StateLicensed

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Arizona

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
120 hrs
Upfront cost
$0
Exam
Nursing Assistant (NA) Certification Exam
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. AZBN's own apply-for-a-license page states twice, explicitly, that 'CNA applicants are NOT required to submit fingerprints to the Arizona State Board of Nursing to be certified.' This is a deliberate design from a 2014 law that split nursing assistants into a free, federal-minimum CNA tier (no background check, no fees) and an optional, fee-based LNA tier (fingerprint-based background check required, broader Board disciplinary jurisdiction). No AZ-specific minimum age was found on the Board's licensing pages, so left null rather than guessed. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 120 hours of training at a state-approved program. CNA by Exam (in-state) requires graduation from an AZBN-approved nursing assistant program of at least 120 hours. CNA by Endorsement (out-of-state certification holders) requires either a 120-hour out-of-state program, or a 75-hour out-of-state program plus at least 45 hours of documented work experience as a nursing assistant. [1]

  3. 3

    Nursing Assistant (NA) Certification Exam

    Pass the Nursing Assistant (NA) Certification Exam (fee: $0). Written knowledge test (75 multiple-choice questions) plus a hands-on skills evaluation; both components must be passed. Arizona charges no exam fee for the baseline CNA tier — per federal law (42 CFR 483.152/483.154), the state cannot charge nurse aides for competency testing or registry placement. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN) with the $0 application fee. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN) issues your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for Arizona.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $0
License fee [2] $0
Renewal fee [2] $0
Nursing Assistant (NA) Certification Exam [2] $0
CNA by Endorsement (transfer of an active out-of-state CNA certification) [2] $50

Arizona's baseline CNA tier is fee-free end-to-end (exam, initial Nurse Aide Registry placement, and renewal), by federal-law design. The only CNA-tier fee is $50 for Endorsement (transferring an existing out-of-state CNA certification). Arizona also offers a separate, optional Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) credential with its own fees ($50 initial, $50 fingerprinting, $50 renewal, plus broader Board jurisdiction) — that is a distinct credential from the baseline CNA and not reflected in this record's occupation scope.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

No continuing-education hours required. To remain on the CNA Registry, a CNA must have worked as a nursing assistant (or performed nursing-assistant tasks) for a minimum of 8 paid hours in the prior 2 years. Renewal itself is free ($0).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides. Arizona offers CNA by Endorsement ($50 fee) for candidates whose out-of-state CNA certification is active, or was active within the last 2 years, and who completed either a 120-hour out-of-state training program, or a 75-hour program plus at least 45 hours of documented nursing-assistant work experience.

4 state-approved training providers in Arizona — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

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Frequently asked questions

Does Arizona charge a fee for CNA certification?

No. Arizona's baseline CNA tier is free — no exam fee, no initial registry-placement fee, and no renewal fee — as required by federal law. Only CNA by Endorsement (transferring an out-of-state certification) costs $50.

Does Arizona require a background check to become a CNA?

No. Arizona's CNA applicants are explicitly not required to submit fingerprints. Background checks apply only to Arizona's separate, optional Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) credential, which also carries its own fees.

How many training hours does Arizona require to become a CNA?

120 hours at an AZBN-approved nursing assistant training program (for CNA by Exam). CNA by Endorsement from another state accepts a 120-hour program, or a 75-hour program plus 45 hours of documented work experience.

How often do I renew my Arizona CNA certification?

Every 2 years. Renewal is free and requires no continuing education — just documentation of at least 8 paid hours worked as a nursing assistant during the prior 2 years.

Sources

  1. [1] azbn.gov/licenses-and-certifications/apply-license — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] azbn.gov/licenses-and-certifications/agency-fees — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] azbn.gov/licenses-and-certifications/renew-your-license — accessed 2026-07-10