CNA classes in California offer the training necessary to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, and join one of the fastest-growing fields in the entire healthcare industry.
In the Golden State, nursing assistants work under the direct supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) to provide basic patient care at hospitals, clinics and a variety of other facilities. The training required to become a CNA can sometimes be completed in as little as eight weeks, and is offered by a variety of institutions.
We invite you to read on and learn more about working as CNA in California, state requirements for certification, and to review available programs near you.

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in California
There are three steps you will need to complete in order to become a CNA in California. The steps in the certification process are outlined below.
- Complete a CNA program accredited by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)*
- Pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination
- Become registered on the California Certified Nurse Aide Registry
*Programs that have been accredited by the CDPH require their students to satisfy the state’s minimum requirements of 150 hours in the classroom and 100 hours in a clinical training facility.
CNA Classes in California – Now Accepting Students!
To start reviewing available CNA programs in California, you can request information on admissions requirements, course schedules and availability, tuition costs, and more by contacting the schools listed below.
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How to Compare CNA Programs
There are literally hundreds of CNA programs available throughout the State of California from a variety of institutions. With that said, it is important to be aware that they are not all the same.
Only by graduating from a program that is accredited by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are you guaranteed of becoming eligible to test for certification in the state. Even with that being the case, there are still hundreds of accredited programs to choose from (see the complete list here).
In order to help you choose the program that best meets your personal needs, it is recommended that you prepare of list of questions to ask representatives from each school that interests you. A sample of common questions that many students ask is provided below.
- How many students are assigned to each class?
- How long does the program take to complete?
- How much does tuition, equipment, and study materials cost?
- What percentage of graduates have passed the NNAAP on their first attempt?
To this list of questions, you should add any others you may have. By collecting this type of information, you can quickly narrow down the list of programs that interest you to a manageable number.
CNA Certification in California
After completing an accredited training program, you’ll become eligible to sit for the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) certification exam. This nationally-recognized assessment is the official certification test given in the State of California.
The NNAAP consists of both a multiple-choice written section, and a skills demonstration section that takes place in a clinical setting with an evaluator present. To pass the exam and earn your certification, you must receive passing scores on both halves of the test.
The exam is administered by PearsonVUE at a number of locations across the state. Contact PearsonVUE directly to schedule an exam date in your area.
What is the Job Outlook for CNAs in California?
The employment prospects for new Certified Nursing Assistants are projected to be quite strong in the years ahead – both in California and the nation as a whole.
According the May 2016 report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for new CNAs in the state is expected to increase by 19% through 2024. This represents one of the region’s fastest growth rates for any profession.
CNA Salary Data for California
In the table below, you’ll find the most-recent data available on nursing assistant salaries in the State of California. This data was pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Area | Type of Pay | 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States | Hourly | $8.80 | $10.07 | $11.74 | $14.16 | $16.99 |
Salary | $18,300 | $20,900 | $24,400 | $29,500 | $35,300 | |
California | Hourly | $9.98 | $11.36 | $13.42 | $16.23 | $19.15 |
Salary | $20,800 | $23,600 | $27,900 | $33,800 | $39,800 |
Accredited CNA Classes in California
CNA School Name | Address | City | Zipcode | CNA School Website | Social Media |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Career College at St Francis | 3680 E. Imperial Highway, 5th Floor | Lynwood | 90262 | americancareercollege.edu | facebook google+ YouTube |
American River College | 4700 College Oak Dr | Sacramento | 95841 | www.arc.losrios.edu | facebook google+ |
Angeles College | 3440 Wilshire Blvd Ste 310 | Los Angeles | 90010 | www.angelescollege.edu | facebook YouTube |
Bakersfield College | 1801 Panorama Dr | Bakersfield | 93305 | www.bakersfieldcollege.edu | facebook google+ Student Blog |
Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education | 4640 Maine Ave | Baldwin Park | 91706 | www.bpace.k12.ca.us | facebook |
Beaumont Adult School | 1575 Cherry Ave | Beaumont | 92223 | bas-beaumont-ca.schoolloop.com | facebook google+ |
California Nurses Educational Institute | 5200 E. Ramon Rd. Suite I-1 | Palm Springs | 92264 | www.cnei.edu | facebook |
Career Development Institute | 1830 S Robertson Blvd | Los Angeles | 90035 | www.cdiworld.com | facebook |
Charles A. Jones Career and Education Center | 5451 Lemon Hill Ave | Sacramento | 95824 | www.caj.edu | facebook |
College of the Sequoias | 915 S Mooney Blvd | Visalia | 93277 | www.cos.edu | facebook google+ YouTube |
Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program | 1214 Indiana Ct | Redlands | 92374 | www.cryrop.org | facebook YouTube |
East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program | 1501 W Del Norte St. | West Covina | 91790 | www.esgvrop.org | facebook |
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | 14101 E. Nelson Ave | La Puente | 91746 | www.hlpae.com | facebook |
InfoTech Career College | 8527 Alondra Blvd, #174 | Paramount | 90723 | www.infotech.edu | facebook google+ YouTube |
MiraCosta College | One Barnard Drive | Oceanside | 92056 | www.miracosta.edu | facebook google+ YouTube |
Mt Diablo Adult Education | Loma Vista Adult Center - 1266 San Carlos Avenue. | Concord | 94518 | mdae.mdusd.org | facebook |
Palo Verde College | One College Drive | Blythe | 92225 | www.paloverde.edu | |
Pomona Unified School District Adult and Career Education | 1515 W Mission Blvd | Pomona | 91766 | www.pusd.org/ace | |
Preferred College of Nursing-Los Angeles | 3424 Wilshire Blvd Ste 1100 | Los Angeles | 90010 | www.pcnla.com | |
Riverside City College | 4800 Magnolia Avenue | Riverside | 92506 | www.rcc.edu/riverside | facebook google+ |
San Diego Continuing Education | 4343 Ocean View Blvd | San Diego | 92113 | www.sdce.edu | facebook YouTube |
Summit College | 851 S. Cooley Dr | Colton | 92324 | www.summitcollege.edu | facebook YouTube |
Trinity Vocational Center | 1149 W 190th St Ste 2000 | Gardena | 90248 | trinityvocational.com | facebook |
West Coast Ultrasound Institute | 291 S La Cienega Blvd Ste 500 | Beverly Hills | 90211 | WCUI.edu | facebook google+ YouTube |
Online Resources for CNAs in California
American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
National Student Nurses Association
American Nursing Informatics Association