CNA Classes & Programs by State

How CNA Training and Certification Work

1. 1

   Complete a state-approved CNA training program

   Federal rules require at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training. Many states require more.

2. 2

   Pass the state competency exam

   A written or oral knowledge test and a hands-on skills test, often run by a testing company such as Credentia. Practice with the free CNA study guide.

3. 3

   Get listed on your state's nurse aide registry

   Employers check the registry before hiring. Registry lookup by state.

What CNA training covers

Federal rules set what every state-approved program must teach. Expect three parts:

• Classroom

  Communication, infection control, safety and emergency procedures, residents' rights, and caring for residents with dementia or other cognitive impairments.

• Skills lab

  Hands-on practice of the care skills: taking vital signs, bathing, dressing, feeding and toileting, moving and positioning residents, and range-of-motion exercises. Practice them ahead with the free CNA skills course.

• Supervised clinical practice

  Caring for residents in a nursing home or other facility under the direct supervision of a registered or licensed practical nurse. Each state's minimum hours are in the table above.

Source: eCFR 42 CFR 483.152(b) (required curriculum).

CNA Training Requirements by State

States set their own total on top of the federal floor. Clinical hours are the supervised practical training, in a lab or with residents, as each state counts it.

Compare training hours by state in the table above, and see each state page's requirements for the exam, fees and renewal.

Sources: eCFR 42 CFR 483.152 (training), eCFR 42 CFR 483.154 (competency evaluation).

How Much Does It Cost to Become a CNA?

Among the 1,623 listed CNA programs that publish a price, the median is $1,050, and half cost between $695 and $1,600. Some employers pay the full cost.

Published cost by school type

Source: the published prices of the CNA programs on our state pages, updated as listings change. Free programs are not included.

Often not included in the price

• Textbooks and materials
• Uniform and shoes
• Background check and fingerprints
• Immunizations and a TB test
• CPR or BLS certification
• The state exam fee, which varies by state

Ways to pay less

• Employer-paid training

  If a Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home employs you or has offered you a job when you start training, it cannot charge you for any part of it, including textbooks. If you paid yourself and one hires you or offers you a job within 12 months of finishing, your state must repay your costs, prorated over the time you work there as an aide. Free CNA classes

  Source: eCFR 42 CFR 483.152(c)

• Workforce (WIOA) funding

  Your local American Job Center can pay for approved training under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act if you qualify.

  Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA

• Pell Grants

  A short CNA course on its own is usually too short for a regular Pell Grant, which does not have to be repaid. Since July 2026, some state-approved CNA programs of at least 150 hours can qualify for the new Workforce Pell Grant, so ask the school's financial aid office.

  Source: Federal Student Aid, Pell Grants

• Other ways to pay

  Some employers repay your tuition once you work for them, and some hospitals, health foundations and community groups offer CNA scholarships. Many schools also take payment in installments, so ask each school which options it accepts.