How to Become a CNA in North Carolina
To work as a certified nursing assistant in North Carolina, 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. North Carolina has 247 approved programs to choose from (list dated October 2026).
Updated October 2026 · Sources: NC DHHS Division of Health Service Regulation (October 2026), IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 75+ hrfederal minimum 75
- Approved programs
- 247official list, October 2026
- North Carolina median pay
- $38,460$18.49/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only programs on the official North Carolina list qualify you for the exam. The NC DHHS Division of Health Service Regulation list has 247 approved programs.
Biggest North Carolina metro areas for CNA training
- CNA classes in Charlotte29
- CNA classes in Winston17
- CNA classes in Raleigh16
- CNA classes in Durham14
- CNA classes in Hickory13
- CNA classes in Greensboro12
- CNA classes in Asheville12
- CNA classes in Wilmington11
Step 2: Complete at least 75 hours of training
North Carolina requires at least 75 hours: the federal minimum. There is no single statewide total: each program's hours are set on its state-approved application. Source: state rule. That is the same as the federal minimum of 75.
A program can add online classroom hours only after it has been state-approved and running with students for at least a year; the Division of Health Service Regulation does not approve online lab or clinical hours (DHSR Nurse Aide I program application). Source: official guidance. More: online CNA classes.
Step 3: Pass the North Carolina competency exam
The exam has a written (or oral) part and a hands-on skills part, given by Credentia (NNAAP). Both exam parts must be passed within 2 years of finishing training or within 3 attempts, whichever comes first.
Step 4: Get listed on the registry
After you pass, you are added to the North Carolina nurse aide registry, kept by the NC DHHS Division of Health Service Regulation, Nurse Aide I Registry. 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
64,010 nursing assistants work in North Carolina. The median earns $38,460 a year; the top 10% earn $47,080 or more (BLS May 2025). See North Carolina 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 North Carolina: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in North Carolina?
North Carolina requires at least 75 hours: the federal minimum. There is no single statewide total: each program's hours are set on its state-approved application. The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the North Carolina CNA exam?
The North Carolina competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by Credentia (NNAAP). Both exam parts must be passed within 2 years of finishing training or within 3 attempts, whichever comes first.
Can I do the North Carolina CNA classroom hours online?
A program can add online classroom hours only after it has been state-approved and running with students for at least a year; the Division of Health Service Regulation does not approve online lab or clinical hours (DHSR Nurse Aide I program application).
How do I look up a CNA license in North Carolina?
Use the free North Carolina nurse aide registry search, run by the NC DHHS Division of Health Service Regulation, Nurse Aide I Registry. It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in North Carolina?
The median North Carolina nursing assistant earned $38,460 a year ($18.49 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, below the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $35,950 to $43,850.