DMACC Capitol Center
1300 Des Moines Street
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours
- Cost:
- $707.50
- Phone:
- (515) 244-4226
CNA Classes in Des Moines, IA
6 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs in Des Moines. Tuition ranges from Free to $1,500. Iowa requires 75 hours minimum of training and uses TestMaster Universe/Headmaster (with Credentia available for the Remotely Proctored Knowledge Exam) for the competency exam.
Programs in Des Moines
6
Tuition Range
Free to $1,500
State Required Hours
75 hours minimum
Exam Vendor
TestMaster Universe/Headmaster (with Credentia available for the Remotely Proctored Knowledge Exam)
Free in Des Moines
Broadlawns Medical Center TEACH/TECH Apprenticeship
1 free program available
View details →All CNA Programs in Des Moines
DMACC Urban Campus
1100 7th Street
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours
- Cost:
- $707.50
- Phone:
- (515) 244-4226
DMACC Southridge Center
1111 E Army Post Road
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours
- Cost:
- $707.50
- Phone:
- (515) 287-8700
Mercy College of Health Sciences
921 6th Avenue (Training Center)
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 3 weeks / 80 hours
- Cost:
- $1,500
- Phone:
- (515) 643-6671
Broadlawns Medical Center TEACH/TECH Apprenticeship
1801 Hickman Road
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- Basic and Advanced CNA training (75/150 hours)
- Cost:
- Free (paid apprenticeship)
- Phone:
- (515) 282-2200
Calvin Community
4210 Hickman Road
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours
- Phone:
- (515) 277-6141
Becoming a CNA in Iowa
Becoming a Certified Nurse Aide in Iowa is regulated by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), which approves all Nurse Aide Training Programs, oversees the Direct Care Worker Registry, and as of January 2026 contracts with TestMaster Universe/Headmaster as the central testing administrator. Iowa requires the federal minimum of 75 hours of training — with roughly 45 classroom/lab hours and at least 30 clinical hours — which is identical to neighboring Missouri and Nebraska but well below California's 160-hour standard.
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Des Moines
How many CNA training programs are available in Des Moines, IA?
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Our directory lists 6 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs in Des Moines, IA. All programs must meet Iowa's minimum of 75 hours minimum and prepare graduates to sit for the TestMaster Universe/Headmaster (with Credentia available for the Remotely Proctored Knowledge Exam) competency exam.
How much does CNA training cost in Des Moines?
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Published tuition for CNA programs in Des Moines ranges from Free to $1,500. Broadlawns Medical Center TEACH/TECH Apprenticeship lists the lowest tuition at Free (paid apprenticeship). 1 program in Des Moines offers no-cost training (employer-paid, federally funded, or scholarship-based). Total out-of-pocket cost also includes the state exam fee (Approximately $165 total ($50 written at an Iowa community college or $50-$70 online + $115 skills at a community college; Health Tech Associates skills test runs about $135)), background check, and uniforms.
What is the fastest CNA program in Des Moines?
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Mercy College of Health Sciences offers the shortest published program in Des Moines at 3 weeks / 80 hours. Iowa requires 75 hours minimum of state-approved training, so any accelerated program must compress the required hours into a shorter calendar window through full-time scheduling. Call (515) 643-6671 for current cohort start dates.
How do I become a CNA in Des Moines, IA?
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To work as a CNA in Des Moines, you must meet a Iowa-approved training program of at least 75 hours minimum, pass the TestMaster Universe/Headmaster (with Credentia available for the Remotely Proctored Knowledge Exam) competency exam (Two-part competency evaluation: a 70-item written (or remotely proctored) knowledge test plus a hands-on skills test of 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills), and clear a Criminal background check through DIAL's Health Facilities Division. Most candidates complete the full process in 5-9 weeks from program start to Direct Care Worker Registry listing.
Are there free CNA classes in Des Moines?
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Yes. 1 Des Moines program on this directory offers no-cost CNA training: Broadlawns Medical Center TEACH/TECH Apprenticeship. Free training is typically employer-paid (nursing facilities sponsoring trainees in exchange for a work commitment), federally funded (Job Corps), or scholarship-based.