How to Become a Certified Nurse Aide in Georgia

(found 313 schools)

You may have heard that the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), also known as Certified Nursing Assistant is one of the fastest growing and most stable occupations around, but you may not know everything that is involved in becoming a CNA in Georgia. Here you will find a guide designed to help answer your questions about CNA certification routes, training and testing, staying certified, and job/salary outlook as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the state of Georgia.

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Step 1: Select One of the Six Paths to Becoming a CNA in Georgia

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If you are interested in starting a CNA career, or getting back into it, there are six main options for certification in the state of Georgia. Each path is unique. Make sure you read this information carefully so you can decide which one is right for you.

Route 1: New Candidates

One way to become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Georgia is by successfully completing an in-state and state-approved CNA program. From the date you finish your CNA classes, you will have one full year to take and pass the NNAAP exam. It is only by completing both the required courses and passing the exam that you will be placed on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry. You must submit a completed application to the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Service (NACES) to schedule your testing, but make sure it’s before your one-year mark. You will also need the following documents in order to register for the CNA test:

• A completed application form which can be found at Pearson’s website here
• A notarized and instructor-signed training certificate which you should receive upon course completion
• A copy of your Social Security Card
• A copy of your Photo I.D.

You must submit these documents, along with one of the approved payment methods, in order to schedule your exam. Please review the payment methods in the section, “How Much and How to Pay“.

Route 2: RN and LPN Candidates

This route is for those who are currently licensed as an RN or an LPN in the U.S. From the time your application is received, you will have one year to complete the NNAAP exam. This is very important, because if you fail to make the one-year deadline, you will have to follow the first eligibility route if you still wish to become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Georgia.

Instead of a training certificate, you will need:

• A copy of your RN/LPN license
• A copy of your Social Security Card
• A copy of your Photo I.D.

These must be submitted with your payment in order to be approved.

Route 3: Out-of-State Trained CNA

If you have completed a CNA program in another state, but haven’t yet completed the NNAAP, then this section is for you. In order to register with the GA Nurse Aid Registry, you must pass the NNAAP examination within one year from the day you completed your out-of-state course. You will have to submit an application to NACES before this one-year mark with the following documents:

• A copy of your training certificate (signed by your instructor, with your completion date, and the state where you were trained)
• A copy of your Social Security Card
• A copy of your Photo I.D.

However, if you miss the one-year mark and still wish to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, you will have to complete another course and follow the steps provided in Route 1.

Route 4: Out-of-State Trained CNA with Lapsed Certification

If you are a Certified Nursing Assistant who has been trained and registered in another state, but your registration has expired, follow these steps to get your certification. Within three years from your certification expiration date, you will have three attempts to take and pass the NNAAP exam. You should be aware though, if you fail all three times or the three years have passed, you will be required to retake a CNA certification course and then retest. You will have to provide a few documents:

• A copy of your official out-of-state registry verification showing that you are still in Good Standing from the state where your certification has expired
• A statement about the state where you received training
• A copy of your Social Security Card
• A copy of your Photo I.D.

Route 5: Georgia-Expired Registration

This route is almost exactly the same as Route 4, except for a few documents. You’ll need:

• Your certification number
• The expiration date
• A copy of your Social Security Card
• A copy of your Photo I.D.

Route 6: Reciprocity

If you have been certified as a CNA in another state but haven’t worked within the past two years, or if you are not eligible to work in a Long Term Care Facility, you will have to take this route to get certification in Georgia. All that is required is for you to pass the NNAAP examination, and then you will be a registered Georgia Nurse Aide. You will have to submit a completed application to NACES before your GMCF Approval to Test Letter has expired. This approval expires after one year. If you fail the test three times or wait until after the expiration date, you will have to go through another course and retake the test through Route 1.

You will have to provide:

• A copy of your Social Security Card
• A copy of your Photo I.D.
• A copy of your unexpired GMCF Approval to Test Letter

If your CNA certification is active in another state’s Nurse Aide Registry, you can refer to the section, “What if I’m Coming From Out of State” to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant in Georgia without training and without taking the Georgia NNAAP exam.

The NNAAP Examination

A couple of things should be noted here. For all candidates, the NNAAP exam is limited to three attempts before you are required to take another training course. Additionally, you will only be allowed a one-time reschedule of your exam if the testing date falls outside of your one-year mark. The rescheduled date must be within one month of your original date. This applies to all candidates.

Now that you have reviewed the available paths for becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Georgia, you may be interested in learning what to expect from your future training program.

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Step 2: Complete the Required Training

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How to Get Started

The requirements for getting started are fairly straightforward. You have to be at least 16 years old, eligible to work in the U.S., and able to speak and write in English. A high school diploma is not necessary. While background checks are not mandatory for all courses, the registry, or to complete the NNAAP, you will more than likely have to face background checks with potential employers, so a clean record is recommended.

How to Find the Right Program

There are several key factors you will want to consider when searching for the right CNA certification classes. Keep in mind that approved programs are held in high schools, technical schools, colleges, nursing homes, acute facilities, and private post-secondary schools. In the state of Georgia, no online Certified Nursing Assistant courses are allowed. This means that if you want to get Certified Nursing Assistant training in Georgia, you will need to attend an in-person program. Some other things you will need to consider are the program’s location, its credentials, and its reputation.

CNA Training Classes (Including Pass Rates) in Georgia

The table includes 313 state-approved CNA schools in Georgia. Use the search bar to find the right local CNA classes for you.

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Region	City	CNA Program Provider	Skills Pass Rate in 2015
Northwest	Acworth	Chattahoochee Technical College - North Metro www.chattahoocheetech.edu	0.57
Northwest	Acworth	Chattahoochee Technical College - North Metro Continuing Education www.chattahoocheetech.edu	0.71
Southwest	Albany	Albany Technical College - Main Campus www.albanytech.edu	-
Southwest	Albany	Albany Technical College Monroe Comprehensive High School www.albanytech.edu	0.25
Southwest	Albany	GWANA	0.88
Southwest	Albany	Heritage Health Career Center, Inc. www.heritagehcc.com	0.96
Southwest	Albany	New Beginnings Health & Career Training Center - Cuthbert	-
Southwest	Albany	New Beginnings Health And Career Training Center www.newbeginningsalbany.com	0.91
Southwest	Albany	Quality Healthcare, LLC	0.73
Southwest	Albany	Turner Job Corps Center turner.jobcorps.gov	0.81
Southeast	Alma	Bacon County High School www.baconcountyhigh.com	0.87
Southwest	Americus	Innovative Senior Solutions	0.5
Southwest	Americus	Magnolia Manor Nursing Center	0.66
Middle Georgia	Ashburn	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Middle Georgia	Ashburn	Southern Regional Technical College southernregional.edu	0.72
Northeast	Athens	Athens Tech Core CNA	0.88
Northeast	Athens	Innovative Healthcare Institute, LLC	-
Northeast	Athens	PruittHealth Athens Heritage www.pruitthealth.com	-
Northeast	Athens	PruittHealth Grandview www.pruitthealth.com	-
Northeast	Athens	The Oaks of Athens www.pruitthealth.com	-
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta	American Red Cross www.redcross.org	0.72
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta	Atlanta Job Corps Center atlanta.jobcorps.gov	0.85
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta	Atlanta Technical College www.atlantatech.edu	0.27
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta	Covenant CNA School www.covenantcna.com	0.85
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta	Cross Keys High School	0.8
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta	Everest College - Atlanta West www.everest.edu	-
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta	Murray Career Institute www.murraycareerinstitute.com	0.73
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta	Proactive Medical Training Center, Inc. proactivemedicaltraining.com	-
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta	PruittHealth of Brookhaven www.pruitthealth.com	0.66
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta	PruittHealth West Atlanta	-
East Central	Augusta	A.R. Johnson Health Science & Engineering Magnet School www.rcboe.org	1
East Central	Augusta	Helms College helms.edu	0.3
East Central	Augusta	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
East Central	Augusta	Royalbea's Professional Training & Development Center www.royalbeas.com	-
East Central	Augusta	Tender Care Training Center www.tendercaretraining.com	0.65
East Central	Augusta	Training for Life Center, LLC website	0.84
East Central	Augusta	Augusta Technical College www.augustatech.edu	0.52
Metro Atlanta	Austell	Health Tech Training Institute, LLC www.healthtechtraininginstitue.com	0.73
Metro Atlanta	Austell	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Southwest	Bainbridge	Bainbridge High School www.boe.dcboe.com	1
Southwest	Bainbridge	Bainbridge State College www.bainbridge.edu	0.91
Southwest	Bainbridge	Bainbridge State College - Miller County Dual www.bainbridge.edu	-
Southwest	Bainbridge	Bainbridge State College - Seminole County Dual www.bainbridge.edu	1
Northeast	Baldwin	The Oaks - Scenic View www.pruitthealth.com	-
West Central	Barnesville	Heritage Inn of Barnesville www.heritageinnbarnesville.org	-
Southeast	Baxley	Coastal Pines Technical College www.coastalpines.edu	-
Northeast	Blairsville	Union County High School high.ucschools.org	1
Northeast	Blairsville	Union County Nursing Home www.uniongeneralhospital.com	0.93
Southwest	Blakely	Bainbridge State College - Early County www.bainbridge.edu	0.75
Northwest	Blue Ridge	Fannin County High School www.fannin.k12.ga.us	0.97
Northwest	Blue Ridge	North Georgia CNA Training Institute	0.76
Northwest	Blue Ridge	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Northeast	Braselton	Medical Institute of Northeast Georgia, LLC www.ming101.com	0.91
Southeast	Brunswick	ADL Training & Testing, Inc. adltraining-cna.com	0.92
Southeast	Brunswick	Brunswick Job Corps Center brunswick.jobcorps.gov	0.87
Southeast	Brunswick	Coastal Pines Technical College - Golden Isles www.coastalpines.edu	0.4
Southeast	Brunswick	Sears Manor Nursing Home, LLC	-
Metro Atlanta	Buford	Favored Healthcare Services www.favoredhealthcareservices.com	0.41
Southwest	Cairo	Cairo High School - Grady County Vocational Center	0.65
Southwest	Cairo	Life Way Training Institute	0.92
Northwest	Calhoun	Calhoun Health Care Center	-
Northwest	Calhoun	CNA Nursing School of Calhoun cnanursingschool.com	0.73
Southwest	Camilla	Mitchell County High School	0.94
Southwest	Camilla	Southern Regional Technical College - Pelham High School southernregional.edu	0.75
Northwest	Carrollton	The Oaks	-
Northwest	Carrollton	University of West Georgia www.westga.edu	1
Northwest	Carrollton	Village Samaritan, LLC villagesamaritan.com	0.79
Northwest	Carrollton	West Georgia Technical College www.westgatech.edu	0.59
Northwest	Cartersville	Bartow County College & Career Academy www.edlinesites.net	0.55
Northwest	Cartersville	Maple Ridge Health Care Center mapleridgehc.com	-
Northwest	Cartersville	The Training Center of NW Georgia, Inc. www.trainingcenternwga.com	0.84
Northwest	Cedartown	Cedartown High School www.polk.k12.ga.us	0.71
Metro Atlanta	Chamblee	Malik College	0.68
Metro Atlanta	Chamblee	Warren Technical School	-
Northwest	Chatsworth	Chatsworth Health Care Center	-
Northeast	Clarkesville	North Georgia Technical College northgatech.edu	0.57
Metro Atlanta	Clarkston	Georgia Piedmont Technical College - DeKalb www.gptc.edu	0.64
Northeast	Clayton	Mountain View Health Care	1
Northeast	Cleveland	White County High School	0.81
Middle Georgia	Cochran	Bleckley County High School www.bleckley.k12.ga.us	0.59
Metro Atlanta	College Park	FAKS Allied Health Education Center www.faks-allied-health.com	0.84
Metro Atlanta	College Park	The Sorce Consulting and Training, LLC www.thesorcetraining.com	0.73
West Central	Columbus	Columbus Technical College www.columbustech.edu	0.98
West Central	Columbus	Columbus Technical College - Dual Enrollment www.columbustech.edu	0.91
West Central	Columbus	F&L Nurse's Aide Program	-
West Central	Columbus	Muscogee Manor & Rehabilitation Center www.muscogeemanorga.com	-
West Central	Columbus	Orchard View Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing www.columbusorchardview.com	-
West Central	Columbus	South Columbus Nurse's Aide Program	0.6
West Central	Columbus	Stat Medical Services, Inc. www.statmedical.biz	0.92
Northeast	Comer	Madison County Health and Rehabilitation	0.83
Metro Atlanta	Conyers	Ashona Medical Institute	0.69
Metro Atlanta	Conyers	Premier Medical Careers www.premiermedicalcareers.com	0.9
Middle Georgia	Cordele	South Georgia Technical College www.southgatech.edu	0.86
Metro Atlanta	Covington	Georgia Piedmont Technical College - Newton www.gptc.edu	0.6
Metro Atlanta	Covington	Georgia Piedmont Technical College Continuing Education www.gptc.edu	-
Metro Atlanta	Cumming	Angels All Around, Inc. www.angelshomecareservice.com	0.69
Northeast	Dahlonega	Gold City Convalescent Center	-
Northwest	Dallas	CPR With Mickey, Inc. www.cprwithmickey.com	0.77
Northwest	Dallas	Paulding County High School www.paulding.k12.ga.us	-
Northwest	Dallas	Wellstar Paulding Nursing Center	1
Northwest	Dalton	Georgia Northwestern Tech College - Whitfield Career www.gntc.edu	0.9
Northwest	Dalton	Regency Park Health & Rehabilitation www.regencyparkhealth.org	0.88
Southeast	Darien	Coastal Pines Technical College - McIntosh Academy	0.81
Metro Atlanta	Decatur	Dekalb High School of Technology South	0.74
Metro Atlanta	Decatur	East Lake Arbor Healthcare	-
Metro Atlanta	Decatur	Life Solutions For Health, LLC www.lifesolutionsforhealth.com	0.91
Metro Atlanta	Decatur	Professional Medical Institute, Inc.	0.91
Metro Atlanta	Decatur	Southwest DeKalb High School	0.91
Metro Atlanta	Decatur	Towers High School	0.8
Middle Georgia	Douglas	Coffee County High School www.coffee.k12.ga.us	0.69
Middle Georgia	Douglas	Shady Acres Health & Rehabilitation www.shadyacreshealth.org	-
Middle Georgia	Douglas	Ycarte Health Career Center, LLC www.ycartehealthcareercenter.com	0.64
Metro Atlanta	Douglasville	Assured & Associates Personal Care of Georgia assuredandassociates.com	0.76
Metro Atlanta	Douglasville	Covenant Medical Training Institute www.covenantmedtraining.com	0.89
Northwest	Douglasville	West Georgia Technical College www.westgatech.edu	0.86
East Central	Dublin	Oconee Fall Line Technical College - South Campus www.oftc.edu	0.8
Metro Atlanta	Duluth	Alliance Care Medical Academy, Inc. www.alliancecare.org	0.89
Metro Atlanta	Duluth	Woodruff Medical Training and Testing woodruffmedical.edu	0.78
Metro Atlanta	Dunwoody	Sunrise Senior Living www.sunriseseniorliving.com	0.76
West Central	Eatonton	Central Georgia Technical College - Putnam centralgatech.edu	0.8
Metro Atlanta	Ellenwood	Cedar Grove High School	-
Northwest	Ellijay	Gilmer Nursing Home www.northgeorgiamedicalcenter.com	1
East Central	Evans	Columbia County Schools	0.89
Metro Atlanta	Fairburn	Fairburn Health Care Center fairburnhcc.com	-
Metro Atlanta	Fairburn	New Hope Learning Center www.newhopelc.com	0.5
Metro Atlanta	Fayetteville	Golden Age Healthcare Training, Inc. www.goldenagetrainingga.com	0.87
Metro Atlanta	Fayetteville	Healthcare Training Center, LLC www.hctrainingcenter.com	0.61
Metro Atlanta	Fayetteville	Sanzie Healthcare Services, Inc. www.sanziehealthcareservices.com	-
Middle Georgia	Fitzgerald	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Middle Georgia	Fitzgerald	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College www.wiregrass.edu	-
Northeast	Flowery Branch	North Georgia Nursing Academy www.ngnanursing.org	0.84
West Central	Forsyth	Central Georgia Technical College - Mary Persons High School mphs.monroe.k12.ga.us	0.95
West Central	Forsyth	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
West Central	Forsyth	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Northwest	Fort Oglethorpe	NHC HealthCare Fort Oglethorpe www.nhcfortoglethorpe.com	0.68
Northwest	Franklin	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Northwest	Franklin	West Georgia Technical College - Heard County www.westgatech.edu	0.83
Northeast	Gainesville	Oaks Limestone www.pruitthealth.com	-
Northeast	Gainesville	Woodruff Medical Training & Testing www.woodruffmedical.edu	0.77
East Central	Gibson	Gibson Health & Rehabilitation Center	-
East Central	Gracewood	East Central Regional Hospital Gracewood Nursing	-
West Central	Gray	Central Georgia Technical College - Jones County centralgatech.edu	-
West Central	Greenville	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	1
Northwest	Greenville	West Georgia Technical College www.westgatech.edu	-
Metro Atlanta	Griffin	Griffin-Spalding High School www.spalding.k12.ga.us	0.96
Metro Atlanta	Griffin	Reliance Healthcare & Hospice website	-
Metro Atlanta	Griffin	Southern Crescent Technical College www.sctech.edu	0.88
East Central	Grovetown	Remedy Health Career Center, LLC	0.85
Metro Atlanta	Hapeville	Metropolitan Career School www.metrocareerschool.com	0.68
Northeast	Hartwell	Hart Care Center, Inc.	-
Northeast	Hartwell	Hart County High School hchs.hart.k12.ga.us	-
West Central	Hawkinsville	Central Georgia Technical College - Hawkinsville centralgatech.edu	0.8
Southeast	Hazlehurst	Coastal Pines Technical College www.coastalpines.edu	0.09
Northeast	Hiawassee	Chatuge Regional Nursing Home www.uniongeneralhospital.com	0.84
Southeast	Hinesville	Infinite Health Care Academy www.infinitehcacademy.com	0.7
Southeast	Hinesville	Liberty College & Career Academy www.liberty.k12.ga.us	0.86
Southeast	Hinesville	Pathways Health Career Training Center, LLC	0.8
Metro Atlanta	Jackson	Blessed Assurance Healthcare	0.7
Northwest	Jasper	Grandview Health Care Center	-
Northwest	Jasper	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
West Central	Jeffersonville	Central Georgia Technical College - Twiggs County centralgatech.edu	-
Southeast	Jesup	Coastal Pines Technical College www.coastalpines.edu	0.65
Southeast	Jesup	Coastal Pines Technical College - Appling County High School www.coastalpines.edu	-
Metro Atlanta	Kennesaw	Kennesaw State University Continuing Education Department ccpe.kennesaw.edu	-
Southeast	Kingsland	Camden County High School wildcat.camden.k12.ga.us	0.88
Northwest	LaGrange	West Georgia Technical College www.westgatech.edu	0.91
Northwest	LaGrange	West Georgia Technical College - Lagrange High School www.troup.org	-
Northwest	LaGrange	West Georgia Technical College - Troup High School www.troup.org	1
Northeast	Lavonia	Future Nurse Learning Center www.futurenurselearningcenter.com	0.81
Metro Atlanta	Lawrenceville	Gwinnett Technical College www.gwinnetttech.edu	0.94
Metro Atlanta	Lawrenceville	Maxwell High School of Technology www.maxwellhigh.com	0.96
Metro Atlanta	Lawrenceville	Mentee College menteemedicalinstitute.org	0.96
Southwest	Leesburg	Albany Technical College - Lee County High School www.lee.k12.ga.us	-
Metro Atlanta	Lilburn	Education & Career Resources of Georgia www.ecrga.com	0.76
Metro Atlanta	Lilburn	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Northeast	Lincolnton	Lincoln County High School lchs.lincolncountyschools.org	0.7
Metro Atlanta	Lithonia	Arabia Mountain High School	-
Metro Atlanta	Lithonia	Hope Institute, LLC	0.54
Metro Atlanta	Locust Grove	MedPrep South, LLC www.medprepsouth.com	0.9
East Central	Louisville	PruittHealth Old Capital	-
Metro Atlanta	Mableton	Cobb Medical Institute, Inc. www.cobbcnaschool.com	0.93
West Central	Macon	Central Georgia Technical College centralgatech.edu	0.88
West Central	Macon	Central Georgia Technical College - Hutchings centralgatech.edu	0.79
West Central	Macon	Central Georgia Technical College - NE High School	-
West Central	Macon	Endurance Holistic Health Education and Training	0.72
West Central	Macon	Extended Health Services, Inc.	0.82
West Central	Macon	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
West Central	Macon	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Metro Atlanta	Marietta	Chattahoochee Technical College www.chattahoocheetech.edu	0.7
Metro Atlanta	Marietta	Cumberland Medical Institute, LLC www.cumberlandmedical.net	0.93
Metro Atlanta	Marietta	Metro Medical Training Center www.metromtc.net	0.67
West Central	Marshallville	The Oaks Nursing Home, Inc. www.theoakswebsite.com	0.83
East Central	Martinez	Breath of Life Training, LLC	-
East Central	Martinez	Elevations Professional CNA Program	0.42
Metro Atlanta	McDonough	Newport Institute of Tech & Healthcare Training website	0.84
Metro Atlanta	Mcdonough	NV Enterprises Training Academy www.nvetacna.com	0.58
East Central	Metter	Azalea Health & Rehabilitation www.azaleahealth.org	0.63
West Central	Milledgeville	Beyond Nurse Aide Training Program	0.5
West Central	Milledgeville	Central Georgia Technical College - Baldwin centralgatech.edu	0.83
West Central	Milledgeville	Collaborative Health Care Training Institute	0.86
West Central	Milledgeville	Georgia War Veterans Home veterans.georgia.gov	0.25
West Central	Milledgeville	Peachstate Nursing Agency, Ltd.	0.63
East Central	Millen	PruittHealth Bethany www.pruitthealth.com	1
West Central	Monticello	Jasper County High School	0.95
Metro Atlanta	Morrow	Clayton State University Continuing Education www.clayton.edu	-
Southwest	Moultrie	PruittHealth Sunrise www.pruitthealth.com	-
Southwest	Moultrie	Southern Regional Technical College southernregional.edu	0.86
Middle Georgia	Nashville	Berrien High School berrien.ga.bch.schoolinsites.com	1
Metro Atlanta	Newnan	Newnan Health & Rehabilitation www.newnanhealthrehabilitation.org	-
Metro Atlanta	Newnan	Village Samaritan Training Institute villagesamaritan.com	0.73
Northwest	Newnan	West Georgia Technical College www.westgatech.edu	0.69
Metro Atlanta	Norcross	Atlanta Career Institute www.atlantacareerinstitute.net	0.69
Metro Atlanta	Norcross	CNU Medical Institute, Inc. www.cnumedical.com	1
Metro Atlanta	Norcross	Good Nursing and Medical Training, LLC www.goodnursingga.com	-
Metro Atlanta	Norcross	New Horizons Medical Institute, Inc. newhorizonsmedical.com	0.71
Southwest	Norman Park	Colquitt County High School high1.colquitt.schooldesk.net	1
Northeast	Oakwood	Lanier Technical College www.laniertech.edu	0.7
Middle Georgia	Ocilla	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Middle Georgia	Ocilla	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College - Irwin www.wiregrass.edu	-
Middle Georgia	Pearson	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College - Atkinson www.wiregrass.edu	-
West Central	Perry	Summerhill Senior Living Community www.summerhillseniorcommunity.com	1
Southwest	Plains	Lillian Carter Health and Rehabilitation Center lilliancarterhealth.org	-
Metro Atlanta	Powder Springs	Allwell Healthcare Certification, Inc.	-
Southwest	Quitman	Presbyterian Home, Inc. www.presbyterianhomesinc.org	0.84
Middle Georgia	Quitman	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College - Brooks Campus www.wiregrass.edu	0.66
Southwest	Richland	Four County Health and Rehabilitation www.fourcountyhealth.org	0.7
Southeast	Rincon	Effingham College & Career Academy www.effinghamschools.com	0.85
Southeast	Rincon	Zenith Training and Testing Institute, LLC	-
Metro Atlanta	Riverdale	Active Assist Care, Inc. www.activeassistcare.com	0.67
Metro Atlanta	Riverdale	Center for Progressive Training, Inc.	0.77
Metro Atlanta	Riverdale	Shadow Nursing, LLC www.shadownursingcna.com	-
West Central	Roberta	Central Georgia Technical College - Crawford centralgatech.edu	-
Northwest	Rock Spring	Georgia Northwestern Technical College - Career Academy www.gntc.edu	0.77
Northwest	Rock Spring	Georgia Northwestern Technical College - Walker County www.gntc.edu	0.52
Northwest	Rome	Floyd County College & Career Academy floydcca.sharpschool.net	-
Northwest	Rome	Georgia Highlands College www.highlands.edu	-
Northwest	Rome	Georgia Northwestern Technical College - Floyd County www.gntc.edu	0.58
Northwest	Rome	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Northwest	Rome	Rome High School www.rcs.rome.ga.us	0.68
Metro Atlanta	Roswell	CVSC, LLC	0.42
East Central	Sandersville	Oconee Fall Line Technical College - North Campus www.oftc.edu	0.61
Southeast	Savannah	Dominion Health Care Solutions, LLC dominionhealthcaretraining.com	0.78
Southeast	Savannah	Riverview Health & Rehabilitation Center riverviewhealth.net	-
Southeast	Savannah	Savannah Technical College www.savannahtech.edu	0.81
Southeast	Savannah	Sojourner of Savannah, Inc.	1
Southeast	Savannah	Woodville Tompkins Technical & Career High School website	0.86
Metro Atlanta	Smyrna	Fortis College	-
Metro Atlanta	Smyrna	Lovelace Multicare Training Institute	-
Metro Atlanta	Snellville	ADAS Medical Training School	0.57
Metro Atlanta	Snellville	Caregiver Solutions, LLC	-
Metro Atlanta	Social Circle	Social Circle High School www.socialcircleschools.com	0.41
Middle Georgia	Sparks	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College - Cook Campus www.wiregrass.edu	0.5
East Central	Sparta	Sparta Health & Rehabilitation www.spartahealthrehabilitation.org	-
Middle Georgia	Statenville	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College - Echols www.wiregrass.edu	0.8
East Central	Statesboro	Ogeechee Technical College www.ogeecheetech.edu	0.85
East Central	Statesboro	Ogeechee Technical College - Claxton High School www.ogeecheetech.edu	-
East Central	Statesboro	Ogeechee Technical College - Economic Development www.ogeecheetech.edu	-
East Central	Statesboro	Ogeechee Technical College - Portal High School www.ogeecheetech.edu	-
East Central	Statesboro	Ogeechee Technical College - Screven High School www.ogeecheetech.edu	-
East Central	Statesboro	Ogeechee Technical College - Statesboro High School www.ogeecheetech.edu	-
Metro Atlanta	Stone Mountain	Georgia Health Care Training Center	1
Metro Atlanta	Stone Mountain	New Beginning CNA Training	0.85
Metro Atlanta	Stone Mountain	New Covenant Community	-
Metro Atlanta	Stone Mountain	Rosemont at Stone Mountain rosemontatstonemtn.com	-
Metro Atlanta	Stone Mountain	Stephenson High School	-
Northwest	Summerville	Chattooga High School chattooga.chs.schoolfusion.us	0.92
Northwest	Summerville	Oakview Health & Rehabilitation www.oakviewhealth.org	0.55
East Central	Swainsboro	Southeastern Technical College www.southeasterntech.edu	0.77
East Central	Swainsboro	Southeastern Technical College - Dual Enrollment www.southeasterntech.edu	0.7
Middle Georgia	Sylvester	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	0.33
Middle Georgia	Sylvester	Worth County High School www.worthschools.net	1
Northwest	Temple	Faithful Guardian, LLC www.faithfulguardian.com	-
West Central	Thomaston	Riverside Health & Rehabilitation www.riversidehealthrehabilitation.org	-
Metro Atlanta	Thomaston	Southern Crescent Technical College www.sctech.edu	1
West Central	Thomaston	Upson-Lee High School ulhs.upson.k12.ga.us	1
Southwest	Thomasville	South Georgia Career Center	0.85
Southwest	Thomasville	Southern Regional Technical College southernregional.edu	0.57
Southwest	Thomasville	Southern Regional Technical College - Thomas County High School www.thomas.k12.ga.us	-
Southwest	Thomasville	Southern Regional Technical College - Thomasville High School ths.tcitys.org	0.66
Southwest	Thomasville	Thomas County Central High School www.thomas.k12.ga.us	0.96
East Central	Thomson	Thomson Health & Rehabilitation www.thomsonhealthrehab.com	-
Middle Georgia	Tifton	Southern Regional Technical College southernregional.edu	0.71
Middle Georgia	Tifton	Southern Regional Tech-Tift County High School tchs.tiftschools.com	0.73
Northeast	Tiger	Rabun County High School	1
Northeast	Toccoa	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	0.55
Northeast	Toccoa	Stephens County Hospital stephenscountyhospital.com	0.79
West Central	Toomsboro	PruittHealth www.pruitthealth.com	-
Northwest	Trenton	Dade County High School dchs.dadecountyschools.org	-
Metro Atlanta	Tucker	Christies Health Service	0.5
Metro Atlanta	Tucker	Woodruff Medical Training & Testing woodruffmedical.edu	0.81
East Central	Union Point	Greene Point Health and Rehabilitation	0.74
Middle Georgia	Valdosta	PruittHealth Lakehaven www.pruitthealth.com	-
Middle Georgia	Valdosta	Valdosta High School vhs.gocats.org	-
Middle Georgia	Valdosta	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College www.wiregrass.edu	0.72
Middle Georgia	Valdosta	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College - Cook	0.83
Middle Georgia	Valdosta	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College - Lowndes www.wiregrass.edu	0.77
Southeast	Vidalia	Horizon Health Career Training Center horizonhtc.com	0.72
Southeast	Vidalia	Southeastern Technical College www.southeasterntech.edu	0.81
Southeast	Vidalia	Southeastern Technical College - Dual Enrollment www.southeasterntech.edu	0.8
Southeast	Vidalia	The Oaks - Bethany	-
Middle Georgia	Vienna	New Beginning CNA Center, LLC	0.23
Northwest	Waco	West Georgia Technical College www.westgatech.edu	0.72
West Central	Warm Springs	Roosevelt Warm Springs Rehabilitation www.augustahealth.org	0.78
West Central	Warner Robins	Central Georgia Technical College centralgatech.edu	0.71
West Central	Warner Robins	Health Tech of Georgia, Inc. healthtechofga.com	0.5
West Central	Warner Robins	Houston County Career Academy hcca.hcbe.net	0.67
Northeast	Washington	Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School www.wilkes.k12.ga.us	1
West Central	Waverly Hall	Oakview Home www.oakviewwaverlyhall.org	-
Southeast	Waycross	Baptist Village, Inc. baptistvillage.com	0.91
Southeast	Waycross	Coastal Pines Technical College www.coastalpines.edu	0.78
Southeast	Waycross	Ware County High School www.ware.k12.ga.us	0.79
Metro Atlanta	Woodstock	Giving Care at Home Education Center, LLC www.givingcareathome.com	0.92
Metro Atlanta	Woodstock	River Ridge High School cherokeek12.net	0.73

How Long Will It Take

The answer to this really depends on which program you select, but you are required to complete at least 85 hours of training including clinical rotation in a nursing home. Most CNA classes in Georgia typically run anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks, making the time frame for certification very reasonable.

What About the Cost

Average costs per credit hour are around $71.50 for in-state tuition. Since you are dealing with college-type institutions, you usually have to pay for your own equipment and clinicals at these institutions. Others may offer a flat fee at the beginning of the course that covers all credit hours, clinicals, and equipment. For example, the Red Cross program costs $1,300. However, if you are employed by, or have received an offer of employment from a facility by the start date of your course, you will not be charged for any portion of it.

What You Can Expect to Learn

While these courses can usually be completed quickly, they still cover a lot of curriculum.

Before you ever come in contact with a patient you will need to have 16 hours of training in these six areas: communication and interpersonal skills, safety/emergency/FBAO/body mechanics, infection control, respecting residents’ rights, promoting residents’ independence, legal and ethical behavior and scope of practice.

You will also be trained in basic nursing skills such as: taking & recording vital signs and vital sign parameters, measuring and recording height and weight, caring for the resident’s environment, recognizing abnormal changes in body function, and the importance of reporting such changes to a supervisor.

Who Can Teach You

Only a Georgia-licensed nurse, including RNs and LPNs, can teach the CNA courses. In order to do so, they must complete a Train-the-Trainer Workshop. This workshop encompasses both Federal and State regulations for Certified Nursing Assistant training and competency evaluation. Additionally, it teaches the nursing instructors the core tenets of adult learning and education.

After understanding how the course will work, you will need to take a look at the next step which is the certification exam.

CNA CLASSES IN GEORGIA

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Step 3: Pass the State Exam – NNAAP

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You are required to take and pass the National Nurse Assistant Assessment Program (NNAAP) in order to officially become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Georgia. The test for CNA certification is composed of two parts: a written (or oral) portion and a skills evaluation portion.

How to Apply

When you’re ready to apply, the first step is to fill out an application form. You can find these forms at your training center, by contacting the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Service (NACES), or you can print one out from Pearson VUE. If you need any help completing it, you can contact someone from your training program, a facility employer, or NACES customer service representative at (866)-432-2865.

Once you’ve finished your application you need to submit it along with a copy of your completed training program certification (or other certification documents, depending on your eligibility), a copy of your Social Security Card, a copy of your Photo I.D., and your exam fees. Make sure that you mail all of this at least twelves business days before the CNA exam. This is the address you will need to mail the documents to:
NACES Plus Foundation, Inc. Georgia NNAAP 8501 North Mopac Expressway, Suite 400 Austin, TX 78759.

How Much and How to Pay CNA Tests

The cost of the CNA state test varies according to your needs. If you have to take the full written or oral test plus the skills evaluation, the fee is $112. However, if you need to retest, the fees are different:

• Written or Oral exam retest (English or Spanish): $27
• Skills Evaluation retest: $85

There are only a few forms of payment that are accepted:

• Certified check
• Company check
• Money order
• Pearson VUE Voucher

Payments must be made out to NACES Plus Foundation, Inc. Cash, credit cards, or personal checks are not acceptable forms of payment, so make sure you have the proper payment method and amount before submitting your application.

Where Can You Test

All of the CNA exams are administered by NACES at one of the Regional Test Sites. There are numerous locations and times available, so find the one that is most convenient for you. You can find a list of Regional Test Sites and the corresponding test dates here.

What You Need to Bring

On the day of your exam you should arrive at least 30 minutes early to ensure that you are not late. If you’re late, or don’t bring all the required testing materials, you won’t be able to take the test and you will not be refunded. It’s important for you to be properly prepared for your CNA exam. The items below are the ones required for testing:

• 2 forms of proper I.D. (one photo I.D. and your Social Security Card)
• 3 sharpened No. 2 pencils
• An eraser
• A watch with a second hand

Proper forms of photo identification are:

• Driver’s License
• Georgia-issued voter I.D. card
• Georgia Temporary Driver’s License
• State-Issued I.D.
• Passport
• Alien Registration Card
• Signed High School I.D. (high school students only)
• Signed University I.D. (university students only)
• Military I.D. (if not being used as Social Security Card replacement)
• Certificate of Naturalization

What to Expect From the CNA Exam

The exam is broken up into two portions: a written exam and a skills evaluation.

Written Portion

The written examination can be substituted for an oral exam upon request (with application), and can be conducted in either English or Spanish. If you are unsure whether you would be better served by taking the oral exam in place of the written one, you should take the self-assessment reading test found here: (pg.17-20).

The written portion is a 70 question multiple-choice test, with 10 of the questions being for statistical purposes only. You can find practice test questions here. The written portion is broken down as follows:

Physical Care Skills

1. Activities of Daily Living: 9 questions
2. Basic Nursing Skills: 23 questions
3. Restorative Skills: 5 questions

Psychosocial Care Skills

1. Emotional and Mental Health Needs: 6 questions
2. Spiritual and Cultural Needs: 2 questions

Role of the Nurse Aide

1. Communication: 4 questions
2. Client Rights: 4 questions
3. Legal and Ethical Behavior: 2 questions
4. Member of the Health Care Team: 5 questions

Skills Evaluation

The Skills Evaluation portion will be given on the same day as the written portion. It’s intended to simulate a real-life caregiving scenario. You will be tested on five random skills, and you’ll have 25 minutes to demonstrate all five. There are 22 skills in total that you could be required to demonstrate, and at least one of the tested skills will be a measurement skill.

How and When to Get Your Test Results

You should know that the Nurse Aide Evaluator can’t answer questions about your score, so if you have any questions about it you will have to call Pearson VUE (877-244-1694). However, they will not give you your results over the phone. Don’t worry though, you won’t have to wait very long. Around 10 minutes after the written portion, you will get an official Score Report telling you if you passed or failed. Similarly, after the Skills Evaluation, you will have an official pass/fail after around 10 minutes. Unfortunately, because of technical troubles, you may not always receive an official Score Report in the typical time frame. If a problem arises, you will receive your Score Report in the mail within 5-7 business days after your test.

Retesting

If you happen to fail either portion of the CNA test, you will have the opportunity to retest. The official Score Report you receive will give you the details of how to set up your retest. You will have to pay a new examination fee, although it may be less depending on if you failed one or both portions. Also, you will have to turn in either your Score Report or a new application to NACES. Everyone has three attempts to pass the exam before they have to enroll in another training program. You are required to pass both parts of the test before you can be CNA certified in Georgia.

CNA CLASSES IN GEORGIA

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Step 4: CNA Registration and Certification Renewal in Georgia

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Once you pass the two portions of the state exam, your name will be submitted to the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry. After you are added to the CNA registry, it’s important to keep your name and address current since it could affect your renewal process.

How to Renew Your CNA Certification

To keep your CNA certification in Georgia current, every 2 years from the date of your last exam, or recertification, you will need to go through the renewal process. You will be notified through the mail about 60 days before your registration expires. If you don’t receive a notice in the mail, your renewal is still your responsibility so be sure you keep your recertification date in mind.

Eligibility for recertification requires work in a paid CNA position for at least 8 hours in the past two years, under the supervision of an RN. If you don’t meet these requirements, then you will need to retest in order to remain on the CNA Registry in Georgia. If it’s been more than three years from your last certification date, then you will have to complete another Certified Nurse Aide training program and pass the NNAAP exam.

Renewal is free for re-listing onto the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry. If you need a renewal form, you can find one by going to www.mmis.georgia.gov (Nurse Aide tab) or by calling either of these numbers: 678-527-3010 or 800-414-4358.

Verification

You will have to provide verification that you meet the minimum requirements for CNA renewal. The way to do this is by submitting either a paycheck stub or W-2 form. If you’re currently employed as a CNA, you should ask your employer to sign the form as well. Alternatively, if you’re working as a private duty employee, you will have to provide proof of your income (paycheck stub or W-2) as well as a notarized statement from your employer with your RN/LPN supervisor’s signature. This statement describes what services and duties you’ve performed. You can verify your CNA certificate through this link.

What to Do for Lapsed Certification

If you have not renewed your certification within the two year window, and don’t have the appropriate work verification, it’s still possible to renew your certification. However, if it has been less than three years without work verification, you will have to retake the NNAAP exam in order to be recertified. If it’s been over three years, you will have to go through a new training program in Georgia and pass the state exam again.

What if I’m Coming From out of State

Georgia honors reciprocity for all Nurse Aides who are in another state’s Nurse Aide Registry and are in good standing. Below are the prerequisites for reciprocity:

• You must have an active status in your state’s registry and have no discipline or encumbered status on your file
• You can have no pending or past findings of patient abuse, misappropriation of resident/patient property on record
• You must have a valid Social Security Card, and the name on it must match with the name on the other state’s registry
• You must meet the minimum requirements for recertification (worked as a CNA for at least 8 paid hours under RN supervision)

After you’ve found out if you meet the requirements, you will need to fill out an Application for Nurse Aide Registry Listing by Reciprocity form. First, the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry will verify your status with your current state’s registry, and then the NAR will verify your application before finally approving you for the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry. It takes approximately 14 business days for your reciprocity verification to be completed. You should also be aware that you will only receive your registration card if you have a Georgia address on file. Otherwise, you will have to wait to contact the CNA registry at either 678-527-3010 or 800-414-4358, after you have acquired a Georgia residence. Your certification card will then be mailed to you.

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Step 5: Work as a CNA in Georgia

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After you are a Certified Nursing Assistant in Georgia, you will want to know what kind of work you’ll be doing with your new CNA certificate. Being a CNA, just like any other job in the medical field, means that there are a variety of opportunities available. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CNA field is expected to experience a 17% growth from 2014-2024. This is significantly faster than the average rate for other jobs. The main reason for this is the increasing elderly population, and this is one of the key reasons why Certified Nursing Assistants are employed heavily in nursing homes. | See Job Openings

Where Can You Work

Nurse Aides can work anywhere that there is a Registered Nurse to supervise them. This means you could work in a hospital, a nursing home, a private clinic, or in private home care. Anywhere you can find an RN, you will most likely find a CNA. As a CNA in Georgia, you will perform your duties alongside other healthcare professionals, assisting them in taking care of the needs of patients or residents. You may be utilizing skills such as giving medication, examinations, and noting patient complaints or symptoms. All of this will be done under the RN’s supervision, as this is one of the CNA requirements. | See Job Openings

CNA Salary in Georgia

According to the BLS report in May 2016, the median national salary for CNAs in the US is $26,590, or $12.78 an hour. The median CNA salary in Georgia is approximately $22,760, or $10.94 an hour. The top 10 percent of CNAs are paid $31,700 annually, or $15.24 per hour. The top five areas for CNA jobs in Georgia are:

1. Gainesville: $12.05 per hour
2. Rome: $11.92 per hour
3. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell: $11,46 per hour
4. Hinesville: $11.30 per hour
5. Savannah: $10.87 per hour

Certified Nurse Aide Salaries by Region

GA CNA Salaries	Empl.	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage	Wage percent relative std. error	Hourly 10th % wage	Hourly median wage	Hourly 90th % wage	Annual 10th % wage	Annual median wage	Annual 90th % wage
National	1443150	13.29	27650	0.2	9.64	12.78	18.22	20040	26590	37900
Georgia	36650	11.32	23530	1.2	8.30	10.94	15.24	17270	22760	31700
Albany, GA	610	9.77	20330	3.0	7.81	9.29	13.10	16240	19320	27250
Athens-Clarke County, GA	350	11.10	23090	6.6	8.17	10.72	14.62	17000	22290	30420
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	18680	11.96	24870	1.8	8.84	11.46	16.32	18390	23840	33940
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	2520	11.23	23350	3.2	8.10	10.75	15.67	16850	22350	32600
Brunswick, GA	400	10.60	22040	3.2	8.42	10.59	13.34	17510	22020	27760
Columbus, GA-AL	1360	10.17	21160	1.8	7.85	9.83	13.55	16320	20450	28170
Dalton, GA	400	10.44	21710	5.9	8.08	10.08	14.03	16800	20960	29190
East Georgia nonmetropolitan area	1400	9.86	20500	2.4	7.90	9.64	12.14	16430	20040	25250
Gainesville, GA	890	12.23	25440	3.4	9.09	12.05	15.61	18920	25060	32470
Hinesville, GA	100	12.25	25490	10.1	8.40	11.30	18.06	17460	23510	37560
Macon, GA	1560	10.38	21590	2.4	8.06	10.07	13.26	16770	20940	27580
Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area	1860	10.78	22420	2.0	8.07	10.47	14.73	16780	21770	30630
North Georgia nonmetropolitan area	1520	10.66	22170	1.6	8.36	10.66	13.33	17380	22160	27730
Rome, GA	550	11.71	24350	3.1	8.61	11.92	14.65	17900	24790	30480
Savannah, GA	1400	11.03	22940	2.1	8.44	10.87	14.37	17560	22620	29880
South Georgia nonmetropolitan area	2390	10.01	20820	3.6	7.82	9.35	13.21	16270	19450	27470
Warner Robins, GA	700	10.97	22810	3.5	8.55	10.78	14.13	17790	22410	29400

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Conclusion

While a CNA job may not be the highest paying job in the world, it does provide a great deal of job security, job satisfaction, and experience for those interested in the healthcare field. As long as there are nurses, there will be Certified Nursing Assistants available to help.