Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Certified nursing assistants in Tucson earn a median of about $20.50 an hour, and the metro's growing retiree population keeps skilled nursing campuses and home care agencies hiring. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires CNAs and how to get on the Arizona registry.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Certified Nursing Assistant Work in Tucson
Tucson counts about 3,500 nursing assistant jobs, more than it has medical assistants or pharmacy technicians, and most of them are in long-term care. Residents 65 and older now make up more than a fifth of Pima County, and that population fills skilled nursing and rehab campuses such as Life Care Center of Tucson on North La Cholla Boulevard, Handmaker's midtown campus and Sandstone of Tucson, which runs a psychiatric skilled nursing unit.
Home care is the second lane, with agencies such as Right at Home sending CNAs to clients from its Oro Valley office on Rancho Vistoso Boulevard. Hospitals work differently: TMC Health hires bedside aides under the Patient Care Technician title and accepts a CNA or LNA credential in place of experience. Senior care schedules run on three shifts with every other weekend, and evening shifts usually pay a differential.
Top Tucson Employers for Certified Nursing Assistants
These Tucson employers hire CNAs for skilled nursing, rehab and home care:
- Handmaker Jewish Services for Aging - the midtown nonprofit senior campus hires CNAs and LNAs for day and evening shifts.
- Life Care Center of Tucson - the skilled nursing and rehab center on the northwest side hires CNAs for full-time shifts, including nights.
- Sandstone of Tucson - the skilled nursing facility hires CNAs, including for its psychiatric unit.
- Right at Home - the home care agency takes applications from CNAs for in-home client care across the north side.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level: about $17 to $19 per hour for newly certified aides.
- Experienced: roughly $20 to $23 per hour, where most Tucson CNAs land.
- Senior: $24 to $27 per hour for experienced aides on nights or in hospital and specialty units.
These are estimates based on federal wage data for the Tucson metro and local postings. Inside city limits the City of Tucson minimum wage of $15.45 sets the floor, but senior care postings start above it, such as Handmaker's $18 an hour plus $2 for the 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. shift. Shift, employer type and an LNA license instead of a registry certificate are what move pay.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Tucson
The Arizona State Board of Nursing oversees two nursing assistant credentials. A Certified Nursing Assistant is a free certificate on the state registry with no board background check, renewed with 8 hours of paid practice in 2 years. A Licensed Nursing Assistant is a license that adds a background check and more board oversight, renewed with 160 hours in 2 years. Both start with an approved training program and the Arizona nursing assistant exams. Pima Community College's Nursing Assistant certificate runs one 8-week session at the West Campus Health Professions Center of Excellence and needs Nursing Division consent. Most Tucson employers also ask for CPR and an Arizona fingerprint clearance card.
What the Job Involves
Nursing assistants handle the daily personal care that keeps residents and patients safe and comfortable. A shift includes helping people bathe, dress, eat and use the bathroom, turning and repositioning bedbound patients, taking vital signs, recording intake and output, answering call lights and reporting changes to the nurse. In psychiatric and memory care units, the job also means calm redirection and close observation.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active Arizona CNA certificate or LNA license
- Current CPR certification
- Arizona fingerprint clearance card
- Safe transfers, lifts and fall prevention
- Accurate vital signs and charting
- Patience and respect with older adults
- Bilingual English and Spanish, a plus with many Tucson families
Career Path and Advancement
In Tucson the ladder usually starts with a registry CNA certificate, moves to an LNA license, and then to medication assistant certification, which only an LNA can add and which allows delegated medication administration. Hospital Patient Care Technician roles at TMC Health are the next step for many aides. From there, Pima's Practical Nurse certificate leads to an LPN license, and the LPN-to-ADN path leads to an RN license.
Related Careers in Tucson
If nursing assistant work interests you, these related Tucson roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a CNA and an LNA in Arizona?
A CNA holds a free certificate on the Arizona State Board of Nursing registry, with no board background check. An LNA holds a license that includes a background check and more oversight, and only an LNA can also certify as a medication assistant. Both work under the supervision of an RN or LPN.
How much do CNAs make in Tucson?
Federal wage data puts the Tucson median for nursing assistants at about $20.50 an hour, or $42,560 a year. New aides usually start around $17 to $19 an hour, and evening or night shifts add a differential at many senior care campuses.
How long does CNA training take in Tucson?
Pima Community College's Nursing Assistant certificate fits in one 8-week session at West Campus. After the course you take the Arizona nursing assistant exams before you can be placed on the registry.
Do I need a background check to work as a CNA in Tucson?
The registry CNA certificate itself does not require a board background check, but the LNA license does. Separately, most Tucson employers, including Handmaker, require a valid Arizona fingerprint clearance card before you start.
Can CNAs work in Tucson hospitals?
Yes, though the title is different. TMC Health hires bedside aides as Patient Care Technicians and accepts a CNA or LNA credential in place of a year of experience. Hospital PCT work is a common step for aides heading to nursing school.
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