CNA training programs: what you learn and how they run
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The short answer
A CNA training program is a state-approved course that gets you ready for the nurse aide competency exam. Federal rules say it must "Consist of no less than 75 clock hours of training" and "Include at least 16 hours of supervised practical training". The Red Cross says classes "can last 4-12 weeks at minimum but some programs can be up to 6 months," depending on your state. 1 4
What a CNA training program is
It's the course you take before the CNA exam. The Red Cross puts the path simply: you "will normally need to complete a state-approved training course and pass the state certification exam". 4
The key word is state-approved. Your state decides which courses count. Federal rules say the state "Must specify any nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs that the State approves". 2 A course that isn't on your state's list may not get you to the exam.
The law's long name for a CNA course is a "nurse aide training and competency evaluation program". That's training plus the exam at the end. 1 If you're still deciding whether the job suits you, our guide to what a certified nursing assistant does covers the work itself.
How long a CNA training program takes
Count in hours first, then weeks. The federal minimum is 75 clock hours, and at least 16 of them must be supervised practical training. 1
What does practical training look like? The rule describes a lab "or other setting" where "the trainee demonstrates knowledge while performing tasks on an individual". A registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse supervises directly. 1
Those 75 hours are a floor. The rule sets them "at a minimum", and each state approves its own programs. 1 2 That's one reason course lengths vary.
The Red Cross gives a rough range in weeks. Its words: "CNA/NAT classes can last 4-12 weeks at minimum but some programs can be up to 6 months". 4 NAT stands for nurse assistant training. Ask each program how many weeks its own course runs.
What you learn: the federal course list
Every approved program has to cover a set list of subjects. The first 16 hours come before you meet any residents. They cover "Communication and interpersonal skills", "Infection control", "Safety/emergency procedures, including the Heimlich maneuver", "Promoting residents' independence" and "Respecting residents' rights". 1
The rule lists six more areas, with no set order. Here they are in its own words. 1
"Basic nursing skills" include "Taking and recording vital signs" and "Measuring and recording height and weight". 1
There are "Personal care skills". The list includes "Bathing", "Dressing", "Toileting" and "Skin care". 1
There's also "Mental health and social service needs". 1
"Care of cognitively impaired residents" covers dementia. The rule asks for "Techniques for addressing the unique needs and behaviors of individual with dementia (Alzheimer's and others)". 1
"Basic restorative services" include "Maintenance of range of motion". 1
And there's "Residents' Rights". One item is "Providing privacy and maintenance of confidentiality". 1
That's the federal minimum, and your state can add to it. The Red Cross notes that "curriculum, and certification requirements will differ depending on the state you live in". 4 Your instructor teaches how each skill is done. This page only lists what the law says must be covered.
Who teaches the course
The rules are specific about instructors. Training "must be performed by or under the general supervision of a registered nurse who possesses a minimum of 2 years of nursing experience, at least 1 year of which must be in the provision of long term care facility services". 1
Instructors also need some teaching background. They "must have completed a course in teaching adults or have experience in teaching adults or supervising nurse aides". 1
Guest teachers can help. The list includes pharmacists, dietitians, social workers and fire safety experts, among others. These "Supplemental personnel must have at least 1 year of experience in their fields". 1
There's a limit on what students do, too. Programs must make sure "Students do not perform any services for which they have not trained and been found proficient by the instructor". 1
Where CNA training programs are offered
You've got more choices than you might think. The Red Cross says: "In most states there are many options for CNA training, including independent training schools and community colleges". 4
Employers run courses as well. "Some facilities such as nursing homes, hospitals and home health agencies will offer training to staff or prospective employees". 4 A federal rule also limits what some of these students can be charged. 1 Our guide to the CNA job explains who it covers; click here to read the guide.
One well-known name has left the field. The Red Cross "decided to discontinue its Nurse Assistant Training (NAT) program", and "No Red Cross NAT course will be scheduled after December 31, 2023". 4 Older websites may still list Red Cross CNA classes, so check before you plan around one.
How to check a program is state-approved
Ask your state, not just the school. The Red Cross suggests you "check with your state to learn about these requirements and to verify that a program is state-approved". 4
Approval doesn't last forever. "The State may not grant approval of a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program for a period longer than 2 years". 2 So a program that was approved a few years ago has to have been reviewed again since.
States can take approval away. One example: a state "must withdraw approval" if the program "refuses to permit unannounced visits by the State". 2
What if approval is pulled mid-course? The rule says students "who have started a training and competency evaluation program from which approval has been withdrawn must be allowed to complete the course". 2
Entry requirements and what comes after
Entry rules come from your state, and sometimes from the program too. The Red Cross says to check "training eligibility requirements, such as minimum age or education, with the agency regulating this training in your state," and adds: "Note that individual training programs may have additional requirements". 4
When the course ends, the exam comes next. It has a written or oral part and a skills part. The rules say the exam must "Allow an aide to choose between a written and an oral examination". 3 Pass it, and the Red Cross says "you can then be placed on your state's nurse aide registry". 4
Frequently asked questions
How many hours is a CNA training program?
At least 75. Federal rules say an approved program must "Consist of no less than 75 clock hours of training", with "at least 16 hours of supervised practical training". States can ask for more, so check your state's registry or health department. 1
How many weeks does CNA training take?
It depends on your state and the program. The Red Cross says "CNA/NAT classes can last 4-12 weeks at minimum but some programs can be up to 6 months". 4
Does the Red Cross still run CNA classes?
No. The Red Cross says it "decided to discontinue its Nurse Assistant Training (NAT) program" and "No Red Cross NAT course will be scheduled after December 31, 2023". 4
Who can teach a CNA training program?
Training "must be performed by or under the general supervision of a registered nurse who possesses a minimum of 2 years of nursing experience, at least 1 year of which must be in the provision of long term care facility services". 1
Sources
- 42 CFR 483.152: Requirements for approval of a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Checked 7 November 2026.
- 42 CFR 483.151: State review and approval of nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Checked 7 November 2026.
- 42 CFR 483.154: Nurse aide competency evaluation, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Checked 7 November 2026.
- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Classes & Nurse Assistant Training (NAT), American Red Cross. Checked 7 November 2026.