HEALTHWORKS
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program
Your first healthcare job starts here.
This summer, Ridgeline is sponsoring up to 25 young people to become Certified Nursing Assistants, or CNAs.
CNA tuition covered. Stipend included. A certification that can get you hired.
CNAs work in hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and home health. The certification is a job-ready credential, and it stacks toward LVN and RN if nursing is where you're headed.
We ask for your full commitment and feedback along the way; and we'll back you up with resume and interview prep so you're ready to land your first job.
Program highlights
WHO:
For young people ages 16-20 in the Bay Area
LOcation:
Locations:
Online theory → Skills lab training in Vallejo, CA (4 days)
→ Clinicals in Oakland, CA (14 days)
→ Certification Exam in Daly City, CA (1 day)
WHEN:
June 22- August 7, 2026
ALL DAY Monday- Friday
App Deadline:
Application deadline: June 5, 2026 at 9AM.
We review applications on a rolling basis, and spots are limited, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
COST:
Cost: Free - tuition, fees, and required supplies fully covered ($2,000+ value).
Plus, qualifying students receive a learning stipend of up to $500 based on financial need.
SPOTS AVAILABLE:
Up to 25 students will be selected
Application CLOSED
The application deadline has passed. If you're interested in being added to the list to hear about future opportunities, email us at hello@ridgelinepathways.org
Why should I join this pathway program?
The HealthWorks: CNA Program is a hands-on training experience designed for students who are ready to move from career exploration into real preparation.
You'll earn a state-recognized credential, gain clinical experience, and develop the professional skills that lead to lasting careers in healthcare.
Young people will complete CNA training through one of Ridgeline's partner programs. The program meets state requirements for California CNA certification, including:
70+ hours of classroom theory
covering patient care, safety, communication, infection control, and the foundational knowledge you'll use every day on the floor
100+ hours of clinical training
in licensed care facilities, working alongside instructors and clinical staff in real healthcare settings
California State CNA Exam completion
So you walk out certified and job-ready
Am I eligible
to join?
This program prioritizes HealthX Fellows and young people from low-income backgrounds. All eligible young people are encouraged to apply.
At Least 16, In the Bay Area
At least 16 years old by the program start date
Live or attend school in the Bay Area
Ready to Commit
Ready to commit to a serious credential and gain real clinical experience in patient care
Able to commit to the full-time schedule
Comfortable with independent work and daily deadlines, including same-day homework assignments during the theory instruction phase
Ready to Work
Speak, write, and understand English
Access to a computer or laptop with reliable internet, webcam, and Zoom
Able to commute to the program sites, including early morning clinical shifts
Authorized to work in the US (SSN or TIN)
Additional steps required before clinicals
Submit a current government-issued ID
Complete a medical history, physical examination, and PPD (tuberculosis test) signed by a physician or nurse practitioner
Obtain or provide proof of current seasonal flu vaccination
Undergo a LiveScan fingerprinting process
Can I commit to the program requirements?
In exchange for full tuition coverage and learning stipend, we require participants to:
Commit. Full attendance in the CNA course and exam completion
Reflect. Quick 3-minute voice notes to track the skills you're building.
Talk to us. Focus groups and follow-up check-ins so we can build this program around what you need.
Schedule reflects state requirements and may vary slightly by partner program.
Online Theory Instruction
Monday- Friday
Monday, June 22 through Monday, July 6, 2026
9 AM - 3 PM
Online
Live online instruction.
Patient care fundamentals, safety, infection control, communication, and clinical skills - taught by experienced nursing instructors.
Complete weekly 3-minute voice notes.
Mid-Program Connection
Friday, July 10, 2026
10 AM - 11:30 AM
Location TBD
An in-person gathering with your cohort to mark the end of theory and the start of skills lab/clinicals with treats and a focus group built in.
Skills Lab & Clinical Training
Monday- Thursday
Tuesday, July 7 through Thursday, August 6, 2026
Skills Lab: 9 AM - 3 PM Vallejo, CA
Clinicals: 8 AM - 3 PM Oakland, CA
Hands-on training in licensed healthcare facilities. Practice your skills on real patients alongside instructors and clinical staff.
Complete 2x per week 3-minute voice notes.
Post-Program Celebration
Friday, August 7, 2026
10 AM - 11:30 AM
Location TBD
An in-person gathering to celebrate completing your training!
Share what worked, what was hard, and what comes next with the cohort that went through it with you.
Certification
Saturday
Mid-August
TBD Time
Daly City, CA
Skills evaluation, exam prep, and the California CNA state exam.
Job Support
After certification, flexible timing
Durable skills report, resume review, and interview prep from Ridgeline to help you land your first healthcare job.
6-Month Survey Check-in
January 2027
15 minutes online
A short survey to see where you've landed and how HealthWorks shaped what came next.
How to apply for HealthWORKS: CNA
To apply for Ridgeline's HealthWorks CNA Fellowship, complete the online application by 9AM on June 5, 2026. As part of the application, you’ll need to:
Answer a few questions about your background and program logistics. Submit two short-answer responses about your motivation for joining the program.
Why CNA, why now? Tell us why you want to earn your CNA certification this summer. What draws you to patient care, and what do you imagine doing with this credential? (250-300 words)
What will be the hardest part of this program for you, and what would help? Every student faces something different — schedules, test-taking, being on their feet all day, asking for help, balancing family responsibilities. HealthWorks is intensive full-time study: online coursework, independent assignments, and clinical hours. Be specific. A thoughtful, honest answer tells us more about you than a perfect one. If you write that you can't think of any challenges, we'll be skeptical. (150-200 words)
Key INFO
Admissions: HealthX fellows may be admitted directly through their application. All other qualified applicants will be invited to a short interview so we can get to know you better.
Next steps: If you're selected, we'll send you a confirmation email with next steps. Participants under 18 will need to submit a parent or guardian consent form before the program begins.
Questions? Contact healthworkscna@ridgelinepathways.org
Application now OPEN!
The application deadline has passed. If you're interested in being added to the list to hear about future opportunities, email us at hello@ridgelinepathways.org
What does a CNA do?
Certified Nursing Assistants are on the front lines of patient care. Working alongside nurses, CNAs help patients with the everyday things that matter most when someone is sick, recovering, or aging: bathing, eating, moving safely, communicating with their care team. It's hands-on, human-centered work.
Personal hygiene & grooming
- Bathing, sponge baths, or bed baths
- Brushing teeth, denture care
- Hair washing, combing, shaving
- Nail care
- Applying lotion to prevent skin breakdown
Toileting & continence care
- Assisting to the toilet or bedside commode
- Cleaning after bathroom use
- Changing briefs/incontinence products
- Emptying catheter bags, recording output
- Bedpan assistance
Eating & nutrition
- Setting up meal trays
- Feeding patients who can't feed themselves
- Tracking food and fluid intake
- Thickening liquids for swallowing difficulties
Mobility & positioning
- Turning and repositioning bedridden patients (typically every 2 hours)
- Transferring patients from bed to wheelchair, chair to toilet
- Assisting with walking (ambulation)
- Applying non-slip socks, setting up walkers or canes
Comfort & environment
- Changing bed linens, including occupied beds
- Adjusting pillows and positioning aids
- Keeping the room tidy and call button within reach
- Monitoring for and reporting skin redness or pressure sores
Observation & communication
- Taking and recording vital signs (temperature, pulse, blood pressure)
- Noting and reporting changes in condition to the nurse
- Responding to call lights
- Providing companionship and emotional support during care
The throughline across all of it: CNAs are often the staff members with the most direct, daily contact with patients, which makes their observations and relationships genuinely clinically important.
MORE FAQs
The CNA credential opens doors across the healthcare system, with flexible schedules that can fit around continuing education or other commitments:
- Hospitals: assisting nurses on medical, surgical, and specialty floors
- Skilled nursing facilities and rehab centers: supporting longer-term recovery and care
- Assisted living and memory care: building real relationships with the same residents over time
- Home health: providing one-on-one care in patients' homes
- Clinics and outpatient settings: supporting providers in lower-acuity environments
In California, CNAs earn an average of $23.60 per hour, with entry-level positions typically starting around $17 per hour and rising to $26+ per hour with experience. Bay Area employers generally pay on the higher end, and many offer shift differentials for evenings, weekends, and overnights.
The CNA is a stackable credential, meaning it can be a stepping stone for future career growth in healthcare. Many CNAs use it as a launchpad to:
- LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) — typically a 12–18 month program, $30+/hour starting pay
- RN (Registered Nurse) — associate or bachelor's program, with starting pay well above $50/hour in California
- Specialized roles — patient care technician, phlebotomist, EMT, medical assistant
- Allied health pathways — radiologic technology, sonography, respiratory therapy
From the trail
Let's partner!
We’re looking to fundamentally change how education connects to economic opportunity. Are you ready to get involved?
Reach out to us at hello@ridgelinepathways.org
Ways to donate
Donations have an immediate and long-term impact. Your support means young people have the resources and pathways to reach their education and career goals.
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Let’s create hands-on learning opportunities and build career pathways together. Grow your organization’s engagement, build your talent pipeline, and be a part of community impact.