How to Become a CNA in Colorado
To work as a certified nursing assistant in Colorado, you finish a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, pass the competency exam given by Credentia (NNAAP), and get listed on the state nurse aide registry. The Colorado State Board of Nursing publishes the official list of approved programs; check that a program is on it before you pay. 18 colleges here report a CNA program to the U.S. Department of Education.
Updated October 2026 · Sources: Colorado State Board of Nursing (Division of Professions and Occupations), 3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.11(E)(2)(a), IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 75+ hr16 clinical
- Colleges with CNA programs
- 18IPEDS 2023–24
- Lowest college price
- $1,597the only college price reported
- Colorado median pay
- $47,380$22.78/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only a nurse aide training program approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing qualifies you for the exam. The state publishes its Nurse Aide Approved Education Programs by Name (PDF); find the program there before you pay, and ask how many of its students passed the exam last year. The 18 colleges that report a CNA program to the U.S. Department of Education are listed with costs here; programs run by nursing homes and private schools are not in that federal data, but they are on the state list.
Biggest Colorado metro areas for CNA training
Step 2: Complete at least 75 hours of training
Colorado requires at least 75 hours: at least 16 hours of classroom instruction and at least 16 hours of clinical instruction under the direct supervision of an RN or LPN; the first 16 hours are pre-clinical, taught before any direct contact with a client, and orientation to a clinical facility does not count toward the 75. Source: 3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.11(E)(2)(a). That is the same as the federal minimum of 75.
What college CNA programs charge in Colorado
Only 1 college reports a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $1,597 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24).
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Technical College of the Rockies | Delta | $1,597 |
Price = tuition plus books and supplies, self-reported by colleges for 2023–24. Exam and background-check fees are extra.
Step 3: Pass the Colorado competency exam
The exam has a written (or oral) part and a hands-on skills part, given by Credentia (NNAAP). Both parts must be passed within two years of the certification application, and anyone who fails any part three times must repeat a training program before testing again (Rule 1.10(D)(12)).
Step 4: Get listed on the registry
After you pass, you are added to the Colorado nurse aide registry, kept by the Colorado State Board of Nursing (Division of Professions and Occupations). 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
22,240 nursing assistants work in Colorado. The median earns $47,380 a year; the top 10% earn $56,070 or more (BLS May 2025). See Colorado 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 Colorado: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Colorado?
Colorado requires at least 75 hours: at least 16 hours of classroom instruction and at least 16 hours of clinical instruction under the direct supervision of an RN or LPN; the first 16 hours are pre-clinical, taught before any direct contact with a client, and orientation to a clinical facility does not count toward the 75 (3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.11(E)(2)(a)). The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the Colorado CNA exam?
The Colorado competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by Credentia (NNAAP). Both parts must be passed within two years of the certification application, and anyone who fails any part three times must repeat a training program before testing again (Rule 1.10(D)(12)).
How much does CNA training cost in Colorado?
Only 1 Colorado college reports a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $1,597 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24). Programs run by nursing homes and private schools are not in that data; ask them directly.
Is there a list of state-approved CNA programs in Colorado?
Yes. The Colorado State Board of Nursing publishes its Nurse Aide Approved Education Programs by Name (PDF) online (link in Step 1). Only programs on the state list qualify you for the Credentia (NNAAP) exam. 18 colleges in Colorado also report a CNA program to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS 2023–24), with prices; they are listed on this page.
How do I look up a CNA license in Colorado?
Use the free Colorado nurse aide registry search, run by the Colorado State Board of Nursing (Division of Professions and Occupations). It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in Colorado?
The median Colorado nursing assistant earned $47,380 a year ($22.78 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, above the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $44,550 to $49,920.