If you're a newly certified CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) or someone considering a career switch into healthcare, you're probably asking the same question thousands of others are: "Can I get hired without experience?"
The good news? In Houston's massive healthcare industry, the answer is often yes.
Houston is home to some of the largest and most diverse hospital systems in the country. Many of these hospitals actively recruit entry-level CNAs to support their growing patient care needs.
Whether you’re coming straight from a CNA training program or returning to the workforce after a break, there are opportunities to get your foot in the door — especially if you know where to look.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Why Houston hospitals hire CNAs without experience
- The top hospitals open to hiring entry-level CNAs
- How to increase your chances of getting hired
- What to expect once you're on the job
- Extra tips to boost your job search
Why Do Houston Hospitals Hire CNAs Without Experience?
There are two simple reasons: demand and turnover.
Houston hospitals are constantly hiring CNAs to keep up with:
- The aging population (more patients = more support staff needed)
- Growth in home health and long-term care services
- Staff burnout and high turnover in frontline positions
Because of this, many hospitals have systems in place to train and onboard new CNAs, even if you have no clinical background. For them, hiring a newly certified CNA is often better than hiring someone with years of experience who may bring burnout or bad habits.
New CNAs are often eager, coachable, and bring a fresh perspective. Hospitals that invest in early-career professionals tend to have stronger retention if they also offer career ladders into other nursing or tech roles.
Houston Hospitals That Hire CNAs Without Experience
Here are several hospital systems in Houston known to hire entry-level CNAs:
1. Houston Methodist Hospital System
- Location: Multiple campuses including the Texas Medical Center, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Willowbrook
- Why they hire new CNAs: Methodist runs formal CNA onboarding programs and often lists "No experience required" on job postings.
- Pro Tip: Look for job titles like "Patient Care Assistant" or "Nursing Assistant I."
2. HCA Houston Healthcare
- Location: Across Greater Houston, including Northwest, Kingwood, Clear Lake, and West
- Why they hire new CNAs: With dozens of locations and high patient volume, HCA has continuous openings and sometimes sponsors CNA certification.
- Pro Tip: HCA frequently works with local CNA schools. Mention your school in your application.
3. Memorial Hermann Health System
- Location: TMC, Katy, Memorial City, and beyond
- Why they hire new CNAs: Memorial Hermann recruits CNAs and "PCTs" (Patient Care Techs) for med-surg floors, especially for night and weekend shifts.
- Pro Tip: Apply for float pool or per diem positions — these are often easier to land as a first-time hire.
4. CHI St. Luke’s Health
- Location: TMC, The Vintage, Sugar Land
- Why they hire new CNAs: As a nonprofit system, CHI supports workforce development and often gives chances to new grads.
- Pro Tip: Look for job fairs hosted by CHI. They sometimes offer on-the-spot interviews.
5. Ben Taub Hospital (Harris Health System)
- Location: Texas Medical Center
- Why they hire new CNAs: As a public hospital, Ben Taub is committed to hiring locally and training staff internally.
- Pro Tip: Get your application in early in the month — county systems often fill roles quickly.
6. Texas Children’s Hospital
- Location: Texas Medical Center and community campuses
- Why they hire new CNAs: Though not always hiring, when roles open, they sometimes take CNAs with pediatric clinicals or no prior job experience.
- Pro Tip: Highlight any experience working with kids or teens, even if informal.
7. Kindred Hospital Houston
- Location: Medical Center, Clear Lake, Heights
- Why they hire new CNAs: Focused on long-term acute care, Kindred often hires CNAs to support nursing staff for extended recovery patients.
- Pro Tip: Emphasize your willingness to learn and support high-need patients.
How to Stand Out as a No-Experience CNA
Even though these hospitals are open to hiring fresh grads, you still need to show them you’re ready. Here's how:
- Get Certified from a Recognized Program
- Houston Community College, Lone Star College, and Texas Health School are well-known locally.
- Highlight Soft Skills
- Empathy, patience, teamwork, and reliability matter more than experience.
- Include Clinicals or Volunteer Work
- Even if you only completed training hours, put that on your resume as hands-on experience.
- Get CPR/BLS Certified
- Having Basic Life Support certification shows you’re job-ready.
- Write a Custom Cover Letter
- Mention your interest in patient care, learning, and being part of a care team.
- Follow Up
- Always follow up 5–7 days after applying. Show initiative — it makes a difference.
- Join Job Boards + Newsletters
- Subscribe to HoustonHealthcareJobs.com to get local CNA openings in your inbox.
What to Expect as a First-Time CNA in a Hospital
Here’s what your first few months may look like:
- You’ll likely start on med-surg or general floors, supporting RNs with basic patient care
- You may work nights, weekends, or rotating shifts
- Expect to lift, clean, feed, and document care
- Hospitals usually provide onboarding and mentorship to help you adjust
Don’t expect it to be easy — but do expect it to be rewarding. Many CNAs go on to become LVNs, RNs, surgical techs, or even case managers after a few years.
Hospitals are a fantastic place to learn how the entire care system works.
Final Tip: Apply Broadly and Follow Up
Apply to multiple hospitals and don’t be afraid to follow up after a week. Recruiters are often overloaded, and a quick, polite email can bring your application to the top.
Also, keep checking our Houston Healthcare Employers Directory for the latest openings and application tips.