CNA Classes & Certification by State
CNA training and certification rules are set state by state: the required hours, the exam, the cost, even what the job is called. Pick your state to see approved programs near you and the exact steps to get certified.
- 7,800+ state-approved programs
- Verified from state Nurse Aide Registries & approved-program data
Find CNA classes near you
Enter your ZIP to see CNA training options near you. We may match you with sponsored or partner programs; your state guide also lists approved local classes.
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Find CNA classes in your state
Each state sets its own rules, registry, and price. Pick yours to see every approved program, local cost by city, and the steps to certify.
CNA classes by city
City guides go a level deeper than the state page: local program costs, campus options, and who’s hiring nearby.
How CNA requirements vary by state
Same job, different rulebook. Minimum training hours, the exam vendor, and the registry all change at the state line. Each row below links to that state’s step-by-step how to become a CNA guide.
Every state requires certified nursing assistants to finish a state-approved training program and pass a competency exam before working; that part is federal law. Beyond the 75-hour federal minimum, almost everything else is set locally: how many training hours you need, which company runs your exam, what the credential is called, and how your certification is tracked. That’s why the same role can look different from one state to the next, and why the clearest path to real answers is to start with your state. The table below compares all 50 side by side, from states at the 75-hour federal floor to those requiring far more, plus the exam vendor and title used in each.
Training hours
Every state builds on a 75-hour federal floor, and many require more, up to 175. Because more required hours usually mean a longer, costlier program, your state’s hour count is the biggest factor in how long training takes and, for paid programs, what it costs.
Exam & registry
After training you take a competency exam (a written or oral test plus a hands-on skills check) through your state’s chosen vendor, such as Prometric, Credentia, or Pearson VUE. Pass it and your state adds you to its Nurse Aide Registry, which is what officially certifies you to work.
Reciprocity
Moving to another state? You usually don’t start over. Most states honor an active certification in good standing through reciprocity, though some ask for an application, background check, or short refresher. Because vendors and registries differ, check your destination state first.
| State↕ | Title↕ | Min hours↕ | Exam vendor↕ | Registry↕ | How to become↕ |
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Minimum training hours, exam vendor, and registry are sourced from each state’s Nurse Aide Registry and reconciled to its published guide ahead of launch. Each “How to become” link opens that state’s step-by-step certification guide.
CNA resources beyond your state
State-specific guides (how-to-become, salary) are linked from the comparison table and state pages.