CNA Classes & Programs in San Diego, California
20 state-approved CNA programs in San Diego, including free, online, 4-week, evening and weekend options.
Free to use. No obligation to enroll. Compare multiple programs. We may earn a fee when you request information from schools.
CNA training in San Diego
- Programs
- 20
- state-approved
- Median CNA pay
- $44,250
- $21.28 an hour
- CNA jobs
- 9,820
- in the San Diego-Carlsbad region
- Healthcare facilities
- 74
- 21 nursing homes, 9 hospitals and 44 home health agencies
- Population
- 1,383,987
- residents
Sources: BLS OEWS (May 2023), CMS (July 2025).
On this page
What brings you here?
Free to use. No obligation to enroll. Compare multiple programs. We may earn a fee when you request information from schools.
In San Diego, 20 state-approved CNA classes are available to individuals preparing for careers as Certified Nursing Assistants. This coastal city’s vibrant healthcare community provides aspiring CNAs with numerous options to begin their journey toward certification while enjoying life in Southern California’s second-largest metropolis.
Prospective students will find San Diego’s CNA programs offer online learning choices along with free CNA classes and several accelerated paths to completion. With flexibility built into many courses—including some designed as 4-week programs—students can select a training option that fits their schedule while gaining essential clinical experience required by employers in hospitals or skilled nursing settings.
In the San Diego-Carlsbad region, CNAs earn around $44,250 per year—slightly below California’s statewide median salary—providing a realistic outlook on earning potential after completing local CNA programs.
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Browse CNA Classes in San Diego
San Diego provides 20 CNA training programs that prepare students for California certification through a mix of traditional classroom instruction, online options, accelerated 4-week classes, and free training choices. Each program is designed to qualify graduates for registry placement while supporting skill development needed by local employers, where CNAs are needed throughout San Diego’s growing healthcare sector.
Program Types in San Diego
| Type | In San Diego | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Free or employer-paid | 9 programs | See them ↓ |
| 4-week (accelerated) | 7 programs | See them ↓ |
| Online or hybrid | 7 programs | See them ↓ |
| Evening or weekend | 10 programs | See them ↓ |
A program can appear under more than one type. Counts come from each program's published details.
All 20 CNA programs in San Diego
All In One School of Nursing - San Diego
CostFreeHours164Weeks–
- Address
- 1350 Euclid, San Diego, CA 92105
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (323) 810-4436
State-compliant CNA training with classroom, skills, and clinical components offered in San Diego. A no-tuition path is available when you agree to work 1 year with an affiliated facility.
Visit websiteEdutrack
CostFreeHours–Weeks7
- Address
- 15720 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92127
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (858) 672-3900
- Schedule
- Evening classes
Free 7-week CNA training taught by licensed nurses with day and evening schedules and 100% job placement support.
Visit websiteNational City Adult School
CostFreeHours–Weeks11
- Address
- 517 Mile Of Cars Way, San Diego, CA 91950
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (619) 336-9400
Sweetwater Adult Education’s CNA course provides classroom and clinical training in a skilled nursing facility. Enrollment requires completing Health Care Essentials first.
Visit websiteProcareer Academy
CostFreeHours–Weeks7
- Address
- San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (562) 698-8301
- Schedule
- Evening and weekend classes
Hybrid CNA program with online theory and in-person clinicals; evening/weekend and daytime schedules available. Tuition-free for eligible students with job placement assistance.
Visit websiteSan Diego College of Continuing Education
CostFreeHours250Weeks8
- Address
- San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 388-1927
SDCCE offers a tuition-free Nursing Assistant program spanning 250–330 hours over 8–16 weeks, combining lecture with hands-on skills practice. Students should budget about 400 for books, uniforms, CPR, physical/TB, immunizations, and the state exam.
Visit websiteSan Diego College of Continuing Education
CostFreeHours250Weeks8
- Address
- 1901 Main Street, San Diego, CA 92113
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (619) 388-1928
Free noncredit Nursing Assistant training spanning 250–330 hours over 8–16 weeks; students cover approximately 400 for books, uniform, exams, and related items. Mandatory orientation and health clearances required.
Visit websiteSan Ysidro Adult School
CostFreeHours–Weeks11
- Address
- 4200 Otay Mesa Road, San Diego, CA 92154
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (619) 428-7200
Sweetwater’s Division of Adult Education offers an 11‑week CNA class with clinical practice in a skilled nursing facility. Registration and online curriculum are free; students cover items like scrubs and certification fees.
Visit websiteThe Shores Post-Acute
CostFreeHours–Weeks–
- Address
- 2828 Meadowlark Drive, San Diego, CA 92123
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (858) 277-6460
The Shores Post-Acute is a state-approved CNA training provider. Contact them directly for program details and enrollment information.
Visit websiteUniversity Care Center
CostFreeHours–Weeks–
- Address
- 5602 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92105
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (619) 583-1993
University Care Center is a state-approved CNA training provider. Contact them directly for program details and enrollment information.
Visit websitePoway Adult School
Cost$1,195Hours160Weeks17
- Address
- San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 668-4024
- Schedule
- Evening and weekend classes
Lectures meet on Zoom with weekend clinical rotations at a North County skilled nursing facility; labs and orientation meet at Del Norte High School. The 17-week cohort includes 60 hours theory and 100 hours clinical, with a program fee that includes e-textbook, workbook, and scrubs.
Visit websitePacific Health Educational Center
Cost$2,200Hours160Weeks5
- Address
- 9466 Black Mountain Road Suite 260, San Diego, CA 92126
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (858) 397-2597
- Schedule
- Weekend classes
Pacific Health Educational Center runs an accelerated CNA program completed in 22 class days with weekday and weekend cohorts. The CNA tuition package totals 2200 and includes registration, live scan, CPR, scrubs, and course materials.
Visit websiteDalrada Career Institute
Cost–Hours160Weeks4
- Address
- 8787 Complex Drive, Suite B100, San Diego, CA 92123
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (858) 278-9800
- Schedule
- Evening and weekend classes
CDPH-approved fast track CNA program with 160 hours over 20 days combining lecture, lab, and clinical. Weekday, evening, and weekend options are available; the main campus is a state testing site and offers work scholarship options.
Visit websiteDalrada Career Institute
Cost–Hours160Weeks4
- Address
- 4348 54Th Street Suite A&B, San Diego, CA 92115
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (858) 278-9800
- Schedule
- Evening and weekend classes
CDPH-approved fast track CNA program with 160 hours over 20 days combining lecture, lab, and clinical. Weekday, evening, and weekend schedules are offered; the school is a state testing site and offers work scholarship options.
Visit websiteFast Track Medical Training Center
Cost–Hours–Weeks–
- Address
- 3202 Duke Street #Dsd, San Diego, CA 92110
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (858) 228-7564
Private training center offering CNA training with classroom and clinical instruction held at The Pavilion at Ocean Point in San Diego.
Visit websiteInfinity Cpr
Cost–Hours180Weeks11
- Address
- 4075 54th Street Jacob Healthcare, San Diego, CA 92105
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (619) 856-4346
- Schedule
- Evening and weekend classes
Infinity CPR (Infinity Medical School) offers accelerated CNA training with classroom, lab, and clinical instruction; cohorts include weekday evenings and weekends. Programs list 60 theory hours, 100 clinical hours, and 20 lab hours.
Visit websiteLearnmore
Cost–Hours160Weeks–
- Address
- 4265 Fairmont Avenue Suite 170, San Diego, CA 92105
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (619) 265-2959
Accelerated, state-approved nurse assistant training providing 60 hours of theory/lab and 100 hours of clinical instruction. Program offers 22-day and 44-day options for rapid entry into healthcare roles.
Visit websiteSan Diego Medical College
Cost–Hours–Weeks5
- Address
- 6780 Miramar Road #204, San Diego, CA 92121
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (619) 271-0700
- Schedule
- Evening and weekend classes
San Diego Medical College offers a 23-day CNA program with day, evening, and weekend options; the day cohort runs 8am–4pm for 22 days and evenings run 4pm–8pm for 42 days. Tuition packages include free RNA training, on-site state testing, and job placement assistance upon request.
Visit websiteSisuCare
Cost–Hours–Weeks–
- Address
- San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (213) 537-8360
- Schedule
- Evening and weekend classes
Online-hybrid CNA program offering self-paced or instructor-led online theory with in-person clinical training at partner facilities near the student (clinical training commonly 103 hours). Flexible cohorts and an employer network support job connections after completion.
Visit websiteSouthwestern College
Cost–Hours–Weeks9
- Address
- 8100 Gigantic Street, San Diego, CA 92154
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (619) 482-6352
Certificate of Proficiency includes CNA-20 lecture and CNA-20L clinical, offered in 9-week or 18-week formats with daytime class and clinical schedules. Clinicals are held at assigned nursing homes after on-campus lecture/lab.
Visit websiteWestern Medical Training Center
Cost–Hours–Weeks–
- Address
- 1814 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Open in Google Maps - Phone
- (833) 258-2221
- Schedule
- Evening classes
WMTC advertises accelerated CNA options (including 22- and 44-day cohorts) combining online learning with hands-on lab and clinical practice, with career help available. The school lists a new campus at 1814 Fifth Avenue.
Visit websiteCost, hours and weeks are each school's published figures, so confirm them with the school. A dash means the school has not published it.
Not sure which of the 20 programs fits you?
Free to use. No obligation to enroll. Compare multiple programs. We may earn a fee when you request information from schools.
Explore CNA Programs in Other Cities
Nearby cities
Major California cities
- Los Angeles41 programs
- San Jose12 programs
- San Francisco6 programs
- Fresno14 programs
- Sacramento18 programs
CNA Employment Opportunities in San Diego
| Median annual pay | $44,250 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly pay | $21.28 |
| CNA jobs in the region | 9,820 |
| Salary region | San Diego-Carlsbad |
Source: BLS OEWS (May 2023), median wages for nursing assistants.
In the San Diego-Carlsbad region, approximately 9,820 certified nursing assistants work across diverse healthcare environments such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies. The steady demand for CNAs reflects ongoing needs within acute care hospitals as well as long-term care providers throughout this metropolitan area. CNA jobs in San Diego are available in a variety of settings.
CNA salary in San Diego aligns with regional norms: In the San Diego-Carlsbad metro area, CNAs earn around $44,250 annually or $21.28 per hour based on BLS OEWS (May 2023) data. This figure is just below California’s statewide median of $45,170 but still represents typical earning potential for entry-level healthcare careers in the region.
CMS-certified facilities supporting employment include Helen Bernardy Center D/P SNF—a specialized pediatric facility—and Ridgeview Skilled Nursing Facility with nearly 50 beds serving adults needing rehabilitation or long-term care. Hospitals like UC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Medical Center and Sharp Memorial Hospital stand out as major acute care providers in the region. Leading home health agencies such as Advantage Health Systems and Grandcare San Diego further expand job prospects across various patient-care settings within San Diego County.
Nursing Homes Hiring CNAs in San Diego (21 facilities)
21 nursing homes in San Diego providing CNA employment opportunities. Showing top 5 facilities ranked by CNA hours per resident per day (as provided by official data). Source: CMS nursing homes (July 2025)
| Nursing home | Beds | CNA hrs/day |
|---|---|---|
| Helen Bernardy Center D/P Snf8060 Frost St(858) 966-5833Map | 43 | 3.3 |
| Ridgeview Skilled Nursing Facility9825 Glen Center Drive(858) 293-8357Map | 45 | 3.3 |
| Vi At La Jolla Village4171 Las Palmas Square(858) 646-7700Map | 60 | 3.3 |
| Reo Vista Healthcare Center6061 Banbury St.(619) 475-2211Map | 162 | 2.7 |
| St. Pauls Health Care Center235 Nutmeg Street(619) 239-8687Map | 59 | 2.7 |
Hospitals Hiring CNAs in San Diego (9 facilities)
9 hospitals in San Diego offering CNA employment opportunities. Showing top 5 facilities ranked by overall rating (as provided by official data). Source: CMS hospitals (July 2025)
| Hospital | Rating |
|---|---|
| Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med CtrAcute Care Hospitals · 200 West Arbor Drive(858) 657-7000Map | 5/5 |
| Va San Diego Healthcare SystemAcute Care - Veterans Administration · 3350 La Jolla Village Drive(858) 552-8585Map | 5/5 |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San DiegoAcute Care Hospitals · 4647 Zion Ave(619) 528-5000Map | 4/5 |
| Sharp Memorial HospitalAcute Care Hospitals · 7901 Frost St(858) 939-3400Map | 4/5 |
| Scripps Mercy HospitalAcute Care Hospitals · 4077 5Th Ave(858) 832-2478Map | 3/5 |
Home Health Agencies Hiring CNAs in San Diego (44 facilities)
44 home health agencies in San Diego providing CNA career opportunities. Showing top 5 facilities ranked by quality rating (as provided by official data). Source: CMS home health agencies (July 2025)
| Agency | Quality |
|---|---|
| Advantage Health Systems9663 Tierra Grande Street, Ste 101(858) 433-0469Map | 5.0/5 |
| Grandcare San Diego Llc2535 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 120(619) 220-6980Map | 5.0/5 |
| Lorian Health9325 Sky Park Court, Suite 310(877) 567-4265Map | 5.0/5 |
| Shield Home Health7940 Silverton Avenue, Suite 202(858) 693-4350Map | 5.0/5 |
| Silver Tree Home Health Inc11650 Iberia Place, Suite 130(760) 539-7032Map | 5.0/5 |
Sources
- Salary Data: BLS OEWS (May 2023)
- Healthcare Facilities: CMS (July 2025)
Working in Nearby Cities and Other States
Working in Nearby Cities
Looking beyond San Diego? Explore CNA programs and jobs in Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, El Cajon, and Murrieta, or browse the California CNA programs page for more options.
Working in Other States
Planning to move or gain experience working in other states? Use our reciprocity guide to transfer your existing CNA license across states.
Working Through Agencies or as a Travel CNA
If you're already certified and would like to work through an agency or work as a travel CNA, browse here our directory of CNA agencies or simply fill out this short form to get matched with 3 personalized CNA agencies that can help you land your next job.
Requirements to Work as a CNA in San Diego, CA
To work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in San Diego, you must meet the statewide CNA requirements set by California. These include completing a California Department of Public Health (CDPH)–approved Nurse Assistant Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP), passing the state-approved competency examination administered by Credentia or D&SDT-Headmaster, and being listed on the California Nurse Aide Registry.
- At least 160 total hours of training (60 classroom hours and 100 supervised clinical hours in a licensed skilled nursing facility) — the highest requirement in the nation
- Completion of 16 hours of required instruction before any direct resident contact
- Criminal background check through California DOJ and FBI Live Scan
- Passing both the knowledge test (70 questions: 60 multiple-choice + 10 reading comprehension, 120 minutes) and the skills evaluation (five randomly selected skills within 25 minutes)
- Up to three attempts per component within two years of completing training before retraining is required
- Placement on the California Nurse Aide Registry maintained by CDPH
Once certified, you can work in skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, home health agencies, and other licensed healthcare settings throughout San Diego and across California. CNAs must complete 48 hours of approved continuing education every 24 months to maintain active certification.
Already certified in another state? California offers certification by equivalency for out-of-state CNAs who hold active certification in good standing and meet federal OBRA training standards. Additional documentation, background checks, or testing may be required. Learn more in our CNA License Reciprocity in California guide.
For complete details on training programs, testing procedures, renewal requirements, and maintaining active registry status, see our comprehensive CNA License & Registration in California guide.
Career Growth & Advancement
Many CNAs use their experience as a stepping stone toward advanced healthcare careers:
- Specialized certifications (e.g., dementia care, medication aide)
- Promotion into shift supervisor or training coordinator roles
- Bridge programs to become an LPN or RN
- Opportunities in healthcare administration or education
Ready to start? Get info from CNA schools in San Diego.
Free to use. No obligation to enroll. Compare multiple programs. We may earn a fee when you request information from schools.
Frequently Asked Questions about CNA Classes in San Diego
How long does it take to complete a CNA program in San Diego?
Most CNA programs in San Diego can be completed in 4–12 weeks, depending on whether you choose a traditional, accelerated, or weekend schedule. The shortest published length here is 4 weeks, at Dalrada Career Institute.
How much does CNA training cost in San Diego?
CNA programs in San Diego cost between $1,195 and $2,200, depending on the school. 9 programs are free or employer-paid. The lowest-priced paid option is Poway Adult School at $1,195. Some schools and healthcare employers may cover the cost or reimburse you after hiring.
Are there free CNA classes in San Diego?
Yes. 9 programs in San Diego are free or employer-paid, including All In One School of Nursing - San Diego, Edutrack, National City Adult School, Procareer Academy and San Diego College of Continuing Education. Some hospitals, nursing homes, and workforce programs may also offer free CNA training in exchange for a work commitment.
Are there online CNA training options available in San Diego?
Yes. 7 programs in San Diego offer hybrid options, with online coursework and in-person clinical training at local healthcare facilities.
Are there any 4-week CNA classes in San Diego?
Yes. 7 programs in San Diego are accelerated. Accelerated programs usually take 3 to 5 weeks, depending on class schedules and clinical requirements.
Which nearby cities are there for CNA classes and job opportunities?
Near San Diego there are several other cities with CNA classes and job opportunities, such as Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, El Cajon and Murrieta. You can also look at the California state page to find more.
How do I get listed on the California CNA registry?
To work as a CNA in California, you must be added to the official state registry. See our California CNA registry guide for step-by-step instructions.
Where do CNAs work in San Diego?
CNAs in San Diego are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and other healthcare facilities. CMS lists 21 nursing homes, 9 hospitals and 44 home health agencies in San Diego. Many also use their CNA experience as a stepping stone to LPN or RN careers.
Information accuracy: requirements, salary data and other information are compiled from official sources but can change. Please confirm with the school or the state before making decisions. If you spot a mistake, let us know.