How to Become a CNA in Georgia

To become a certified nursing assistant in Georgia, you need to be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, pass a background check, complete a minimum of 85 hours of state-approved training, and pass the Credentia NNAAP exam. The process takes between 6 and 14 weeks from enrollment to receiving your certificate number, and total costs range from $0 to approximately $1,500 depending on the program you choose.

Georgia is a strong state for CNAs. The Atlanta metro area alone employs roughly 20,000 certified nursing assistants, and the state’s Georgia CNA programs feed healthcare facilities ranging from 360 licensed nursing homes to 807 assisted living facilities statewide. This guide covers the complete Georgia CNA certification path: requirements, approved training programs with real costs, the Credentia state exam, financial aid options, salary data, and career outlook.

What	Details
Minimum Training Hours	85 total (including at least 24 clinical hours)
Exam Vendor	Credentia (NNAAP)
Exam Fee	$130 ($35 written + $95 skills)
Minimum Age	18 years old
Education Required	High school diploma or GED
Time to Certification	6-14 weeks

What Does a CNA Do in Georgia?

A certified nursing assistant handles the direct patient care that keeps healthcare facilities running. On any given shift, you are taking vital signs, assisting patients with bathing and dressing, helping with meals and feeding, repositioning residents to prevent pressure sores, documenting changes in patient condition, and communicating what you observe to the nursing team. CNAs are the people who spend the most time with patients, which means you often notice when something is wrong before anyone else does.

Georgia’s healthcare infrastructure creates strong, consistent demand for this work. The state has 360 licensed nursing homes and 807 assisted living facilities. The Atlanta metro area employs roughly 20,000 CNAs, a concentration of 7 CNA positions per 1,000 total jobs, making it one of the highest densities in the Southeast according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data.

Work settings vary: nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities are the largest employer of CNAs, but Georgia’s hospital systems, home health agencies, hospice organizations, and assisted living facilities all hire certified nursing assistants regularly.

This guide gives you the accurate requirements, the real costs, and the honest picture of what the job and the certification process actually look like. The CNA role is physically demanding and working conditions vary significantly between employers.

The CNA role is demanding, and the profession is honest about it. In one widely shared post, a nurse described arriving for a shift to find:

“I am a prn agency nurse and work in ltc. I was supposed to be working last night 10-6. Get there and find out it’s me and 3 cnas for 68 residents”

(4,040 upvotes — Reddit user, r/nursing)

That ratio is not the norm at every facility, but it is not rare either. Georgia has 360 nursing homes and 807 assisted living facilities, and staffing varies widely between them. Understanding what the job actually looks like is the first step to choosing the right facility and building a sustainable career.

Georgia CNA Requirements: Age, Education, and Background Checks

Georgia’s baseline requirements for CNA certification are clear. You need to meet all of them before you can sit for the state exam.

Requirement	Georgia Standard
Minimum Age	18 years old
Education	High school diploma or GED
Background Check	Required (GCHEXS + GAPS fingerprinting)
English Proficiency	Required
Training Hours	85 total (including at least 24 clinical hours)
State Exam	NNAAP via Credentia
Exam Fee	$130 ($35 written + $95 skills)
Certification Period	24 months
Renewal Fee	Free

Some websites state that Georgia has no age or education requirement for CNA certification. That is incorrect. Georgia requires candidates to be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED before beginning state-approved training, per state guidelines verified through research.com’s Georgia career requirements documentation.

Background Check Process

The background check is a real friction point, so here is the exact process.

Georgia requires a criminal history check through the Georgia Criminal History Check System (GCHEXS), administered by the DCH Office of Inspector General. Fingerprinting is processed through the Georgia Applicant Processing System (GAPS). The check runs through two databases: the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) and the FBI national database.

To complete the background check:
1. Get your Service Code from your training program or prospective employer. You cannot register on the GAPS site without it.
2. Register for fingerprinting at a GAPS/Fieldprint location using that code.
3. Pay the fingerprinting and background check fee, typically $80-$100 out of pocket. Some programs include this in tuition (see the cost comparison table below); others bill it separately. UWG, for example, charges $99.95 on top of tuition.
4. Results are sent to the DCH Office of Inspector General for review.

Disqualifying offenses include felonies related to elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, or assault. Some offenses lead to permanent disqualification. Not every criminal record is an automatic disqualifier. Severity, recency, and relevance to patient care are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

If you have concerns about your background check results, contact the Georgia DCH before enrolling in a training program. Knowing your eligibility status before investing time and money is the right call.

Georgia also requires English proficiency. You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English because patient safety depends on clear documentation and communication with the nursing team.

CNA Training Programs in Georgia: Costs, Schedules, and What to Expect

Georgia requires a minimum of 85 hours of state-approved training, including at least 24 hours of supervised clinical practice in a licensed nursing home. This exceeds the federal minimum of 75 hours. The training must be completed at a state-approved program — you can find approved CNA classes in Georgia through the MMIS portal — before you can register for the certification exam.

Georgia’s 85-Hour Training Requirement

Before any clinical contact with patients, Georgia requires 16 hours of instruction in six specific subject areas: communication and interpersonal skills, infection control, safety and emergency procedures (including FBAO and body mechanics), promoting residents’ independence, respecting residents’ rights, and legal and ethical behavior. This pre-clinical requirement comes directly from the Credentia candidate handbook and is not documented in detail on any other Georgia CNA guide currently ranking on Google.

The remaining classroom hours cover basic nursing skills, anatomy, patient rights, documentation, nutrition, and long-term care principles. The 24 clinical hours must be completed in a nursing home setting under direct supervision.

What You Learn in CNA Training

The combination of classroom and clinical work teaches you the procedural skills the state exam tests: measuring vital signs, patient transfers and repositioning, bed-making, personal care, range of motion exercises, catheter care, and infection control. You also learn documentation, communication with the healthcare team, and patient rights. These are not abstract topics. You practice them on real patients during your clinical hours.

Georgia CNA Program Cost Comparison

Cost and schedule drive most program searches. Here is what four verified Georgia programs currently charge:

Program	Cost	Duration	What’s Included
Northside Hospital CNA School	FREE (paid training)	18 days	CNA certification + PCT internship; 5 campuses (Atlanta, Cherokee, Duluth, Forsyth, Gwinnett)
Atlanta Career Institute	$1,150	11 days	Books, scrub top, supplies, background check; $150 deposit + 3 weekly payments of $383.33
University of West Georgia	$1,185-$1,265	88 hours	Textbooks, supplies, scrubs, BP cuff, name badge; background check ($99.95), insurance ($43), and exam ($130) billed separately
Georgia Highlands College	Included in registration fee	102 hours	Textbooks, workbooks, supplies, clinical supervision, exam cost

Total out-of-pocket cost at UWG, including background check, insurance, and exam fee, is approximately $1,458-$1,538. Georgia Highlands includes exam cost in their registration fee, making the total cost lower than it first appears.

The Northside Hospital program deserves specific attention. This is not a tuition waiver. Northside pays you a wage during the 18-day training program. After you earn CNA certification, you transition into a PCT (Patient Care Technician) internship. The program operates at five metro Atlanta campuses: Atlanta, Cherokee, Duluth, Forsyth, and Gwinnett. Most “free” CNA programs waive tuition but do not pay you to attend. Northside does both.

Free CNA training through employer sponsorship is more common than most people realize. One CNA who entered healthcare at 20 with no prior experience described how it worked:

“I (20F) have been working as a CNA for a year now, said facility paid for my CNA training and was my first ever job as a CNA and in healthcare in general.”

(2,489 upvotes — Reddit user, r/cna)

Her facility covered the full cost of training in exchange for a work commitment after certification. In Georgia, Northside Hospital runs exactly this model. Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing homes are also required to cover exam fees for their nurse aide trainees, and many extend that coverage to full training costs.

Program Format Options

Not every program fits every schedule. Georgia offers three main formats:

• Accelerated (11-18 days): Best for career changers who can commit full-time during the day. Atlanta Career Institute runs 11 days; Northside Hospital runs 18 days.
• Traditional (6-8 weeks): Community and technical colleges typically use this format. Best for people managing part-time work or other responsibilities.
• Evening and weekend programs: Available at select schools. Ask about scheduling before you enroll.

How to Find State-Approved Programs

The Georgia DCH contracts with Alliant Health Solutions to administer the nurse aide program. Search for approved training programs by county through the MMIS portal at mmis.georgia.gov/portal/. Only programs listed there qualify you to sit for the Credentia exam.

On online CNA classes in Georgia: Some programs offer hybrid formats where you complete theory coursework online and attend clinical hours in person. There is no fully online path to CNA certification in Georgia. The 24-hour clinical component must be completed at an approved nursing home under direct supervision.

Cost is one factor in choosing a program, but accreditation, pass rates, and clinical partnerships also matter. Our guide on how to choose a CNA program covers what to evaluate beyond tuition.

How to Pay for CNA Training in Georgia

You may not need to pay anything for CNA training in Georgia. The full cost range runs from $0 to approximately $1,500, and several funding paths exist that most guides do not mention.

1. Employer-Sponsored Training (Free + Income)

Start here. Northside Hospital’s paid 18-day program eliminates cost entirely, and it is not the only employer-sponsored option. Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing homes in Georgia are legally required to cover the CNA exam fee for nurse aide trainees they employ. Many also cover full training costs in exchange for a post-certification work commitment.

Financial aid is not the only way to avoid paying out of pocket. Some CNAs found a different route entirely, getting hired at a facility first:

“For a little backstory, I have been a CNA for about 4 years and started working in a nursing home as a dietary aid when I turned 15. I got my CNA paid for through that nursing home I worked at 16.”
(Reddit user, r/cna)

Starting as a dietary aide, housekeeper, or activities assistant at a nursing home can lead to employer-sponsored CNA training. In Georgia, Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities are required to cover exam fees for their nurse aides, and many extend that to full training costs.

2. HOPE Grant and HOPE Career Grant

The HOPE Grant covers tuition at Georgia’s technical colleges within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) for residents maintaining satisfactory academic progress. The HOPE Career Grant adds additional coverage for programs in high-demand fields, including nursing assistant training. Together, these grants can reduce your out-of-pocket cost to supplies and fees only. Apply through the Georgia Student Finance Commission at GAfutures.org.

3. WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act)

For unemployed or underemployed individuals, WIOA grants can cover the full cost of CNA training at approved programs, including some private schools. Apply through your local Georgia American Job Center. Eligibility varies by location and individual circumstances.

4. Pell Grant

Federal financial aid available through FAFSA. Applies to CNA programs at accredited institutions, typically community and technical colleges. May not cover short certificate programs at private schools.

5. MyCAA (Military Spouse Career Advancement Account)

Up to $4,000 in tuition assistance for qualifying active-duty military spouses. Covers CNA training at approved schools. Check eligibility at mycaa.militaryonesource.mil.

6. GVRA (Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency)

Provides tuition assistance, supplies, and support services for individuals with qualifying disabilities pursuing vocational training, including CNA certification. Contact GVRA at gvs.georgia.gov.

7. Payment Plans

If you do not qualify for grants or sponsorship, payment plans are available. Atlanta Career Institute breaks the $1,150 tuition into a $150 deposit plus 3 weekly payments of $383.33. Most programs offer some form of installment option.

Beyond these options, explore CNA scholarship opportunities that may help cover remaining costs.

The Georgia CNA Exam: Format, Fees, and How to Register

Georgia’s CNA exam is the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP), administered by Credentia. You must pass both a written knowledge test and a hands-on skills evaluation to earn your certification. The exam costs $130 total.

Some websites still reference Pearson VUE as Georgia’s exam vendor. That information is outdated and incorrect. Georgia uses Credentia. Registering at Pearson VUE’s website will not work. Register at credentia.com/test-takers/ga/. Exam vendors differ by state — see the full NNAAP exam vendors by state breakdown if you are comparing requirements across states or transferring your certification.

Before diving into the format, consider what clinical evaluators are actually looking for. In one widely shared post, a nursing instructor asked the community a question that gets at the heart of what the skills test is testing:

“Should I pass this student? … She has done 7 shifts with me so far. She is doing an online RN program, and has never worked as a CNA.”

(3,231 upvotes — Reddit user, r/nursing)

That thread generated thousands of responses, and the consensus was clear: clinical competency is non-negotiable. Georgia’s NNAAP skills evaluation tests 5 randomly selected procedures in 30 minutes, and handwashing is always included. The evaluator is watching for the same thing that instructor was weighing: can this person safely care for a patient?

Written Knowledge Exam

The written exam has 70 multiple-choice questions. 60 questions are scored and 10 are unscored pretest items Credentia uses to evaluate questions for future exams. You will not know which questions are pretest items. You have 2 hours to complete the exam.

Content areas include infection control, safety procedures, patient rights, communication, basic nursing skills, and the role of the nurse aide.

For ESL candidates: Georgia offers an oral exam option with 60 multiple-choice questions plus 10 reading comprehension questions. For Georgia’s multilingual population, this accommodation is critical access information that no other Georgia CNA guide currently mentions.

Skills Evaluation

You demonstrate 5 skills randomly selected from the full tested skill set. Handwashing is always one of the five. The other four vary. You have 30 minutes to complete all 5 skills. Each skill is evaluated on a checklist, and you must complete every critical step. Missing a single critical step fails that skill.

Common skills tested include: vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respirations, temperature), patient positioning, assisting with ambulation, range of motion exercises, catheter care, perineal care, bed-making, and transfers. Practice until the steps are automatic, not just memorized. Our CNA skills test guide walks through each skill with step-by-step checklists.

Exam Day Logistics

Exam Component	Fee
Written Exam	$35
Skills Evaluation	$95
Total	$130

Some websites still list the old fee of $112. The current 2026 fee is $130. If your employer sponsors your training, confirm whether they are covering the exam cost as well.

What to bring on exam day:
– Government-issued photo ID (must match your Credentia registration name exactly)
– Social Security card
– Watch with a second hand (for timing vital signs during the skills test)
– Scrubs or professional attire
– Two #2 pencils (no mechanical pencils)
– Stethoscope and blood pressure cuff (check with your testing site; some provide these)

What Happens If You Don’t Pass

You get 3 attempts within 1 year of completing your training program. If you fail one component, you can retake just that component without repeating the one you passed. If you exhaust all 3 attempts without passing both components, Georgia requires you to complete an entirely new state-approved training program before testing again.

Most candidates who complete an approved training program pass on their first or second attempt. For structured preparation strategies, see our guide on how to study for the CNA exam.

Registration: Your training program submits your eligibility to Credentia after you complete the course. Once processed, you create an account at credentia.com/test-takers/ga/ and schedule your exam date. Processing typically takes 1-2 weeks. Once you pass both components, you will be listed on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry. For a comprehensive breakdown of what to expect on the CNA exam, including study strategies, see our full guide.

How to Renew Your Georgia CNA Certification

Georgia CNA certification expires every 24 months. Renewal is free, but you must meet one requirement: at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work under the supervision of a licensed nurse during the previous 24 months.

Alliant Health Solutions, which administers the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry, mails a renewal notice approximately 60 days before your certification expires. To renew, verify your status and submit employer verification through the registry at nurseaide.allianthealth.org.

If your certification lapses: If you do not meet the work requirement or fail to renew before expiration, you must complete a new state-approved training program and pass both exam components again to be re-listed on the registry. There is no late renewal option.

For the full renewal process and registry navigation, see our Georgia Nurse Aide Registry guide.

How Much Do CNAs Make in Georgia?

Metric	Georgia (BLS OES, May 2023)
Median Annual Wage	$33,280
Mean Annual Wage	$34,560
Hourly Mean	$16.62
10th Percentile	$26,330
90th Percentile	$42,620
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell MSA Mean	$36,400

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 31-1131 (Nursing Assistants), May 2023 release.

Three factors drive where you land in that range: geography (Atlanta pays more than rural areas), facility type (hospitals and travel assignments pay more than long-term care), and experience (a new CNA starts at the lower end; 5+ years pushes toward the higher range).

Hospitals generally offer the highest CNA wages, often $2-4 per hour more than nursing homes. Home health agencies and hospice fall in the middle. Long-term care positions typically sit at the lower end of the state range.

Two salary questions show up regularly in Georgia CNA searches. At the state median, a full-time CNA earns approximately $640 per week before taxes. Reaching $1,000 per week requires overtime, shift differentials, or agency work. Reaching $100,000 is not achievable through a standard CNA position and requires sustained overtime or specialized travel placement.

Even at full price, the math works: at the Georgia median of $33,280 per year, you recoup training costs within two weeks of working at the high end of program costs ($1,150-$1,265). The starting salary is modest, but the role is a launchpad. Here is what the advancement path looks like in Georgia:

Role	Approximate Georgia Salary
CNA	$33,280-$34,560/year
LPN	~$48,000-$55,000/year
RN (ADN)	~$65,000-$75,000/year

LPN and RN figures from BLS OES Georgia data.

The CNA certification is often the starting point, not the ceiling. Working conditions, including staffing levels that vary widely between facilities, are one reason many CNAs pursue LPN or RN credentials. Higher-level nursing roles come with more autonomy and, in many cases, better staffing ratios.

Georgia CNA Career Outlook and Advancement Paths

The Atlanta metro area employs roughly 20,000 CNAs, a concentration of 7 CNA positions per 1,000 total jobs, one of the highest densities in the Southeast according to BLS OES data. Behind that number: 360 licensed nursing homes and 807 assisted living facilities across Georgia, all competing for qualified candidates.

Where Georgia CNAs work:

• Nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities: The largest employer. More than 50% of CNA positions in Georgia are in long-term care settings.
• Hospitals: Higher acuity patients, faster pace, typically higher pay. Grady Memorial, Emory Healthcare, and Northside are major CNA employers in the Atlanta metro area.
• Home health agencies: A growing sector as more patients receive care at home. More independence than facility work, but also more isolation between patients.
• Assisted living facilities: 807 facilities across Georgia. Lower acuity than nursing homes, with a focus on daily living assistance rather than intensive medical care.
• Hospice: Specialized end-of-life care. Emotionally demanding, but deeply meaningful for CNAs drawn to that setting.

Advancement paths:

• CNA to LPN: Bridge programs at Georgia technical colleges typically take 12-18 months. CNA experience gives you a real advantage in clinical coursework, and many programs give admission preference to candidates with direct patient care hours.
• CNA to RN: A longer pathway of 2-4 years depending on whether you choose an ADN or BSN program. Georgia nursing programs frequently give admission preference to candidates with CNA experience.
• CNA to PCT: Patient Care Technician roles build on CNA skills with additional training in phlebotomy, EKGs, and clinical procedures. Northside Hospital’s CNA School specifically includes a PCT internship pathway.

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects consistent growth for nursing assistant positions over the coming decade, driven by an aging population requiring more long-term and home-based care. Georgia’s above-average population growth adds to that demand.

High demand also means some facilities are chronically short-staffed. As one nurse described in a widely shared post:

“Last night I was the only RN for 14 patients on a med-surg floor… My CNAs were stretched just as thin.” (1,313 upvotes — Reddit user, r/nursing)

Researching specific facility staffing before accepting a position can help you avoid the worst scenarios. Georgia publishes inspection reports for nursing homes through the DCH website. Hospitals, home health agencies, and hospice programs often offer lower patient loads than high-volume nursing homes.

That exposure is invaluable. Many CNAs describe the role as a window into every healthcare specialty, watching nurses, PTs, OTs, and respiratory therapists daily before deciding where to specialize. Georgia offers CNA-to-LPN bridge programs and multiple BSN pathways through the University System of Georgia. Starting as a CNA gives you the clinical context to choose your next step wisely, and the patient care hours that nursing school admissions committees value.