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CNA classes and nurse aide training
594 colleges and career schools report CNA programs to IPEDS, with 44,550 completions in 2023-24; 2,819 more programs are on the state lists we load.
The rules for CNA training
A state-approved nurse aide training program must include at least 75 clock hours of training, with at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. (42 CFR 483.152(a))
A nursing home that employs you, or has offered you a job, when your training starts cannot charge you for state-approved nurse aide training or its textbooks. If you pay and are hired by a nursing home within 12 months, your state must provide for paying part of it back. (42 CFR 483.152(c))
352 of the 2,819 state-list programs we load are run by nursing facilities for their own hires (California, New York and Pennsylvania lists say so); they are shown apart and are not counted as open classes.
CNA Classes by state
| State | Programs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 2 | $46,370 |
| Alabama | 6 | $34,140 |
| Arkansas | 23 | $34,430 |
| Arizona | 17 | $44,780 |
| California | 522 | $47,630 |
| Colorado | 20 | $47,380 |
| Connecticut | 3 | $44,790 |
| Delaware | 2 | $42,030 |
| Florida | 226 | $37,510 |
| Georgia | 22 | $37,680 |
| Hawaii | 2 | $45,350 |
| Iowa | 7 | $39,350 |
| Idaho | 1 | $38,650 |
| Illinois | 340 | $45,960 |
| Indiana | 1 | $38,330 |
| Kansas | 25 | $38,010 |
| Kentucky | 9 | $38,370 |
| Louisiana | 15 | $30,510 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $46,680 |
| Maryland | 2 | $43,240 |
| Michigan | 22 | $39,570 |
| Minnesota | 21 | $46,680 |
| Missouri | 5 | $37,680 |
| Mississippi | 7 | $31,520 |
| Montana | 1 | $40,900 |
| North Carolina | 25 | $38,460 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $45,820 |
| Nebraska | 1 | $40,000 |
| New Jersey | 10 | $46,830 |
| New Mexico | 15 | $39,390 |
| Nevada | 4 | $45,490 |
| New York | 53 | $48,590 |
| Ohio | 401 | $39,010 |
| Oklahoma | 26 | $35,930 |
| Oregon | 2 | $49,830 |
| Pennsylvania | 78 | $44,590 |
| South Carolina | 5 | $37,220 |
| Tennessee | 12 | $37,990 |
| Texas | 816 | $37,500 |
| Utah | 12 | $39,840 |
| Virginia | 2 | $43,200 |
| Washington | 25 | $49,180 |
| Wisconsin | 16 | $45,130 |
| West Virginia | 2 | $36,720 |
| Wyoming | 1 | $39,160 |
Programs counts IPEDS schools and state nurse aide lists (open enrolment only). Median pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual.
CNA Classes in the largest metro areas
- Los Angeles area220 programs · median pay $47,380
- Chicago area163 programs · median pay $46,940
- Dallas area132 programs · median pay $38,530
- Houston area98 programs · median pay $37,970
- Cleveland area77 programs · median pay $39,010
- Cincinnati area60 programs · median pay $40,350
- Miami area56 programs · median pay $38,010
- Columbus area45 programs · median pay $42,970
- San Francisco area41 programs · median pay $56,080
- San Antonio area35 programs · median pay $36,800
- Austin area33 programs · median pay $38,550
- New York area29 programs · median pay $49,270
- San Diego area42 programs · median pay $48,070
- Fresno area25 programs · median pay $44,710
- McAllen area25 programs · median pay $33,990
- Philadelphia area23 programs · median pay $46,220
- Sacramento area27 programs · median pay $47,510
- Dayton area24 programs · median pay $41,670
- Tampa area20 programs · median pay $37,470
- Orlando area19 programs · median pay $37,690
- Beaumont area18 programs · median pay $35,110
- Jacksonville area18 programs · median pay $37,760
- Canton area18 programs · median pay $37,840
- Hanford area18 programs · median pay $45,980
Paying for CNA training
CNA questions, answered from the data
How long is CNA training?
Among 121 certificate programs that report a length to IPEDS, the middle one takes 2 months; half take between 1 month and 7 months. Clock-hour programs run 90 to 488 hours (middle 144).
How much does a CNA program cost?
The middle whole-program tuition among 119 certificate programs reporting one to IPEDS for 2024-25 is $1,355; half cost between $808 and $2,662.
What do nursing assistants earn?
The national median annual wage for nursing assistants was $42,260 in May 2025 ($20 an hour), from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; the lowest-paid tenth earned under $33,940.