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Healthcare career
Certified Nursing Assistant
Also called: CNA · Nursing Assistant · Nurse Aide · State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA)
What certified nursing assistants do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a certified nursing assistant do?
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide basic daily care (bathing, dressing, feeding, moving and monitoring patients) in nursing homes, hospitals and home care, working under the supervision of licensed nurses. The median pay is $42,260 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4–12 weeks, and employment is projected to grow +2.6% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$42,260$20.32/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+2.6%2025–35, about as fast as average
- Openings per year196,200Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationPostsecondary nondegree awardBLS classification
- Time to train4–12 weeksTypical program length
- U.S. jobs1,505,900Employment, 2025
What certified nursing assistants do
Nursing assistants spend more time with patients than almost anyone else in healthcare. They help with bathing, toileting, dressing, eating and moving; take vital signs; and notice the small changes in a patient’s condition that nurses need to know about.
Becoming a CNA requires completing a state-approved training program (federal rules require at least 75 hours, and many states require more) and passing a competency exam to be listed on the state nurse aide registry. Many nurses start as CNAs, and many employers help pay for the next step.
Typical duties
- Help patients bathe, dress, groom, eat and use the toilet
- Turn, reposition and transfer patients safely
- Measure and record vital signs, intake and output
- Observe and report changes in condition, skin or behavior to the nurse
- Make occupied and unoccupied beds and keep rooms clean and safe
- Help patients walk and do range-of-motion exercises
- Provide companionship and respect patient dignity and rights
Work environment and schedule
CNAs work mainly in nursing and residential care facilities, hospitals, assisted living and home health. The job is physically demanding (lots of lifting, bending and walking) and emotionally meaningful, especially in long-term care.
Schedule: Facilities run 24/7, so CNAs work days, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Eight- and twelve-hour shifts are both common.
A day in the life
- Receive report from the night shift on each resident’s condition, falls risk and special needs.
- Help residents wake, toilet, wash and dress, and set up breakfast trays with the right diets.
- Take and record vital signs, weigh two residents and report a new red area on a heel to the nurse.
- Transfer a resident from bed to wheelchair with a gait belt and assist with range-of-motion exercises.
See a full day in the life of a certified nursing assistant →
Certified Nursing Assistant salary
Half of certified nursing assistants earned more than $42,260 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $33,940 for the lowest 10% to $51,980 for the top 10%.
Full certified nursing assistant pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a certified nursing assistant
- Meet the basic requirements
- Complete a state-approved training program
- Pass the competency exam
- Get listed on the registry
- Gain experience and advance
You must complete a state-approved nurse aide training program, at least 75 hours under federal rules, including 16 supervised clinical hours, though many states require 100 or more, and pass your state’s competency exam.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a certified nursing assistant →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Activities of daily living (ADL) care
- Safe patient transfers and positioning
- Vital signs
- Infection control
- Intake and output measurement
People skills
- Compassion and patience
- Physical stamina
- Observation and reporting
- Respect for dignity and privacy
All certified nursing assistant skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fast, low-cost training, often 4 to 12 weeks
- Jobs available almost everywhere
- Meaningful, relationship-based work
- Common first step toward LPN or RN, often with tuition help
Cons
- Physically demanding work with injury risk
- Pay is modest for the effort required
- Short staffing can mean heavy workloads
- Emotional strain of caring for very ill or dying patients
Certifications and licenses
- State CNA certification: Earned by passing your state’s written and skills competency exam; you are then listed on the state nurse aide registry.
- CPR / BLS: Required by most employers.
- Certified Medication Aide (CMA/QMA): In some states, experienced CNAs can take additional training to pass medications.
- Specialty certificates: Dementia care, restorative care and hospice training add value in long-term care.
Career path
- Certified Nursing Assistant: Provide daily personal care and monitoring.
- Certified Medication Aide or Restorative Aide: Pass medications (where allowed) or lead rehab-focused care.
- Licensed Practical Nurse: Complete a roughly one-year program and pass the NCLEX-PN.
- Registered Nurse: Earn an ADN or BSN and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Learn the job before day one
Our Certified Nursing Assistant training (8 hours, $74.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as transfer a patient from bed to wheelchair and measure intake and output, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: CNA vs. LPN · CNA vs. Medical Assistant · CNA vs. RN · CNA vs. Phlebotomist
Certified Nursing Assistant FAQ
How long does CNA training take?
Most state-approved programs take 4 to 12 weeks. Federal law requires at least 75 hours, and many states require more.
Is being a CNA hard?
It is physically and emotionally demanding, but many people find it deeply rewarding. Good body mechanics and teamwork make a big difference.
Can CNA experience help me become a nurse?
Yes. Many LPN and RN programs value CNA experience, and many employers offer tuition assistance to CNAs who want to advance.
How much does a certified nursing assistant make?
The median annual wage for certified nursing assistants was $42,260 ($20.32 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $33,940 and the highest 10% earned more than $51,980.
How long does it take to become a certified nursing assistant?
Most people need about 4–12 weeks of training. You must complete a state-approved nurse aide training program, at least 75 hours under federal rules, including 16 supervised clinical hours, though many states require 100 or more, and pass your state’s competency exam.
Do you need a degree to be a certified nursing assistant?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “postsecondary nondegree award” as the typical entry-level education.
More certified nursing assistant questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 31-1131 (Nursing assistants).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Nursing assistants (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.