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CNA Requirements by State

Every state sets its own rules for becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. Training hours range from 75 (federal minimum) to 175. Pick your state to see exactly what you need.

50
States Covered
75–175
Training Hours Range
4–12 wks
Typical Time to Cert

Select Your State

AL

Alabama

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:6-10 weeks
View Alabama Requirements
AK

Alaska

CNA Requirements

Training:140 hours minimum
Min age:18
Time:12-20 weeks
View Alaska Requirements
AZ

Arizona

CNA Requirements

Training:120 hours
Min age:16
Time:8–14 weeks (training 6–10 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View Arizona Requirements
AR

Arkansas

CNA Requirements

Training:90 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:8-12 weeks
View Arkansas Requirements
CA

California

CNA Requirements

Training:160 hours
Min age:16
Time:8–14 weeks (training averages 6–10 weeks, then 2–4 weeks for exam and registry)
View California Requirements
CO

Colorado

CNA Requirements

Training:80 hours minimum (state rule above the federal 75)
Min age:16
Time:4-8 weeks
View Colorado Requirements
CT

Connecticut

CNA Requirements

Training:100 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:6-12 weeks
View Connecticut Requirements
DE

Delaware

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours
Min age:16
Time:5–10 weeks (training 4–6 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View Delaware Requirements
FL

Florida

CNA Requirements

Training:None required (challenge exam allowed)
Min age:18
Time:2–10 weeks depending on whether you challenge the exam directly or complete a training program first
View Florida Requirements
GA

Georgia

CNA Requirements

Training:85 hours
Min age:16
Time:5–10 weeks (training 4–6 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View Georgia Requirements
HI

Hawaii

CNA Requirements

Training:100 hours minimum
Min age:18
Time:8-16 weeks
View Hawaii Requirements
ID

Idaho

CNA Requirements

Training:120 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:8-14 weeks
View Idaho Requirements
IL

Illinois

CNA Requirements

Training:120 hours
Min age:16
Time:8–14 weeks (training is typically 6–10 weeks, exam and registry listing 2–4 weeks)
View Illinois Requirements
IN

Indiana

CNA Requirements

Training:105 hours minimum (30 classroom + 75 clinical)
Min age:16
Time:4-10 weeks
View Indiana Requirements
IA

Iowa

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:5-9 weeks from program start to Direct Care Worker Registry listing
View Iowa Requirements
KS

Kansas

CNA Requirements

Training:90 hours minimum
Min age:17
Time:6-10 weeks from program start to registry listing
View Kansas Requirements
KY

Kentucky

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:5-9 weeks from program start to Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry listing
View Kentucky Requirements
LA

Louisiana

CNA Requirements

Training:80 hours
Min age:18
Time:5–10 weeks (training typically 4–6 weeks, exam and registry listing 2–4 weeks)
View Louisiana Requirements
ME

Maine

CNA Requirements

Training:180 hours typical (130 hours minimum)
Min age:16
Time:12-20 weeks
View Maine Requirements
MD

Maryland

CNA Requirements

Training:100 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:8-14 weeks from program start to registry listing
View Maryland Requirements
MA

Massachusetts

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours
Min age:16
Time:5–10 weeks (training 4–6 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View Massachusetts Requirements
MI

Michigan

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours
Min age:16
Time:5–10 weeks (training 4–6 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View Michigan Requirements
MN

Minnesota

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:4-10 weeks from program start to Nurse Aide Registry listing
View Minnesota Requirements
MS

Mississippi

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours
Min age:16
Time:5–10 weeks (training 4–6 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View Mississippi Requirements
MO

Missouri

CNA Requirements

Training:175 hours minimum (well above the federal 75)
Min age:16
Time:8-14 weeks (175-hour program completion plus 7-10 business days for TMU processing after exams pass)
View Missouri Requirements
MT

Montana

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:8-12 weeks
View Montana Requirements
NE

Nebraska

CNA Requirements

Training:76 hours minimum (75 hours of approved nurse aide instruction plus a 1-hour Nebraska-specific abuse, neglect, and misappropriation course)
Min age:16
Time:4-8 weeks from program start to registry listing
View Nebraska Requirements
NV

Nevada

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum
Min age:18
Time:6-12 weeks for training plus up to 4 months for fingerprint clearance before permanent certification is issued
View Nevada Requirements
NH

New Hampshire

CNA Requirements

Training:100 hours minimum
Min age:17
Time:10-16 weeks
View New Hampshire Requirements
NJ

New Jersey

CNA Requirements

Training:90 hours
Min age:18
Time:5–10 weeks (training 4–6 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View New Jersey Requirements
NM

New Mexico

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum (federal floor); many New Mexico programs deliver 100-185 hours to align with employer expectations
Min age:16
Time:4-8 weeks from program enrollment to registry listing
View New Mexico Requirements
NY

New York

CNA Requirements

Training:100 hours minimum
Min age:17
Time:6–12 weeks (training is typically 4–8 weeks, then 2–4 weeks for exam and registry listing)
View New York Requirements
NC

North Carolina

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours (Nurse Aide I)
Min age:16
Time:5–10 weeks for NA I (training 4–6 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks); NA II adds another 8–12 weeks of additional training
View North Carolina Requirements
ND

North Dakota

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:8-14 weeks
View North Dakota Requirements
OH

Ohio

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours
Min age:16
Time:5–10 weeks (training 4–6 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View Ohio Requirements
OK

Oklahoma

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum (Long Term Care Aide)
Min age:16
Time:4-8 weeks (most 75-hour programs run 4-6 weeks plus 1-2 weeks for the exam and registry posting)
View Oklahoma Requirements
OR

Oregon

CNA Requirements

Training:155 hours minimum (more than double the federal 75-hour OBRA standard)
Min age:16
Time:10-16 weeks (155-hour program completion plus 2-4 weeks for OSBN application processing and fingerprint clearance)
View Oregon Requirements
PA

Pennsylvania

CNA Requirements

Training:80 hours
Min age:16
Time:5–10 weeks (training 4–6 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View Pennsylvania Requirements
RI

Rhode Island

CNA Requirements

Training:100 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:10-14 weeks
View Rhode Island Requirements
SC

South Carolina

CNA Requirements

Training:100 hours minimum
Min age:18
Time:6-10 weeks (100-hour program plus 1-2 weeks for Credentia to report results and SCDHHS to post you to the registry)
View South Carolina Requirements
SD

South Dakota

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:6-12 weeks
View South Dakota Requirements
TN

Tennessee

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours
Min age:16
Time:5–10 weeks (training 4–6 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View Tennessee Requirements
TX

Texas

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:4–8 weeks from program start to registry listing
View Texas Requirements
UT

Utah

CNA Requirements

Training:100 hours minimum at a UNAR-approved program
Min age:16
Time:4-8 weeks from program enrollment to registry listing
View Utah Requirements
VT

Vermont

CNA Requirements

Training:80 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:8-14 weeks
View Vermont Requirements
VA

Virginia

CNA Requirements

Training:120 hours
Min age:16
Time:8–14 weeks (training 6–10 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
View Virginia Requirements
WA

Washington

CNA Requirements

Training:85 hours minimum (most programs run 108+ hours)
Min age:18
Time:5–10 weeks for entry-level NA-R; full NA-C requires up to 4 additional months under federal OBRA rules
View Washington Requirements
WV

West Virginia

CNA Requirements

Training:120 hours minimum, exceeding the federal 75-hour floor
Min age:18
Time:6-10 weeks from program start to registry listing
View West Virginia Requirements
WI

Wisconsin

CNA Requirements

Training:120 hours minimum at most technical colleges (Wisconsin's federal minimum is 75 hours, but the state's technical college system standard is 120 hours)
Min age:16
Time:6-12 weeks from enrolling in a program to appearing on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry
View Wisconsin Requirements
WY

Wyoming

CNA Requirements

Training:75 hours minimum
Min age:16
Time:8-14 weeks
View Wyoming Requirements

More States Coming Soon

We are adding detailed CNA requirements pages for all 50 states. The pages above already cover the largest CNA workforces. Check back regularly as we add more states.

How CNA Requirements Vary by State

Federal law (OBRA '87) sets a floor of 75 hours of training for nurse aides working in Medicare- and Medicaid-certified facilities. Beyond that floor, every state sets its own requirements — and the differences are substantial. California requires 160 hours, Virginia and Illinois require 120, while Texas, Florida, and several others stick with the 75-hour federal minimum.

Other state-specific factors include minimum age (some states allow CNA training at 16, others require 18), education prerequisites (some require a high school diploma, others do not), background check rules, and which company administers the competency exam. Common testing vendors include Credentia (formerly Pearson VUE), Prometric, Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies), and PSI.

Some states have unique pathways: Florida allows you to challenge the exam without formal training. Washington has a two-tier system (NA-R for entry-level, NA-C for the full credential). New Jersey distinguishes CNAs (long-term care facilities) from CHHAs (home health). Pick your state above for the exact rules.

General CNA Requirement Questions

What is the federal minimum training requirement for CNAs?

Federal law (OBRA '87) requires a minimum of 75 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical training, before a candidate can take the competency exam and work in a Medicare- or Medicaid-certified facility. Many states require more than the federal minimum.

Do I need a high school diploma to become a CNA?

It depends on the state. Some states (like California) explicitly require a high school diploma or GED for CNA certification. Others (like Texas) do not require it, though individual training programs and employers may. Check your state's specific requirements page for the rule.

How long does it take to become a CNA?

In most states, the full process — training, exam, and registry listing — takes 4 to 12 weeks. Accelerated programs can complete the classroom and clinical portions in as little as 3 to 4 weeks. States with higher training-hour requirements (California's 160-hour rule, for example) typically take longer.

How much does CNA training cost?

Costs vary widely by state and program type. Many nursing facilities sponsor training for free in exchange for a work commitment. Community college programs typically range from $400 to $1,500. Private programs may run higher. Add $75 to $200 for the exam and registry fees.