The Nursing Assistant program is for students who are interested in pursuing a Nursing Assistant Certificate and/or pre-requisites for an associate degree in nursing. Through this certificate program, students will learn the specific skill sets of the nursing assistant and prepare students to apply to an associate degree in nursing program. The nursing assistant courses prepare students for immediate employment as a nurse assistant. Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded a Nursing Assistant Certificate and are eligible to take the New Mexico Nurse Assisting Certification (CNA) exam.

Admission into NRS 101/102, the C.N.A. clinical courses require students to have a minimum of 2.0 (C) GPA or permission of the instructor to take NRS 101/102. Students are required to have or obtain current CPR training prior to beginning their internship, and is offered during the beginning of NRS 101 semester. The appropriate level of CPR training is the CPR for Health Care Providers and should be obtained from the American Heart Association. In addition, students are also required to have a physical exam and current tuberculosis test (PPD), as well as a clear background check to be admitted into clinical internship placement (NRS 102).