How to Become a CNA in Georgia
To work as a certified nursing assistant in Georgia, you finish a state-approved training program of 85 hours, pass the competency exam given by Credentia (NNAAP), and get listed on the state nurse aide registry. Georgia has 335 approved programs to choose from (list dated October 2026).
Updated October 2026 · Sources: Georgia Department of Community Health Nurse Aide Registry (administered by Alliant Health Solutions) (October 2026), Georgia Nurse Aide Program Manual (Q3 2026), section 801, IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 85 hr24 clinical
- Approved programs
- 335official list, October 2026
- Lowest college price
- $995the only college price reported
- Georgia median pay
- $37,680$18.12/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only programs on the official Georgia list qualify you for the exam. The Georgia Department of Community Health Nurse Aide Registry (administered by Alliant Health Solutions) list has 335 approved programs, including 144 college programs, 86 private school programs, 58 nursing home programs and 41 high school programs. Federal law bars a nursing home from charging the aides it hires for training: see free CNA classes in Georgia.
Biggest Georgia metro areas for CNA training
- CNA classes in Atlanta97
- CNA classes in Macon24
- CNA classes in Valdosta23
- CNA classes in Columbus14
- CNA classes in Albany12
- CNA classes in Athens9
- CNA classes in Augusta8
- CNA classes in Savannah8
Step 2: Complete 85 hours of training
Georgia requires 85 hours: including 24 hours of supervised clinical; the first 16 hours come before any resident contact. Source: Georgia Nurse Aide Program Manual (Q3 2026), section 801. That is 10 hours more than the federal minimum of 75.
What college CNA programs charge in Georgia
Only 1 college reports a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $995 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24).
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Woodruff Medical and Wellness Training | Tucker | $995 |
Price = tuition plus books and supplies, self-reported by colleges for 2023–24. Exam and background-check fees are extra.
Step 3: Pass the Georgia competency exam
The exam has a written (or oral) part and a hands-on skills part, given by Credentia (NNAAP).
Step 4: Get listed on the registry
After you pass, you are added to the Georgia nurse aide registry, kept by the Georgia Department of Community Health Nurse Aide Registry (Alliant Health Solutions). 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
43,440 nursing assistants work in Georgia. The median earns $37,680 a year; the top 10% earn $47,310 or more (BLS May 2025). See Georgia 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 Georgia: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Georgia?
Georgia requires 85 hours: including 24 hours of supervised clinical; the first 16 hours come before any resident contact (Georgia Nurse Aide Program Manual (Q3 2026), section 801). The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the Georgia CNA exam?
The Georgia competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by Credentia (NNAAP).
How much does CNA training cost in Georgia?
Only 1 Georgia college reports a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $995 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.
How do I look up a CNA license in Georgia?
Use the free Georgia nurse aide registry search, run by the Georgia Department of Community Health Nurse Aide Registry (Alliant Health Solutions). It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in Georgia?
The median Georgia nursing assistant earned $37,680 a year ($18.12 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, below the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $35,490 to $42,980.