Midlands Technical College
West Columbia, SC
Certified Nurse Assistant
- Duration:
- 5-12 weeks
- Cost:
- $2,704
CNA Classes in South Carolina
8 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs across 7 cities in South Carolina. South Carolina requires 100 hours minimum of training, with the competency exam administered by Credentia (via CNA365).
Training Hours
100 hours minimum
Federal minimum: 75h
Exam Vendor
Credentia (via CNA365)
$140 total ($45 written + $95 skills)
Time to Certify
6-10 weeks (100-hour program plus 1-2 weeks for Credentia to report results and SCDHHS to post you to the registry)
Minimum Age
18
Cost: $500-$1,300 including tuition, Credentia exam fees, scrubs, stethoscope, watch, and SLED background check
What makes South Carolina different: South Carolina is one of the few states where SCDHHS (not the Department of Health or Board of Nursing) maintains the Nurse Aide Registry, and Credentia adds candidates automatically through CNA365 with no separate state application fee.
CNA Classes by City in South Carolina
Becoming a CNA in South Carolina
South Carolina's CNA pathway is administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), which maintains the official South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry. SCDHHS contracts with Credentia (via the CNA365 platform) to handle exam registration, NNAAP testing, registry placement, renewal, and reciprocity. The state requires 100 training hours - more than the federal OBRA 75-hour minimum but less than nearby states like North Carolina (75) and Georgia (85).
South Carolina's 100-hour curriculum is divided into 60 classroom hours (including 20 documented skills lab hours) and 40 hours of supervised clinical experience. As of January 1, 2021, SCDHHS expanded the rules to allow the 40 clinical hours to be completed in either a licensed long-term care facility or an approved hospital, giving training programs more flexibility in placing students.
South Carolina CNAs work in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, hospitals, home health agencies, hospice, and intermediate care facilities. Credentia adds candidates to the SCDHHS Nurse Aide Registry automatically upon passing the NNAAP exam - there is no separate state application fee - which makes the South Carolina path one of the more streamlined in the Southeast.
How to Become a CNA in South Carolina
- 1
Confirm SCDHHS eligibility
Candidates must be at least 18 years old (most programs), able to read, write, and communicate in English, and pass a SLED criminal background check plus a Nurse Aide Registry abuse and neglect screening. The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) maintains the disqualifying offenses list at scdhhs.gov/nurse-aide.
- 2
Enroll in an SCDHHS-approved 100-hour program
Choose a program approved by SCDHHS. Common options include technical colleges (Midlands Tech, Trident Tech, Greenville Tech), Red Cross chapters, high school health science programs, and nursing-home employer-sponsored classes. The curriculum must include 60 classroom hours (with 20 hours of documented skills practice) plus 40 hours of supervised clinical experience.
- 3
Complete the 60 classroom + 40 clinical curriculum
Topics covered include resident rights, infection control, vital signs, personal care, range of motion, communication, mental health, and the specific NNAAP skills you will be tested on. As of January 1, 2021, SCDHHS allows the 40 clinical hours to be completed in either a licensed long-term care facility or an approved hospital.
- 4
Create a CNA365 account and apply with Credentia
Create a CNA365 account at cna365.examroom.ai, complete the Application for Registration by Competency Examination, and upload your training completion certificate or a signed letter verifying your hours, clinical instruction, and completion date. Pay the $140 NNAAP fee ($45 written + $95 skills).
- 5
Pass the NNAAP knowledge and skills exam
Schedule both portions through CNA365. The knowledge test can be taken at a Pearson VUE test center or online with live remote proctoring, while the skills evaluation must be completed in person at a Credentia testing site. You must pass both within two years of training completion and within three attempts.
- 6
Get added to the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry
Once both portions are passed, Credentia automatically reports results to SCDHHS and your name is added to the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry within a few business days - no separate state application, fee, or waiting period is required. Employers verify your active status through CNA365.
- 7
Renew every two years through CNA365
South Carolina certification lasts 24 months. To renew, you submit your renewal through CNA365, pay the $35 renewal fee, and document at least 8 hours of paid, supervised nursing-related work in the prior 24 months. Lapsed CNAs may have to retake the NNAAP exam if they exceed the work-hour gap.
Free CNA Programs in South Carolina
1 program offers no-cost training (employer-paid, federally funded, or scholarship-based).
All CNA Programs in South Carolina (8)
Trident Technical College - Thornley Campus
North Charleston, SC
Certified Nurse Aide
- Duration:
- 121.25 hours
Horry-Georgetown Technical College - Conway Campus
Conway, SC
Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 1 semester
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg, SC
Certified Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 110 hours
- Cost:
- $2,500
NHC HealthCare Charleston
Charleston, SC
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 100 hours
- Cost:
- Free for employees (Earn-While-You-Learn)
Trident Technical College - Palmer Campus
Charleston, SC
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- Approximately 121 hours (8-12 weeks)
- Cost:
- Approximately $949 (tuition)
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in South Carolina
Who maintains the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry?
+
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) maintains the official Nurse Aide Registry. Day-to-day services - including exam scheduling, registry placement, renewal, verification, and reciprocity - are provided through CNA365 by Credentia. SCDHHS is reachable at (803) 898-2500 or [email protected].
How much does the South Carolina NNAAP exam cost?
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The total NNAAP exam fee in South Carolina is $140, split as $45 for the knowledge (written) exam and $95 for the skills evaluation, paid to Credentia through CNA365. There is no separate state application fee - your name is added to the SCDHHS Nurse Aide Registry automatically when both portions are passed.
Can I take the NNAAP knowledge exam online in South Carolina?
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Yes. South Carolina candidates can take the NNAAP knowledge test either at a Pearson VUE test center or online with live remote proctoring through CNA365. The skills evaluation, however, must be completed in person at a Credentia testing site because an evaluator has to score five randomly selected hands-on skills.
How do I renew my South Carolina CNA certification?
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Renewal is every 24 months through CNA365. You must pay a $35 renewal fee and document at least 8 hours of paid, supervised nursing-related work during the prior 24 months. Renewals submitted late or without sufficient work hours may require retaking the NNAAP exam to be reinstated on the SCDHHS Nurse Aide Registry.
Where can clinical hours be completed in South Carolina?
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Effective January 1, 2021, SCDHHS allows the 40 hours of supervised clinical experience to be completed in either a licensed long-term care facility or an approved hospital. This change gave training programs more flexibility - particularly programs run by hospital systems - and was made permanent in response to clinical-site shortages.
Does South Carolina accept out-of-state CNA reciprocity?
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Yes. CNAs in good standing on another state's nurse aide registry can apply for South Carolina reciprocity through CNA365. You must submit verification of your active out-of-state certification, proof of at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work in the past 24 months, and complete the SLED background check. Credentia transmits approved applications to SCDHHS for registry placement.