Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in New Jersey
- Training hours
- 90 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $76
- Exam
- Nurse Aide Written/Oral Competency Exam, Nurse Aide Skills Evaluation
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- New Jersey Department of Health, Health Facilities Survey and Field Operations — Nurse Aide/Personal Care Assistant Certification Program
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. NJDOH requires a criminal background check (fingerprinting) prior to certification, and reciprocity applicants must attest they have not been convicted of any crimes. No official state-mandated minimum age was found on NJDOH's own pages; individual NATCEPs set their own admission policy. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 90 hours of training (including 40 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. 90 total clock hours (50 classroom + 40 clinical) at a New Jersey Department of Health-approved Nurse Aide in Long Term Care Facilities Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP). Exceeds the federal OBRA/42 CFR 483.152 floor of 75 hours. [1]
- 3
Nurse Aide Written/Oral Competency Exam
Pass the Nurse Aide Written/Oral Competency Exam (fee: $53). Written multiple-choice exam; an oral (audio) version is also offered for candidates who need it. Fee figures ($53 written, $67 oral) were located via a secondary summary of PSI's New Jersey Nurse Aide Examination Candidate Information Bulletin (linked directly from NJDOH's own apply page at candidate.psiexams.com) rather than a direct text fetch of that bulletin, since the bulletin loads as a dynamic viewer that could not be captured as plain text. Verify against the current bulletin before publishing as verified. [2]
- 4
Nurse Aide Skills Evaluation
Pass the Nurse Aide Skills Evaluation (fee: $23). Hands-on, proctored demonstration of nurse aide skills. Fee figure located via a secondary summary of PSI's candidate bulletin rather than a direct text fetch; verify before publishing as verified. [2]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to New Jersey Department of Health, Health Facilities Survey and Field Operations — Nurse Aide/Personal Care Assistant Certification Program. [3]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, New Jersey Department of Health, Health Facilities Survey and Field Operations — Nurse Aide/Personal Care Assistant Certification Program issues your Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) for New Jersey.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | None specified |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $30 |
| Nurse Aide Written/Oral Competency Exam [2] | $53 |
| Nurse Aide Skills Evaluation [2] | $23 |
| Written/Oral Competency Exam (PSI) [3] | $53 |
| Skills Evaluation (PSI) [3] | $23 |
| Reciprocity fee (out-of-state CNAs) [3] | $30 |
No separate NJDOH application or license fee was identified — candidates pay PSI's exam fees directly. Renewal fee is $30 per the NJDOH renewal page.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Renewal requires at least 7 hours of paid nursing/nursing-related employment in a licensed health care facility or agency within the 24 months preceding the certificate's expiration date, plus a repeat criminal background check with fingerprinting. No continuing-education hour requirement was found for standard renewal (the 24-CEU option applies specifically to one of the two out-of-state reciprocity routes, not standard NJ renewal — see reciprocity notes).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides. New Jersey offers two reciprocity routes for out-of-state certified CNAs: (1) complete 24 hours of DOH-approved continuing education (including 12 hours specific to Alzheimer's/dementia care) within the prior 24 months, or (2) complete 24 months of full-time (35+ hrs/week) nurse-aide employment under a licensed nurse's supervision and pass NJ's written and clinical exams. A $30 reciprocity fee applies.
7 state-approved training providers in New Jersey — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $53
- $23
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of CNA training does New Jersey require?
90 clock hours total: 50 hours of classroom instruction plus 40 hours of clinical experience, at a DOH-approved Nurse Aide in Long Term Care Facilities Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP).
Who administers the New Jersey CNA exam?
PSI Services LLC, under contract with the New Jersey Department of Health. The exam includes a written (or oral) component and a hands-on skills evaluation.
How often do I need to renew my New Jersey CNA certification?
Every 24 months, for a $30 fee. You must document at least 7 hours of paid nurse-aide work in a licensed health care facility during that period and pass a repeat criminal background check.
Can an out-of-state CNA transfer their certification to New Jersey?
Yes, through reciprocity. You can either complete 24 hours of DOH-approved continuing education (including 12 hours on Alzheimer's/dementia care) within the prior 24 months, or document 24 months of full-time supervised nurse-aide work and pass New Jersey's written and clinical exams. A $30 reciprocity fee applies.
Sources
- [1] nj.gov/health/healthfacilities/certification-licensing/nurse-aide-pc-assistant/apply/index.shtml — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] candidate.psiexams.com/bulletin/display_bulletin.jsp — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] nj.gov/health/healthfacilities/certification-licensing/nurse-aide-pc-assistant/renew-replace/index.shtml — accessed 2026-07-10