How Much Do CNA Classes Cost?
96 accredited schools published a flat price for their CNA program to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023–24. Tuition and fees plus books and supplies ranged from $525 to $17,311; the median was $1,382. The other 391 schools we list bill by the credit hour or did not report a program price.
Updated October 2026 · Source: IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, program prices 2023–24
- Median program cost
- $1,382tuition, fees, books, supplies
- Lowest published price
- $525
- Highest published price
- $17,311
- Schools with a price
- 96of 487 listed
CNA Classes cost by type of school
| School type | Schools | Median | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | 50 | $965 | $525 | $10,596 |
| Private nonprofit | 3 | $6,448 | $3,110 | $14,372 |
| Private for-profit | 43 | $2,011 | $700 | $17,311 |
Only school types with at least 3 priced schools are shown. Public schools here are mostly community colleges and public career-technical centers.
CNA Classes cost by state
States with at least 3 schools that published a program price, lowest median first. "Schools listed" is the number of programs on that state's page; many of them charge by the credit hour instead of a flat price, so the two counts differ.
| State | Priced schools | Schools listed | Median | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNA Classes in Utah | 5 | 12 | $648 | $591 |
| CNA Classes in Ohio | 19 | 30 | $770 | $525 |
| CNA Classes in Louisiana | 4 | 15 | $1,350 | $700 |
| CNA Classes in Michigan | 4 | 222 | $1,355 | $1,355 |
| CNA Classes in Texas | 6 | 21 | $1,503 | $800 |
| CNA Classes in Florida | 16 | 201 | $1,960 | $710 |
| CNA Classes in New York | 4 | 196 | $1,975 | $810 |
| CNA Classes in California | 10 | 592 | $2,414 | $625 |
| CNA Classes in Oklahoma | 10 | 26 | $2,528 | $1,050 |
| CNA Classes in New Jersey | 5 | 158 | $16,082 | $1,188 |
Fewer than 3 priced schools, so not ranked: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee.
Cheapest CNA classes by published price
The 10 lowest total prices among the 96 schools that reported one for 2023–24, tuition and fees plus books and supplies, cheapest first. Prices change every year: confirm the current figure with the school, and use its net price calculator (linked on each school page) to estimate what you would pay after aid.
| # | School | Location | Total | Tuition & fees | Books & supplies | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Four County Career Center | Archbold, OH | $525 | $525 | — | 3 months |
| 2 | Mid-EastCTC-Adult Education | Zanesville, OH | $575 | $575 | — | 1 months |
| 3 | Pike County Joint Vocational School District | Piketon, OH | $590 | $500 | $90 | 2 months |
| 4 | Davis Technical College | Kaysville, UT | $591 | $351 | $240 | 2 months |
| 5 | Ogden-Weber Technical College | Ogden, UT | $615 | $365 | $250 | 2 months |
| 6 | Charles A Jones Career and Education Center | Sacramento, CA | $625 | $625 | — | 2 months |
| 7 | Uintah Basin Technical College | Roosevelt, UT | $648 | $462 | $186 | 2 months |
| 8 | Miami Valley Career Technology Center | Englewood, OH | $650 | $610 | $40 | 2 weeks |
| 9 | EHOVE Career Center | Milan, OH | $690 | $629 | $61 | 1 months |
| 10 | Wayne County Schools Career Center | Smithville, OH | $695 | $675 | $20 | 1 months |
Length is the schedule the school reported (96 of the 96 priced schools reported one).
What the price does and does not include
The figures on this page are what each school reported to IPEDS for its CNA program: tuition and required fees, plus books and supplies. Schools that charge by the credit hour, such as many community colleges, report an annual tuition rate instead, which is why they are counted as listed but not priced.
Budget separately for the certification exam (a state competency evaluation with a written (or oral) test and a hands-on skills test, run by a state-contracted testing vendor), a background check, immunizations and a physical, uniforms and shoes, and transport to clinical sites. Ask each school for an itemized cost sheet; the ones that have a net price calculator link it on their school page here.
Ways to pay less
- Start with public schools. Community colleges and public career-technical centers had the lowest median price in this data ($965 at 50 schools). Check the state table above for the cheapest medians near you.
- Train through a nursing home. A Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home cannot charge a nurse aide it employs, or has offered a job, for its own training program or the exam, and the state must reimburse part of what you paid if a nursing home hires you within 12 months of finishing. See free CNA classes for the programs and the rule.
- Ask about federal student aid. Most schools in this data take part in federal student aid programs. Whether a short certificate qualifies depends on its length and the school, so ask the financial aid office before you enroll.
- Check your American Job Center. State workforce agencies fund training for in-demand occupations through local American Job Centers; ask whether your program is on the state's eligible training provider list.
- Ask employers. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and pharmacy chains often pay for training or reimburse it after a hiring commitment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do CNA classes cost?
Across 96 accredited schools that published a flat program price for 2023–24, tuition and fees plus books and supplies ranged from $525 to $17,311. The median was $1,382.
Is it cheaper to train at a public college?
In this data, yes. The median price at 50 public schools (community colleges and career-technical centers) was $965, versus $2,011 at 43 for-profit schools: a difference of $1,047. Public programs can have waiting lists and admission deadlines, so apply early.
What does the published price include?
Schools report the price of the whole program to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS): tuition and required fees, plus books and supplies. It does not include living costs, and it usually leaves out the certification exam fee, background check, immunizations and uniforms unless the school counts them as supplies. Ask for an itemized cost sheet before you enroll.
Does the price include the certified nursing assistant exam?
Usually not. A state competency evaluation with a written (or oral) test and a hands-on skills test, run by a state-contracted testing vendor, and the testing vendor charges its own fee. Some schools build the first attempt into their supplies figure; most do not.
How long do CNA classes take?
Among the schools that reported a schedule, the median program length is about 5 weeks of full-time study. Federal rules require at least 75 hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. Many states require more.