CNA Classes in Florida

Students who enroll in CNA classes in Florida receive the training necessary to start working in one of the healthcare industry’s fastest-growing occupations – nurse assisting.

Certified Nursing Assistants, or CNAs as they are more commonly called, fill an important role by assisting nursing professionals (e.g. Registered Nurses or RNs) with direct patient care tasks at a variety of healthcare facilities. Prerequisites for this position are relatively easy to meet for most applicants, and training programs can usually be completed in several months.

This guide covers the basic steps required to become a CNA in Florida, and also provides general information about the occupation within the state.

How to Become a CNA in Florida

There are three main steps that must be completed before an individual can start working as a CNA in the Sunshine State. These are:

1. Graduate from a formal CNA program accredited by the Enterprise Florida Jobs and Education Partnership Grant*
2. Pass the Florida Nurse Aide Exam
3. Become listed on the Florida Certified Nurse Aide Registry

*In accordance with state law, all programs at are accredited by the Enterprise Florida Jobs and Education Partnership Grant require students to complete a minimum of 120 hours in the classroom as well as 40 hours of individual training in a clinical setting.

CNA Classes in Florida – Now Accepting Students!

If you’d like to free request information from available CNA programs in Florida, you can do so by contacting the schools listed below with the forms provided.

What to Look for in CNA Programs

There are a number of things to consider when comparing different CNA programs. The one that is ultimately the best fit for you personally should not only meet the personal criteria you have, but should also meet a number of general prerequisites. Foremost among these is accreditation.

Florida’s nursing assistants are not regulated by a single body as is the case in many parts of the U.S. However, the state’s training programs are governed by the Enterprise Florida Jobs and Education Partnership Grant which is responsible for accreditation. You must graduate from a program accredited by this body in order to become immediately eligible to test for certification.

In addition to accreditation status, quality programs should also be able to satisfy your personal requirements in several other areas. You should consider asking the following questions to determine whether or not the program is up to your standards:

• What percentage of recent program graduates passed the Florida Nurse Aide Exam on their first try?
• How many students are assigned to one instructor in each class?
• How long does it take to complete the entire program?
• How much is tuition and what other costs are associated with the training?

The answers to these questions will tell you quite a bit about the program. You will also want to add any personal questions you may have to this list in order to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

CNA Certification in Florida

All accredited CNA programs focus their curriculum on one specific goal – preparing their students to become certified in the State of Florida. In order to become certified, program graduates are required to pass the Florida Nurse Aide Exam.

This exam is administered by national testing service Prometric on a monthly basis in locations throughout the state. The exam consists of two separate sections – a written half, and a clinical half. A passing score on both sections is required in order to become certified.

You should contact Prometric directly for more information on the contents of the exam, as well as to find out about upcoming test dates and locations.

What is the Local Employment Outlook for Nursing Assistants?

Thanks to the state’s large senior population and growing healthcare industry, Florida boasts one of the nation’s brightest outlooks for those who are considering a career in nurse assisting.

According to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Labor, Florida is expected to add an average of more than 4,000 new CNA positions per year through 2024. This represents a 23% growth rate for the occupation which is not only higher than the national average, but is also one of the fastest rates of any profession in the state.

CNA Salary and Wage Data

The following table contains data on CNA salary in Florida per the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Accredited CNA Classes in Florida

More Resources for CNAs in Florida

American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Nurses Association
American Association of Managed Care Nurses