Daily care
Activities of daily living, mobility and transfers, and vital signs, under nursing supervision.
Career guide
How to become a CNA: requirements, duties, pay, and current jobs
CNA certification rules are set state by state. Here's the federal baseline, what to check with your state registry, national pay, and what current JibJob listings are asking for.
Fast answer
Nursing assistants complete a state-approved education program and must pass their state’s competency exam to become certified. CMS identifies a federal minimum of 75 clock hours for nurse-aide training and competency evaluation programs, and nursing-home CNA programs commonly run 4–12 weeks — but states can require more, and terminology (CNA, nurse aide, STNA, LNA) varies. Always confirm current requirements with your state’s nurse aide registry.
| Topic | Typical nationally | State-dependent |
|---|---|---|
| Training | Nursing assistants complete a state-approved education program and pass a competency exam. | CMS identifies a federal minimum of 75 clock hours for nurse-aide training; states can require more. |
| Program length | Nursing-home CNA programs commonly run 4–12 weeks. | Exact length, cost, and approved-program lists are set by your state. |
| Registry | Certification is verified through a state nurse aide registry, not a single national license. | Renewal, reciprocity between states, and continuing-education rules vary by state. |
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and CMS nursing-home careers. Verified July 20, 2026.
What the job involves
What a CNA does
Nursing assistants provide basic care and help with activities of daily living under licensed nursing supervision. Common tasks include repositioning patients, answering calls, assisting with eating and daily activities, recording vital signs, observing changes, documenting, and transporting patients — but these are occupational examples, not a list of what every CNA is authorized to do everywhere. Duties depend on state law, training, delegation, and facility policy.
Documentation
Recording intake/output and vital signs, and reporting observed changes to licensed staff.
Schedule realities
Nights, weekends, and holidays are common since hospitals and residential facilities operate around the clock.
Getting certified
How to become a CNA
- Find your state’s nurse aide registry or health department page and review current eligibility rules.
- Complete a state-approved education program (commonly 4–12 weeks in nursing-home settings).
- Pass your state’s competency evaluation exam.
- Join or verify your status on the state registry.
- Maintain your status and check reciprocity rules directly with the registry before moving states.
Current JibJob listings
Data updated July 22, 2026
569
Active CNA listings reviewed
33
Distinct employers
307
Listings with employer-listed pay
Credential mentions among active listings reviewed
BLS / CPR
166
Counts reflect mentions anywhere in the listing, not a confirmed legal requirement. Always check the individual posting.
Where these listings are active
Minnesota
77
South Dakota
70
North Dakota
46
Nebraska
37
Oregon
35
Idaho
29
Methodology: counts include active, JibJob-aggregated listings whose title, specialty, or category matches CNA. This is not a labor-market estimate — it describes JibJob’s own inventory on the date shown.
Pay
Pay and outlook
The median annual wage for nursing assistants was $39,530 in May 2024 (bottom 10% earned less than $31,390; top 10% earned more than $50,140). By setting, median annual wages were $40,170 in hospitals, $39,170 in skilled nursing facilities, $38,500 in continuing-care/assisted-living facilities, and $36,910 in home health. Employment is projected to grow 2% from 2024–34, with about 211,800 annual openings projected for nursing assistants and orderlies combined (mostly replacement openings) — that combined figure is not the same as “CNA jobs.”
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. National benchmark, kept separate from the JibJob listings snapshot above.
Common questions
CNA requirements, answered
- Do I need a college degree to become a CNA?
- No. Nursing assistants typically need a state-approved education program (commonly 4–12 weeks in nursing-home settings) and a passing score on their state competency exam, not a college degree.
- Is CNA training free?
- A nursing home may cover certification training for someone who works there, and training elsewhere may be reimbursable if you’re hired within 12 months of certification — check with individual employers, since this varies.
- Can I work as a CNA in a different state?
- Registry reciprocity rules vary by state. Check the destination state’s nurse aide registry before assuming your certification transfers automatically.
- What’s the difference between a CNA and a PCA?
- Titles and requirements vary by state and employer — O*NET lists CNA, nurse aide, nursing aide, nursing assistant, LNA, PCA, and STNA as related titles, but they are not always interchangeable in every state.
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