How to Become a CNA in Pennsylvania
To work as a certified nursing assistant in Pennsylvania, you finish a state-approved training program of 80 hours, pass the competency exam given by Credentia (NNAAP), and get listed on the state nurse aide registry. Pennsylvania has 182 approved programs to choose from (list dated March 2026).
Updated October 2026 · Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 2026), IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 80 hr37.5 clinical
- Approved programs
- 182official list, March 2026
- Lowest college price
- $1,300the only college price reported
- Pennsylvania median pay
- $44,590$21.44/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only programs on the official Pennsylvania list qualify you for the exam. The Pennsylvania Department of Education list has 182 approved programs: 106 nursing home programs and 76 school / college programs. Federal law bars a nursing home from charging the aides it hires for training: see free CNA classes in Pennsylvania.
Biggest Pennsylvania metro areas for CNA training
- CNA classes in Philadelphia32
- CNA classes in Pittsburgh26
- CNA classes in Scranton14
- CNA classes in Allentown10
- CNA classes in Erie9
- CNA classes in Harrisburg8
- CNA classes in Reading6
- CNA classes in Lancaster5
Step 2: Complete 80 hours of training
Pennsylvania requires 80 hours: at least 37.5 of them supervised clinical. Source: state rule. That is 5 hours more than the federal minimum of 75.
Programs need Department of Education approval to teach the theory online, and any vendor course must be approved too; every skill must be shown in person to an approved instructor in an approved lab before any resident contact or clinical (PDE virtual theory policy, effective May 1, 2025). Source: official guidance. More: online CNA classes.
What college CNA programs charge in Pennsylvania
Only 1 college reports a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $1,300 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24).
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Rapha School | Home | $1,300 |
Price = tuition plus books and supplies, self-reported by colleges for 2023–24. Exam and background-check fees are extra.
Step 3: Pass the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania nurse aide registry, kept by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (training) and Department of Health (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
67,740 nursing assistants work in Pennsylvania. The median earns $44,590 a year; the top 10% earn $49,360 or more (BLS May 2025). See Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires 80 hours: at least 37.5 of them supervised clinical. The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the Pennsylvania CNA exam?
The Pennsylvania competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by Credentia (NNAAP).
How much does CNA training cost in Pennsylvania?
Only 1 Pennsylvania college reports a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $1,300 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.
Can I do the Pennsylvania CNA classroom hours online?
Programs need Department of Education approval to teach the theory online, and any vendor course must be approved too; every skill must be shown in person to an approved instructor in an approved lab before any resident contact or clinical (PDE virtual theory policy, effective May 1, 2025).
How do I look up a CNA license in Pennsylvania?
Use the free Pennsylvania nurse aide registry search, run by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (training) and Department of Health (registry). It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in Pennsylvania?
The median Pennsylvania nursing assistant earned $44,590 a year ($21.44 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, above the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $39,270 to $46,850.