CNA Classes for Port St. Lucie Residents

Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital, HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital, skilled nursing facilities throughout St. Lucie West, and a growing network of home health agencies all need CNAs who are licensed, BLS-certified, and ready to work. Not every exam prep program prepares you the same way. The difference is in who teaches the course, what certifications are included, and whether the training reflects what Treasure Coast employers actually expect on the floor.

At Medical Plus Training Center, our CNA exam prep course is taught by a Registered Nurse, includes your AHA BLS certification in the tuition, and is completed in one week. Whether you’re making a career change, building on experience you already have, or entering healthcare for the first time, our program is the fastest route to your CNA certification. We’re located at 602 North US Highway 1 in Fort Pierce — about 20 minutes north of Tradition and St. Lucie West on US-1.

Where Port St. Lucie CNAs Work

Port St. Lucie has two major hospital systems operating within the city limits, and each relies on a workforce that includes certified nursing assistants at every level of patient care.

Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital

Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital is a 267-bed acute care facility on SW Innovation Way, just off I-95 in the Tradition community. The hospital is part of Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region and provides emergency care, surgery, labor and delivery, oncology, cardiac services, and a neonatal intensive care unit. As a Cleveland Clinic facility, it operates under one of the most recognized healthcare brands in the country, and its hiring standards reflect that reputation. CNAs at Tradition work across medical-surgical floors, progressive care, post-operative recovery, and observation units. The hospital has expanded steadily since opening in 2013, and its continued growth means ongoing staffing needs — particularly for patient care technicians and nursing assistants who hold current AHA BLS certification.

HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital

HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital, located on SE Tiffany Avenue, has served St. Lucie County for over 40 years. The hospital operates more than 200 beds and is part of the HCA Florida Treasure Coast Healthcare system, which also includes Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce and Raulerson Hospital in Okeechobee. St. Lucie Hospital is recognized for its Orthopedic and Spine Institute, birthing center, cardiac catheterization lab, and senior-friendly emergency department. It also operates a freestanding emergency room at Darwin Square in St. Lucie West. HCA facilities require AHA BLS certification for all direct patient care roles, and the system’s size means positions open regularly across departments including med-surg, rehabilitation, and perioperative care.

Beyond the Hospitals: Skilled Nursing, Home Health, and Assisted Living

Port St. Lucie’s population has grown by more than 30 percent since 2020, and a significant portion of that growth includes retirees and older adults relocating from South Florida. That demographic reality drives consistent demand for CNAs in skilled nursing facilities, memory care communities, and home health agencies throughout St. Lucie County.

The corridor along US-1 between Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce contains dozens of long-term care facilities and assisted living communities. Home health agencies serve the western neighborhoods of Tradition, St. Lucie West, and Torino, where newer residential developments have attracted a growing retirement population. These employers typically require both CNA certification and current BLS — which is exactly what our program delivers in a single enrollment.

What Makes This Program Different

Medical Plus Training Center is not a traditional CNA school. We do not offer a 120-hour state-approved training program. What we offer is intensive, focused exam preparation for people who intend to challenge the Florida Prometric CNA exam directly.

Florida allows candidates to sit for the CNA competency exam without completing a formal training program. This “challenger” route is legal, established, and used by thousands of candidates every year. Our course prepares you for both portions of the Prometric exam: the written knowledge test and the hands-on clinical skills demonstration.

Every class is taught by Chevaughn Maitland, RN. That distinction matters. An RN instructor brings direct clinical experience from hospital floors, which means the skills you practice — measuring vital signs, positioning patients, performing catheter care, documenting intake and output — are taught to the standards that actual employers expect, not just to the minimum the exam requires.

Your AHA CPR and BLS certification is included in tuition. At most other programs, BLS is either an additional cost or something you have to schedule separately after graduation. We include it because hospitals and skilled nursing facilities in St. Lucie County require it before your first shift, and we don’t want your certification sitting in a drawer while you chase down a CPR class.

The entire course is completed in one week. We offer day classes Monday through Thursday and two night class options for students who are working or managing other commitments. You don’t need to spend months in a classroom to get started in healthcare. You need focused preparation, the right credentials, and a program that respects your time.

Class Schedules and Tuition

We offer three class formats, all completed in one week. Choose the schedule that fits your life:

Day Classes
20 Hours
Mon–Thu, 1 Week
$650

Night Option A
16 Hours
Wed, Thu, Sat, 1 Week
$650

Night Option B
16 Hours
Mon, Tue, Fri, 1 Week
$650

Included in Your Tuition

• CNA Exam Prep Skills Workbook

• AHA BLS/CPR Certification

• Hands-On Skills Practice

• Bloodborne Pathogens Training

• RN-Led Instruction

Paid Separately

Prometric State Exam Fee ($155)
Background Check (varies)

The Prometric state exam fee ($155) is paid directly to Prometric when you schedule your test date. Background check fees, required for licensure, vary and are also paid separately to the state. We are transparent about costs because you deserve to know exactly what you’re paying for before you enroll.

The Commute: What PSL Residents Should Know

Our training center is located at 602 North US Highway 1 in Fort Pierce, directly on the US-1 corridor that connects Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie.

From most Port St. Lucie neighborhoods, the drive is approximately 15 to 25 minutes, depending on whether you take US-1 north or hop on I-95 to exit 129. There are no tolls on either route. Students coming from the Tradition or St. Lucie West areas often take I-95 north to the Okeechobee Road exit; those on the east side of the city find US-1 more direct.

For context: you are committing to this drive for one week. Day classes run Monday through Thursday. Night classes run for three days. The total time investment in commuting over the entire course is less than what most PSL residents spend driving to and from work in a single week.

Frequently Asked Questions from Port St. Lucie Students