In Texas, the responsibility to formulate Certified Nursing Assistant program lays with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), who reviews and approves or disapproves nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs (NATCEPs) and nurse aide competency evaluation programs (CEPs).

It is necessary that any individual or entity that wants to offer a NATCEP must receive approval from DADS.

Each NATCEP must provide a minimum of 75 hours of training which is federal and state approved. The nursing aide training program includes, 51 hours of classroom training prior to direct resident care and 24 hours of hands-on resident care in a long term care unit, where the nursing aide student gets the opportunity to get in contact with patients. All training must be completed under the strict supervision and guidance of registered nurse.

The DADS-established curriculum, includes:

At least 16 introductory hours of training in the following areas before direct patient contact:

1. Communication and interpersonal skills;
2. Infection control;
3. Safety and emergency procedures, including the Heimlich maneuver
4. Promoting residents’ independence; and
5. Respecting residents’ rights.

• Personal care skills.
• Basic nursing skills.
• Mental health and social service needs.
• Care of cognitively impaired residents.
• Basic restorative services.
• Residents’ rights.

The cost and length of a nursing assistant class may vary depending on the school or institution offering the program. Students have the choice to attend classes full-time or part-time, and to take advantage of several facility or state sponsored courses which offer reimbursement for the cost of the program.

Free CNA programs in Texas are offered by licensed nursing homes. The state reimburses these facilities for the expenses associated with training new nursing assistants.

Nurse Aide Training Programs in Texas:

Dumas Nursing and Rehabilitation CNA Program
315 East 19th Street, Dumas, Texas 79029

Slaton Care Center Nurse Aide Training Program
630 South 19th Street, Slaton, TX 79364

Dickens County Nursing Home – Spur
905 East Hill, Spur, Texas 79370

South Plains College Nurse Aide Program at Reese Center – Lubbock
3201 Ave Q., Lubbock, TX 79411

Amarillo V.A. Medical Center CNA Program
6010 Amarillo Blvd. West, Amarillo, Texas 79106

Frank Phillips College CNA Program at Hansford Manor – Borger
1301 Roosevelt Street, Borger, Texas 79008

Hackberry Creek Care Center – Matador
805 Harrison, Matador, TX 79244

Heritage Convalescent Center Nurse Aide Course – Amarillo
1009 Clyde, Amarillo, Texas 79106

Hansford Manor – Spearman
707 South Roland, Spearman, TX 79081

Memorial Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Nurse Aide Training Program – Dumas
224 East 2nd Street, Dumas, Texas 79029

Golden Plains Care Center – Post
605 West 7th Street, Post, TX 79356

Craig Methodist Retirement Community – Amarillo
5500 West 9th, Amarillo, Texas 79106

Wheeler Nursing and Rehabilitation CNA Program
1000 South Kiowa, Wheeler, TX 79096

Ware Living Center – Amarillo
400 West 14th Street, Amarillo, Texas 79101

Western Hills Healthcare – Comanche
400 Old Sidney Road, Comanche, TX 76442

Archer City CNA Training Program
201 East Chestnut, Archer City, Texas 76351

Electra Healthcare
511 South Bailey, Electra, TX 76360

Homestead Nursing and Rehabilitation of Baird CNA Program
224 East 6th Street, Baird, Texas 79504

Runnels County Rehab and Nursing Center NATCEP – Ballinger
1800 North Broadway, Ballinger, TX 76821

C. E. Global Health Education Network Inc. – Mesquite
3213 North US Hwy 30, Mesquite, Texas 75150

Odd Fellow and Rebekah Nursing Home – Ennis
2300 South Oak Grove Rd., Ennis, TX 75119

R. L. Turner High School Nursing Assistant Course – Carrollton
1600 South Josey Lane, Carrollton, Texas 75006

Golden Villa Nurse Aide Training Program – Atlanta
1104 South William Street, Atlanta, Texas 75551

Legend Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center – Gladewater
1201 FM 2685, Gladewater, TX 75647

Panola College CNA Training Program – Marshall
678 Rough Rider Drive, Center, Texas 75935

Trinity Valley Community College – Athens
100 Cardinal Dr., Athens, TX 75751

Howard College – Big Spring High School Nurse Aide Training Course
1001 Birdwell Lane, Big Spring, TX 79720

Howard Junior College – Big Spring
1001 Birdwell Lane, Big Spring, Texas 79720

Crane High School Nurse Aide Program
511 West 8th St., Crane, TX 79731

Rosy Health Care Services Inc. – Austin
3724 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78722

Goldthwaite Senior Health Center
1207 South Reynolds Street, Goldthwaite, Texas 76844

Nurse Aide Training of Austin
5555 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78751

Eventide Nursing Assistant Training – San Saba
1405 Storey Street, San Saba, Texas 76877

Bremond Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
211 North Main Street, Bremond, TX 76629

Will-o-Bell, Inc. C.N.A Program – Bartlett
412 North Dalton, Bartlett, Texas 76511

Woodville Health and Rehabilitation
102 North Beech Street, Woodville, TX 75979

Sam Houston State University Nurse Aide Training – Huntsville
1825 Sycamore Street, Huntsville, Texas 77341

Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital – Beaumont
2830 Calder Ave., Beaumont, TX 77702

Panola College Continuing Education CNA Program at Center High School
678 Roughrider Dr., Center, Texas 75935

Hightech Health Solutions, Inc.- Beaumont
13365 Chimney Rock, Beaumont, TX 77713

International Business College – N. Zaragosa
6460 Hiller Street, Suite D, El Paso, Texas 79925

Aurora Health School Nurse Aide Course – El Paso
4209 Hookheath, El Paso, TX 79922

Academy School of Careers, Inc. – El Paso
1030 North Zaragosa, Suite T, El Paso, Texas 79915

Alpine Valley Care Center C.N.A Program
1003 Loop Road, Alpine, TX 79830

Culberson Hospital – Van Horn
Eisenhower Rd., Van Horn, Texas 79858

Center for Health Professions Bel Air High School CNA Course – El Paso
731 Yarbrough Drive, El Paso, TX 79915

Coastal Bend College at Academy High School in Kingsville
3800 Charco, Beeville, TX 78363

South Texas College CNA Program – Starr County Campus
142 FM 3167, Rio Grande City, Texas 78582

Trisun Care Center – Corpus Christi
202 Fortune Dr., Corpus Christi, TX 78405

Coastal Bend College CNA Program – Alice Campus
704 Coyote Trail, Alice, Texas 78332

Edinburg Career Center
1000 East Ebony Lane, Edinburg, TX 78539

Alameda Oaks Nursing Center – Corpus Christi
1101 South Alameda Street, Corpus Christi, Texas 78404

Mathis Nursing Center Nurse Aide Training Program
1220 Hwy 459, Mathis, TX 78368

Columbus Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
103 Sweetbriar Lane, Columbus, TX 78934

Bright Future CNA Program – Houston
919 Globe, Houston, Texas 77034

Hi-Tech Health Care – Houston
1927 Hampton, Houston, TX 77088

Lee College Cont Ed-Liberty Nursing Assistant Course – Baytown
511 South Whiting Street, Baytown, Texas 77522

Faith Health Training Institute – Houston
10814 South Kirkwood Rd., Houston, TX 77099

Oaks of Brookshire Nursing Center C.N.A Training Program
710 Hwy 359 South, Brookshire, Texas 77423

American Medical Institute – Houston
10101 Fondren, Houston, TX 77096

OLRA Educational Foundation CNA Program – Houston
3300 South Gessner Rd., Houston, Texas 77063

A and B Training Academy Nurse Aide Training Program – Houston
6065 Hillcroft Street, Houston, TX 77081