Certified Nursing Assistant programs usually don’t take long to complete, but in some cases can cause financial strain, according to Nursing Assistant Central. If you need financial assistance in order to complete your CNA program, loans are available to most students. For technical programs, including CNA courses, student loans are a helpful way to deal with the immediate stress that may come along with having to pay for tuition out of pocket. The process of getting a loan takes effort, but with the right information and straightforward steps, it can successfully be done.
Visit the Federal Student Aid Programs site. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a part of the federal government that provides loans and other methods of financial assistance to students towards tuition.
Go to the FAFSA home page and follow the directions. Enter the information required to create a username and password.
Carefully and honestly fill out the FAFSA form. This form will determine how much governmental financial support you may get towards your CNA program. The reward is based on your financial situations and needs. The form requires information including your financial history, income and debt history, according to Free CNA Classes.
Review your FAFSA form to ensure all information is correct. If any information is incorrect, follow the directions to go back to the form and make the needed corrections.
Submit your FAFSA form. About a week after you submit the form, visit the FAFSA website again. Sign in with your username, password, as well as other needed information and view the results of the loans available to you. Depending on the institution you attend, or are planning to attend in order to complete your CNA program, FAFSA results may also be sent to the school.
Review the loans presented to you. Pay close attention to information including repayment scheduling and interest rates. If a financial aid counselor from your institution is available to meet with you, you may choose to review and make your decision with the help of the counselor. Finally, decide and agree to the plan that suits you best.
Tips
Seek loans only after you have searched for scholarships and grants, which do not have to be paid back.
When researching loans, seek federal government loans first, as they have low interest rates and are conveniently flexible. If for some reason federal government loans don’t work out for you, then seek private loans, which are most commonly offered by banks.
If your institution has a financial aid office or financial aid counselor, get in touch and find out as much information as possible on different loans, options and specific loan requirements exclusive to your institution.
References
- Nursing Assistant Central: Guide to Student Loans for CNA Nursing Assistant Degree Programs
- Free CNA Classes: How do I Apply for Student Loans for CNA Classes?
- Federal Student Aid. "You Know You Have to Fill Out the FAFSA Form, but Maybe You're Not Sure What to Do." Accessed Oct. 30, 2020.
- Federal Student Aid. "FAFSA Deadlines." Accessed Oct. 30, 2020.
- Federal Student Aid. "Filling Out the FAFSA Form - Providing Financial Information." Accessed Oct. 30, 2020.
- Federal Student Aid. "How to Review Your Student Aid Report." Accessed Oct. 30, 2020.
Resources
Tips
- Seek loans only after you have searched for scholarships and grants, which do not have to be paid back.
- When researching loans, seek federal government loans first, as they have low interest rates and are conveniently flexible. If for some reason federal government loans don’t work out for you, then seek private loans, which are most commonly offered by banks.
- If your institution has a financial aid office or financial aid counselor, get in touch and find out as much information as possible on different loans, options and specific loan requirements exclusive to your institution.
Writer Bio
Janel Lucas has been writing since 2007, specializing in fashion and beauty topics. Her work has appeared on multiple online magazines and websites, including the World News Network and DavidEikon.com. Lucas holds an Associate of Arts in journalism and mass communications. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in communication from Notre Dame College.