Free CNA Classes
Federal law requires nursing homes to cover CNA training for the aides they hire. If a nursing home hires you, or offers you a job, before your class starts, it cannot charge you for the course, the books or the exam. 7 state lists say which approved programs nursing homes run: 502 in all.
Updated October 2026 · Sources: state nurse aide program lists, 42 CFR 483.152 and 483.154
Nursing-home CNA programs by state
| State | Run by nursing homes | All approved programs | Official list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free CNA classes in New York | 156 | 196 | NY State Department of Health, September 2026 |
| Free CNA classes in Pennsylvania | 106 | 182 | Pennsylvania Department of Education, March 2026 |
| Free CNA classes in California | 87 | 592 | California Department of Public Health, September 2026 |
| Free CNA classes in Georgia | 58 | 335 | Georgia Department of Community Health Nurse Aide Registry (administered by Alliant Health Solutions), October 2026 |
| Free CNA classes in New Jersey | 45 | 158 | New Jersey Department of Health, August 2026 |
| Free CNA classes in Virginia | 31 | 220 | Virginia Department of Health Professions, October 2026 |
| Free CNA classes in Washington | 19 | 170 | Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON), October 2026 |
Counts are programs each state lists as run by a nursing home (long-term care facility). The lists for Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan and North Carolina don't say who runs each program, so they have no page here; the same federal rule applies there.
Three ways to get CNA training paid for
- Get hired first. 42 CFR 483.152(c)(1): no nurse aide employed by, or with a job offer from, a nursing home on the date training begins may be charged for any portion of the program, including textbooks and required course materials. 42 CFR 483.154(c)(2) says the same for the competency exam. Look for "nurse aide trainee" or "CNA in training" openings.
- Get reimbursed. If a nursing home employs you, or offers you a job, within 12 months of finishing a state-approved program you paid for, the state must reimburse those costs pro rata while you work as a nurse aide.
- Ask your workforce board. An American Job Center can check whether you qualify for federal WIOA training funds.
The rule covers nursing homes certified by Medicare or Medicaid. It does not cover hospitals, home health agencies or assisted living, and it doesn't oblige a nursing home to train people it hasn't hired. Read any work-commitment agreement before you sign.
Free CNA classes: FAQ
Can you really get CNA classes for free?
Yes, through a nursing home. Under 42 CFR 483.152(c)(1), a nursing home certified by Medicare or Medicaid cannot charge a nurse aide it employs, or has offered a job, on the day training starts for any part of the program, including textbooks and required materials. 42 CFR 483.154(c)(2) says the same about the competency exam.
What if I pay for CNA classes and get a nursing home job later?
If a nursing home employs you, or offers you a job, within 12 months after you finish, the state must reimburse your training and exam costs on a pro-rata basis while you work as a nurse aide (42 CFR 483.152(c)(2) and 483.154(c)(3)). Keep your receipts.
Are online CNA classes free?
The no-charge rule depends on who employs you, not on the course format. Every approved CNA program includes in-person clinical hours, so an online-only course cannot fully qualify you for the exam.
Who else pays for CNA training?
Local workforce boards can fund training for eligible people with federal WIOA money; ask at an American Job Center. Some hospitals and home care agencies also pay for training, but the federal no-charge rule only covers nursing homes.