CNA Classes in Utah
10 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs across 7 cities in Utah. Utah requires 100 hours minimum at a UNAR-approved program of training, with the competency exam administered by D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU).
Training Hours
100 hours minimum at a UNAR-approved program
Federal minimum: 75h
Exam Vendor
D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU)
$110 total for both the written Knowledge Exam and the Manual Skills Exam combined
Time to Certify
4-8 weeks from program enrollment to registry listing
Minimum Age
16
Cost: $500-$1,500 including UNAR-approved program tuition, the $110 Headmaster exam, BCI fingerprinting fees, and certificate processing
What makes Utah different: Utah requires 100 training hours (25 above the federal minimum) and is the only state that consolidates testing, registry maintenance, and certificate issuance with a single vendor (Headmaster/UNAR) operating out of a state-aligned office in Kaysville, Utah.
CNA Classes by City in Utah
Becoming a CNA in Utah
Utah is one of the most centrally administered CNA systems in the country - the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR), operating from the UT Health Technology Certification Center in Kaysville, partners with D&SDT-Headmaster to deliver training program approval, testing, certificate issuance, registry maintenance, and renewal under a single TMU portal at ut.tmutest.com. This consolidation makes the process traceable and standardized but means every candidate, instructor, and employer must hold a TMU account.
Utah requires 100 training hours - 25 hours above the federal minimum - structured to give Utah CNAs more dementia care, restorative service, and infection prevention instruction than what OBRA mandates. The state expects 100 percent of approved programs to be UNAR-listed, and Utah's network of state-funded technical colleges (the Utah System of Technical Colleges, or UTech) makes affordable training broadly accessible across the Wasatch Front, Southern Utah, and rural counties.
Utah is distinctive for its 200-hour paid work requirement at every two-year renewal cycle - one of the highest in the United States and roughly 25 times the federal floor that most states adopt. The policy is intended to ensure active practice and currency, and CNAs who fall short must either retest through Headmaster or complete a UNAR-approved refresher course to be reinstated on the registry.
How to Become a CNA in Utah
- 1
Confirm Utah eligibility and select a UNAR-approved program
Confirm you are at least 16 years old, can pass a Utah BCI and FBI fingerprint background check, and have no substantiated findings on the UNAR abuse registry. Choose a UNAR-approved Nurse Aide Training Program from the official list at utahcnaregistry.com. Approved providers include Davis Technical College, Salt Lake Community College, MTECH, Snow College, Bridgerland Technical College, Utah Tech University, and several facility-based programs.
- 2
Complete 100 hours of UNAR-approved training
Finish at least 100 hours of instruction split between classroom theory, supervised skills lab practice, and clinical hours in a UNAR-approved long-term care setting. Curriculum covers basic nursing skills, mental health and social services needs, restorative care, residents' rights, dementia and Alzheimer's care, infection control, and Utah-specific abuse and neglect prevention. Programs typically run 4-6 weeks full time.
- 3
Submit fingerprints for BCI and FBI background check
Schedule a Utah BCI fingerprint appointment - most candidates use the Utah Department of Public Safety LiveScan vendors. Results are tied to your TMU account by your training program, and you cannot be placed on the registry with an unresolved disqualifying finding such as a felony conviction for abuse, neglect, theft from a vulnerable adult, or specified sexual offenses.
- 4
Create a TestMaster Universe (TMU) account and schedule both exams
Your training instructor enters your information into TMU, which creates your Utah candidate profile at ut.tmutest.com. From there you pay the $110 exam fee, choose test dates, and select a Utah testing location - tests are offered statewide at technical colleges, community colleges, and approved skilled nursing facilities. Bring two valid forms of ID on test day, one of which must be government-issued photo identification.
- 5
Pass the written Knowledge Exam and Manual Skills Exam
The Knowledge Exam is 75 multiple-choice questions covering Utah-specific care standards and core CNA competencies. The Manual Skills Exam requires you to perform 3-4 randomly selected hands-on skills (always including handwashing and indirect care) in front of a UNAR-approved evaluator. Both exams must be passed within 12 months of completing training, and candidates receive up to three attempts before being required to retrain.
- 6
Receive your Utah CNA certificate from UNAR
After UNAR verifies passing scores on both exams, you are added to the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry and your name is searchable at ut.tmutest.com/search. UNAR mails an official certificate and wallet card to your address on file within 7-10 business days. Employers in Utah are required by R432-45 to verify your active certification through the registry before hiring you.
- 7
Renew every two years with 200 paid work hours
Utah CNAs must renew certification every 24 months and document at least 200 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services under licensed nurse supervision within the prior two years - this is one of the highest work-hour thresholds in the country. Renewal is completed through TMU; certificates that expire without meeting the 200-hour requirement require either retesting or completion of a UNAR-approved refresher to restore active status.
Free CNA Programs in Utah
1 program offers no-cost training (employer-paid, federally funded, or scholarship-based).
Accelerated CNA Programs (≤4 weeks)
2 fast-track options for students who want to start working quickly.
All CNA Programs in Utah (10)
Utah CNA Training Centers - Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Certified Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 3 weeks (80 hours)
- Cost:
- $345-$550
Avalon Health Care - Nurse Aide Training
Salt Lake City, UT
Certified Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 3 weeks accelerated or 3-month self-paced (100 hours)
- Cost:
- Free for hired employees; $400 otherwise
Salt Lake City School District Career & Technical Center
Salt Lake City, UT
Certified Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 1 semester
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Utah
What is UNAR and how does it differ from the Utah Department of Health?
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UNAR (Utah Nursing Assistant Registry) is the state-designated body that approves training programs, contracts with Headmaster for testing, issues certificates, and maintains the registry of Utah CNAs. UNAR operates under the authority of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and Utah Administrative Code R432-45, with its day-to-day office in Kaysville. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services holds statutory rulemaking authority, but UNAR handles direct candidate and employer interaction.
How much does the Utah CNA exam cost?
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The Utah CNA exam costs $110 total through D&SDT-Headmaster, covering both the 75-question written Knowledge Exam and the hands-on Manual Skills Exam. Fees are paid through the candidate's TMU account at ut.tmutest.com. Retake fees apply per section if you fail an attempt, and BCI fingerprinting and certificate issuance add roughly $35-$50 to total out-of-pocket costs.
How long does it take to become a CNA in Utah?
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Most Utah candidates complete the 100-hour UNAR-approved training program in 4-6 weeks, then take 1-2 weeks to schedule and pass the Headmaster exams. UNAR issues certificates and wallet cards within 7-10 business days after passing, so the full path from enrollment to legal CNA work is generally 4-8 weeks. Davis Technical College, MTECH, and several community colleges offer evening and weekend cohorts that may extend the timeline.
Does Utah accept CNA reciprocity from other states?
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Yes. Active CNAs in good standing from any state with at least 75 hours of training may apply for Utah certification through reciprocity without retraining or retesting, provided they have no substantiated findings on their home-state abuse registry or the UNAR abuse registry. Applicants submit a reciprocity packet through TMU, complete Utah BCI and FBI fingerprinting, and pay the standard certificate fee.
What are Utah's renewal requirements?
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Utah requires CNAs to renew every 24 months and provide proof of at least 200 paid hours of nursing or nursing-related work under licensed nurse supervision within the prior two years - one of the strictest paid work requirements in the country. Renewal is completed through the TMU portal. CNAs who cannot meet the 200-hour requirement must either retake the Headmaster exam or complete a UNAR-approved refresher course to be reinstated.
Can I work in Utah while waiting to take the Headmaster exam?
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Yes, but only for up to four months under Utah's federal-conforming nurse aide provisional rule. Once you finish UNAR-approved training, a skilled nursing facility may employ you as a nurse aide for a maximum of 120 days while you complete the written and skills exams. If you do not pass both by day 120, your employer must remove you from nurse aide duties until you complete the competency evaluation.