How to Become a CNA in New Jersey
To work as a certified nursing assistant in New Jersey, you finish a state-approved training program of 90 hours, pass the competency exam given by PSI and D&SDT-Headmaster, and get listed on the state nurse aide registry. New Jersey has 158 approved programs to choose from (list dated August 2026).
Updated October 2026 · Sources: New Jersey Department of Health (August 2026), N.J.A.C. 8:39-43.10(b), IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 90 hr40 clinical
- Approved programs
- 158official list, August 2026
- Lowest college price
- $1,188median $16,082, 5 colleges
- New Jersey median pay
- $46,830$22.52/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only programs on the official New Jersey list qualify you for the exam. The New Jersey Department of Health list has 158 approved programs, including 45 nursing home programs. Federal law bars a nursing home from charging the aides it hires for training: see free CNA classes in New Jersey.
Biggest New Jersey metro areas for CNA training
- CNA classes in Newark43
- CNA classes in Lakewood38
- CNA classes in Jersey City24
- CNA classes in Camden21
- CNA classes in Atlantic City6
- CNA classes in Trenton5
- CNA classes in Vineland4
Step 2: Complete 90 hours of training
New Jersey requires 90 hours: 50 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of clinical experience in a New Jersey licensed long-term care facility, using the Department-approved state curriculum. Source: N.J.A.C. 8:39-43.10(b). That is 15 hours more than the federal minimum of 75.
What college CNA programs charge in New Jersey
5 colleges report a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $1,188 to $17,311, median $16,082 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24).
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Best Care College | East Orange | $1,188 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Iselin | Iselin | $16,082 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Paramus | Paramus | $16,082 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Moorestown | Moorestown | $16,162 |
| Healthcare Training Institute | Union | $17,311 |
Price = tuition plus books and supplies, self-reported by colleges for 2023–24. Exam and background-check fees are extra.
Step 3: Pass the New Jersey competency exam
The exam has a written (or oral) part and a hands-on skills part, given by PSI and D&SDT-Headmaster. In New Jersey the exam is split: D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) runs the skills evaluation and PSI runs the written or oral exam, under contract with the Department of Health.
Step 4: Get listed on the registry
After you pass, you are added to the New Jersey nurse aide registry, kept by the New Jersey Department of Health (Certification Program). 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
32,400 nursing assistants work in New Jersey. The median earns $46,830 a year; the top 10% earn $55,140 or more (BLS May 2025). See New Jersey 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 New Jersey: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in New Jersey?
New Jersey requires 90 hours: 50 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of clinical experience in a New Jersey licensed long-term care facility, using the Department-approved state curriculum (N.J.A.C. 8:39-43.10(b)). The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the New Jersey CNA exam?
The New Jersey competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by PSI and D&SDT-Headmaster. In New Jersey the exam is split: D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) runs the skills evaluation and PSI runs the written or oral exam, under contract with the Department of Health.
How much does CNA training cost in New Jersey?
Among 5 New Jersey colleges that report a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education, tuition plus books and supplies ranges from $1,188 to $17,311 (median $16,082, 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 New Jersey?
Use the free New Jersey nurse aide registry search, run by the New Jersey Department of Health (Certification Program). It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in New Jersey?
The median New Jersey nursing assistant earned $46,830 a year ($22.52 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, above the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $43,950 to $48,760.