healthcare · United States edition
It’s easy to be a Nursing Assistant.
A nursing assistant (CNA) provides hands-on personal care to patients under a nurse's supervision, helping with bathing, feeding, mobility and vital signs in hospitals, nursing homes and home care. Most people qualify in 4 to 12 weeks through a state-approved training program and competency exam, making it one of the fastest entry points into US healthcare.
Last verified Version 1By Editorial Team
Key facts
United States- Median salary (2025)
$42,260/yr
Range $33,940 – $51,980
- Time to qualify
0–1 years
Federal law sets a 75-hour training floor (16 of them supervised clinical hours), and most state-approved programs run 4 to 12 weeks: about 4-6 weeks full-time, 8-16 weeks part-time. Add a few days for the state competency exam and registry listing, and most people are working as a CNA within three months of starting.
- Cost to qualify
$575 – $1,850
Typical all-in cost -- tuition, books/uniforms, background check and the state exam fee -- runs about $575 to $1,850 depending on the state and school; tuition alone is usually $400-$1,700. Many hospitals, nursing homes and workforce programs offer free training in exchange for a short post-certification work commitment.
- Job outlook (2025-2035)
+3% growth
About 203,300 openings per year
All figures apply to United States. Salaries, licensing, and timelines differ by country — where other editions exist, switch between them at the top of the page.
Is it easy for you?
Tell us where you are now and get a personalized gap analysis for becoming a Nursing Assistant — what you’ve already met, what’s left, and your likely remaining time. Computed from the sourced requirements on this page; nothing is stored unless you explicitly ask us to introduce you to a programme afterwards.
How to become a Nursing Assistant — step by step
- 1
Check your state's specific nurse aide rules 1-2 days
Requirements, training hours and renewal cycles are set state by state, not federally, so start with your state's Department of Health or Board of Nursing nurse aide registry page before enrolling in a program.
- 2
Enroll in a state-approved CNA training program 4-12 weeks
Community colleges, vocational schools, the Red Cross and some employers (often free, tied to a work commitment) all run state-approved programs. Federal law sets a 75-hour floor, but most states require more.
- 3
Complete supervised clinical training Included within the training program
At least 16 hours must be hands-on, supervised by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, on top of classroom instruction.
- 4
Pass required background and health checks A few days to process
A criminal background check and a TB test or other health screening are needed before you can be placed in a clinical setting.
- 5
Take the state competency exam 1 exam day; $100-$200 fee
A written or oral knowledge test plus a skills demonstration in front of an evaluator; most programs schedule this at the end of training.
- 6
Get listed on your state's Nurse Aide Registry Typically a few days after passing
This listing, not just the exam pass, is what makes you legally able to work as a CNA; employers verify it directly.
- 7
Apply for CNA roles Varies
Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living and home health agencies all hire CNAs; nursing homes and home health often have the most immediate openings.
- 8
Keep your registry status active Ongoing
Work enough hours within your state's renewal window (commonly two years) and complete at least 12 hours of in-service training per year, or you may have to retrain and retest from scratch.
Requirements to be a Nursing Assistant
- High school diploma or equivalent (recommended)educationOptional
Not legally required to enroll in a nurse aide training program in every state, but most training programs and employers prefer or require a high school diploma or GED.
- State-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP)educationRequired
Federal rule 42 CFR 483.152 sets a floor of at least 75 clock hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training; most states require more, up to around 180 hours.
- State CNA competency examcertificationRequired
A written or oral knowledge test plus a hands-on skills demonstration, usually costing $100 to $200 combined.
- State Nurse Aide Registry listinglicenseRequired
Passing the exam places you on your state's nurse aide registry; employers check this registry before letting you work unsupervised, and status is commonly renewed every two years (rules vary by state).
- Background check and health clearancecertificationRequired
A criminal background check plus TB testing and other immunization/health screening is standard before clinical placement.
- 12 hours of annual in-service trainingcertificationRequired
Once employed in a certified nursing facility, federal rule 42 CFR 483.95(g) requires at least 12 hours of continuing in-service education per year to keep your registry status in good standing.
- Physical staminaskillRequired
The job involves repeated lifting, transferring and repositioning patients, and being on your feet for most of a shift.
- Communication and compassionskillRequired
You are often a patient's most frequent point of contact, so listening, patience and clear reporting to nurses matter as much as technical tasks.
A day in the life of a Nursing Assistant
A typical shift starts with a handoff from the outgoing shift covering each patient's condition and needs. You then move through assigned patients taking vital signs, helping with washing, dressing and toileting, repositioning immobile patients to prevent pressure sores, and assisting with meals. Throughout the shift you document what you observe -- appetite, mood, mobility, skin condition -- and report anything concerning to the nurse in charge, since you typically spend more time with each patient than any other member of staff. Shifts are usually 8 or 12 hours, often including nights, weekends and holidays in hospitals and nursing homes.
Is it worth it to be a Nursing Assistant?
Becoming a CNA is worth it if you want the fastest legitimate entry point into US healthcare -- weeks, not years -- and you don't mind physically demanding, close-contact personal care work: lifting and repositioning patients, helping with toileting and bathing, and being on your feet for most of an 8-to-12-hour shift, often including nights, weekends and holidays. Median pay ($42,260) is modest for the physical and emotional demands, and turnover in nursing homes is high. It is a poor fit if you need a desk job, can't handle bodily fluids or difficult patient behaviour, or need a fixed daytime schedule. It's a strong fit if you want to test whether nursing is for you before committing to a multi-year RN or LPN program, since CNA experience typically counts toward nursing school applications and some employers pay for that next step.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying $1,000+ for a private CNA course before checking whether a local hospital or nursing home will train you for free in exchange for a short work commitment.
- Assuming CNA certification is portable between states without checking the new state's specific registry and reciprocity rules -- some require retesting.
- Letting your nurse aide registry status lapse by not working enough hours or skipping the annual 12-hour in-service requirement, which can force you to retrain and retest from scratch.
- Picking the first available shift or facility without asking about patient-to-aide ratios and acuity levels -- these vary hugely between a skilled nursing facility and a lower-acuity assisted living setting and drive most of the job's physical and emotional intensity.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a CNA?
Most people finish in 4 to 12 weeks: full-time programs run about 4-6 weeks, part-time evening or weekend programs take 8-16 weeks. Federal rule sets a 75-hour training floor, but many states require more.
How much does CNA training cost?
A typical all-in cost -- tuition, books, uniforms, background check and the state exam fee -- runs about $575 to $1,850 depending on the state and school. Many hospitals and nursing homes offer free training in exchange for a short work commitment after you pass.
Do I need a high school diploma to become a CNA?
Not always to enroll in a training program, but most employers prefer or require one, and some programs set their own diploma/GED requirement even where the state does not.
Can my CNA certification transfer if I move to another state?
Not automatically. Each state keeps its own nurse aide registry, and while many states have reciprocity agreements, some require extra paperwork or retesting -- check the new state's registry rules before you move.
Can a CNA become a nurse later?
Yes -- CNA experience is a common, often paid, stepping stone into LPN or RN training, and some employers offer tuition assistance for CNAs who continue into nursing school.
What's the difference between a CNA, a home health aide and an orderly?
A CNA works mainly in hospitals and nursing homes and must pass a state exam and join the state registry; a home health aide does similar work in patients' homes under separate state rules; an orderly (median pay $38,290 versus a CNA's $42,260) typically needs no state certification and focuses more on transport and non-clinical support.
Sources
Every figure on this page traces to one of these primary sources.
- 142 CFR 483.152 -- Nurse aide training requirements — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School · accessed September 4, 2026
- 242 CFR 483.95 -- Nurse aide in-service training requirement — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School · accessed September 4, 2026
- 3CNA Certification Guide -- State Requirements, Exam, Renewal & FAQs — RegisteredNursing.org · accessed September 4, 2026
- 4How Much Do CNA Classes & Certification Cost in 2026? — RegisteredNursing.org · accessed September 4, 2026
- 5Nursing Assistants (31-1131.00) — O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor · accessed September 4, 2026
- 6Nursing Assistants and Orderlies — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook · accessed September 4, 2026