Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus
Birmingham, AL
Certified Nurse Aide
- Duration:
- 5 weeks
CNA Classes in Alabama
30 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs across 8 cities in Alabama. Alabama requires 75 hours minimum of training, with the competency exam administered by Prometric.
Training Hours
75 hours minimum
Exam Vendor
Prometric
$85 total ($40 written or oral + $45 skills)
Time to Certify
6-10 weeks
Minimum Age
16
Cost: $700-$1,500
What makes Alabama different: Alabama is one of the few states that does not issue a physical certificate or assign a separate CNA number — your Social Security Number is your registry ID and the ADPH online registry is the only proof of certification.
CNA Classes by City in Alabama
Becoming a CNA in Alabama
Alabama's CNA pathway is governed by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Division of Health Care Facilities, which oversees the state Nurse Aide Registry under federal OBRA-87 requirements. Unlike states with separate licensing boards, ADPH itself approves every Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) and contracts with Prometric to deliver both the written and skills portions of the competency exam. This single-agency structure keeps the timeline relatively short — most candidates can move from enrollment to active registry status in 6 to 10 weeks.
What makes Alabama unique is its 'no certificate' policy: ADPH issues no physical card or printed certificate and assigns no separate CNA number. Instead, your Social Security Number serves as your unique registry identifier and the public Nurse Aide Registry website at dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry is the official record. Employers across Alabama are required by federal regulation to verify a candidate's listing through this registry before allowing them to work as a nurse aide in a Medicare or Medicaid-certified facility.
Alabama applies the federal 75-hour minimum and requires no formal high school diploma at the state level, which makes it one of the more accessible entry points to a healthcare career in the Southeast. CNAs in Alabama work primarily in long-term care, but the credential is also widely accepted by hospitals, hospice agencies, and home health employers. With ADPH's strict 24-month work requirement and the three-attempt limit on the Prometric exam, candidates are encouraged to take the test as soon as possible after finishing their NATCEP.
How to Become a CNA in Alabama
- 1
Confirm Alabama eligibility
Confirm you meet the basic prerequisites before enrolling: be physically and mentally capable of performing direct resident care, be free of any communicable disease, have no disqualifying criminal history (especially convictions involving abuse, neglect, or misappropriation), and be old enough to enroll in your chosen program (most Alabama programs require age 16 or 18). The Alabama Department of Public Health does not set a minimum education level, but training providers generally expect a high school diploma or GED and a TB test.
- 2
Enroll in an ADPH-approved Nurse Aide Training Program (NATCEP)
Choose a training program that has been approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Facilities. Approved providers include community colleges, technical schools, Red Cross chapters, and many long-term care facilities that run free or sponsored programs in exchange for an employment commitment. The program must deliver at least 75 hours of instruction with at least 16 hours of supervised clinical training in a long-term care facility.
- 3
Complete 75 hours of state-approved training
Complete classroom theory, skills lab practice, and 16+ hours of clinicals covering basic nursing skills, personal care, mental health and social service needs, infection control, communication, and residents' rights under OBRA-87. Your instructor must be an RN with at least one year of long-term care experience. Programs typically run 3-8 weeks full-time or up to 16 weeks part-time.
- 4
Register for the Prometric Alabama Nurse Aide Exam
Within 24 months of completing training, register for the two-part NNAAP exam through Prometric at prometric.com/nurseaide-al. Your training program submits a Form ADPH-NAR-19 documenting your completion before you can sit for the test. Fees are $40 for the written or oral portion and $45 for the skills evaluation, payable by money order or credit card.
- 5
Pass the written and skills evaluations
The written exam contains 60 multiple-choice questions plus 10 unscored pretest items and must be completed within 90 minutes. The skills evaluation requires you to perform 5 randomly selected hands-on skills, including the mandatory hand-washing skill. You have three attempts at each portion within 24 months; failing three times requires you to retrain in a full ADPH-approved NATCEP.
- 6
Get listed on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry
Once you pass both portions, Prometric notifies ADPH and your name is added to the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry within a few business days. Alabama does not mail a physical certificate; your active status is verifiable online at dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry using your Social Security Number. You are then legally allowed to work as a CNA in any Medicare/Medicaid-certified facility in Alabama.
- 7
Maintain certification and renew every 24 months
To stay active on the registry, perform at least 8 hours of paid nursing services for compensation under the supervision of a licensed nurse within every 24-month period. ADPH does not charge a renewal fee but your employer must verify your work history. If your registry status lapses or becomes inactive, you must retrain in a full NATCEP and re-test before working again as a CNA in Alabama.
Free CNA Programs in Alabama
3 programs offer no-cost training (employer-paid, federally funded, or scholarship-based).
Accelerated CNA Programs (≤4 weeks)
7 fast-track options for students who want to start working quickly.
- Wallace Community College - Dothan Campus — Dothan (25 days)
- Saad Healthcare Technical College — Mobile (2 weeks and 2 days)
- Pathway Clinical Institute — Mobile (2 weeks (79.5 hours))
- Trenholm State Community College — Montgomery (3 weeks (59 classroom + 16 clinical))
- Rehab Select Nursing Assistant Academy — Montgomery (10 days (Mon-Fri, 7am-4pm))
All CNA Programs in Alabama (30)
J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College
Huntsville, AL
Certified Nurse Aide
- Duration:
- 5 weeks
- Cost:
- $899
H. Councill Trenholm State Community College - Trenholm Campus
Montgomery, AL
Certified Nurse Aide
- Duration:
- 75 hours
- Cost:
- $800
Wallace Community College - Dothan Campus
Dothan, AL
Certified Nurse Aide
- Duration:
- 25 days
- Cost:
- $875
Gadsden State Community College - East Broad Campus
Gadsden, AL
Certified Nurse Aide
- Duration:
- 11 weeks
Southern Union State Community College - Opelika Campus
Opelika, AL
Nurse Assistant
- Duration:
- 5-10 weeks
Lawson State Community College
Birmingham, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 5 weeks (evening)
- Cost:
- $589
Jefferson State Community College - Jefferson Campus
Birmingham, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 110 hours
- Cost:
- $899 (plus ~$155 exam fee)
Northway Health and Rehabilitation
Birmingham, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Cost:
- Free (paid trainee)
Greenbriar at the Altamont
Birmingham, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- Up to 4 months on-the-job
- Cost:
- Free (paid trainee)
Bishop State Community College - Carver Campus
Mobile, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 6 weeks
Saad Healthcare Technical College
Mobile, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 2 weeks and 2 days
- Cost:
- $850
A&O Health Career Center
Mobile, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Cost:
- $699 tuition + $85 registration
Pathway Clinical Institute
Mobile, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 2 weeks (79.5 hours)
- Cost:
- $730 tuition + $25 registration
Trenholm State Community College
Montgomery, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 3 weeks (59 classroom + 16 clinical)
- Cost:
- $800
Easterseals Central Alabama
Montgomery, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 5 weeks
- Cost:
- $1,435 (all-inclusive)
Rehab Select Nursing Assistant Academy
Montgomery, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 10 days (Mon-Fri, 7am-4pm)
- Cost:
- Free (full scholarship)
Capitol Hill Healthcare CNA Training
Montgomery, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 3 weeks (2 weeks classroom + 1 week clinical)
Drake State Community & Technical College
Huntsville, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 5 weeks
- Cost:
- $899
Calhoun Community College - Huntsville Campus
Huntsville, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 6 weeks (evening)
- Cost:
- $899
American Red Cross of North Alabama
Huntsville, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 4-8 weeks
Shelton State Community College
Tuscaloosa, AL
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 110 hours (86 classroom/lab + 24 clinical)
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Alabama
How much does it cost to become a CNA in Alabama?
+
Expect a total out-of-pocket cost of roughly $700 to $1,500. The Prometric exam itself is $85 ($40 written or oral plus $45 skills), and ADPH charges no separate state application fee. The biggest variable is tuition: community college NATCEPs typically charge $400-$1,200, private-school programs can reach $1,800, and many Alabama long-term care facilities run free training programs in exchange for a 12-month employment commitment after you pass the exam.
Do I need a high school diploma to become a CNA in Alabama?
+
No. The Alabama Department of Public Health does not set a minimum education requirement for nurse aide certification. However, individual NATCEPs almost always require a high school diploma, GED, or at minimum the ability to read and write English at a 10th-grade level. You will also need a valid government ID, a Social Security card, a negative TB test, and a clean FBI fingerprint background check before clinicals.
How long does it take to get certified as a CNA in Alabama?
+
Most candidates complete the entire process — training, testing, and registry listing — in 6 to 10 weeks. The 75-hour training itself can run as little as 3 weeks full-time. After training, Prometric typically schedules exams within 1-2 weeks, and ADPH adds passing candidates to the registry within several business days of receiving Prometric's score report.
Where do I take the Alabama CNA exam?
+
Prometric administers the Alabama Nurse Aide Exam at approved Regional Testing Sites (RTS) located inside many long-term care facilities and at dedicated Prometric Testing Centers throughout the state, including in Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville, and Dothan. You register and schedule online at prometric.com/nurseaide-al after your training program submits your eligibility paperwork to Prometric.
How often must I renew my Alabama CNA certification?
+
Alabama requires renewal every 24 months. To stay active on the registry, you must perform at least 8 hours of paid nursing services for compensation under the supervision of a licensed nurse during each 24-month period — volunteer hours and unpaid family caregiving do not count. ADPH does not charge a renewal fee, but if your registry status expires you must complete a full 75-hour NATCEP and pass the Prometric exam again before returning to work.
Can I transfer my out-of-state CNA license to Alabama?
+
Yes. Alabama offers reciprocity for nurse aides who are currently active and in good standing on another state's registry with no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. Submit ADPH's Reciprocity/Endorsement application along with verification of your out-of-state certification and proof of at least 8 hours of paid nurse aide work in the past 24 months. ADPH typically processes reciprocity requests within 2-4 weeks and no Prometric exam is required.