Nursing Assistant Requirements and Application

Nursing Assistant students checking vital signs while a teacher watches

From submitting your application to admission to registration, Northwood Tech is available to help guide you through the admissions process. To help you successfully complete this program, Northwood Tech has developed a set of program requirements and functional ability criteria. For students with a disability, reasonable accommodations are available to help you be successful in the program of your choice. 


Admission Requirements

The first step to get admitted is to fill out a Northwood Tech application, and Northwood Tech will guide you from there. If you're not quite ready to become a student, visit a campus to get the full Northwood Tech experience. A campus tour will give you the opportunity to meet staff, instructors and students, tour the campus and get a real feel for the campus culture. 

2024-25 Nursing Assistant Additional Program Information
Nursing Assistant Program FAQs
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Northwood Tech Accommodation Services
Search for upcoming Northwood Tech Nursing Assistant Courses

Program-Specific Requirements

1)  Prior to mandatory orientation, the following items must be completed:

  • Submit Class Registration Form with Fee or Payment Authorization Form
  • Submit Background Check fee

2)  Prior to the start of class, attend a mandatory orientation session.

3)  At the mandatory orientation:

  • Complete, sign and initial Background Information Disclosure (BID)
  • Have an acceptable Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check
    • Information from the Caregiver Background check may affect ability to secure clinical placement and the student may be excused from the program.

4)  By the first day of class, the following must be completed:

  • Demonstrate negative status for tuberculosis (TB)
  • COVID-19 vaccination---highly recommended for all Health Sciences Programs
    • NOTE: Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement or ability to progress in the program if a student is not able to meet the clinical site requirements, including but not limited to influenza vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, negative TB skin test or QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) or T-SPOT®.TB test (T-Spot), up-to-date acceptable background check, or any other clinical site requirements. Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement if the clinical site must be changed due to students' inability to meet the site-specific requirements. Many sites require the student information 4-6 weeks before the clinical start date.

How to Apply

The Nursing Assistant program offers the opportunity to work in a healthcare setting as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and is also a prerequisite to the Northwood Tech Associate Degree Nursing program. Because the Nursing Assistant program is approved by the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services, the application process has very specific requirements for entry into our program.

Please contact your local Student Services office for more information.

Nursing Assistant Orientation

All NA students are required to attend a program orientation scheduled approximately two weeks before the start of class. Detailed information will be provided before the scheduled orientation date.

  • Read, complete, and provide at the program orientation:
    • Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check Disclosure - listed above under Admission Requirements. Read the disclosure and initial and sign the second page. This will be discussed in further detail at the program orientation. The clinical agencies that host the Northwood Tech Nursing Assistant students have significantly increased their demands for background check scrutiny over the past several years. All Nursing Assistant students are required to complete a Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check , and it must be completed within 90 days of the start of the program. If the scheduled clinical agencies will not accept the student based on the background check history, the student must be excused from the NA program. 
    • Student Identification Information Form - all Nursing Assistant students are required to complete this document.
  • NA Program Checklist - required before 1st day of class: 
    • NA TB/Health Form 2024-25 requirements will be explained further at the program orientation. Please do not make an appointment before the program orientation.

Technology Requirements

If using Macintosh or Linux based computers, coursework must be submitted using your Office365 tools provided with your Northwood Tech email account. It is important to verify with your Program Faculty if non-Windows based computers are acceptable in the program.

View All Technology Requirements

Contact

Choose a campus to view contact information, or for general assistance, please contact us.

Rice Lake Admissions Contact

Nicole Messicci

Admissions Advisor

715.788.7144

Contact

Ashland Admissions Contact

Jennifer Bednarik

Admissions Advisor

715.685.3039

Contact

New Richmond Admissions Contact

Sherry Rehnelt

Admissions Advisor

715.752.8136

Contact

Superior Admissions Contact

Anna Kalin

Admissions Advisor

715.319.7331

Contact

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