Delgado Community College
New Orleans, LA
Nurse Aide Training Program
- Duration:
- 1 semester
- Cost:
- $475
CNA Classes in Louisiana
31 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs across 5 cities in Louisiana. Louisiana requires 80 hours of training, with the competency exam administered by Prometric.
Training Hours
80 hours
Federal minimum: 75h
Exam Vendor
Prometric
$125 (knowledge + skills); $25 reschedule fee
Time to Certify
5–10 weeks (training typically 4–6 weeks, exam and registry listing 2–4 weeks)
Minimum Age
18
Cost: $200–$1,200 depending on whether training is employer-sponsored, at a community/technical college, or private
What makes Louisiana different: Louisiana operates two separate registries that employers are expected to check — the Nurse Aide Registry and the Direct Service Worker (DSW) Adverse Actions Registry. Most LDH-licensed providers must screen prospective employees against both lists.
CNA Classes by City in Louisiana
Becoming a CNA in Louisiana
Louisiana has one of the shorter CNA training requirements in the country at 80 hours, which means most full-time candidates can complete their program in 4 to 6 weeks. The 80 hours split evenly into 40 classroom hours and 40 supervised clinical hours, but there are two scheduling quirks worth planning around: at least 16 of the 40 classroom hours must be completed before any clinical work can begin, and the program must include a separate 4-hour clinical site orientation that does not count toward the 80 hours. The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) runs the largest network of approved programs, typically priced between $300 and $1,000.
Louisiana's biggest scheduling quirk on the exam side is that first-time testers must take both the written/oral knowledge test and the clinical skills evaluation on the same day. Prometric is the contracted testing vendor, charging a $35 application fee plus $125 for both exam portions. If you fail one portion, you can retest only the failed portion on a separate day for a $25 reschedule fee. All testing must be completed within 12 months of finishing the approved training program, so most candidates schedule their exam attempts within the first 2 to 4 weeks after program completion.
Worth knowing before you start: Louisiana operates two separate registries that healthcare employers are required to check before hiring you. The Nurse Aide Registry at tlc.dhh.la.gov tracks your certification status, and the Direct Service Worker Adverse Actions Registry at adverseactions.ldh.la.gov tracks substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. A finding on either registry can disqualify you from healthcare employment in Louisiana even if your CNA certification is technically active, so it is important to know that both lists exist from day one. The minimum age for CNA training in Louisiana is 18.
How to Become a CNA in Louisiana
- 1
Confirm you meet the prerequisites
You must be at least 18, able to read and write English, free of disqualifying felony convictions, and pass an LDH Health Standards Section background check. A high school diploma or GED is preferred by most training programs but not strictly required by LDH.
- 2
Find an LDH-HSS approved Nurse Aide Training Program (NATP)
Locate an 80-hour state-approved program (40 classroom + 40 clinical, plus a 4-hour clinical site orientation that is not counted in the 80 hours). Programs are offered at Louisiana Community and Technical College System schools, career schools, and nursing facilities. LDH publishes the approved-program list on its Health Standards Section website.
- 3
Complete the 80-hour NATP
Finish all 40 classroom hours (at least 16 hours before any clinical work begins) and all 40 clinical hours in a nursing home or hospital-based skilled nursing facility unit, plus the 4-hour clinical site orientation. Your program issues a completion certificate that allows you to register for the Prometric exam.
- 4
Apply through Prometric and pay the $35 application fee
Submit your Louisiana CNA Application to Prometric (selecting Route 1 for in-state training graduates), along with a copy of your Social Security card and a Louisiana government-issued ID or military ID. The $35 application fee is paid to Prometric.
- 5
Pass the two-part Prometric competency exam
Schedule both the written/oral knowledge test and the clinical skills evaluation. First-time candidates must complete both portions on the same day. You must finish testing within 12 months of completing your LDH-approved training program. The total exam fee is $125.
- 6
Get added to the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry
Once you pass both exam portions, Prometric forwards your file to LDH for final approval and registry placement. You can verify your status at tlc.dhh.la.gov. Most Louisiana employers also check the separate DSW Adverse Actions Registry at adverseactions.ldh.la.gov before hiring.
Accelerated CNA Programs (≤4 weeks)
7 fast-track options for students who want to start working quickly.
- St. Agatha Career School — New Orleans (4-5 weeks)
- Nursing Assistant Network Association — New Orleans (3 weeks (hybrid))
- The H.E.A.R.T. Academy — Baton Rouge (3 weeks (day) or 5 weeks (night))
- Mia's Medical Academy — Baton Rouge (3 weeks (80 hours))
- Pelican Training Institute — Baton Rouge (6 weeks, 4 days/week (80 hours))
All CNA Programs in Louisiana (31)
Nursing Assistant Network Association
New Orleans, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 3 weeks (hybrid)
- Cost:
- $570
Southern University at Shreveport - School of Nursing
Shreveport, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College - Shreveport Campus
Shreveport, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Baton Rouge Community College - Workforce Solutions
Baton Rouge, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 8 weeks (80 hours)
- Cost:
- $1,200
The H.E.A.R.T. Academy
Baton Rouge, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 3 weeks (day) or 5 weeks (night)
Aspire Medical Training Academy
Baton Rouge, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 5 weeks (80 hours)
Mia's Medical Academy
Baton Rouge, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 3 weeks (80 hours)
Pelican Training Institute
Baton Rouge, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 6 weeks, 4 days/week (80 hours)
Infinity College
Lafayette, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 2 weeks (100 hours)
- Cost:
- $700
South Louisiana Community College
Lafayette, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 6 weeks (80 classroom + 45 clinical)
- Cost:
- $2,200
Sovereign College
Lafayette, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 2 weeks (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm)
W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center
Lafayette, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- School-year program
- Cost:
- No tuition (minor course fees may apply)
SOWELA Technical Community College
Lake Charles, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 80 hours (40 classroom + 40 clinical)
Community Helpers Healthcare Career Center
Lake Charles, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 80 hours (40 classroom + 40 clinical)
Calcasieu Community Care Center
Lake Charles, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 80 hours
Resthaven Nursing and Rehabilitation
Lake Charles, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 80 hours
Washington-Marion Magnet High School
Lake Charles, LA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 80 hours
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Louisiana
What are the minimum requirements to become a CNA in Louisiana?
+
You must be at least 18, complete an LDH-approved 80-hour Nurse Aide Training Program (40 classroom + 40 clinical, plus a 4-hour clinical site orientation), pass a Louisiana State Police background check, and pass both portions of the Prometric competency evaluation. A high school diploma or GED is preferred but not strictly required.
How long does it take to become a CNA in Louisiana?
+
Most full-time training programs take 4 to 6 weeks. Part-time programs may run 8 to 12 weeks. After training, schedule the Prometric exam (often within 2–4 weeks). Total time from program start to registry listing is typically 5 to 10 weeks.
How much does it cost to become a CNA in Louisiana?
+
Community college and technical school NATPs typically cost $300–$1,000. Many nursing facilities sponsor training in exchange for a work commitment. The Prometric application fee is $35 and the exam fee is $125 ($25 reschedule fee). Total out-of-pocket costs range from $200 (employer-sponsored) to about $1,200 (private program).
What disqualifies you from becoming a CNA in Louisiana?
+
LDH disqualifies applicants with certain felony convictions, particularly those involving violence, theft, fraud, sexual offenses, drug trafficking, or vulnerable-adult abuse. Substantiated findings of resident abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on any state's nurse aide registry are also disqualifying. The Louisiana State Police background check and DSW Adverse Actions Registry check are both required before certification.
Do I have to take both portions of the Louisiana CNA exam on the same day?
+
Yes, first-time candidates are required to take both the written (or oral) knowledge test and the clinical skills evaluation on the same day. If you fail one portion, you may retest only the failed portion on a separate day (with a $25 reschedule fee). All testing must be completed within 12 months of finishing your approved training program.
Why does Louisiana have two registries — CNA and DSW?
+
The Nurse Aide (CNA) Registry tracks certification status and competency. The Direct Service Worker (DSW) Adverse Actions Registry tracks substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation against any direct service worker, including CNAs. Both registries are operated by LDH's Health Standards Section. Most LDH-licensed providers — nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, hospice, ICF/DD, assisted living — are required to screen prospective employees against both before hiring.