Explore a Career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Explore everything you need to know about a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Learn about daily responsibilities, essential skills, education and certification requirements, work settings, and job outlook. Whether you’re considering entering the field or seeking more details about the role, this guide will help you understand what it takes to start and succeed as a CNA, and the rewarding impact you can make in healthcare.
Steps, Insights, and What to Expect
Thinking about becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant? Get the key details on training, certification, and what you can earn in this essential healthcare role.
What is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) play a vital role in patient care, working under the supervision of registered nurses. Their daily tasks often include helping patients with personal care activities like bathing, dressing, eating, and moving between beds. In some states, CNAs are even authorized to administer medications. There’s no degree required, and the minimum age to start ranges from 16 to 18 depending on the state, making it an accessible entry-level healthcare career.
Annual Salary: $29,640 per year
Training Duration: 1-4 months
What Do Certified Nursing Assistants Do?
CNAs balance hands-on patient care, assistance with daily living tasks, and communication with nursing staff. Their typical duties include:
Checking patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature
Assisting with wound care or certain medical procedures
Updating patient medical records
Helping move, lift, or reposition patients who have mobility challenges
Assisting patients with eating and monitoring their food intake
Maintaining clean and sanitary conditions in patient areas
Observing patients for changes in health and reporting new symptoms or issues to supervisors
How to Become a CNA
Although requirements vary by state, the general path to becoming a CNA is similar nationwide. Here’s a step-by-step overview:
You’ll need at least a high school diploma or GED. High school classes like biology, health sciences, and math provide a strong foundation. Volunteering in healthcare facilities can strengthen your application and offer valuable early experience. Because CNAs often help move patients, building physical strength is also helpful.
Next, you’ll complete a CNA training program offered through hospitals, community colleges, trade schools, and even some high schools. Ensure your chosen program is state-approved so you’ll be eligible for certification afterward.
Training programs last anywhere from 1 to 4 months. If you’re available full time, you could finish in as little as four weeks. If you’re balancing work or family obligations, many programs offer flexible schedules or online coursework that’s self-paced and budget-friendly.
When researching programs, check their certification exam pass rates and ask local healthcare professionals about the school’s reputation.
Even if you choose online coursework, you’ll still need hands-on clinical experience, also called “clinical rotations” or “clinical hours.” Good programs arrange for students to work under experienced healthcare professionals, allowing you to practice skills like taking vital signs, changing bedding, and helping patients with daily tasks.
Once you complete your training, you’ll take a CNA certification exam. This typically includes a written section with about 90 multiple-choice questions and a clinical skills test, where you’ll be asked to perform about five hands-on care tasks (chosen from a list of 22-23 possible skills). For example:
Changing bed linens while the patient remains in bed
Repositioning a patient to a supported side-lying position
Dressing a patient with a weak arm
Feeding a patient in a chair
Measuring and recording a patient’s respirations
After passing, you’ll be placed on your state’s CNA registry and officially qualified to work.
CNA to RN Transition
Working as a CNA can be a great stepping stone toward becoming a Registered Nurse (RN). Unlike CNAs, RNs take on a broader role, coordinating patient care plans, administering medication, conducting diagnostic tests, and overseeing nursing staff like LPNs and CNAs. Because of these expanded responsibilities, RNs earn considerably more. For example, RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) make about $73,300 annually, more than double the average CNA salary. Additionally, RNs enjoy opportunities for travel, better benefits, and more career flexibility.
Steps to Become an RN:
To become an RN, you’ll need either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). An ADN typically takes two years, while a BSN often takes four. Though a BSN is a bigger commitment, it usually leads to higher pay and better job opportunities.
Typical admission requirements include:
ADN Programs:
- High school diploma or GED
- HESI exam scores
- Minimum GPA (varies by school)
- Completed high school biology and chemistry
- SAT scores
- Personal essay
BSN Programs:
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
- Coursework in lab sciences like anatomy, chemistry, and biology
- Personal essay
- Volunteer experience
There are several paths to a BSN, depending on your circumstances:
Full-time vs. Part-time: Full-time programs let you finish faster, while part-time schedules work better for those balancing jobs or family life.
CNA-to-RN Bridge Programs: These programs build on your CNA experience and can allow you to earn a BSN in under a year.
Accelerated BSN Programs: If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another field and meet GPA requirements, you could complete your BSN in just 12 months through an accelerated track. Many of these programs are available online for added flexibility.
After finishing your nursing program, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The test uses adaptive questioning to assess your skills, adjusting difficulty as you answer. It can range from 75 to over 200 questions, depending on your performance.
A passing score is based on achieving a logit of zero or higher, indicating you’ve answered at least 50% of medium-difficulty questions correctly.
You’ll usually receive your results within six weeks. If you don’t pass, you can retake the exam after 45 days.
Once you pass, you’ll receive your nursing license and officially become an RN!
Career Advancement Opportunities for CNAs
CNAs have several paths to grow their careers, increase their salaries, and take on new challenges. Here are two popular options:
CNA to LPN
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) work under RNs and physicians, handling responsibilities like administering medication, collecting patient data, and assisting with certain medical procedures. LPNs earn an average annual salary of $53,078—significantly higher than the typical CNA salary.
Unlike the RN path, LPN programs are shorter and more affordable. Requirements typically include a high school diploma or GED, and programs often last 1-2 years with flexible schedules or online options. Upon completing an accredited LPN program, you’ll take the NCLEX-PN exam and meet any additional state requirements.
CNA to RN
Moving from CNA to RN is a major step that requires more schooling and a greater investment of time and money. However, the pay and career opportunities increase significantly. Some CNAs become LPNs first, then enroll in LPN-to-RN bridge programs lasting 1-4 years. After passing the NCLEX-RN, you’ll be qualified to work as an RN and explore many new specialties and higher salaries.
CNA vs. Medical Assistant (MA)
At first glance, CNAs and Medical Assistants seem similar because both support patient care and work with healthcare teams. However, key differences exist between the roles:
Both roles are good entry points into healthcare and don’t require a four-year degree.
MAs complete certificate, diploma, or associate degree programs lasting 9 months to 2 years.
CNAs attend state-approved programs lasting 4-12 weeks, blending classroom learning with hands-on training, and must pass a certification exam.
CNAs focus heavily on direct patient care—helping patients move, bathe, dress, and eat.
MAs perform some direct care, like administering medication or collecting lab samples, but often handle administrative tasks such as scheduling, managing patient records, and assisting physicians during exams.
MAs mostly work in physicians’ offices (57%) and, less frequently, in hospitals or outpatient centers.
CNAs are employed wherever long-term patient care is needed—such as nursing care facilities (37%), hospitals (30%), assisted living, home health, and government healthcare services.
Both roles have strong job prospects:
CNAs: Projected job growth of 8%, with about 192,800 openings annually.
MAs: Higher projected growth of 18%, resulting in approximately 104,400 job openings yearly.
If you want a quicker path into direct patient care, CNA is ideal. If you prefer blending patient care with administrative work and can spend more time in training, an MA role might be right for you.
Paying for CNA Education
Though CNA programs are relatively affordable ($1,300–$3,000), many students still need financial help. Here are some common ways to pay:
- Employer-Sponsored CNA Training
Some hospitals offer tuition reimbursement and guarantee full-time employment after graduation. However, you’ll usually be required to work for them for a set period afterward.
- Student Loans
Federal and private student loans are available, often with interest rates between 4-11%. While rates are lower than many other loans, interest is still a factor to consider.
- Reimbursement Programs
Facilities that accept Medicare or Medicaid often reimburse CNA training costs if you’re employed there before or shortly after finishing your program. Organizations like the YMCA/YWCA may also offer financial assistance.
- Grants
Federal grants provide significant aid to students in need, without repayment obligations. Grants may target specific groups such as women, racial minorities, or disadvantaged communities. Check your state’s Department of Labor for local programs, and apply through FAFSA at FAFSA.ed.gov.
- Scholarships
Scholarships cover tuition costs without requiring repayment, but eligibility is usually merit-based. Requirements can include high test scores, essays, or maintaining a certain GPA.
Your school’s financial aid office, the FAFSA website, and scholarship databases are good places to search for opportunities.
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
This federal program assists out-of-school youth, adults, and displaced workers pursuing new careers. Many CNA programs are WIOA-approved, providing financial aid to eligible students. Check with your school’s financial aid office or visit the WIOA website for more details.
