Nursing Assistants

You need to have good communication skills, compassion, patience & physical stamina. You will also need to be skilled at service orientation, active listening, and social perceptiveness.

Annual Wage

• Entry - $21,756
• Mean - $24,734.00
• Experienced - $26,223

Hourly Wage

• Entry - $10
• Mean - $11
• Experienced - $13

Nursing assistants typically must complete a state-approved education program and pass their state’s competency exam. Orderlies typically have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.

Specific requirements for nursing assistants vary by state. Nursing assistants often need a state-issued license or certification. After completing an approved education program, nursing assistants often must pass a competency exam, which allows them to use state-specific titles.

Nursing assistants who have passed the competency exam are placed on a state registry. They must be on the state registry to work in a nursing home. Some states have other requirements as well, such as continuing education and a criminal background check. Check with state boards of nursing or health for more information. In some states, nursing assistants may earn additional credentials, such as Certified Medication Assistant (CMA). As a CMA, they may dispense medications.

Orderlies do not need a license; however, jobs might require certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS).

There are 174,000 projected job openings in the US this year!