How to Become a CNA in California
To work as a certified nursing assistant in California, you finish a state-approved training program of 160 hours, pass the competency exam given by D&SDT-Headmaster, Credentia, or the Regional Testing Center, and get listed on the state nurse aide registry. California has 592 approved programs to choose from (list dated September 2026).
Updated October 2026 · Sources: California Department of Public Health (September 2026), 22 CCR 71835, IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 160 hr100 clinical
- Approved programs
- 592official list, September 2026
- Lowest college price
- $625median $2,414, 10 colleges
- California median pay
- $47,630$22.90/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only programs on the official California list qualify you for the exam. The California Department of Public Health list has 592 approved programs, including 87 nursing home programs. Federal law bars a nursing home from charging the aides it hires for training: see free CNA classes in California.
Biggest California metro areas for CNA training
- CNA classes in Los Angeles180
- CNA classes in Riverside67
- CNA classes in San Francisco46
- CNA classes in San Diego43
- CNA classes in Sacramento30
- CNA classes in Fresno23
- CNA classes in San Jose23
- CNA classes in Bakersfield20
Step 2: Complete 160 hours of training
California requires 160 hours: 60 classroom and 100 supervised clinical. Source: 22 CCR 71835. That is 85 hours more than the federal minimum of 75.
Programs need separate state approval to teach the 60 classroom hours online, live or self-paced (self-paced programs must give students daily contact with an instructor); the 100 clinical hours are in person at an approved nursing facility (CDPH AFL 20-89.1, under Health and Safety Code 1337.16). Source: official guidance. More: online CNA classes.
What college CNA programs charge in California
10 colleges report a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $625 to $16,420, median $2,414 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24).
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Charles A Jones Career and Education Center | Sacramento | $625 |
| Clovis Adult Education | Clovis | $1,500 |
| Angeles Institute | Artesia | $1,583 |
| Summit College | San Bernardino | $2,132 |
| Angeles College | Los Angeles | $2,326 |
Price = tuition plus books and supplies, self-reported by colleges for 2023–24. Exam and background-check fees are extra.
Step 3: Pass the California competency exam
The exam has a written (or oral) part and a hands-on skills part, given by D&SDT-Headmaster, Credentia, or the Regional Testing Center.
Step 4: Get listed on the registry
After you pass, you are added to the California nurse aide registry, kept by the California Department of Public Health, Aide and Technician Certification Section. Employers check it before hiring, and anyone can look up a CNA license for free. Under federal rules, if you go 24 months in a row without paid nursing-related work, you must retrain or retest.
Step 5: Find a job
110,060 nursing assistants work in California. The median earns $47,630 a year; the top 10% earn $61,100 or more (BLS May 2025). See California CNA pay by metro area.
CNA requirements by state
| State | Training hours | Clinical | Exam | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 160 | 100 | D&SDT-Headmaster, Credentia, or the Regional Testing Center | 592 |
| Colorado | 75+ | 16 | Credentia (NNAAP) | state list |
| Florida | 120 | 40 | Prometric | 201 |
| Georgia | 85 | 24 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 335 |
| Illinois | 120 | 40 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale (INACE) | 395 |
| Massachusetts | 75+ | — | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | 109 |
| Michigan | 75 | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | 222 |
| Missouri | 175+ | 100 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not checked |
| New Jersey | 90 | 40 | PSI and D&SDT-Headmaster | 158 |
| New York | 100 | 30 | Prometric | 196 |
| North Carolina | 75+ | — | Credentia (NNAAP) | 247 |
| Ohio | 75+ | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not published |
| Pennsylvania | 80 | 37.5 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 182 |
| Texas | 100 | 40 | Prometric | not published |
| Virginia | 140+ | 40 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 220 |
| Washington | 108+ | 40 | Credentia | 170 |
| Wisconsin | 75+ | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not checked |
Becoming a CNA in California: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in California?
California requires 160 hours: 60 classroom and 100 supervised clinical (22 CCR 71835). The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the California CNA exam?
The California competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by D&SDT-Headmaster, Credentia, or the Regional Testing Center.
How much does CNA training cost in California?
Among 10 California colleges that report a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education, tuition plus books and supplies ranges from $625 to $16,420 (median $2,414, IPEDS 2023–24). Programs run by nursing homes and private schools are not in that data; ask them directly.
Can I do the California CNA classroom hours online?
Programs need separate state approval to teach the 60 classroom hours online, live or self-paced (self-paced programs must give students daily contact with an instructor); the 100 clinical hours are in person at an approved nursing facility (CDPH AFL 20-89.1, under Health and Safety Code 1337.16).
How do I look up a CNA license in California?
Use the free California nurse aide registry search, run by the California Department of Public Health, Aide and Technician Certification Section. It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in California?
The median California nursing assistant earned $47,630 a year ($22.90 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, above the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $45,850 to $54,800.