classroom hours for the Nurse Aide Training and Competency program are typically 8:00 am to 11:40 pm; meeting once weekly. Clinical and lab hours are typically from 8:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.; once weekly, in the Fall and Spring. Hours run a little longer in the summer.

Students are encouraged to not only complete the NATCEP but also to complete the entire Nurse Aide Certificate successfully with a GPA of 2.0 or higher This earns the student the opportunity to fulfill all pre-requisite courses for the Vocational Nursing program. These courses include Anatomy and Physiology I and II as well as Nutrition.

Student Organization Opportunities?

We encourage students to get involved in our Allied Health Society. This organization joins the various programs represented in the Allied Health Department into one united group. The group seeks to promote a positive image of our various programs but more so serve our community through various volunteer opportunities available during the school year.

First Steps

If interested a student should apply to Lamar State College Port Arthur and meet with an Enrollment Service Counselor. You should plan for a few additional expenses beyond tuition and books. Once you are ready to begin the Nurse Aide course additional expenses may include: immunizations, scrubs, a criminal background check, completion of a CPR course, and an assessment kit that includes a blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, penlight, thermometer, and bandage scissors.

The criminal background check must be completed prior to enrolling in the Nurse Aide course. You may begin the process by following the instructions on the CastleBranch How to Place Order form.

Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP)

Shirley MacNeill, MSN, RN, CNE
Chair, Allied Health Department
macneisb@lamarpa.edu
409-984-6365

Eursula Davis, BSN, RN
NATCEP Director/Vocational Nursing Faculty
davise1@lamarpa.edu
409-984-6364

Shalanda Allen, LVN
NATCEP Faculty
allensr@lamarpa.edu
409-984-6363