How to Become a CNA in Virginia
To work as a certified nursing assistant in Virginia, you finish a state-approved training program of at least 140 hours, pass the competency exam given by Credentia (NNAAP), and get listed on the state nurse aide registry. Virginia has 220 approved programs to choose from (list dated October 2026).
Updated October 2026 · Sources: Virginia Department of Health Professions (October 2026), 18VAC90-26-50(C), IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 140+ hr40 clinical
- Approved programs
- 220official list, October 2026
- Virginia median pay
- $43,200$20.77/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only programs on the official Virginia list qualify you for the exam. The Virginia Department of Health Professions list has 220 approved programs, including 99 high school programs, 41 college programs and 31 nursing home programs. Federal law bars a nursing home from charging the aides it hires for training: see free CNA classes in Virginia.
Biggest Virginia metro areas for CNA training
- CNA classes in Arlington45
- CNA classes in Virginia Beach27
- CNA classes in Richmond22
- CNA classes in Lynchburg12
- CNA classes in Roanoke12
- CNA classes in Charlottesville10
- CNA classes in Blacksburg9
- CNA classes in Harrisonburg6
Step 2: Complete at least 140 hours of training
Virginia requires at least 140 hours: at least 20 hours of skills lab and at least 40 hours of clinical training giving direct client care (observation does not count), with at least 24 hours of instruction before any contact with clients; facility orientation does not count toward the 140. Source: 18VAC90-26-50(C). That is 65 hours more than the federal minimum of 75.
Step 3: Pass the Virginia 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 Virginia nurse aide registry, kept by the Virginia Board of Nursing (Department of Health Professions). 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
40,580 nursing assistants work in Virginia. The median earns $43,200 a year; the top 10% earn $50,980 or more (BLS May 2025). See Virginia 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 Virginia: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Virginia?
Virginia requires at least 140 hours: at least 20 hours of skills lab and at least 40 hours of clinical training giving direct client care (observation does not count), with at least 24 hours of instruction before any contact with clients; facility orientation does not count toward the 140 (18VAC90-26-50(C)). The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the Virginia CNA exam?
The Virginia competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by Credentia (NNAAP).
How do I look up a CNA license in Virginia?
Use the free Virginia nurse aide registry search, run by the Virginia Board of Nursing (Department of Health Professions). It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in Virginia?
The median Virginia nursing assistant earned $43,200 a year ($20.77 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, above the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $37,020 to $46,930.