When you look into becoming a CNA with us, you’ll find two options: the Standard Route and the Nursing Assistant Diploma Program. Both lead to the same credential, but the training and experience included in each option are different.
The simplest way to understand the difference is this: the Diploma Program includes the same in-person instruction and skills practice as the Standard Route, plus required online coursework and a two-week clinical externship.
There is also an important difference in how students complete the Florida CNA exam.
Here’s what you need to know when deciding which path fits you.
1. What They Have in Common
Both the Standard Route and the Diploma Program include the same core in-person Nursing Assistant instruction and skills practice.
Students learn and practice nursing assistant skills to prepare for the Florida Nurse Aide Competency Exam. Both options also include access to open skills practice so students can continue practicing before testing.
Most importantly, you are not choosing between two different CNA credentials. Both options lead to becoming a Florida Certified Nursing Assistant. The difference is what is included in each path before you get there.
2. What the Standard Route Is
The Standard Route is the shorter, classroom-based option for students looking for a direct path to preparing for the Florida CNA exam.
It includes 16 hours of in-person Nursing Assistant instruction and skills practice, along with access to open skills practice.
The Standard Route does not include required online coursework or a clinical externship.
After completing the Standard Route, students apply for the Florida Nurse Aide Competency Exam and complete both the written and clinical-skills portions of the exam.
3. What the Diploma Route Adds
The Nursing Assistant Diploma Program includes the same 16 hours of in-person instruction and skills practice as the Standard Route, plus required online coursework and a two-week clinical externship.
The additional coursework goes beyond the in-person portion of the program and gives students broader exposure to Nursing Assistant concepts and long-term care.
The required two-week externship gives students supervised experience in a skilled nursing setting. Students have an opportunity to experience the day-to-day environment and apply what they have learned before completing the program.
The Diploma Program may be a good fit for students who want additional coursework and clinical exposure or who are considering continuing their path into nursing.
There is also an important exam difference. Nursing Assistant Diploma Program graduates qualify for an exemption from the clinical skills portion of the Florida CNA exam and complete the written exam only.
| Standard Route | Diploma Route | |
|---|---|---|
|
Leads to |
Florida CNA credential |
Florida CNA credential + Nursing Assistant Diploma |
|
Best for |
A shorter path to preparing for the Florida CNA exam |
Students who want additional coursework and supervised clinical experience |
|
Includes |
16 hours of in-person Nursing Assistant instruction and skills practice |
The same in-person instruction and skills practice as the Standard Route, plus required online coursework and a two-week clinical externship |
|
Exam requirement |
Written exam + clinical skills exam |
Written Exam only, if you apply for exam within 6 months of completing the diploma program |
4. How to Decide
A few questions can help you determine which option better fits what you’re looking for:
- Do you want the shorter, more direct option for preparing for the Florida CNA exam? The Standard Route may be the better fit.
- Do you want the same in-person instruction and skills practice plus additional online coursework? The Diploma Program includes both.
- Do you want supervised experience in a skilled nursing setting before completing your program? The Diploma Program includes a required two-week clinical externship.
- Are you considering continuing your path into nursing? The additional coursework and clinical exposure included in the Diploma Program may be useful.
- Do you want to qualify for the clinical-skills exam exemption? Diploma Program students complete the written portion of the CNA exam without taking the clinical-skills portion.
About CNA Training & Testing Center: Both the Standard Route and the Diploma Route are offered at our Tampa Bay locations, preparing students for the same Florida Nurse Aide Competency Exam. CNA Training & Testing Center has earned hundreds of five-star Google reviews. Learn more about the CNA program.
5. Still Not Sure? Ask Before You Register
If you’re torn between the two, visit our website or email us for a program handout. Having that in writing makes the decision easier.
Ready to Pick Your Path?
Explore the CNA program and review upcoming class dates. Everything you need to know is right here on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the Diploma and Standard Route lead to the same license?
Yes. Both paths prepare you for the same Florida Nurse Aide Competency Exam and the same CNA credential. The Diploma Route includes everything in the Standard Route, plus additional coursework.
What does the Diploma Route add that the Standard Route doesn't have?
The Diploma Route includes everything in the Standard Route, plus online coursework in long-term care and a two-week externship at a skilled nursing facility, offered through Career Training Institute as part of our state-approved Nursing Assistant Diploma Program.
How much more does the Diploma Route cost?
The Diploma Route costs more than the Standard Route because it goes beyond the skills you could be tested on, it exposes you to additional long-term care coursework and a two-week externship at a skilled nursing facility. It also comes with a real advantage: Diploma students only take the written exam, as long as they apply for the exam within 6 months of completing the Diploma program.
