Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements by State
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), called Nurse Aides in Texas, provide hands-on basic care — bathing, feeding, mobility assistance, vital signs — for patients in nursing homes, hospitals, and home health settings under the supervision of a licensed nurse. Federal law (42 CFR 483.152, part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987) sets a nationwide floor of at least 75 hours of training and requires every state to maintain a Nurse Aide Registry, but each state sets its own training-hour minimum, exam vendor, fees, and renewal cycle above that floor.
- States verified
- 51
- Median wage (BLS 2024)
- $39,530/yr
- Employment (BLS 2024)
- 1,441,500
- Outlook (10-yr)
- +2.3%
Pick your state
Requirements at a glance
| State | Training hours | Upfront cost | Renewal cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | — | $135 | Every 2 years |
| Alaska | 140 hrs | $260 | Every 2 years |
| Arizona | 120 hrs | $0 | Every 2 years |
| Arkansas | 90 hrs | $125 | Every 2 years |
| California | 160 hrs | $130 | Every 2 years |
| Colorado | 75 hrs | $135 | Every 2 years |
| Connecticut | 100 hrs | $118 | Every 2 years |
| Delaware | 91 hrs | — | Every 2 years |
| District of Columbia | — | $165 | Every 2 years |
| Florida | 120 hrs | $155 | Every 2 years |
| Georgia | 85 hrs | $130 | Every 2 years |
| Hawaii | 100 hrs | $225 | Every 2 years |
| Idaho | 120 hrs | $29 | Every 2 years |
| Illinois | 120 hrs | $85 | — |
| Indiana | 105 hrs | $100 | Every 2 years |
| Iowa | 75 hrs | $165 | — |
| Kansas | 90 hrs | — | — |
| Kentucky | 75 hrs | $135 | Every 2 years |
| Louisiana | 80 hrs | $125 | Every 2 years |
| Maine | 130 hrs | $0 | Every 2 years |
| Maryland | 100 hrs | $150 | Every 2 years |
| Massachusetts | 75 hrs | $110 | Every 2 years |
| Michigan | 75 hrs | $215 | Every 2 years |
| Minnesota | 75 hrs | — | Every 2 years |
| Mississippi | 75 hrs | $135 | Every 2 years |
| Missouri | 175 hrs | $135 | Every 2 years |
| Montana | 75 hrs | $97 | Every 2 years |
| Nebraska | 75 hrs | — | — |
| Nevada | 75 hrs | — | Every 2 years |
| New Hampshire | 100 hrs | $283 | Every 2 years |
| New Jersey | 90 hrs | $76 | Every 2 years |
| New Mexico | 75 hrs | $140 | Every 2 years |
| New York | 100 hrs | $115 | Every 2 years |
| North Carolina | 75 hrs | — | Every 2 years |
| North Dakota | 75 hrs | $120 | Every 2 years |
| Ohio | 75 hrs | $120 | Every 2 years |
| Oklahoma | 75 hrs | — | Every 2 years |
| Oregon | 155 hrs | $106 | Every 2 years |
| Pennsylvania | 75 hrs | $135 | Every 2 years |
| Rhode Island | 120 hrs | $35 | Every 2 years |
| South Carolina | 100 hrs | $140 | Every 2 years |
| South Dakota | 75 hrs | $159.5 | Every 2 years |
| Tennessee | 75 hrs | — | Every 2 years |
| Texas | 100 hrs | $120 | Every 2 years |
| Utah | 100 hrs | $110 | Every 2 years |
| Vermont | 75 hrs | $25 | Every 2 years |
| Virginia | 140 hrs | $140 | Every 2 years |
| Washington | 108 hrs | $140 | Every 1 year |
| West Virginia | 120 hrs | — | Every 2 years |
| Wisconsin | 75 hrs | $137.75 | Every 2 years |
| Wyoming | — | $127 | Every 2 years |
Upfront cost = application fee + license fee + exam fees, from each state's verified fee schedule. States marked "coming soon" are being verified against their issuing board and will be published shortly.