Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide

CIP 51.3902 Certificate Associate

Program Availability

Schools Offering

461

575 total including inactive

States

Across 41 states

Graduates (2023)

32,743

Total completions

Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide is offered as a certificate and associate program at schools across 41 states, making it a solid trade program. The most popular states are Florida, Illinois and California.

Career & Cost Overview

Median Salary

$39,530

Nursing Assistants

Job Growth

+2.3%

10-year projected growth

Median Tuition

$3,750

In-state annual rate

Graduates typically pursue careers as Nursing Assistants. In-state tuition ranges from $576 to $29,760, and the work is primarily indoor with moderate physical demands — suited for hands-on learners who enjoy practical work.

Graduate Demographics

Gender Distribution

Male: 3,707 (11.3%)

Female: 29,036 (88.7%)

Degree Level Distribution

Certificate: 31,890 (97.4%)

Associate: 853 (2.6%)

Is This Career Right for You?

Interest Profile (Holland Codes)

Social

Realistic

Conventional

helping and working with people; hands-on, practical work with tools and equipment; organizing, systematizing, and working with data

What does this mean? ▼

This career is best suited for people who enjoy:

Helping others
Teaching
Building things
Working with hands
Organization
Data management

Ideal Candidate Profile

👤 Personality Traits

✓ Empathetic

✓ Patient

✓ Practical

✓ Hands-on

✓ Organized

✓ Detail-oriented

💡 Interests

● Helping others

● Teaching

● Building things

● Working with hands

● Organization

● Data management

⭐ Work Values

♦ Service Orientation

♦ Active Listening

♦ Helping others

♦ Independence

♦ Accuracy

❓ Ask Yourself These Questions

Do you enjoy helping and working with people; hands-on, practical work with tools and equipment; organizing, systematizing, and working with data?

Do you value service orientation?

Are you willing to develop the technical skills required for this field?

✓ This Career May Be Great For You If:

• Hands-on learners who enjoy practical work
• People-oriented individuals who enjoy helping others
• Detail-oriented individuals who value organization

⚠ Consider These Challenges:

• Those who prefer desk-based, theoretical work
• Those who prefer working independently
• Those who dislike repetitive tasks

💭

Note: This assessment is based on typical requirements and characteristics for careers in this field. Individual experiences may vary. Consider your own interests, values, and goals when making career decisions.