Jefferson Community and Technical College
Louisville, KY
Medicaid Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours
CNA Classes in Kentucky
16 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs across 6 cities in Kentucky. Kentucky requires 75 hours minimum of training, with the competency exam administered by Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) via the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform — KCTCS is the sole approved testing administrator.
Training Hours
75 hours minimum
Exam Vendor
Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) via the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform — KCTCS is the sole approved testing administrator
$135 total for the written track ($40 written knowledge + $95 skills) or $150 total for the oral track ($55 oral/audio + $95 skills) paid to KCTCS via ky.tmutest.com; testing fees are non-refundable
Time to Certify
5-9 weeks from program start to Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry listing
Minimum Age
16
Cost: $0-$1,500 depending on whether training is employer-sponsored, KCTCS, or a private provider
What makes Kentucky different: Kentucky uses a unique 'SRNA' (State Registered Nurse Aide) credential rather than 'CNA', and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) is the only approved testing administrator statewide
CNA Classes by City in Kentucky
Becoming a CNA in Kentucky
Becoming a nurse aide in Kentucky follows a slightly different naming convention than most states: Kentucky credentials its aides as State Registered Nurse Aides (SRNAs) rather than CNAs. The pathway is governed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services' Department for Medicaid Services (which approves training programs under 907 KAR 1:450) and the Kentucky Board of Nursing (which maintains the registry). Training is 75 hours — the federal minimum — with about 59 classroom hours and at least 16 hours of clinical practice in a Medicaid-approved facility.
Kentucky is unique in that the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) is the sole approved testing administrator for the Kentucky Nurse Aide Test (KNAT). Whether you train at a KCTCS college, a hospital, or a private school, your written and skills exams are scheduled through a KCTCS KNAT Coordinator using the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform. The combined exam fee is approximately $115, and you may test at any approved Kentucky testing site regardless of where you trained.
Once you pass both portions of the KNAT, KCTCS transmits your results to the Kentucky Board of Nursing, which adds you to the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry as an SRNA — typically within 1-3 weeks. To stay on the registry you must perform at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services every 24 months. Permanent hires must complete the KNAT within the first four months of employment; unemployed graduates have 12 months from training completion. Kentucky honors reciprocity from other states if the applicant is in good standing and has recent work experience.
How to Become a CNA in Kentucky
- 1
Confirm you meet Kentucky's prerequisites
Most Kentucky training programs require students to be at least 16 or 17 years old (set by each program), able to read and write English, and free of disqualifying convictions. You must be willing to undergo a Kentucky state and FBI criminal background check before clinical hours and registry placement. A high school diploma is not required by the state.
- 2
Enroll in a state-approved Kentucky Medicaid Nurse Aide Training Program (KMNATP)
Find a 75-hour nurse aide program approved by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Approved providers include the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) colleges, the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville Schools of Nursing, many long-term care facilities, and private schools. Training must include 59 classroom hours and at least 16 hours of clinical practice in a Medicaid-approved facility.
- 3
Complete training and obtain your KCTCS testing authorization
Pass all classroom modules and demonstrate the required clinical competencies. Your training program will enter your record into the KCTCS TestMaster Universe (TMU) system, which authorizes you to register for the Kentucky Nurse Aide Test (KNAT).
- 4
Register for and schedule your KNAT exam
Register through your local KNAT Coordinator via the KCTCS Nurse Aide Testing system (1-877-528-2748 or [email protected]). The combined fee for both portions is approximately $115. You may test at any approved Kentucky testing location regardless of where you trained. Permanent employees must test within four months of hire; unemployed graduates have 12 months from program completion.
- 5
Pass both portions of the Kentucky Nurse Aide Test
The KNAT written exam is 75 multiple-choice questions in a 2-hour limit, requiring at least 70% to pass. The skills test asks you to perform 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills under a nurse evaluator's observation. Score both portions; KCTCS transmits results to the Kentucky Board of Nursing.
- 6
Get listed on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry as an SRNA
After you pass both portions, the Kentucky Board of Nursing — in cooperation with the Department for Medicaid Services — adds you to the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry as a State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA). Verify your status at kybn.boardsofnursing.org/licenselookup. Listing typically appears within 1-3 weeks.
- 7
Begin working as an SRNA in Kentucky
Once you are listed as Active on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry you may work in any Kentucky-licensed long-term care facility, hospital, home health agency, or hospice. To maintain active status you must perform at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related work during each 24-month renewal cycle.
Free CNA Programs in Kentucky
1 program offers no-cost training (employer-paid, federally funded, or scholarship-based).
Accelerated CNA Programs (≤4 weeks)
4 fast-track options for students who want to start working quickly.
All CNA Programs in Kentucky (16)
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Lexington, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours (6 weeks)
Owensboro Community and Technical College
Owensboro, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours
- Cost:
- $858
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Bowling Green, KY
Medicaid Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown, KY
Medicaid Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours
Spalding University
Louisville, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 6 weeks (75 hours)
- Cost:
- $1,500
Health Careers Training Institute
Louisville, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 2-3 weeks (75 hours)
- Cost:
- $900-$1,150
Nazareth Home
Louisville, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 2 weeks
- Cost:
- Free (employer-paid)
Kentucky Health Care Training Institute
Louisville, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 10 days (75 hours)
- Cost:
- $735
Hands 2 Hearts Academy
Louisville, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 4 weeks
- Cost:
- $1,250-$1,350
KY Healthcare Training
Lexington, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours (59 classroom + 16 clinical)
- Cost:
- $750
University of Kentucky College of Nursing - SRNA Program
Lexington, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours (59 instruction + 16 clinical)
- Cost:
- $800
Bluegrass Community and Technical College - Medicaid Nurse Aide
Lexington, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- One semester (NAA 100, 3 credit hours; 75-hour curriculum)
- Cost:
- Approximately $858 total
Emergency Medical Training Professionals
Lexington, KY
State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA)
- Duration:
- 75 hours (59 classroom + 16 clinical)
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Kentucky
What is the difference between a CNA and an SRNA in Kentucky?
+
In Kentucky, the official credential is State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA), not CNA. Functionally an SRNA is the same role as a CNA in other states — the credential satisfies federal OBRA requirements for nurse aide certification — but you'll see the term 'SRNA' on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry, on job postings, and on Kentucky Board of Nursing communications.
Who administers the Kentucky Nurse Aide Test (KNAT)?
+
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) is the sole approved testing administrator for the KNAT, using the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform. KCTCS Nurse Aide Testing can be reached at (877) 528-2748 or [email protected]. You can test at any approved Kentucky testing site, not just KCTCS colleges, regardless of where you completed your training.
How long do I have to take the KNAT after completing training?
+
If you are unemployed when you finish training, you have 12 months from your program completion date to pass both portions of the KNAT. If you are hired by a long-term care facility as a permanent nurse aide, you must complete the KNAT within the first four months of employment under federal OBRA rules. Miss either deadline and you must retrain.
How much does it cost to become an SRNA in Kentucky?
+
Total costs typically range from $0 (employer-sponsored training) to about $1,500. KCTCS Medicaid Nurse Aide programs are often the most affordable option, the KNAT exam is approximately $115 for both portions combined, and the Kentucky Board of Nursing does not charge a separate initial application fee for SRNA registry placement. Budget another $25-$75 for background check fees and required uniforms.
Can I transfer my CNA certification from another state to Kentucky?
+
Yes — Kentucky accepts reciprocity from other state registries through the Kentucky Board of Nursing's SRNA reciprocity process. You must submit a reciprocity application with copies of your driver's license, Social Security card, and current state certification. Your home-state registry must verify you are in good standing with no findings, and you must have recent work experience in the field.
What disqualifies you from becoming an SRNA in Kentucky?
+
Substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property on any state registry permanently disqualify you. Certain felony convictions — particularly those involving violence, theft, fraud, or sexual offenses — disqualify under Cabinet for Health and Family Services rules. The Office of Inspector General investigates allegations against Kentucky SRNAs and can issue findings that prevent registry placement.