Nursing Assistants: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of nursing assistants about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for nursing assistants to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of nursing assistants expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for nursing assistants.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Nursing Assistants?
Do nursing assistants need a degree? What kind of experience do nursing assistants typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for nursing assistants to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Nursing Assistants
Jobs Postings for Nursing Assistants By Education
- No Education Listed: 166,977 (55%)
- High School or GED: 127,134 (42%)
- Bachelor's degree: 6,809 (2%)
- Master's degree: 3,814 (1%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,153 (0%)
No education was listed by most employers of nursing assistants. According to job data, no education was required for 55% of positions. In 42% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 2% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Nursing Assistants
Jobs Postings for Nursing Assistants By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 73,678 (82%)
- 2-3 Years: 13,444 (15%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,822 (2%)
- 7-9 Years: 105 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 407 (0%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for nursing assistants. In 82% of job postings for Nursing Assistants, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 15% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 2% of job postings for nursing assistants.
What Kind of Degree Do Nursing Assistants Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for nursing assistants, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 11 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective nursing assistants, and in 2023 a total of 59,520 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective nursing assistants.
Top Degree Programs for Nursing Assistants
Top 5 Degree Programs for Nursing Assistants (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide. | 38,025 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. | 7,359 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, Other. | 4,776 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other. | 4,121 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other. | 1,963 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide. | 38,025 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. | 7,359 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, Other. | 4,776 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other. | 4,121 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other. | 1,963 |
| Home Health Aide/Home Attendant. | 955 |
| Gerontology. | 908 |
| Medication Aide. | 679 |
| Health Aide. | 329 |
| Adult Development and Aging. | 265 |
| Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk. | 140 |
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Degree Options for Nursing Assistants
Build on your nursing knowledge and experiences with our online degree-completion program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: CCNE
Certificates & Microcredentials for Nursing Assistants
Learn to help diagnose and test for cardiovascular issues in this online, comprehensive program that prepares you for the Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 2-3 months
- Cost: $2,000
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 5-6 months
- Cost: $4,000
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $4,000
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Skills Do Nursing Assistants Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by nursing assistants to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for nursing assistants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Nursing Assistants
Based on 318,773 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Nursing Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 168,064 | 53% |
| Activities Of Daily Living (ADLs) | 88,616 | 28% |
| Vital Signs | 86,577 | 27% |
| Personal Care | 55,803 | 18% |
| Toileting | 50,422 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Nursing Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 71,205 | 22% |
| English Language | 33,906 | 11% |
| Customer Service | 28,957 | 9% |
| Compassion | 25,854 | 8% |
| Management | 21,902 | 7% |
Based on 318,773 job postings related to nursing assistants, nursing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 53% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for activities of daily living (adls), vital signs, personal care, toileting and nursing care were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for nursing assistants, followed by english language, customer service, compassion, management and clerical works.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 168,064 | 53% |
| Activities Of Daily Living (ADLs) | 88,616 | 28% |
| Vital Signs | 86,577 | 27% |
| Personal Care | 55,803 | 18% |
| Toileting | 50,422 | 16% |
| Nursing Care | 43,194 | 14% |
| Patient Assistance | 39,223 | 12% |
| Housekeeping | 31,641 | 10% |
| Caregiving | 30,452 | 10% |
| Infection Control | 30,051 | 9% |
| Oral Hygiene | 28,046 | 9% |
| Long-Term Care | 26,927 | 8% |
| Home Health Care | 26,823 | 8% |
| Medication Administration | 23,840 | 7% |
| Blood Pressure | 20,516 | 6% |
| Direct Patient Care | 20,376 | 6% |
| Medical Records | 20,044 | 6% |
| Basic Patient Care | 19,818 | 6% |
| Linens | 18,702 | 6% |
| Nail Care | 18,617 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 71,205 | 22% |
| English Language | 33,906 | 11% |
| Customer Service | 28,957 | 9% |
| Compassion | 25,854 | 8% |
| Management | 21,902 | 7% |
| Clerical Works | 20,259 | 6% |
| Lifting Ability | 19,508 | 6% |
| Computer Literacy | 18,557 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 15,725 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 15,306 | 5% |
| Writing | 13,210 | 4% |
| Detail Oriented | 12,654 | 4% |
| Teamwork | 11,702 | 4% |
| Organizational Skills | 10,496 | 3% |
| Problem Solving | 10,182 | 3% |
| Cleanliness | 10,166 | 3% |
| Tactfulness | 9,883 | 3% |
| Time Management | 9,325 | 3% |
| Leadership | 9,111 | 3% |
| Operations | 8,874 | 3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about nursing assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for nursing assistants.
What do nursing assistants do?
How much do nursing assistants make?
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