If you're looking for a cheap and flexible CNA program just to get certified quickly, this is for you.
But if you care about professionalism, structure, and real preparation, I wouldn't recommend it.
As from the June Cohort, I was not satisfied with the quality of education and clinical training I received from Cal Ace. From day one, things felt disorganized. Classes were held both in-person and online at the same time, with over 100 students online and about 30 in person. The instructor's attention was split between both formats, making the in-person experience feel no different than being on Zoom. I believe other students felt the same way, as many eventually stopped showing up.
Theory Classes
For a 4-hour theory class, we would take long breaks and most times even get dismissed 2 hours early. On many days, teaching would go off-topic with long personal stories that didn't relate to the material or drifted so far that I'd lose track of the original point.
Clinical Hours
The website advertised four full weeks of clinicals at a facility, but several of those days were spent in the classroom practicing skills, and still counted as "clinical hours." It felt like the instructional time I paid for was not respected, and that the program didn't take our training seriously.
Skills Lab Experience
Skills days were underwhelming. The instructor would demonstrate 2-3 skills, and then each student would perform them once on a mannequin. No structured grading or feedback was given. Once you performed your skill, class was dismissed early--again. To make matters worse, if you do make a skill mistake, instructors often criticize before correcting.
Clinical Site Experience
Your clinical experience depended entirely on who you were assigned to. Some CNAs were helpful, while others had us just follow them around without any guidance. There was no formal evaluation or follow-up... your attendance was basically your passing grade.
Poor Leadership
Leadership was unreliable, and concerns were brushed off to keep students quiet. Our instructor will be a no-show at the clinical site, abandoned classroom, and multiple times, clinical sites will turn students away for no apparent reason, and according to Cal Ace, it's out of their control.
Safety Concerns
Parking at Canyon Springs was another issue. We were told to park in a nearby neighborhood, but no one warned us how sketchy the area was. My car was hit during clinicals, and another student saw two separate hit-and-runs on the following day. I didn't feel safe leaving my car there and ended up parking at the hospital across the street. Park at your own risk!
Misleading Equipment Policy
Cal Ace advertised that your tuition would include a blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, textbook, exam package, and more as long as you paid in full. But what they didn't say was that you only get everything if you also paid before a specific deadline. Just stick to the 3-payment plan. You really don't need the book to pass.
Lack of recognition
The pinning ceremony for clinical orientation, which had been spoken of with pride at the beginning of the program, never happened. Instead, we were simply handed a pin, told to pin our partner, and that was it-- "skill complete." No recognition, no words, no sense of accomplishment. At the end, I came to find out that other students didn't even know about it, nor received a pin.
Poor Internal Recordkeeping
Near the end of the program, I was unexpectedly told that I had missed quizzes, despite being present in class and completing all required work. When I asked how that was possible, the school did not verify its own records or offer to investigate. Instead, they requested that I provide proof. There was no apology, no ownership of the error, and no acknowledgment of how stressful and frustrating that was for me as a student.
Because of this experience, I strongly advise future students to keep screenshots of every quiz, assignment, attendance confirmation, and communication throughout the program. The school's internal tracking appears disorganized, and students may be blamed for errors they didn't cause.
Graduation.
I wasn't planning to go to graduation, but the way they handled it was just another slap in the face. After all the concerns we raised about not getting proper clinical training, they still went ahead and moved graduation last minute--right during my clinical class, without any real notice. It just showed how little they actually cared. It wasn't about the students at all, just whatever was easier for them. I paid to be here, and the fact that my time was constantly dismissed and disrespected is honestly infuriating.
Final Thoughts
In the end, I completed the program, but it truly felt like a case of "you get what you pay for." The education was cheap in price, and it showed in quality. I hope this helps others go in with realistic expectations and not be too quick to trust surface-level ratings. read more