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CNA Classes in Idaho: 41 State-Approved Programs (2026)

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CNA Classes in Idaho: Programs, Costs, and State Requirements

Published June 10, 2026 · Last updated June 10, 2026

Idaho asks for a solid amount of CNA training, and that works in your favor: the state requires 120 hours, including 40 supervised clinical hours, which is 1.6 times the 75-hour federal minimum (OBRA ’87). You finish having practiced real patient care, not just cleared a baseline. Choice is wide, too. Idaho has 41 state-approved programs across 29 cities, from community colleges to high school career-tech centers. Certification runs through the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry and the Prometric exam.

Sourced from Idaho IDHW registrySourced from IDHWBLS salary dataBLS dataLast verified Jun 10, 2026Verified Jun 10
Illustration of a certified nursing assistant caring for an elderly patient, CNA classes in Idaho

AT A GLANCE

Your Idaho CNA path

Four steps from interest to certification. Most students complete this in 6–8 weeks.

  1. Step 1.Complete 120 hours of approved training.
  2. Step 2.Finish 40 supervised clinical hours.
  3. Step 3.Pass the Prometric written and skills exam.
  4. Step 4.Get listed with the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry.
See the full How to Become guide →

Key numbers before you compare programs

Typical program length
8–12 weeks
Typical paid program cost
$850–$1,700
Average CNA salary
$38,650/yr (BLS, May 2025)
Reciprocity accepted
Yes, from all states

All 41 state-approved Idaho CNA programs

Sort by cost, length, format, or city. Filter with the chips above the table. Click any row to expand full address, phone, clinical site, and next cohort.

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How this list works. Every program below is state-approved by the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry (ID IDHW). Cost, length, and format come directly from each program’s published materials. Blanks (“N/A”) mean the program hasn’t published that detail yet. Programs with a linked name have a verified profile we maintain. Last verified June 10, 2026.
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Showing 1–25 of 41
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Showing 1–25 of 41

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Fastest CNA programs in Idaho

Idaho’s how-long answer is set by the state, not by any single program: every approved CNA program meets Idaho’s 120-hour requirement, which includes 40 clinical hours. Among programs that publish a calendar, lengths run roughly 8 to 12 weeks, with Gritman Medical Center in Moscow at the short end at 8 weeks. Many programs, including the high school career-tech ones, don’t post a length, so ask each one how it fits those required hours into its schedule.

ProgramCityLengthTotal CostSponsored

Schedules verified June 10, 2026, sourced from each program’s published calendar.

Is a 8-week CNA program in Idaho long enough?

A shorter calendar in Idaho isn’t a lighter program. Every approved program meets the same 120-hour requirement and sits for the same Prometric exam, so the 8-week program at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow simply covers that requirement at a faster, more compressed pace. You’re covering the full requirement in less time, not covering less.

That speed has a price, though. Gritman’s 8-week course is also the most expensive published program in Idaho at $1,700, so finishing fastest costs the most here. A compressed schedule packs the same requirement into fewer weeks and reaches the exam sooner.

If you’re working a job or caring for family, a 12-week program like Idaho State University in Pocatello or College of Western Idaho in Nampa spreads the same requirement across more weeks. And most programs don’t publish a length at all, so pick the pace you can realistically finish: passing the Prometric exam depends on how well the training lands, not how fast you got through it.

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Online, hybrid, weekend & evening CNA programs in Idaho

If you need a schedule that bends around work or family, Idaho gives you real options across its 41 approved programs. Several community colleges, including Idaho State University in Pocatello, College of Western Idaho in Nampa, North Idaho College in Post Falls, Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, and College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls, list a hybrid format, and exact schedules vary by program, so ask each one. Hybrid here means you complete the classroom theory online or at your own pace, then finish your skills lab and 40 clinical hours in person. Online-only CNA training is not offered in Idaho, because hands-on patient care can’t be learned through a screen.

ProgramCityFormatLengthTotal CostSponsored

Format and schedule options verified June 10, 2026. Confirm current online, hybrid, evening, and weekend availability with each program.

Which flexible format is right for working adults?

Hybrid is the real flexibility in Idaho, and it helps to know exactly what it does and doesn’t move. The online portion covers the knowledge side: anatomy, patient rights, infection control, and the material behind the 60-question written exam. You complete that part online rather than in a classroom seat.

The in-person portion is fixed. Idaho’s 40 clinical hours happen on a set schedule at a care facility under supervision, and your skills lab, where you practice transfers and vital signs before the exam, also meets in person. So when you read a program’s calendar, the clinical and lab dates are the ones that have to fit your life, not the lectures.

This matters most if you’re juggling childcare or a current job. A hybrid program at College of Western Idaho in Nampa or North Idaho College in Post Falls puts the coursework online while keeping the skills lab and 40 clinical hours in person. Ask each program when its clinical rotations run and whether any evening or weekend lab sections exist, because that detail decides whether a program actually fits. The flexibility is real, but it lives in the coursework, not the hands-on hours.

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Cheapest CNA programs in Idaho

The most affordable CNA program in Idaho is the Idaho State University CNA Program in Pocatello at $850. Because Idaho has no free CNA training, that $850 is the real floor, not a teaser price that balloons with fees. Among the programs that publish a price, tuition runs from $850 to $1,700. Most of Idaho’s 41 approved programs, especially the high school career-tech ones, list “Contact school” rather than a posted price, so call before you assume what a seat costs.

ProgramCityLengthTotal CostSponsored

Costs verified June 10, 2026, sourced from each program’s published tuition materials.

Is the cheapest CNA program always the best value in Idaho?

Lowest price and best fit aren’t always the same choice. The published prices cluster in the community-college tier, where Idaho State University in Pocatello is the $850 option. But if you live in northern Idaho, North Idaho College in Post Falls at $995 or Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston at $1,029 sits far closer than the Pocatello option, and a program you can reach on class days can matter more than the price gap.

Every approved Idaho program meets the same 120-hour requirement, including 40 clinical hours, and sits for the same Prometric exam, whatever the tuition. The cost differences come down to location, format, and the school.

Many of Idaho’s 41 programs, especially the high school and career-tech centers, don’t post a number at all. That doesn’t mean they cost more; it means you have to ask. Before deciding on price alone, call two or three programs near you, get the real tuition, and weigh it against commute and class times.

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Free & employer-sponsored CNA training in Idaho

The Idaho directory shows no free CNA programs, and none are employer-sponsored either. Every approved program charges tuition, starting at $850 at the Idaho State University CNA Program in Pocatello, and many list “Contact school” instead of a posted price. So plan to budget for tuition. If the cost is tight, you can ask a program directly about payment options, or check with the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry or a local workforce or WIOA office to see what help you might qualify for.

If you do line up any help with the cost, keep in mind that two sources rarely cover the same dollars twice. Whatever one source puts toward your tuition, you generally can’t claim that same cost a second way, so steer any additional help toward the Prometric exam or supplies instead. Confirm the rules with each office before you count on it.

What’s the catch with free CNA training in Idaho?

Because the Idaho directory shows zero free programs and zero employer-sponsored ones, the honest plan is to budget for tuition rather than hunt for a program that doesn’t exist. The published floor is $850 at the Idaho State University CNA Program in Pocatello, with verified costs running up to $1,700, so plan from there.

If paying for training is hard, you have a few places to ask. The program itself is the first call: ask whether it offers a payment plan or any help with the cost. A local workforce or WIOA office can sometimes assist eligible applicants, and eligibility depends on your work history and income, so contact an office before you enroll. If your program sits inside a community college, its financial aid office is worth a call too.

None of these are guaranteed, and none make Idaho training free up front, so plan to cover tuition that starts at $850. For cost questions tied to certification, the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry can point you toward the right office.

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CNA salary in Idaho

BLS wage data for Idaho and its top 3 metros.

CNAs in Idaho earn a median of $18.58 an hour, about $38,650 a year, per BLS data from May 2025. That’s 8.1% below the national median of $20.21, which puts Idaho at #34 of 50 for CNA pay. The 10th percentile starts near $13.65 an hour, and the 90th percentile reaches about $22.80. Those are statewide figures; where you work moves the number, which the next section breaks down.

Entry-level (10th)
$13.65/hr
$28,392/yr
Median (50th)
$18.58/hr
$38,650/yr
Top end (90th)
$22.80/hr
$47,424/yr

Pay by setting in Idaho

SettingMedian hourlyNotes
Hospitals$19.51/hrEstimated from the state wage distribution
Skilled nursing / SNF$18.58/hrEstimated
Assisted living / residential$17.28/hrEstimated

Setting figures are estimated from the verified Idaho wage distribution (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (Nursing Assistants, 31-1131), Idaho, May 2025); actual pay varies by employer.

Where you work shifts that median. Idaho hospitals pay CNAs a median of $19.51 an hour, above the $18.58 skilled-nursing median, while assisted living and residential settings sit lower at $17.28. The same certification pays a different hourly rate depending on where you land, from $17.28 in assisted living to $19.51 in hospitals. If you want to explore moving from CNA into other nursing roles down the line, our CNA-to-LPN bridge program guide and CNA-to-RN bridge program guide walk through the options.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), occupation 31-1131. Cost-of-living differential: Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024).

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Idaho SNAPSHOT

What makes CNA training in Idaho different

State-specific context (hours, exam vendor, and funding density) now that you’ve seen the options.

TRAINING HOURS

120 hours, incl. 40 clinical

Idaho requires 120 training hours including 40 supervised clinical hours, 1.6 times the 75-hour federal minimum (OBRA '87).

EXAM VENDOR

Prometric, written + skills

A 60-question written exam plus a hands-on skills test, scheduled through Prometric for Idaho.

PROGRAM COUNT

41 approved programs

Idaho approves 41 CNA programs across 29 cities, from community colleges to high school career-tech centers.

120-hour requirement
Same Prometric exam
Programs in 29 cities

120 hours, 1.6x the federal floor

Idaho requires 120 training hours, including 40 supervised clinical hours, to certify. That 120-hour requirement is 1.6 times the 75-hour federal minimum set by OBRA '87 (42 CFR 483.152), and the 40 clinical hours are 2.5 times the 16-clinical-hour federal floor. Every approved Idaho program meets that same requirement and sits for the same Prometric exam, whether you pay $850 or $1,700. The result is more supervised, hands-on practice before you test.

Prometric runs Idaho's two-part exam

Idaho certifies through the Prometric Certified Nurse Aide Examination. You take a 60-question written knowledge test, offered in English, plus a performance-based skills test where an evaluator watches you complete real CNA procedures. You schedule both parts through Prometric, and every approved Idaho program meets the same 120-hour requirement before you sit for it.

Wide menu of programs, modest entry pay

Idaho approves 41 programs across 29 cities, with the most in Nampa, Idaho Falls, and Caldwell. CNA pay runs a median of $18.58 an hour, 8.1% below the national median and #34 of 50 by pay. Setting matters: hospitals pay a median of $19.51 while assisted living sits at $17.28. The honest read is wide choice of where to train, with pay that is modest and location-dependent.

Bottom line for Idaho students

Idaho gives you 41 programs across 29 cities and a credential built on 120 hours including 40 clinical, with entry pay that starts modest.

CNA classes by city in Idaho

Idaho’s CNA programs reach 29 cities, with the most options in Nampa, Idaho Falls, and Caldwell. Because choice is spread statewide, the program nearest you can shape your decision as much as price does.

Top 10 Idaho metros by program count

  • Nampa4 programs
  • Idaho Falls3 programs
  • Caldwell3 programs
  • Twin Falls2 programs
  • Pocatello2 programs
  • Lewiston2 programs
  • Blackfoot2 programs
  • Moscow2 programs
  • Post Falls1 programs
  • Boise1 programs

Idaho Nurse Aide Registry: contacts & reference

Idaho certification runs through the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry, part of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Use the registry to verify a certification, renew, or check current requirements.

Managing agencyIdaho Department of Health and Welfare
Phone(800) 748-2480
Websitehealthandwelfare.idaho.gov
Typical processingN/A
Renewal windowEvery 24 months; At least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide
Fee structureFree for registry forms and certifications; duplicate certificate $15.

Always verify with the registry directly before enrolling. Approved-program lists update periodically.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about getting and keeping your Idaho CNA certification, answered with the state’s specific rules.

How do I renew my CNA certification in Idaho?
You renew your Idaho CNA certification every 24 months through the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry, and the core requirement is at least 8 paid hours working as a nurse aide during that cycle. Idaho charges no fee for standard registry forms and certifications, though a duplicate certificate costs $15. To confirm your exact renewal date and submit your paperwork before your certification lapses, contact the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Can I work if my CNA license is expired in Idaho?
Idaho CNA certification runs on a 24-month cycle that you keep active with at least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide. If yours has expired, the rules on whether you can keep working and how to reinstate are set by the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry, so contact the registry at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for your current status before you pick up another shift.
Can I transfer my CNA license to Idaho?
Yes. Idaho accepts CNA reciprocity from all states through the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry, so an active certification from another state can move into Idaho rather than repeating the state’s 120-hour training requirement. The exact documents and steps are handled by the registry, so contact the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to start the transfer and confirm what you need to submit.
What states does Idaho have reciprocity with?
Idaho accepts CNA reciprocity from all states. If you hold an active certification elsewhere, you can apply to bring it into Idaho through the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry instead of retaking the 120-hour training. Because the paperwork and conditions are set by the registry, confirm the current requirements with the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare before you apply.
How many questions are on the Idaho CNA written exam?
The Idaho CNA written exam has 60 questions. It’s the knowledge portion of the Prometric Certified Nurse Aide Examination, offered in English, and it pairs with a hands-on skills test where an evaluator watches you perform real procedures. Every approved Idaho program meets the same 120-hour requirement before you test. You schedule the exam through Prometric and must pass the written and skills sections to certify in Idaho.
What charges stop you from being a CNA in Idaho?
Idaho does not publish a public list of disqualifying charges on this page, and whether a specific record affects your certification depends on the details. The Idaho Nurse Aide Registry, part of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, sets those rules, so contact the registry before you enroll and pay tuition that starts at $850. Getting a clear answer first means you don’t spend money on training you can’t yet use.
How do I check if someone is CNA certified in Idaho?
You can verify an Idaho CNA certification through the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry, which is maintained by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The registry is the official record of who holds an active certification in the state. For the current way to look up a name or certification status, contact the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
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