CNA Programs & Career Opportunities in Tennessee
Tennessee is home to 285 CNA training programs and over 550 healthcare facilities. Our guide currently highlights 142 cities, where we cover all local CNA programs and a selection of healthcare facilities. Explore CNA classes, salary information, and career opportunities to learn more about becoming a CNA in Tennessee.
Get Information from CNA Programs in Tennessee
- Major Cities for CNA Careers in Tennessee
- Training & Certification Requirements in Tennessee
- Explore CNA Classes by City in Tennessee
- Free CNA Classes in Tennessee
- Online CNA Classes in Tennessee
- 4-Week CNA Classes in Tennessee
- Evening Classes in Tennessee
- Weekend Classes in Tennessee
- Prepare for Your CNA Exam in Tennessee
- Salary & Job Outlook as a CNA in Tennessee
- Salary Overview by Area
- Frequently Asked Questions
Starting your CNA Career in Tennessee
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Training Programs285State-approved Programs
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Cities142Cities Currently Covered
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Healthcare Facilities550+Total Facilities
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Median Annual Salary$35,040Median Yearly Pay
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Median Hourly Salary$16.85Median Per Hour
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Total CNAs Employed23,150CNAs Working Statewide
With close to 300 CNA training programs statewide, Tennessee offers a wide range of educational opportunities in major metropolitan areas such as Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, and Murfreesboro. Currently, about 23,150 Certified Nursing Assistants work across Tennessee, reflecting steady demand for skilled healthcare professionals. Students completing Tennessee CNA programs can expect median earnings of 35,040 annually and 16.85 per hour.
With a population of over 7.2 million residents and a rapidly expanding healthcare sector, Tennessee continues to provide strong career opportunities for CNA training graduates. From leading healthcare systems such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center, HCA Healthcare, and Baptist Memorial Health Care to hundreds of long-term care, rehabilitation, and home health facilities statewide, Certified Nursing Assistants play a critical role in supporting patient care across the state's urban centers, suburban communities, and rural areas.
Get Information from CNA Programs in Tennessee
Schools in Tennessee are actively seeking qualified students. Fill out one quick form below to receive information directly from multiple accredited CNA programs.
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Or browse programs by city below to explore specific locations and local options. View city directory ↓
Major Cities for CNA Careers in Tennessee
Explore CNA opportunities in Tennessee's largest cities and metropolitan areas.
Training & Certification Requirements in Tennessee
Before you enroll, it helps to understand exactly what Tennessee requires to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Meeting these standards ensures you're eligible to test, be placed on the state registry, and work in approved healthcare settings.
Eligibility
- Program enrollment (NATCEP): You must complete a Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) approved by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission (HFC). Programs are offered through high schools, community colleges, vocational centers, and long-term care facilities across the state. Each program must meet federal OBRA requirements and the state rules at Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-18-.15.
- Background check: All candidates must complete a criminal background check before having direct patient contact. Nursing facilities must verify that an applicant has no disqualifying findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation listed on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry or any other state's registry before employment.
Training Hours & Clinicals
Tennessee programs run a minimum of 75 total hours of combined classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction. The state rule does not set that total itself. It requires programs to meet the federal OBRA training regulations and refers to "the seventy-five (75) hour training program" as the established standard. Federal rules, not Tennessee ones, require at least 16 hours of instruction before students can have any direct contact with residents. Required topics include communication, infection control, residents' rights, safety and emergency procedures (including the Heimlich maneuver), and promoting residents' independence and dignity. Tennessee sets no classroom and clinical split of its own, so any figure you see quoted for required clinical hours in Tennessee does not come from a state source. Clinical training must take place in a state-licensed long-term care facility under the supervision of an approved registered nurse instructor.
Certification Exam (NNAAP)
After completing your training program, you must pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Examination, administered by Credentia under contract with the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. You do not file the testing application yourself. Under state rule the program coordinator sends it to the testing agency, and your training program uploads your information into Credentia's platform. The exam has two parts:
- Knowledge test: 75 multiple-choice questions, available in written or oral format. The oral version is available in English and Spanish.
- Skills evaluation: a timed demonstration of five randomly selected nurse aide skills, including mandatory hand hygiene and at least one measurement task (e.g., recording temperature or blood pressure).
You must pass both exam components to become certified. Candidates have up to three attempts per section within 24 months of completing training. Those who do not pass within this time must retrain in an approved program before retesting.
Placement on the Registry & Working as a CNA
Once you pass both exam components, your name is added to the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry, maintained by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. Employers must verify your active status before hiring. Under federal law, a nursing facility may employ a trainee for up to 120 days while they complete the certification process, provided they are enrolled in or have completed an approved training program.
Renewal & In-Service Requirements
Your Tennessee CNA certification must be renewed every 24 months, and you file the renewal yourself. Create a Credentia account and submit the renewal application with proof that you worked at least 8 hours in a licensed or certified healthcare facility during the past 24 months. Credentia emails a reminder roughly 120 days before you expire. The proof has to be a pay stub, a payroll printout, or a notarized attestation form completed by the facility where you worked, and a pay stub or printout must show the facility's name (not the payroll company), your name, a date and the hours worked. Private duty, sitter and companion work, and private physicians' offices are not accepted. Renewal is free.
Tennessee sets no continuing education requirement for renewal. Separately, federal rules require facilities to provide at least 12 hours of in-service education a year to nurse aides they employ, and state rule requires your facility to review your performance at least once every 12 months. Both are the facility's duty, not a condition of staying on the registry.
If your certification expires you must reinstate rather than renew, which needs proof of 8 hours worked for each year from the year before expiry through the current year. If you cannot show that, you must retrain and retest.
Reciprocity (Out-of-State CNAs)
If you are certified as a CNA in another U.S. state or territory and your certification is in active, good standing, you may apply for reciprocity to be added to the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry without retraining or retesting. Applicants create a Credentia account and submit a reciprocity application with documentation of their current certification. Tennessee accepts reciprocity from every state except Florida. A CNA certified in Florida must retrain and retest in Tennessee.
Costs & Reimbursement
Exam fees are set by Credentia and paid when you schedule. The current handbook prices the knowledge exam at $35 and the skills evaluation at $87. Under federal law, if you are employed by—or receive an offer from—a Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing facility at the time of training, the facility must cover your training and testing costs. If you are hired within 12 months of completing training, the facility must reimburse you on a prorated basis for those expenses.
Sources: Tennessee Health Facilities Commission — Nurse Aide Information, Tennessee Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook (Credentia), Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-18-.15 — Nurse Aide Training, 42 CFR 483.152 — Federal Training Requirements, Tennessee state-approved training program list
Explore CNA Classes by City in Tennessee
Explore CNA classes in Tennessee by city. We currently feature 142 cities, each with a full list of CNA training courses, salary details, and selected healthcare facilities.
Free CNA Classes in Tennessee
Looking for free CNA classes and training programs in Tennessee? These 54 options are available at no cost through employer sponsorship, state support, or other
financial assistance.
For a complete guide to finding free CNA training, see our Free CNA Classes guide.
Beech Tree Health And Rehab
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Andersonville TN Opco
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Willow Ridge Center
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Ballad Health Academy @ Sullivan East High School
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NHC Healthcare, Sparta
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NHC Healthcare, Smithville
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NHC Healthcare, Sequatchie
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Ballad Health
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NHC Healthcare, Pulaski
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Henry County Health And Rehabilitation
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Online CNA Classes in Tennessee
These 12 programs offer CNA classes online in Tennessee, giving you the flexibility to complete the classroom portion remotely. However, all CNA programs also require in-person clinical training, which must be completed at an approved healthcare facility before certification.
Beech Tree Health And Rehab
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Andersonville TN Opco
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Ballad Health Academy @ Sullivan East High School
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Ballad Health
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Global Healthcare Institute
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Countryside Post-Acute & Rehabilitation Center
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Sanford Health / Good Samaritan Society-Fairfield Glade
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Professional Allied Health
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Gateway Achievement
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NHC Place At Cool Springs Assisted Living
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4-Week CNA Classes in Tennessee
These 35 programs offer accelerated CNA training in Tennessee, typically ranging from 3-5 weeks, with 4-week programs being the most common. Accelerated CNA classes are one of the fastest ways to become a CNA in Tennessee, making them ideal if you want to start your healthcare career quickly.
Beech Tree Health And Rehab
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Andersonville TN Opco
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Willow Ridge Center
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NHC Healthcare, Somerville
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Jefferson County Nursing Home
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NHC Healthcare, Milan
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NHC Healthcare, McMinnville
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Countryside Post-Acute & Rehabilitation Center
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NHC Healthcare, Athens
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NHC Healthcare, Tullahoma
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Evening Classes in Tennessee
These 17 programs offer evening CNA classes in Tennessee, designed for working professionals and those with daytime commitments. Evening classes typically run after 5 PM on weekdays, allowing you to maintain your current schedule while pursuing CNA certification.
Hancock County High School
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Ballad Health Academy @ Sullivan East High School
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Ballad Health
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TN College Of Applied Technology/Harriman
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Ivy Hall Nursing Home
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Walters State Community College (Sevier County Campus)
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Walters State Community College
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Comprehensive Health Academy Of Tennessee
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TN College Of Applied Technology/Knoxville @ Blount Memorial Hos
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TN College Of Applied Technology/Knoxville
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Weekend Classes in Tennessee
These 1 programs offer weekend CNA classes in Tennessee, perfect for those who work Monday through Friday. Weekend programs typically meet on Saturdays and/or Sundays, allowing you to complete your CNA training without disrupting your weekday work schedule.
Ballad Health
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Prepare for Your CNA Exam in Tennessee
Once you're enrolled in a CNA program, the next step is preparing for your state competency exam. Use these free study resources from The CNA Guide to review the clinical skills and knowledge tested on the Tennessee CNA exam.
Free CNA Study Guide
Step-by-step training for the core CNA clinical skills, from hand washing and vital signs to transfers and personal care. Each skill page explains the procedure, what examiners look for, and common mistakes to avoid.
Start studying →Free CNA Practice Tests
Four timed practice tests with over 300 questions covering physical care, psychosocial care, and the role of the nurse aide.
Take a practice test →Salary & Job Outlook as a CNA in Tennessee
Tennessee offers good opportunities for Certified Nursing Assistants, both in terms of job availability and career growth. With more than 23,150 CNAs employed statewide and over 553 healthcare facilities, there are many ways to begin or advance your CNA career. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Tennessee has more than 304 nursing homes, 121 hospitals, and 128 home health agencies employing CNAs. While these figures are based on CMS data and may not include every facility, they illustrate the extensive range of healthcare environments where CNAs are in demand.
Salary Overview
The median annual income for all workers in Tennessee is about $43,820, or $21.07 per hour. CNAs in Tennessee earn a median of $35,040 annually, which equals about $16.85 per hour. While CNA wages are below the state average, the role provides a stable entry point into healthcare with numerous pathways for advancement into higher-paying positions such as Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN).
Job Outlook
The job outlook for CNAs in Tennessee remains positive. With 23,150 CNAs currently employed and hundreds of healthcare facilities statewide, demand continues to rise—especially as the state's senior population grows. Major metropolitan areas such as Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga serve as key employment hubs. Large health systems like Vanderbilt University Medical Center, HCA Healthcare, Ballad Health, and Baptist Memorial Health Care consistently hire CNAs to support hospitals, long-term care, and home health operations. Many CNAs gain hands-on experience and later pursue advanced credentials in nursing, creating a steady cycle of new job openings across the state.
If you are considering this career path, explore our list of CNA training programs in Tennessee or learn more about certification and registry requirements in our CNA License & Registration guide.
Why Become a CNA in Tennessee?
Becoming a CNA in Tennessee is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to enter the healthcare field. Most training programs can be completed in just a few weeks, allowing you to start working quickly and gain practical experience. With over 304 nursing homes, a growing number of hospitals, and a robust network of home health agencies, CNAs in Tennessee enjoy diverse employment options. The state's technical colleges and community-based programs also make CNA education accessible to students in both urban and rural areas. For many, CNA work serves as both a meaningful long-term career and a stepping stone toward becoming an LPN or RN. You can also explore free CNA classes, online CNA programs, or accelerated CNA programs available throughout the state.
CNA Salaries across Tennessee
CNA salaries vary by region, with higher wages typically found in metropolitan areas such as Nashville and Memphis, while smaller cities and rural areas offer lower—but still stable—pay scales. Below is a breakdown of CNA salaries across Tennessee.
Sources: BLS OEWS (May 2023), CMS Nursing Homes (July 2025), CMS Hospitals (July 2025), CMS Home Health Agencies (July 2025)
CNA Salary by Area in Tennessee
Compare CNA salaries across different metropolitan areas and regions in Tennessee. Salary data includes both annual and hourly wages for nursing assistants.
| Area | Annual salary | Hourly salary |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee (statewide) | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| Chattanooga | $33,190 | $15.96 |
| Clarksville | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Cleveland | $33,910 | $16.30 |
| Jackson | $32,430 | $15.59 |
| Johnson City | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol | $33,970 | $16.33 |
| Knoxville | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| Memphis | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| Morristown | $35,120 | $16.89 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $37,150 | $17.86 |
Source: BLS OEWS (May 2023)
Frequently Asked Questions about CNA Classes in Tennessee
How long does it take to complete a CNA program in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, CNA programs require a minimum of 75 hours of training, which includes 35 hours of clinical practice. Most students complete their training in 4–12 weeks, depending on whether they choose a full-time, part-time, or accelerated program schedule.
How much does CNA training cost in Tennessee?
CNA classes in Tennessee generally cost between $800 and $1,500. Some programs may be more expensive at private schools, while community colleges and healthcare providers often offer lower-cost options. Employers may also cover tuition in exchange for a work commitment.
Are there free CNA classes in Tennessee?
Yes. Many nursing homes, hospitals, and state workforce programs in Tennessee offer free CNA training. These are often employer-sponsored programs where you agree to work for the facility after completing training and certification.
Are online CNA programs available in Tennessee?
Several schools in Tennessee offer hybrid CNA programs that combine online coursework with in-person clinical training. While theory can often be completed online, state rules require that clinical skills be performed in a supervised, hands-on healthcare setting.
Are accelerated (4-week) CNA programs available in Tennessee?
Yes, some schools and healthcare providers in Tennessee offer accelerated CNA programs that can be completed in as little as 4 weeks. These programs are intensive and best for students who can commit to full-time study and clinical practice.
How do I become a CNA in Tennessee?
To become a CNA in Tennessee, you must complete a state-approved training program, pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP), and be listed on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry. The process is overseen by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission's Division of Licensure and Regulation.
How can I study for the CNA exam in Tennessee?
Use our free CNA study guide to review the core CNA clinical skills, including hand washing, vital signs, transfers, and personal care. You can also take our free CNA practice tests, which include over 300 questions covering physical care, psychosocial care, and the role of the nurse aide.
I’m a CNA in another state. Can I transfer my license to Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee allows CNAs certified in other states to transfer their license through reciprocity. This process places you on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry without retaking training. Learn more in our guide to CNA License Reciprocity in Tennessee.
How often do I need to renew my CNA license in Tennessee?
CNAs in Tennessee must renew their certification every 24 months. To remain active on the registry, you must work at least one documented day (8 consecutive hours) of paid employment in an approved healthcare setting during that period. See our CNA License & Registration page for renewal details.
How can I check if my CNA license is active in Tennessee?
You can verify your status on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry online. For step-by-step instructions, visit our guide on CNA License & Registration in Tennessee.
How much do CNAs earn in Tennessee?
The median CNA salary in Tennessee is $35,040 per year, or about $16.85 per hour. Pay can vary by region, employer, and years of experience. Many CNAs in Tennessee also use the role as a stepping stone to LPN or RN careers.
Where do CNAs work in Tennessee?
Certified Nursing Assistants in Tennessee work in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies. Opportunities are widely available across both urban and rural areas.
Information Accuracy: Requirements, salary data, and other information are carefully compiled and based on the latest available sources, but may change. Please verify with official sources before making decisions. If you spot a mistake, let us know.