CNA Requirements in Virginia
Step-by-step guide to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Virginia: the training, exam, background check, and timeline you need to plan for.
Find Virginia CNA Training ProgramsVirginia CNA Requirements at a Glance
Minimum Age
16
Training Hours
120 hours
(Federal minimum: 75)
Time to Certification
8–14 weeks (training 6–10 weeks, exam and registry 2–4 weeks)
Exam Vendor
Credentia
Becoming a CNA in Virginia
Becoming a CNA in Virginia is one of the more rigorous pathways on the East Coast. Virginia requires 120 hours of training — 45 hours above the federal floor of 75 — split into at least 80 hours of classroom theory and skills-lab instruction (including a minimum of 20 hours of skills-lab work) plus at least 40 hours of supervised clinical training delivering direct client care in a nursing care setting. Most full-time programs run 6 to 10 weeks. Virginia's community college system — including Tidewater, Northern Virginia, J. Sargeant Reynolds, Piedmont Virginia, and Wytheville — runs the largest network of approved 120-hour programs, typically priced $600 to $1,500 for residents.
After training, Virginia uses Credentia to administer the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination, with the combined fee at $140 ($45 for the written/oral knowledge test plus $95 for the skills evaluation). Both portions must be passed to be added to the registry. The Virginia Board of Nursing then charges a $30 application fee paid through the DHP online licensing system, and your name appears on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry at dhp.virginiainteractive.org/lookup/index, which functions as primary-source verification recognized by Joint Commission audits.
Two Virginia-specific rules worth knowing before you start. First, your Virginia State Police criminal background check and federal FBI fingerprint clearance must both clear before your application is processed; schedule fingerprinting as early as possible in training. Second, once you are certified, Virginia ties your renewal to your birth month rather than to your initial certification date — your certificate expires on the last day of your birth month every 2 years, with renewal notices mailed at least 60 days before expiration. The minimum age for CNA training in Virginia is 16, and there is no formal high school diploma requirement from the Board of Nursing.
Detailed Virginia CNA Requirements
Regulatory Body
Virginia Board of Nursing (Virginia Department of Health Professions)
Minimum Age
You must be at least 16 years old to begin CNA training in Virginia.
Education Requirement
No high school diploma or GED required by the Virginia Board of Nursing, though most training programs require basic English literacy
Training Hours
120 hours required.
Minimum 120 hours total: at least 80 hours of classroom theory and skills-lab instruction (including at least 20 hours of skills-lab work) plus at least 40 hours of supervised clinical training delivering direct client care
Background Check
Virginia State Police criminal background check plus federal FBI fingerprint clearance
Competency Exam
Administered by Credentia. Two-part Nurse Aide Competency Test (NNAAP): a written (or oral) knowledge test plus a hands-on skills evaluation
Cost: $140 total ($45 written/oral + $95 skills)
Application Fee
$30 Virginia Board of Nursing CNA application fee, paid through the DHP online licensing system
Total Cost Estimate
$0 (employer-sponsored) to $2,000 (private 120-hour program)
Where You Can Work
Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing facilities, hospitals, hospice programs, home health agencies, and other Virginia Department of Health-licensed healthcare settings
What's Different About Virginia
Virginia requires 120 hours of training (45 above federal minimum), uses Credentia for the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam, and ties renewal to your birth month rather than your initial certification date
How to Become a CNA in Virginia: Step by Step
Confirm you meet the prerequisites
You must be at least 16, free of disqualifying convictions under Virginia Board of Nursing rules, and able to read and write English. There is no formal high school diploma requirement from the state, though most training programs require basic English literacy.
Find a Virginia Board of Nursing-approved Nurse Aide Education Program
Look for a state-approved program meeting Virginia's 120-hour requirement. Approved programs are run by Virginia's community college system (especially Tidewater Community College, Northern Virginia Community College, J. Sargeant Reynolds, Piedmont Virginia, Wytheville), the American Red Cross, nursing facility chains, and private career schools. Many Virginia LTC operators in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Roanoke sponsor training in exchange for a work commitment.
Complete the 120-hour training program
Pass all 120 hours, including at least 40 hours of supervised clinical training delivering direct client care in a nursing care setting and at least 20 hours of skills-lab instruction. Your program issues a completion certificate that allows you to register for the Credentia competency exam.
Complete state and FBI background screening
Submit fingerprints for both Virginia State Police criminal background check and federal FBI fingerprint clearance. Processing usually takes 1 to 3 weeks. Disqualifying offenses include violent felonies, theft, fraud, sexual offenses, drug trafficking, and vulnerable-adult abuse.
Schedule and pass the Credentia NNAAP exam
Apply through Credentia's CNA365 account at credentia.com/test-takers/va/. The total exam fee is $140 ($45 written/oral + $95 skills). Schedule both portions at a Credentia-approved Virginia test center, typically within 2 to 4 weeks of program completion.
Apply through DHP and pay the $30 application fee
Submit your Virginia Board of Nursing CNA application through the DHP online licensing system and pay the $30 application fee to the Treasurer of Virginia. The Board verifies your training, exam results, and background check before adding you to the registry.
Get listed on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry
Once you pass both exam portions, your background check clears, and your DHP application is processed, you are added to the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry. You can verify your status at dhp.virginiainteractive.org/lookup/index. From that point you are authorized to work as a CNA in Virginia Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing facilities and other licensed healthcare settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum requirements to become a CNA in Virginia?
You must be at least 16, complete a Virginia Board of Nursing-approved 120-hour Nurse Aide Education Program (80+ classroom/skills lab + 40+ clinical), pass a Virginia State Police and federal FBI fingerprint background check, pay the $30 DHP application fee, and pass both portions of the Credentia NNAAP competency exam. A high school diploma is not required by the state.
Why does Virginia require 120 hours of training instead of the federal 75?
Virginia's 120-hour requirement reflects state policy that nurse aides should leave training with substantial supervised clinical experience and skills-lab preparation before working independently. The 40 minimum clinical hours and 20 minimum skills-lab hours mean Virginia-certified CNAs have meaningful hands-on practice before ever working with patients. This is part of why Virginia certification is generally recognized through reciprocity by other states without additional training requirements.
How long does it take to become a CNA in Virginia?
Most full-time 120-hour programs run 6 to 10 weeks. Part-time programs may run 12 to 16 weeks. Add 2 to 4 weeks for the Credentia NNAAP exam and DHP application processing, plus 1 to 3 weeks for background checks (often done in parallel with training). Total time from program start to working as a CNA is typically 8 to 14 weeks.
How much does it cost to become a CNA in Virginia?
Virginia community college programs typically cost $600 to $1,500 for residents — higher than in 75-hour-minimum states because of the 120-hour requirement. Private programs may run $1,500 to $2,500. Many Virginia LTC operators sponsor training in exchange for a work commitment. The Credentia NNAAP exam costs $140 ($45 + $95). The Virginia Board of Nursing application fee is $30. Total out-of-pocket cost ranges from $0 (employer-sponsored) to about $2,000.
Do I need a high school diploma to become a CNA in Virginia?
Not from the Virginia Board of Nursing — there is no formal high school diploma requirement. However, many individual training programs do require a diploma, GED, or current high school enrollment. Several Virginia school districts and Tech Centers offer CNA training as part of their healthcare career pathway, allowing students 16+ to begin training while still in high school.
Why does Virginia tie CNA renewal to my birth month?
Virginia is one of a small number of states that ties CNA renewal to your birth month rather than to your initial certification date. Your certificate expires on the last day of your birth month every 2 years, regardless of when you were originally certified. This is the same approach Virginia uses for many other professional licenses regulated by DHP. The Virginia Board of Nursing mails a renewal notice to your address on file at least 60 days before expiration, so keeping your address current with DHP is critical.
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