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A CNA resume needs to meet certain criteria to get you hired. Follow our CNA resume examples and tips to make your certified nurse assistant resume stand out.
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Follow our CNA resume examples to create the best resume for your CNA job. You can easily edit these samples and update them with your information using the ResumeHelp Resume Builder, which gives you step-by-step resume writing guidance.
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A certified nursing assistant (CNA) is considered entry-level nursing staff, and is an important position in a healthcare facility or hospital. When you work as a CNA, you’re providing basic care and helping with certain non-medical aspects of a person’s well-being. To best display these qualifications and convince hiring managers to hire you, it’s important to follow expert CNA resume examples.
On this page, we’ll give you all the expert advice you need to create a professional resume for a CNA job, including:
Before we provide you with a list of potential hard skills and soft skills to consider, it’s important to first mention that your resume should be tailored to the CNA job description. Always read the key requirements for that specific job opening and focus on skills you have that address the requirements.
Here are some relevant CNA resume skills to consider for your resume:
Before you sit down to write your CNA resume, it’s important to understand how to choose the right resume format for your document:
Some other resume formatting tips to keep in mind:
The first section is your header containing your contact information. A header helps introduce you to a CNA job. It includes your full name, phone number, email address and any job networking links such as LinkedIn. Make sure that the information you include is updated and professional.
Your CNA resume can begin with either a resume summary or a resume objective. Which is best for you will depend on your years of experience and what you hope to accomplish with your resume.
A resume summary summarizes your top qualifications relevant to the job description in two to three sentences. It’s best for certified nursing assistants with more than three years of work experience. For example:
A resume objective also summarizes your key skills and qualifications in two to three sentences but it also states your goals for employment. An objective statement is better for candidates with less than two years of experience or people changing careers.
There are many hard skills and soft skills that you can include as part of a nursing assistant job. Here are some of the resume skills to consider in the following bullet points:
Your work history section should be written in reverse-chronological order. Your current or latest CNA experience should go at the top and each position should include three to five bullet points detailing work accomplishments or major responsibilities in diverse health care settings. In addition:
Take a look at this example of a CNA resume work experience section:
CNA job description for resume: example
You need to take a state-approved program to become an entry-level CNA. This usually takes around 8-12 weeks and teaches you all the basic skills you need to know. You might also need to pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination, an exam that’s divided into two parts, a written and oral exam, to become a licensed CNA.
CNA programs are offered at local community colleges, high schools, vocational or technical schools or local hospitals.
If you finished this program at your high school, then include your high school’s name and the fact that you have obtained your high school diploma. If you have a bachelor’s degree in addition to the training, just include your college degree. Don’t list your GPA, unless it’s requested or you’re a new graduate with honors.
Here’s an example of how to organize a listing for your education section:
If you have additional certifications or training that is relevant to the CNA job, create other sections for your resume. Some certifications you could consider include:
Your certifications should follow this format:
For more examples and tips, check out our How to Make a Resume page.
The certified nursing assistant resume below can be used as the foundation of your own resume. Take a look how the work experience is organized and the CNA resume skills are featured to give you an idea of what you can do.
Your CNA job application won’t be complete without a professional cover letter. Use our resources to craft a compelling cover letter that impresses employers.
You’ve seen our professional CNA resume examples and read our expert resume writing tips, so let’s quickly recap everything:
Have questions? We’re here to help.
Both soft skills and hard skills are important on a CNA resume. If you want to stand out, you need to make sure that you’re including both of these skills. Include skills that you learned in your training section and skills that you’ve learned in general. Be sure your skills match what the job posting is listing as requirements.
Yes, internships typically get listed in your work history section, especially if you are lacking work experience. If you completed any apprenticeships or internships, those are considered relevant experience and will help a hiring manager determine your qualifications.
You can also include volunteer work or extracurricular activities that are relevant to the CNA position.
You should only list up to 10 years of experience at the most. If you have an extensive career history, you can include all of your experience on your LinkedIn profile and place the profile link in your resume header with contact information. This way, any hiring manager that wants to learn more about you can scroll through your LinkedIn profile.
CNAs play a big role in the nursing staff. They help their unit, be it at a hospital or a nursing home, run smoothly by:
The responsibilities listed above are just a few of the major tasks CNAs do. Without their help, patient care and units wouldn’t run as smoothly as they do.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average wage for certified nursing assistants was $30,310 in May 2021. Pay varies depending on the care facility and state where you work. For example, CNAs working in the government, such as VA hospitals, may get paid an average of $37,310 a year while a CNA in home health care services might make $29,280 a year.
The states with the highest pay for CNAs are:
CNA jobs are considered entry-level positions, so you don’t need to have prior work experience to land a job. What you do need is a valid CNA license and to have completed an accredited certified nursing assistant program. Some of the top CNA programs are:
The key to writing a strong CNA resume summary is addressing directly what the job opening requests. For example, if the CNA job description seeks a candidate with ample experience in hospice care, strong communication skills, and the ability to provide adjunct care and maintain documentation, your professional summary should reflect that:
Empathetic certified nursing assistant with four years of experience in hospice care. Able to provide top health care needs by administering enemas, non-sterile dressings, surgical preps and more. Strong communication skills, interpersonal skills and documentation abilities.
Using the job description as a guide will also help you pass applicant tracking systems most employers use. ATS will scan your resume for keywords and key phrases found in the description to determine whether you’re a good fit for the job.
Some important CNA resume skills include:
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