StateLicensed

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Utah

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
100 hrs
Upfront cost
$110
Exam
State Written Knowledge Exam, State Manual Skills Exam
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old. UNAR's Q&A states: to earn certification an individual must be at least 16 years of age, complete a UNAR-approved training program, and pass both the State Written Knowledge Exam and State Manual Skills Exam. UNAR's public pages state no criminal background check requirement for certification itself, so backgroundCheck is false; healthcare employers in licensed facilities conduct their own screening under Utah Department of Health and Human Services licensing rules. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 100 hours of training at a state-approved program. UNAR-approved 100-hour CNA training program (NATCEP); UNAR approves and oversees all nursing assistant training programs and instructors in the state. Utah's 100-hour requirement exceeds the federal 42 CFR 483.152 floor of 75 hours. UNAR does not publish a classroom/clinical hour split on its public pages, so clinicalHours is omitted. UNAR Q&A page verified via archive snapshot [2026-02-16]. [1]

  3. 3

    State Written Knowledge Exam

    Pass the State Written Knowledge Exam (fee: $55). Written multiple-choice knowledge exam; official version is in English (translation dictionaries permitted under UNAR's Translation Policy). Fee is per attempt; 3 attempts allowed. All testing (including retakes) must be completed within 1 year of training program completion — no extensions. Fee schedule from the UNAR homepage, verified via archive snapshot [2026-07-06]. [2]

  4. 4

    State Manual Skills Exam

    Pass the State Manual Skills Exam (fee: $55). Hands-on demonstration of nursing assistant skills. Fee is per attempt; 3 attempts allowed within 1 year of training completion. Candidates who disagree with skills scoring may submit a Skills Exam Results Review Form within 14 days ($20 review fee). [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR). [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR) issues your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for Utah.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] None specified
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] None specified
State Written Knowledge Exam [2] $55
State Manual Skills Exam [2] $55
Written Knowledge Exam, per attempt (UNAR) [2] $55
Manual Skills Exam, per attempt (UNAR) [2] $55
Reciprocity application [2] $50
Renewal late fee (1 day – 6 months late) [2] $40
Expired Certificate Competency Exam [2] $110
Duplicate certificate with wallet card (mailed) [2] $10

UNAR's published fee schedule lists no initial application fee and no standard on-time renewal fee — application/license/renewal are therefore null rather than guessed. Costs are the per-attempt exam fees, plus the $40 late fee if renewing 1 day to 6 months after expiration, the $50 reciprocity application fee, and the $110 competency exam fee for expired certificates.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

CNAs maintain certification by submitting signed verification (by an LPN, RN, or APRN) of a minimum of 200 hours of PAID nursing or nursing-related services under the direction of a licensed nurse during the 24 months since initial certification or last renewal. Volunteer hours, nursing-school clinical hours, and out-of-country missionary work do not count. There is no continuing-education requirement, so ceHours is null. Renewal forms are submitted by email or mail; processing takes 7-10 business days; late renewals (1 day – 6 months) incur a $40 fee.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers CNAs (the Nurse Licensure Compact applies to RN/LPN only). An out-of-state CNA cannot work in Utah on an out-of-state certificate, even an active one — a Reciprocity Application ($50) must be submitted and approved, and the applicant must be current and active on the other state's registry. Individuals with foreign (non-US) certificates or licenses must instead complete Utah's 100-hour CNA course and pass both state exams.

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

Cost calculator

  • $55
  • $55
Total$110

Frequently asked questions

Can I work in Utah with an out-of-state CNA certificate?

No — you must be certified in Utah. If you are a current, active CNA in another state, submit UNAR's Reciprocity Application ($50) to receive Utah certification.

How long do I have to take the Utah CNA exams after finishing training?

You have 1 year from your training completion date, with 3 attempts per exam ($55 per attempt for each of the written knowledge and manual skills exams). No extensions are given.

How do I renew my Utah CNA certificate?

Submit UNAR's renewal form with nurse-signed verification of at least 200 hours of paid nursing-related work during the past 24 months. On-time renewal has no listed fee; renewing 1 day to 6 months late costs $40.

How old do I have to be to become a CNA in Utah?

At least 16 years of age, per UNAR.

Sources

  1. [1] utahcnaregistry.com/common-questions — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] utahcnaregistry.com — accessed 2026-07-10