You do not need to go to college in order to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA). However, most states do require that aspiring CNAs gain some amount of clinical and theoretical experience before they apply to become certified.
This means you’ll need to attend classes, and join a CNA training program at a local hospital. There are also CNA schools that will help you get the classes and the clinical experience you need in order to become certified. Once you meet all the requirements, you’ll be able to take a CNA certification exam. The whole process can be done in less than a year.
The amount of studying and clinical experience required to become a CNA varies at the state level. So, if you are interested in becoming a CNA, you should start by researching your local requirements. You can also read a become a nurse assistant career guide, like the ones you can find on this site.