The federal rule, in the regulation's own words
"No nurse aide who is employed by, or who has received an offer of employment from, a facility on the date on which the aide begins a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program may be charged for any portion of the program (including any fees for textbooks or other required course materials)" (42 CFR 483.152(c)(1)).
For people who train first and get hired later: "If an individual who is not employed, or does not have an offer to be employed, as a nurse aide becomes employed by, or receives an offer of employment from, a facility not later than 12 months after completing a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program, the State must provide for the reimbursement of costs incurred in completing the program on a pro rata basis during the period in which the individual is employed as a nurse aide" (42 CFR 483.152(c)(2)).
The same two rules cover the competency exam (42 CFR 483.154(c)(2) and (3)). CMS says it plainly: "Nursing homes cover the cost of your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification training while you're working for them" (CMS, Nursing Home Careers, updated October 14, 2026).
Two limits. "Facility" means a nursing home in Medicare or Medicaid; hospitals, home care agencies and private schools set their own terms. Reimbursement is pro rata, paid over the time you work as an aide, through your state nurse aide registry or Medicaid agency.
Employer programs read in October 2026
Scroll horizontally to view every column.
| Employer | What the page states | Terms to know | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHC (National HealthCare Corporation), nursing homes | "Free Training for Certified Nurse Assistants"; full-time, part-time and PRN roles | Class dates and sites are on the company job board | nhccare.com/cna |
| Cottesmore of Life Care, Gig Harbor, WA (Life Care Centers of America) | "CNA Training Program - FREE!"; 5-week class; no charge for classroom, textbook, clinical, exam prep or the state exam fee | Hired as a non-certified nursing assistant to enroll; not paid for class time; posted class dates are from 2023, so call for the schedule | lcca.com |
| Life Care Center of Andover, KS | Free; 90 hours (45 classroom, 45 clinical); "in just four weeks" | Must be 18 by the first day; not paid for class time; continued employment "is not required or guaranteed" | lcca.com |
| Good Samaritan Society and Sanford Health | "Students will receive their hourly wage throughout the training program"; "no training or testing fees" for Nursing Assistant Trainees | 58 hours online plus 24 hands-on; Iowa, Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Tennessee; certified within 120 days of hire | sanfordcareers.com |
| Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, Woburn, MA | "PAID TRAINING OPPORTUNITY!"; "Classes beginning: October 26"; compensation range $19.00 to $27.00 | Full time; trainees move into a nursing assistant role after the class | careers.encompasshealth.com |
| Job Corps (U.S. Department of Labor) | Free residential training for low-income people ages 16 through 24; Certified Nurse Assistant at 53 centers | Housing, meals and basic medical care at no cost; a high school diploma or equivalent is required | jobcorps.gov |
One program no longer exists: the American Red Cross discontinued its Nurse Assistant Training and scheduled no courses after December 31, 2023 (redcross.org, October 2026).
Minimum training hours by state
The federal floor is 75 clock hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training (42 CFR 483.152(a)). The rows below come from each state's own rule or agency page, read in October 2026; states whose official page could not be read are left out.
Scroll horizontally to view every column.
| State | Minimum hours | How they split | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal floor | 75 | At least 16 hours supervised practical | 42 CFR 483.152 |
| Arizona | 120 | "graduated from an approved nursing assistant program with a minimum of 120 hours" | Arizona State Board of Nursing, Apply for a License |
| California | 160 | At least 60 classroom hours plus 100 hours of supervised clinical practice | Health and Safety Code 1337.1, amended effective January 1, 2020 |
| Florida | No class required to test | Test with a high school diploma or at age 18; after three failed attempts you must complete an approved program, which the Board calls a "full 120 hour program" | Florida Statutes 464.203 (2026); Florida Board of Nursing FAQ |
| Illinois | 120 | 62 hours theory, 18 lab, 40 clinical; at least four weeks | 77 Ill. Adm. Code 395.150, effective December 2, 2024 |
| Massachusetts | 75, rising to 87 | "from the federal standard of 75 hours to 87 hours, including 21 hours of supervised practical training"; revised exams expected in early 2027 | Massachusetts DPH advisory memo, April 4, 2026 |
| New York | 100 | At least 30 hours of supervised practical experience in a nursing home | 10 NYCRR 415.26, effective December 16, 2020 |
| Texas | 100 | 60 classroom hours plus 40 hours of hands-on resident care; 16 introductory hours first | Texas HHS, NATCEP page |
| Washington | 108 | At least 35 hours classroom theory, 33 skills lab, 40 clinical | WAC 246-841A-440, effective July 1, 2026 |
CMS gives the general class length as 4 to 12 weeks (CMS, October 14, 2026).
The exam and the registry
The competency evaluation has two parts, and you must pass both: a written exam, or an oral exam if you choose, and a skills demonstration drawn at random from the personal care tasks (42 CFR 483.154(b)). The state must allow at least three attempts (42 CFR 483.154(f)). A pass goes on the state nurse aide registry within 30 days, and the state may not charge you for the listing (42 CFR 483.154(e)(2) and 483.156(b)(4)). A nursing home must receive registry verification before you work as a nurse aide, unless you are a full-time employee in its approved program or just finished one (42 CFR 483.35(d)(4)). Check your state nurse aide registry for its approved program list.
How to get the training free, step by step
- Choose the path. A nursing home job with the employer's own class is the one path where federal law bars any charge. Job Corps is free if you are 16 to 24 and meet its income rules. A self-paid class works if a nursing home hires you within 12 months.
- Search the right titles. "CNA in training," "nurse aide trainee," "nursing assistant trainee" and "paid CNA class." Beginner listings in every field are in best jobs with no experience.
- Ask before you sign. Is class time paid? Who pays the exam fee? Is there a work commitment or repayment clause? Which state-approved program is it?
- Keep every receipt. Reimbursement after hire depends on proof of what you paid (42 CFR 483.152(c)(2)).
- Test and get listed. Confirm your name on the registry before your first shift as a CNA.
What the job pays after the class
Nursing assistants earned a national median of $20.32 an hour in May 2025; Boston's median was $22.88, Houston's $18.26 and New York's $23.69 (BLS OEWS). Against home health and personal care aides at $17.21, the certificate adds $3.11 an hour; the comparison is in HHA vs PCA vs CNA, and aide pay in every state is in home health aide pay by state. Employers that pay every week are in jobs with weekly pay. To earn before any class, see caregiver jobs with no experience. Clinic work follows different rules: medical assistant jobs without certification.
Current openings
See healthcare jobs nationwide, or by city: Boston, Houston, New York.
More healthcare openings
Current source-linked listings could not be confirmed in this sample. Check the category search and each original posting for availability.
How to verify a listing
Every opening on JobPin links to its source posting. Open it, check the date, and read the training terms before you give personal information. A nursing home in Medicare or Medicaid cannot charge an employee for its nurse aide program or exam (42 CFR 483.152(c) and 483.154(c)); if a posting asks you to pay, ask for the written terms. No legitimate employer charges a fee to apply, and none hires by text message before you apply.
How JobPin dates and sources listings: How JobPin verifies listings and events. Report a listing.