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CNA Training Classes

Free Guide to CNA Training Programs in Every State

Complete a CNA training course and earn your CNA certification in as little as 3 months

What is a CNA?

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a trained health care provider responsible for providing basic care and treatment to patients suffering from disease, illness, injury or mental incapacity. Some technical schools and vocational training colleges offer CNA training programs as well, but might have a higher cost because they are private learning institutions. These institutions such as the Gwynedd Mercy nursing school , can cost more because they offer more hands on experience and a higher-likelihood of knowing the current best-practices.


Most CNAs are employed in long-term care facilities, hospitals, nursing homes or other medical care facilities. Facility administrators maintain a large number of CNAs on staff to serve their patients and abide by state guidelines for ratio of care takers per number of patients. Since CNAs are more cost-effective to hire than registered nurses they make excellent candidates for employment in health care centers. The average salary range for a CNA is around $25,000 per year. The average salary for an RN is around $60,000 per year. This is why CNAs are more attractive to employers seeking to maintain a significant amount of care providers on staff. However, since CNAs have fewer educational requirements than RNs they must work under the supervision of either a registered nurse or a physician. It is typical for health care facilities to employ one registered nurse for every 5-10 nursing assistants.

Daily Tasks & Duties of a CNA

The tasks and duties performed by a CNA are very similar to those of a registered nurse. The CNA will provide basic personal care and medical treatment for patients, including assistance with bathing, eating, dressing and toileting. CNAs also provide medical care such as measuring and recording vital signs, height/weight, temperature, blood pressure and heartbeat. They also administer medication and answer patient’s questions about their treatments and medications. One limitation of a CNA is that they cannot prescribe medication or make medical diagnoses. They are allowed to make recommendations to the registered nurse or doctor on duty. CNAs are usually responsible for maintaining daily relationships with the current patients and monitoring their progress. They keep their findings in a medical chart and submit these to their supervisor for review and consultation.

CNA Training Programs & CNA Certification

The process of becoming a CNA is very simple and can be completed in about 3 months. For those seeking to gain experience in the health care industry without investing large amounts of time and money in education and training the CNA certification is an excellent option.


The first step is to enroll in a state-approved CNA training program and complete the coursework. The federal minimum number of training hours required is 75, but individual states have the authority to increase that number to an amount that they determine to be sufficient. Many community colleges offer approved CNA courses and cost between $400 – $800. Many nursing homes and assisted living facilities offer on-site CNA training for current or future employees. These programs are usually lower cost because they are completed on-site during the process of regular work being performed. If the facility covers the cost of the program it is usually expected that upon graduation the student will become an employee at that facility. Some technical schools and vocational training colleges offer CNA training programs as well, but might have a higher cost because they are private learning institutions.

The second step is to take the state CNA certification exam and pass successfully. The CNA exam includes two parts: written multiple choice questions and a hands-on clinical skills test. Both portions of the exam must be completed satisfactorily to obtain CNA certification. Well structured CNA training programs should include practice for both parts of the exam and provide insight as to what to expect from the skills test. There are 25 basic skills that can be tested, but each certification exam will only test 5. However, the student must be prepared and feel confident in performing all 25 tasks to ensure that they will pass the test.

The final step is to register with the state nurse aide registry in the state where you hold your certification and wish to practice. Once you are included on the state registry list your license can be verified by prospective employers.


The list of CNA training classes provided on our Website includes thousands of programs. Each state has slightly different licensing and certification requirements. Read more about each state using the links below.

CNA Training Courses by State

Alabama CNA Training Classes

Alaska CNA Training Classes

Arizona CNA Training Classes

Arkansas CNA Training Classes

California CNA Training Classes

Colorado CNA Training Classes

Connecticut CNA Training Classes

Delaware CNA Training Classes

Florida CNA Training Classes

Georgia CNA Training Classes

Hawaii CNA Training Classes

Idaho CNA Training Classes

Illinois CNA Training Classes

Indiana CNA Training Classes

Iowa CNA Training Classes

Kansas CNA Training Classes

Kentucky CNA Training Classes

Louisiana CNA Training Classes

Maine CNA Training Classes

Maryland CNA Training Classes

Massachusetts CNA Training Classes

Michigan CNA Training Classes

Minnesota CNA Training Classes

Mississippi CNA Training Classes

Missouri CNA Training Classes

Montana CNA Training Classes

Nebraska CNA Training Classes

Nevada CNA Training Classes

New Hampshire CNA Training Classes

New Jersey CNA Training Classes

New Mexico CNA Training Classes

New York CNA Training Classes

North Carolina CNA Training Classes

North Dakota CNA Training Classes

Ohio CNA Training Classes

Oklahoma CNA Training Classes

Oregon CNA Training Classes

Pennsylvania CNA Training Classes

Rhode Island CNA Training Classes

South Carolina CNA Training Classes

South Dakota CNA Training Classes

Tennessee CNA Training Classes

Texas CNA Training Classes

Utah CNA Training Classes

Vermont CNA Training Classes

Virginia CNA Training Classes

Washington CNA Training Classes

West Virginia CNA Training Classes

Wisconsin CNA Training Classes

Wyoming CNA Training Classes

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