Home › States › Alabama

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

Published June 16, 2026 · Last updated June 16, 2026

Alabama gives you a real menu of CNA programs to choose from: 58 state-approved programs spread across 42 cities, from Mobile and Montgomery to Huntsville and the Shoals. The state sets training at 75 hours, the federal standard, so the legal path to your certification is the efficient one. What changes most from program to program is schedule, format, and price, and that is where your real decision lives.

Sourced from Alabama ADPH registrySourced from ADPHBLS salary dataBLS dataLast verified Jun 16, 2026Verified Jun 16

Illustration of a certified nursing assistant caring for an elderly patient, CNA classes in Alabama

AT A GLANCE

Your Alabama CNA path

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

Step 1.Complete 75 hours of approved training.
Step 2.Finish the required number of supervised clinical hours.
Step 3.Pass the Prometric written and skills exam.
Step 4.Get listed with the Certified Nurse Aide Registry.

See the full How to Become guide →

Key numbers before you compare programs

Typical program length: 2–15 weeks
Typical paid program cost: $568–$2,020
Average CNA salary: $34,140/yr (BLS, May 2025)
Reciprocity accepted: No

Start here

Start with what matters most to you.

Five paths through this page. Pick the one that matches your situation.

I need the best value.See programs with high reviews & affordable tuition.
I need to finish fast.Explore accelerated, hybrid, or condensed-schedule options.
I need financial assistance.Find courses offering payment plans or grants.
I need flexible class hours.See evening, weekend, and hybrid CNA program options.

This quiz needs JavaScript. To explore CNA programs near you directly, view local training options. Sponsored Ad.

All 58 state-approved Alabama 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.

See programs near you

Tell us your ZIP and we’ll show you what’s available in your area.

Sponsored Ad. No obligation.

Sponsored matching service.

How this list works. Every program below is state-approved by the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry (AL ADPH). 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 16, 2026.

Sort:ⓘ

Filter:ⓘ

Showper pageShowing 1–25 of 58

	Program	City	Format	Length	Total Cost
	Bevill State Community College	Sumiton	In-person	9 wk	$1,175
Address: 1411 Indiana Avenue, Jasper, AL 35501, Sumiton Phone: N/A Facility: Community college View this program →
	Calhoun Community College	Decatur	In-person	8 wk	$899
Address: 6250 US-31 North, Tanner, AL 35671, Decatur Phone: N/A Facility: Community college View this program →
	Coastal Alabama Community College	Bay Minette	In-person	107 hrs	$790
Address: 1900 U.S. Highway 31 South, Bay Minette, AL 36507 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college View this program →
	Jefferson State Community College	Birmingham	In-person	Contact school	$899
Address: 2601 Carson Road, George Wallace Hall Office 202, Birmingham, AL 35215 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college View this program →
	Wallace Community College	Dothan	In-person	Contact school	$875
Address: 1141 Wallace Drive, Dothan, AL 36303 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college View this program →
	A&O Health Career Center	Mobile	In-person	91 hrs	$699
Address: 4321 Midmost Drive Suite C, Mobile, AL 36609 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Career Health Services Academy	Pelham	In-person	Contact school	$2,020
Address: 2090 Columbiana Road, Pelham, AL 35124 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Coastal Alabama Community College – Thomasville	Thomasville	In-person	107 hrs	$790
Address: 30755 Highway 43 South, Thomasville, AL 36784 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Jes Phlebotomy Healthservices	Montgomery	Hybrid	7 wk	$1,450
Address: 8416 Crossland Loop, Suite B, Montgomery, AL 36117 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	New Path Health Career Center	Adamsville	Hybrid	4 wk	$1,000
Address: 3385 Main Street, Adamsville, AL 35005 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Northwest-Shoals Community College	Muscle Shoals	Hybrid	80 hrs	$568
Address: 800 George Wallace Boulevard, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	SAAD Healthcare	Mobile	In-person	Contact school	$850
Address: 1515 University Boulevard South, Mobile, AL 36609 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Shelton State Community College	Tuscaloosa	In-person	110 hrs	$1,478
Address: 9500 Old Greensboro Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Southern Union State Community College	Opelika	In-person	Contact school	$743
Address: 301 Lake Condy Road, Opelika, AL 36801 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Taite Healthcare Training	Prichard	Hybrid	4 wk	$600
Address: 309 East Turner Road, Prichard, AL 36610 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Trenholm State Community College	Montgomery	In-person	75 hrs	$800
Address: 1225 Air Base Blvd, Building E (EMT Lab), Montgomery, AL 36108 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Achievement Center-Easter Seals	Opelika	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 510 West Thomason Circle, Opelika, AL 36801 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Bishop State Community College	Mobile	In-person	75 hrs	Contact school
Address: 351 North Broad Street, Mobile, AL 36603 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Blount County Career Technical Center	Cleveland	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 61500 US Highway 231, Cleveland, AL 35049 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Bullock County Career Technical Center	Union Springs	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 304 East Blackmon Avenue, Union Springs, AL 36089 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Central Alabama Community College	Alexander City	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 1675 Cherokee Rd., Alexander City, AL 35010 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Chattahoochee Valley Community College	Phenix City	In-person	75 hrs	Contact school
Address: 2602 College Drive, Phenix City, AL 36869 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Cullman Area Technology Academy (CATA)	Cullman	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 17640 Highway 31 North, Cullman, AL 35058 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Dannon Training Institute	Birmingham	In-person	6 wk	Contact school
Address: 1600 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	East Alabama Medical Center	Opelika	In-person	6 wk	Contact school
Address: 2000 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801 Phone: (334) 749-3411 Facility: Hospital Call this program
	Easter Seals Central Alabama	Montgomery	In-person	5 wk	Contact school
Address: 2125 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36116 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Enterprise City Technology Center (Enterprise High School Health Science)	Enterprise	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 504 Watts St, Enterprise, AL 36330 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Etowah County Career Technical Center	Attalla	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 105 Burke Avenue SE, Attalla, AL 35954 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Faulkner Career Technical Center	Prichard	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 33 West Elm Street, Prichard, AL 36610 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Franklin County Career-Technical Center	Russellville	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 85 Jail Springs Road, Russellville, AL 35653 Phone: (256) 332-2127 Facility: High school Call this program
	Gadsden State Community College	Gadsden	In-person	11 wk	Contact school
Address: 1001 George Wallace Drive, Gadsden, AL 35903 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Houston County Career Academy	Dothan	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 662 West Main St, Dothan, AL 36301 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College	Huntsville	Hybrid	6 wk	Contact school
Address: 3421 Meridian Street North, Huntsville, AL 35811 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Lamar County School of Technology	Vernon	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 43880 Hwy 17 South, Vernon, AL 35592 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Lawrence County Career Technical Center	Moulton	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 179 College St, Moulton, AL 35650 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Lawson State Community College	Bessemer	In-person	5 wk	Contact school
Address: 1100 9th Avenue SW, Bessemer, AL 35022 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	LeCroy Career Technical Center	Clanton	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 1601 Lay Dam Rd, Clanton, AL 35045 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Lincoln High School (Talladega County – Health Science CNA Program)	Lincoln	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 63100 AL-77, Lincoln, AL 35096 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Madison County Career Tech Center	Huntsville	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 1275 Jordan Road, Building B, Huntsville, AL 35811 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Monroe County Career Technical Center	Monroeville	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 230 Tiger Drive, Monroeville, AL 36460 Phone: (251) 575-4381 Facility: High school Call this program
	Morgan County Schools Rural Development Park (Career Tech Academy)	Hartselle	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 72 Plainview Street, Hartselle, AL 35640 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Muscle Shoals Career Academy	Muscle Shoals	In-person	75 hrs	Contact school
Address: 321 Jim Holland Drive, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 Phone: (256) 389-2660 Facility: High school Call this program
	Norfolk Allied Health Training Center	Montgomery	N/A	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 4233 South Court Street, Montgomery, AL 36105 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Northeast Alabama Community College	Rainsville	In-person	90 hrs	Contact school
Address: 138 Alabama Highway 35, Rainsville, AL 35986 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Patient Care Academy	Sylacauga	In-person	2 wk	Contact school
Address: 315 West Hightower Place, Sylacauga, AL 35150 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Phlebotomy Ink Training and Staffing Agency	Birmingham	In-person	6 wk	Contact school
Address: 1100 East Park Drive, Suite 102, Birmingham, AL 35235 Phone: (205) 582-9075 Facility: Technical college Call this program
	Reid State Technical College	Evergreen	Hybrid	15 wk	Contact school
Address: 100 Highway 83, Evergreen, AL 36401 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Saraland High School Career Technical Education (CNA Program)	Saraland	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 1115 Industrial Parkway, Saraland, AL 36571 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Satsuma High School (Career Technical Education – Nurse Assistant Program)	Satsuma	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 1 Gator Circle, Satsuma, AL 36572 Phone: (251) 380-8190 Facility: High school Call this program
	Shelby County Career Technical Educational Center (CTEC)	Columbiana	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 701 Highway 70, Columbiana, AL 35051 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	SM School of Opportunity	Bessemer	In-person	2 wk	Contact school
Address: 304 Eastern Valley Road, Bessemer, AL 35020 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Snead State Community College	Boaz	Hybrid	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 220 North Walnut Street, Boaz, AL 35957 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy (TCTA)	Tuscaloosa	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 2800 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	University of West Alabama	Livingston	N/A	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 100 N. Washington St., Livingston, AL 35470 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Victory Professional Development Center	Mobile	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 4313 Downtowner Loop North, Mobile, AL 36609 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Vina High School Career Technical Center	Vina	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 8250 County Road 23, Vina, AL 35593 Phone: (256) 331-2260 Facility: High school Call this program
	Walker County Center of Technology	Jasper	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: P.O. Box 311, Jasper, AL 35502 Phone: N/A Facility: High school
	Wallace Community College Selma	Selma	In-person	Contact school	Contact school
Address: 3000 Earl Goodwin Parkway, Selma, AL 36702 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college

Some programs listed may be advertisers. Advertising disclosure.

Showing 1–25 of 58

Still comparing? Let us narrow the list.

Give us your ZIP and what matters most (cost, speed, or schedule), and we’ll show you matching CNA training options in your area. Takes under a minute.

Sponsored Ad. No obligation.

Sponsored matching: we earn a referral fee if you enroll through a match. This does not change the 58 programs shown in the directory above.

Fastest CNA programs in Alabama

The honest answer to “how fast” in Alabama starts with the 75-hour requirement, not a calendar promise. Because the state holds training to the federal floor of 75 hours, the coursework itself is compact and the legal path is the efficient one. How those 75 hours turn into actual weeks depends on how a program spaces them out, which is why two programs covering the same material can look very different on a calendar.

	Program	City	Length	Total Cost
	SM School of Opportunity	Bessemer	2 wk	Contact school
Address: 304 Eastern Valley Road, Bessemer, AL 35020 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Patient Care Academy	Sylacauga	2 wk	Contact school
Address: 315 West Hightower Place, Sylacauga, AL 35150 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Trenholm State Community College	Montgomery	75 hrs	$800
Address: 1225 Air Base Blvd, Building E (EMT Lab), Montgomery, AL 36108 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Bishop State Community College	Mobile	75 hrs	Contact school
Address: 351 North Broad Street, Mobile, AL 36603 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Chattahoochee Valley Community College	Phenix City	75 hrs	Contact school
Address: 2602 College Drive, Phenix City, AL 36869 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Northwest-Shoals Community College	Muscle Shoals	80 hrs	$568
Address: 800 George Wallace Boulevard, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Northeast Alabama Community College	Rainsville	90 hrs	Contact school
Address: 138 Alabama Highway 35, Rainsville, AL 35986 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	A&O Health Career Center	Mobile	91 hrs	$699
Address: 4321 Midmost Drive Suite C, Mobile, AL 36609 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college

Schedules verified June 16, 2026, sourced from each program’s published calendar.

Is a 2-week CNA program in Alabama long enough?

Published program lengths in Alabama run from about 2 weeks at the fastest accelerated formats up to roughly 15 weeks for programs that meet a couple of evenings a week. That is a wide range built from the same 75-hour minimum, just packed tightly or spread out, and every one of these programs sits for the same Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Competency Examination at the end.

A lot of Alabama programs, especially the high-school and career-technical ones, do not publish a calendar length and list “Contact school” instead. That is not a red flag. Start dates vary by program, so the school would rather quote you a real date than a stale brochure number. When length is not posted, anchor your expectations on the 75-hour requirement and ask the school directly how many weeks the next cohort runs.

Faster is not free of tradeoffs. A 2-week intensive means full days, back to back, which is demanding if you are also working. A program stretched across several weeks of evenings asks less of any single day but more of your calendar overall. Neither is lighter than the other; they clear the same 75-hour minimum and the same exam. It is a question of which pressure your life can absorb right now.

WANT TO START SOON?

See CNA training options near you

Tell us your ZIP and we’ll show you Alabama CNA training options in your area.

Sponsored Ad. No obligation.

Online, hybrid, weekend & evening CNA programs in Alabama

Flexibility is where Alabama programs differ most from one another, and it is the most useful lens for choosing one. The state has hybrid and evening formats, so the theory portion of your training can often be done online, though schedules vary by program. The one rule that never bends: skills lab and clinical hours are always completed in person. No Alabama CNA program runs entirely online, because you cannot demonstrate a bed bath or take vital signs through a screen, and the state would not certify you on coursework alone.

	Program	City	Format	Length	Total Cost
	Northwest-Shoals Community College	Muscle Shoals	Hybrid	80 hrs	$568
Address: 800 George Wallace Boulevard, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Taite Healthcare Training	Prichard	Hybrid	4 wk	$600
Address: 309 East Turner Road, Prichard, AL 36610 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	A&O Health Career Center	Mobile	In-person	91 hrs	$699
Address: 4321 Midmost Drive Suite C, Mobile, AL 36609 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Calhoun Community College	Decatur	In-person	8 wk	$899
Address: 6250 US-31 North, Tanner, AL 35671, Decatur Phone: N/A Facility: Community college View this program →
	Jefferson State Community College	Birmingham	In-person	Contact school	$899
Address: 2601 Carson Road, George Wallace Hall Office 202, Birmingham, AL 35215 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college View this program →
	New Path Health Career Center	Adamsville	Hybrid	4 wk	$1,000
Address: 3385 Main Street, Adamsville, AL 35005 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Bevill State Community College	Sumiton	In-person	9 wk	$1,175
Address: 1411 Indiana Avenue, Jasper, AL 35501, Sumiton Phone: N/A Facility: Community college View this program →
	Jes Phlebotomy Healthservices	Montgomery	Hybrid	7 wk	$1,450
Address: 8416 Crossland Loop, Suite B, Montgomery, AL 36117 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college

Format and schedule options verified June 16, 2026. Confirm current online, hybrid, evening, and weekend availability with each program.

Which flexible format is right for working adults?

“Online CNA classes” in Alabama means a hybrid program where you handle lectures and reading at home, then come to campus for hands-on skills practice and to a partnered facility for clinicals. Northwest-Shoals in Muscle Shoals and Taite Healthcare Training in Prichard both run hybrid formats, and community colleges like Calhoun in Decatur and Jefferson State in Birmingham round out the directory.

The honest tradeoff is self-discipline. In a hybrid program, the coursework is online while the skills lab and clinical hours happen in person. The clinical dates are fixed and non-negotiable, so the flexibility lives in the coursework, not the whole program. Before you enroll in a hybrid format, be honest about whether you will keep up with the reading on your own, because the in-person clinical days assume you already know the material.

A flexible format is also worth acting on early. If hybrid or evening sections are the difference between enrolling and not, call the program and ask about the next start date rather than waiting for a perfect time that may never come. The schedule that lets you actually finish, around your shifts and your family, beats the one that looks ideal on paper but you can never quite make.

NEED FLEXIBLE HOURS?

Looking for CNA training around your schedule?

Tell us your ZIP to see CNA training options available in your area.

Sponsored Ad. No obligation.

Cheapest CNA programs in Alabama

Tuition in Alabama covers a wide, affordable range. Among the 17 programs that publish a price, paid tuition starts around $568 at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals and runs up to about $2,020. Most community-college programs land in the middle, and four come in at or below $750. The spread is real, so the lowest sticker price is rarely the only thing worth weighing when you compare your options.

	Program	City	Length	Total Cost
	Northwest-Shoals Community College	Muscle Shoals	80 hrs	$568
Address: 800 George Wallace Boulevard, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Taite Healthcare Training	Prichard	4 wk	$600
Address: 309 East Turner Road, Prichard, AL 36610 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	A&O Health Career Center	Mobile	91 hrs	$699
Address: 4321 Midmost Drive Suite C, Mobile, AL 36609 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Southern Union State Community College	Opelika	Contact school	$743
Address: 301 Lake Condy Road, Opelika, AL 36801 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	Coastal Alabama Community College	Bay Minette	107 hrs	$790
Address: 1900 U.S. Highway 31 South, Bay Minette, AL 36507 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college View this program →
	Trenholm State Community College	Montgomery	75 hrs	$800
Address: 1225 Air Base Blvd, Building E (EMT Lab), Montgomery, AL 36108 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college
	SAAD Healthcare	Mobile	Contact school	$850
Address: 1515 University Boulevard South, Mobile, AL 36609 Phone: N/A Facility: Technical college
	Wallace Community College	Dothan	Contact school	$875
Address: 1141 Wallace Drive, Dothan, AL 36303 Phone: N/A Facility: Community college View this program →

Costs verified June 16, 2026, sourced from each program’s published tuition materials.

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

The lowest number on the list is not automatically the best fit. Northwest-Shoals at $568 is a hybrid program in Muscle Shoals, which works beautifully if you live in the Shoals area but turns into a long drive if you are in Birmingham or Mobile. Location and format change what a program actually costs you in time and travel.

Look at what the tuition includes, too. Extra costs like supplies or a background check can apply, so ask each program what tuition includes. Those add-ons can quietly close the gap between a $568 program and an $800 one.

The number that matters most is the one tied to a schedule you can actually keep. Every approved program meets the same 75-hour requirement and the same Prometric exam, so a slightly higher tuition at a campus 15 minutes away, with sections that fit around your job, can be easier to finish than a cheaper program you keep missing.

COST A PRIORITY?

Looking for affordable training?

Tell us your ZIP and we’ll show you what’s available in your area.

Sponsored Ad. No obligation.

Free & employer-sponsored CNA training in Alabama

The Alabama directory does not list a free, state-approved CNA program anywhere in the state, and it shows no employer-sponsored training either. Among the 17 programs that publish a price, the lowest verified tuition is $568 at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals, so the realistic plan here is an affordable paid program rather than a no-cost one. If cost is the obstacle, there are still places to ask for help, covered just below.

Because Alabama’s directory shows no free or employer-sponsored CNA program to combine with anything, the practical move is straightforward: choose the most affordable paid program you can realistically finish, and ask your local workforce or WIOA office whether you qualify for help with the tuition.

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

Alabama’s program directory does not show a no-cost CNA course anywhere in the state, and it lists no employer-sponsored training either. The lowest verified tuition is $568 at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals, with paid programs running up to about $2,020. So “free” is not the realistic search in Alabama right now; “affordable” is.

If cost is the barrier, there are still doors to knock on. Start with the Alabama Department of Public Health Certified Nurse Aide Registry to ask what they can point you toward, and check your local workforce or WIOA office, which exists to help cover training costs for eligible students in fields like nursing assistance. Those are the honest routes. Be wary of any program advertising “free CNA training” in Alabama, since the verified directory does not show one.

For most students here, the practical goal is a paid program you can finish, not a free one that does not exist. Tuition starting around $568 keeps your options open on campus, schedule, and location, and four programs in the directory come in at or below $750. Pick the one whose price, place, and timing you can actually manage, and treat any cost help you qualify for as a bonus on top.

Match by area

See CNA programs in your area

Looking for options beyond the employer-sponsored programs above? Tell us your ZIP and we’ll show you CNA training options in your area.

CNA salary in Alabama

BLS wage data for Alabama and its top 3 metros.

You deserve the real number before you commit. Alabama’s median CNA wage is $16.41 an hour, about $34,140 a year, according to BLS OEWS data, which sits 18.8% below the national median of $20.21. By that measure Alabama ranks 48th of 50 states for CNA pay. It is fair to know that plainly before you enroll rather than after, so you can weigh it against the program and schedule that fit you.

Entry-level (10th)

$13.62/hr

$28,330/yr

Median (50th)

$16.41/hr

$34,140/yr

Top end (90th)

$18.59/hr

$38,667/yr

Pay by setting in Alabama

Setting	Median hourly	Notes
Hospitals	$17.23/hr	Estimated from the state wage distribution
Skilled nursing / SNF	$16.41/hr	Estimated
Assisted living / residential	$15.26/hr	Estimated

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

The setting you work in moves that number. Alabama hospitals pay CNAs around $17.23 an hour, skilled-nursing facilities about $16.41, and assisted-living or residential care closer to $15.26, per BLS OEWS data. Same certification, different setting, different paycheck. Alabama pay also spans a range: the 10th percentile earns near $13.62 an hour and the 90th percentile reaches about $18.59, per BLS. The number is not fixed, so it is worth asking any employer where a specific role sits within that spread.

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).

NEXT STEP

Ready to start earning Alabama CNA wages?

Most Alabama CNAs are working within 6–8 weeks of starting a program. Tell us your ZIP and we’ll show you what’s available in your area.

Sponsored Ad. No obligation.

Alabama SNAPSHOT

What makes CNA training in Alabama different

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

TRAINING HOURS

75 hours minimum

Alabama sets training at the federal floor of 75 hours, the efficient standard path to certification.

EXAM VENDOR

Prometric, in person

A 55-question written test plus a 5-skill clinical exam, the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Competency Examination.

PROGRAM CHOICE

58 programs, 42 cities

A wide statewide menu of community-college and career-technical programs, with hybrid and evening formats available.

Standard 75-hour path

Hybrid and evening options

Statewide program choice

75 hours, the federal minimum

Alabama holds CNA training to 75 hours, which matches the federal minimum set under OBRA '87 (42 CFR 483.152) rather than adding extra state hours on top. That keeps the legal path to certification short and predictable. Because many Alabama high-school and career-technical programs do not publish a calendar length, anchor your planning on the 75-hour requirement and ask each school when its next cohort runs.

One statewide exam through Prometric

Every Alabama candidate sits the same Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Competency Examination through Prometric: a 55-question written knowledge test plus a 5-skill clinical test, for a total exam cost of $125. The skills portion is hands-on and in person, which is exactly why no program runs entirely online. Drilling the tested skills before exam day, from hand hygiene to vital signs, is a direct way to prepare.

Where you work changes your pay

Alabama's median CNA wage is $16.41 an hour, below the national median, and the setting shifts it: hospitals pay around $17.23, skilled nursing about $16.41, and assisted living closer to $15.26, per BLS OEWS data. With 58 programs across 42 cities, you have options in many parts of the state.

Bottom line for Alabama students

Alabama offers a wide, affordable menu of programs on a standard 75-hour path, so choose the schedule and setting that fit your life rather than chasing the lowest sticker price.

CNA classes by city in Alabama

CNA programs reach across all 42 Alabama cities in the directory, with the deepest clusters in Mobile and Montgomery, followed by Opelika, Birmingham, and the Shoals. Use the list below to find the programs closest to you.

Top 10 Alabama metros by program count

Mobile4 programs
Montgomery4 programs
Opelika3 programs
Birmingham3 programs
Bessemer2 programs
Prichard2 programs
Dothan2 programs
Huntsville2 programs
Muscle Shoals2 programs
Tuscaloosa2 programs

Alabama Nurse Aide Registry: contacts & reference

Alabama’s CNA credential is managed by the Certified Nurse Aide Registry, run by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH).

Managing agency	Alabama Department of Public Health
Phone	(334) 206-5169
Website	dph1.adph.state.al.us
Typical processing	N/A
Renewal window	Every 24 months; At least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide
Fee structure	No registry fee; placement on the registry is automatic and free upon passing the competency exam. No renewal process.

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

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the questions Alabama CNA candidates ask most about renewal, reciprocity, and eligibility.

How to renew CNA certification in Alabama?

Alabama has no separate paid renewal for CNAs. There is no registry fee and no renewal application; you stay active on the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry by working at least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide within each 24-month period. Placement on the registry is automatic and free when you pass the competency exam. To confirm your current status, check directly with the Alabama Department of Public Health registry.

Can I renew my CNA license online in Alabama?

There is no separate state renewal to complete, online or otherwise. Alabama keeps your Certified Nurse Aide Registry status active through documented work, at least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide every 24 months, rather than an online form or a fee. For any status questions, contact the Alabama Department of Public Health Certified Nurse Aide Registry directly.

Can I still work if my CNA certification expires in Alabama?

Alabama keeps your registry status active through at least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide every 24 months, and there is no separate renewal fee or process. What happens if that window passes without the required hours is not spelled out in the verified data, so contact the Alabama Department of Public Health Certified Nurse Aide Registry at 334-206-5169 to confirm your status and what reactivation, if any, would involve.

How to get CNA reciprocity in Alabama?

Alabama’s verified registry data lists no CNA reciprocity agreement, so an out-of-state certification is not automatically honored on the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry. Because the exact steps for out-of-state aides are not published in the data we have, contact the Alabama Department of Public Health Certified Nurse Aide Registry at 334-206-5169 to confirm the current process for your situation before assuming you must start over.

What states does Alabama have reciprocity with?

None that the verified data lists. Alabama does not maintain a CNA reciprocity agreement, so no other state’s certification is automatically accepted onto the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry. For the current steps that apply to out-of-state aides, contact the Alabama Department of Public Health registry directly rather than assuming your credential transfers.

What do I need to transfer my out-of-state license to Alabama?

Because Alabama’s verified data shows no reciprocity agreement, there is no automatic transfer, and the Alabama Department of Public Health Certified Nurse Aide Registry is the only source for what they will accept. Contact the Alabama Department of Public Health Certified Nurse Aide Registry at 334-206-5169 to confirm the current requirements before assuming you must repeat the 75-hour training or the Prometric exam.

What can stop you from getting your CNA license in Alabama?

The verified steps to certify in Alabama are finishing a state-approved 75-hour training program and passing the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Competency Examination through Prometric. Eligibility decisions about prior records or other barriers are handled by the Alabama Department of Public Health Certified Nurse Aide Registry, and the specific disqualifiers are not published in the data we have, so contact the registry at 334-206-5169 to confirm how your situation applies.

Can you have a background and still be a CNA in Alabama?

That depends on rules the Alabama Department of Public Health Certified Nurse Aide Registry administers, and the specific disqualifiers are not part of the verified training and exam data we publish, which covers the 75-hour requirement and the Prometric competency exam. Rather than assume you are ruled in or out, contact the Alabama registry at 334-206-5169 to confirm how a specific record affects eligibility.

CNA Classes in Alabama: 58 State-Approved Programs (2026)

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

Your Alabama CNA path

Key numbers before you compare programs

Start with what matters most to you.

All 58 state-approved Alabama CNA programs

See programs near you

Still comparing? Let us narrow the list.

Fastest CNA programs in Alabama

Is a 2-week CNA program in Alabama long enough?

See CNA training options near you

Online, hybrid, weekend & evening CNA programs in Alabama

Which flexible format is right for working adults?

Looking for CNA training around your schedule?

Cheapest CNA programs in Alabama

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

Looking for affordable training?

Free & employer-sponsored CNA training in Alabama

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

CNA salary in Alabama

Pay by setting in Alabama

Ready to start earning Alabama CNA wages?

What makes CNA training in Alabama different

75 hours, the federal minimum

One statewide exam through Prometric

Where you work changes your pay

Bottom line for Alabama students

CNA classes by city in Alabama

Top 10 Alabama metros by program count

Alabama Nurse Aide Registry: contacts & reference

Frequently asked questions

On this page

Your CNA Career Starts Here

Your CNA Career Starts Here

CNA Classes in Alabama: 58 State-Approved Programs (2026)

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

Your Alabama CNA path

Key numbers before you compare programs

Start with what matters most to you.

See programs near you

Still comparing? Let us narrow the list.

Is a 2-week CNA program in Alabama long enough?

See CNA training options near you

Which flexible format is right for working adults?

Looking for CNA training around your schedule?

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

Looking for affordable training?

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

Pay by setting in Alabama

Ready to start earning Alabama CNA wages?

What makes CNA training in Alabama different

75 hours, the federal minimum

One statewide exam through Prometric

Where you work changes your pay

Bottom line for Alabama students

Top 10 Alabama metros by program count

How to become a CNA in Alabama

Why become a CNA in Alabama

Alabama nurse aide registry

Free CNA practice exam

What is a CNA?

CNA resume examples

Your CNA Career Starts Here

Your CNA Career Starts Here