Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Nursing Assistant non-credit program

(formerly called CNA)

Why choose the Nursing Assistant non-credit program at PCC?

Are you ready to join the healthcare workforce in a role that is in high demand and offers stability? Becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) opens the door to a career where you’ll make a difference in patients’ lives every single day. This program is designed to help you succeed and offers a pathway to becoming a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, or physician assistant.

What will you learn?

Approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing, the Nursing Assistant program teaches hands-on skills that students will use every day to provide patients with exceptional health care. After practicing these skills in a lecture and lab setting, you will put them to use in the real world during a clinical practicum at one of several hospitals, clinics, long term care, or skilled nursing facilities in the Portland area.

What to expect

• The fulfillment of clinical requirements such as background check, drug screen, immunization verification, and online training modules and an orientation before class begins are required.
• The course takes 11 weeks to complete.
• See the program readiness and standards page for more information.

How much will it cost?

With Future Ready Oregon Grant funding, the following costs are covered:

Item	Cost
Tuition	$1500
CastleBranch Fee (background check; drug testing; immunization records; OSHA & HIPAA training)	$200
BLS/CPR Certification & Text	$130
OSBN Certification Exam – initial attempt	$106
Fingerprinting for OSBN Certification	$70.50
Scrubs	$110
Instructional Materials	$130
Total costs	$2246.50

In addition to tuition, fees, and other program costs outlined above, students will be responsible for the fees associated with the OSBN certification for any attempts to pass certification beyond the initial attempt.

Course schedule

Locations

• Lecture and lab: PCC CLIMB Center, 1626 SE Water Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97214
• Clinical sites: Locations are subject to change based on availability and resources

Steps to enroll

Important note: there are limited spots available due to the large number of fall applicants on the waitlist being offered winter spots. If a spot in winter term is not available, eligible applicants will be notified that they will be placed on the waitlist for winter term. Eligible applicants not moved into a spot for winter term will be considered for spring term. Being placed on the waitlist does not guarantee admission to the program.

Applicants will be asked a few screening questions on the interest form linked below and will be informed in three to four weeks of the application due date of their status in the program. Accepted students will complete their clinical requirements (drug screen, background check, vaccination verification, and online training modules), and meet with a Career Pathways coach. Upon completion of these requirements, 20 students will then be admitted to each course on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are are serious about the program, take the steps below to apply. If you do not respond to emails sent to your PCC accounts, fulfill your clinical requirements in the timeline communicated, or do not attend required meetings, you will be dropped from the program and will not have the opportunity to reapply.

1. Create an account

   Application timeline

   Program start date	Date by which all enrollment steps must be completed
   Winter 2026	The application period is now closed. Please check back in January 2026 for application process updates.

   See steps for new students to create a new account.
   • In the application, when asked to choose between Community Education and Continuing Education, select Continuing Education.
   • Returning PCC students can skip steps 1 and 2 if they were enrolled in summer term, 2025.

2. Set up email

   You will receive a confirmation email with your PCC ID # (referred to as the G#) and username. Follow the link provided in the email to complete your set up and obtain your PCC email address.

3. Submit form

   The Nursing Program Interest form is no longer available as the application period is now closed. Please check back in January 2026 for application process updates.

   • After submitting the form, it is very important that you check your PCC email regularly for Nursing Assistant program updates and next steps.
   • It will take 3-4 weeks to complete the screening process before students are notified of their status in the program. Please refrain from sending inquiries about your application status as this can cause delays.
   • If the class has full enrollment, additional student applicants will be notified that they have been put on a waitlist.

4. Complete clinical requirements

   Applicants invited to the next step of the admissions process will be asked to confirm their status in the program. Instructions about how to complete the clinical requirements will be sent to their PCC email address. The clinical requirements include the background check, drug screen, immunization verification, and training modules through CastleBranch. Be sure to check your PCC email address frequently.

   • See Requirements for Clinical & Field Education for more information.
   • The American Heart Association CPR session will occur on the first day of class for students that have not yet completed this requirement.
   • Those who do not complete their clinical requirements prior to the course will be considered for the next course if spots are available.

5. Onboarding session

   Once your clinical requirements are complete, you will be invited to meet with your PCC Career Pathways career coach to establish a College and Career Plan, set up your scholarship for tuition and support services, and enroll in the Nursing Assistant course.

Questions?

Contact the Nursing Assistant program at NA@pcc.edu