Free CNA Classes: How to Get CNA Training at No Cost
1,131 free and employer-paid CNA programs listed in 35 states, and the five ways your training can be paid for.
Free spots are limited. To compare paid programs near you as well:
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Free CNA training in the U.S.
- Free programs listed
- 1,131
- free and employer-paid
- States with free programs
- 35
- of 50 states
- Certified nursing home can charge you
- $0
- for training, if it employs you or has offered you a job
- Federal minimum training
- 75
- hours, incl. 16 clinical, free or paid
Counts: programs listed on our state pages. Rules: eCFR 42 CFR 483.152.
On this page
What brings you here?
Paid CNA Training: When an Employer Pays for It
Nursing homes, hospitals and home care agencies that need aides often train their own. They pay in one of two ways, and the difference matters most if you leave early.
| The employer pays your tuitionsponsored or reimbursed training | The employer hires you, then trains youoften called a nurse aide in training |
|---|---|
| Who offers it | |
| Nursing homes, hospitals, home care agencies | Mostly nursing homes and long-term care facilities |
| What you pay | |
| Nothing up front, or you are repaid once you start work | Nothing |
| Paid while training | |
| Usually not | Yes, an hourly wage |
| The commitment | |
| Work there for a set time once certified, often 6 to 12 months | You are already on staff. Many ask you to stay for a set time. |
| If you leave early | |
| A certified nursing home should not ask you to repay. Hospitals and other employers may, so read the agreement. | A certified nursing home cannot charge you for the training (see the rule below) |
The rule most people don't know
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.
CMS has also said a nursing home should not ask an aide to repay training costs for leaving early, because Medicare and Medicaid already pay it for that training. The rule covers nursing homes only, not hospitals, home health agencies or assisted living.
Sources: eCFR 42 CFR 483.152(c), Federal Register, Sept. 26, 1991, p. 48901. It is why so many nursing homes train aides for free: it is how they fill open positions. See CMS nursing home careers.
What to ask before you sign
- Is the training free, or will I pay it back?
- Am I paid while I train, and at what rate?
- How long must I work here after I'm certified?
- What happens if I leave early, and what would I owe?
- Is the state exam fee covered?
- Is the program on the state's approved list?
Get the answers in writing before you start.
5 Routes to Free CNA Training
Free training is paid for by someone who needs CNAs or funds job training. Here is who pays on each route and what they ask in return.
| Route | Who pays | Commitment after | Paid while training | How to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Employer-sponsored | Nursing home or care facility | Usually 6 to 12 months of work | Sometimes | Call nursing homes near you |
| 2. WIOA funding | Federal workforce funds, through your American Job Center | None | No | Visit your American Job Center |
| 3. Hospital-sponsored | Hospital or health system | Often a job offer to accept | Sometimes | Check hospital careers pages |
| 4. State grants and Medicaid waiver | State workforce or Medicaid programs | Varies by program | Rarely | Ask your state workforce office |
| 5. High school CTE | School district | None | No | Ask your school counselor |
1. Employer-sponsored programs
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities are the largest source of free CNA training. They cover your costs in exchange for a work commitment, usually 6 to 12 months. Many don't advertise it, so call and ask. Because they want you working soon, these programs are often among the fastest.
2. WIOA workforce funding
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) pays for job training for eligible adults, dislocated workers and youth, and CNA training is one of the most commonly approved programs. Your local American Job Center decides who qualifies, based on income, employment status and local funding.
Bring ID, proof of income or employment status, and any school records. The program must be on your state's Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). Some regions have waitlists. Find your center with the CareerOneStop American Job Center finder.
3. Hospital-sponsored programs
Some hospitals and health systems train the CNAs they plan to hire. They take a limited number of applicants and often come with a conditional job offer. Check the careers pages of large health systems near you.
4. State workforce grants and Medicaid waiver programs
Several states fund CNA training through community colleges or vocational schools. In states with Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers, training is sometimes available to home health aides working toward CNA certification. Ask your state workforce office or Department of Health what is active now.
5. High school CTE programs
Many high schools offer CNA certification through Career and Technical Education (CTE), sometimes as dual enrollment. These programs meet state hour requirements and often include the state exam at no cost. If you are in high school, ask your counselor about health sciences CTE.
What to Expect in a Free CNA Program
Free doesn't mean shorter or online-only. Free programs cover the same state-required hours as paid ones. Federal rules set a floor of 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and most states require more.
Expect a classroom, a skills lab and supervised training with residents at a care facility, then the state competency exam. On employer-sponsored programs you may also work shifts at the facility, often evenings or weekends.
What "Free" Actually Covers
"Free CNA training" means tuition is covered. Other costs depend on the program and the route.
| Item | Typically covered | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and classroom instruction | Yes | – |
| Basic textbooks and materials | Usually | Sometimes extra |
| Scrubs and uniform | Sometimes | Often not |
| Physical exam and TB test | Rarely | Usually your cost |
| Background check and fingerprinting | Rarely | Usually your cost |
| State certification exam fee | Sometimes | Confirm up front |
| Pay during training | Varies by route | Ask employer-sponsored programs |
| Work commitment after certification | Employer-sponsored only | Read the agreement |
| Repayment if you quit early | Some employers | Not a certified nursing home. Get the terms in writing |
Ask for a written breakdown of covered costs before you enroll. A program that can't tell you what is free and what isn't is a red flag.
States with Free CNA Programs
Open your state to see its free and employer-paid programs, city by city. A program counts as free when the provider lists it as employer-sponsored, WIOA-eligible, grant-funded or tuition-free.
35 states · 1,131 free programs
Counts are the programs listed on our state pages and change as listings are added or removed.
Free CNA Classes Online: What's Actually Possible
Some programs teach the classroom part online. None can teach the hands-on part online, so there is no fully online path to CNA certification, free or paid.
Online or in person
- Anatomy and physiology basics
- Medical terminology
- Infection control
- Patient rights and HIPAA
- Nutrition and restorative care
- Documentation
- Skills lab practice
- Supervised practical training, at least 16 hours under federal rules
- The state skills exam
WIOA-funded programs at community colleges are the likeliest free hybrid option. Employer-sponsored programs at nursing homes are almost always fully in person.
How to Find Free CNA Programs Near You
-
Start with your state page
Each state page lists its free programs city by city. Find yours in the table above.
-
Call nursing homes near you
Ask three to five facilities whether they offer employer-sponsored training, even if they list no openings.
-
Visit your American Job Center
Ask which CNA programs are WIOA-approved and whether funds are available. Use the CareerOneStop American Job Center finder.
-
Ask the community college workforce office
Workforce and continuing education departments often have funded seats that aren't in the course catalog.
-
Search locally
Search "[your city or county] free CNA training". State workforce boards and nonprofits post funded programs that rarely rank well.
Can't Find a Free Program?
Look at other CNA programs in your area and compare costs and start dates.
Schools in this search charge tuition. Ask each one about payment plans, financial aid and whether it accepts WIOA funding.
CNA program search
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Other Ways to Train as a CNA
Each guide lists its programs state by state.
| Type | Programs |
|---|---|
| 4-week (accelerated)Full-time schedules that cover the state's hours in 3 to 5 weeks.4-week CNA programs → | 1,349 |
| Online and hybridClassroom part online. Skills lab and clinical hours in person.Online CNA classes → | 1,135 |
| EveningClasses after 5 PM on weekdays, so you can keep a daytime job.Evening CNA classes → | 1,274 |
| WeekendClasses on Saturdays, Sundays or both.Weekend CNA classes → | 705 |
Programs on our state pages. A program can count under more than one type.
Frequently Asked Questions About Free CNA Classes
Are free CNA classes really free, or are there hidden costs?
Tuition and basic materials are usually covered, but some programs charge separately for textbooks, uniforms, background checks or the state exam. Before you enroll, get in writing which costs are covered.
How long does a free CNA program take?
Most run 4 to 12 weeks, depending on your state's minimum hours and the schedule. Employer-sponsored programs are often among the fastest, because the employer wants you working soon.
Do employer-sponsored programs require payback if you quit?
It depends on who trains you. Most ask you to work for a set time after certification, often 6 to 12 months. A Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home cannot charge the aides it employs for training, and CMS has said it should not ask them to repay it if they leave early (see the federal rule). Hospitals, home health agencies and other employers are not covered by that rule, so their agreements may ask you to repay some or all of the cost. Read any agreement before you sign.
Can I get free CNA training online?
Only the classroom part. Hands-on training must be in person, so no program, free or paid, is fully online. Some WIOA-funded programs at community colleges offer hybrid classes.
What is WIOA and how do I apply for CNA training funding?
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federal program that pays for job training for eligible workers. Visit your local American Job Center, complete an eligibility assessment and ask for CNA training funding. Approval depends on income, employment status and local funds.
Do I have to do in-person clinical training even if the program is free?
Yes. Free programs cover the same state-required hours as paid ones, including the hands-on part. Federal rules require at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, and most states require more clinical hours at a care facility.
How much does a CNA program cost if it's not free?
It depends on the state and the type of school. Our CNA programs hub shows what the programs we list charge, by school type. Books, uniform, background check and the exam fee often come on top.
What commitments do I typically have in a free CNA program?
Employer-sponsored programs usually require 6 to 12 months of work after certification. WIOA-funded programs usually have no work commitment, and high school CTE programs have none. Hospital programs may expect you to accept a job offer.
Do I get paid during free CNA training?
Sometimes. Some nursing homes hire you first and pay an hourly wage while you train. WIOA, high school and most hospital programs don't pay trainees. See paid CNA training.
Which nursing homes and hospitals pay for CNA training?
Many Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes, and some hospitals and health systems, pay for training or hire you as a paid trainee. Few advertise it, so call facilities near you and check the careers pages of large health systems. Your state page lists employer-paid programs by city.
What is a nurse aide in training?
Someone a nursing home hires before certification and pays while they complete a state-approved program. Federal rules let a nursing home use you as a nurse aide for up to four months, full time, before you must have finished the training and passed the competency exam (eCFR 42 CFR 483.35(d)).
What if I don't want to work at a nursing home after training?
Pick a route that doesn't tie you to one. WIOA-funded, community college and hospital programs leave you free to work elsewhere. The tradeoff is that employer-sponsored programs are often faster and have no waitlist.
How long until I can start working as a CNA after training?
On an employer-sponsored program, often straight away, sometimes as a paid trainee before you finish. WIOA funding has to be approved before training starts, which can add a few weeks. Whatever the route, you need to pass the state exam to be listed on your state's nurse aide registry.
Can I get free CNA training with a criminal record?
Possibly. Every state requires a background check, but a record doesn't automatically disqualify you. Each state sets its own list, typically abuse, neglect, exploitation or serious felonies. Ask your state's nurse aide registry before you start a program.
What are the basic eligibility requirements for free CNA training?
Most programs ask that you are 18 or older (some take 16- and 17-year-olds with parental consent), have a high school diploma or GED, pass a background check, and have a physical and TB test. WIOA adds income and employment criteria.
What does "state-approved CNA program" mean?
Each state approves the programs whose graduates may take the certification exam. An approved program meets the state's minimum hours and instructor standards. If you finish an unapproved one, you can't take the exam, so ask for proof of approval.
Information accuracy: program availability, funding and eligibility change often. Check the details with the program before you decide. If you spot a mistake, let us know.