You can become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) while still in high school, and thousands of students do it every year. Most states allow you to take the certification exam at 16 or older, meaning you could have a professional healthcare credential before graduation. The path involves completing an approved training program, passing a state competency exam, and meeting a few medical and legal screening requirements.
Where to Find Training as a High School Student
There are three main ways high school students access CNA training, and which one you use depends on what your school district and local colleges offer.
- Career and technical education (CTE) programs. Many high schools offer CNA training directly through their vocational or health sciences track. These programs run during the school day and are often free or very low cost. Check with your school counselor to see if your district has one.
- Dual enrollment through a community college. If your high school doesn’t offer CNA training on campus, you may be able to take it at a nearby community college while earning both high school and college credit. These are sometimes called “contract courses” when arranged through an agreement between your high school and the college. Classes can be held on the college campus, at your high school, or online. Start this process early, ideally a full semester before you plan to enroll, since the arrangements need to be finalized before the term begins.
- Private or standalone training programs. Vocational schools, hospitals, and private training centers also run CNA programs. These are typically the most expensive option but offer flexible scheduling, including evenings and weekends, which can work well around a school schedule.
What the Training Looks Like
Federal law requires a minimum of 75 clock hours of CNA training, including at least 16 hours of supervised hands-on practice. During clinical hours, you work with real patients under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. Many states set their own requirements well above the federal minimum, with some requiring 120 to 180 hours. Your state’s nursing board website will list the exact number.
Classroom time covers topics like infection control, vital signs, basic nutrition, patient rights, and communication. The clinical portion teaches you how to measure blood pressure, assist with bathing and dressing, transfer patients in and out of bed, and perform other daily care tasks. Programs typically take four to twelve weeks to complete, depending on whether they run full-time or part-time alongside your classes.
Prerequisites You’ll Need to Complete
Before starting a CNA program, you’ll need to clear several screenings. These are standard across most programs, though the exact requirements vary.
- Background check. Programs require a national background check. Convictions involving abuse, neglect, or felonies will disqualify you.
- Drug screening. Most programs require a drug test before your first day of clinical training.
- TB testing. You’ll need a two-step tuberculosis skin test, or a one-step test with documentation of a recent annual TB test within the last six months.
- Immunizations. Programs require proof of current vaccinations, which you likely already have through your school’s records.
- CPR certification. You’ll need CPR certification at the healthcare provider level, not just the basic community version. This is a separate class that takes a few hours and is sometimes included in the training program.
Most states set the minimum age at 16 to enter a program and 18 to work independently, though 16- and 17-year-olds can work under specific conditions (more on that below). A few states require you to be 18, so check your state’s rules before enrolling.
How Much It Costs
Costs vary dramatically based on the route you take. If your high school offers CNA training through a CTE program, it’s often free or close to it. Dual enrollment programs may also be subsidized or free for eligible students.
Private programs are significantly more expensive. A typical standalone program runs around $3,400 when you factor everything in: tuition (around $2,950), a registration fee ($50), textbooks ($110), two sets of scrubs ($80), supplies like a blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, watch, and gait belt ($80), and the certification exam fee ($130). Some programs include supplies in their tuition, so ask before purchasing anything separately.
If cost is a barrier, look into workforce development grants in your state, employer-sponsored programs (some nursing homes will pay for your training if you agree to work there afterward), or scholarships through your school’s career services office.
Passing the Certification Exam
After finishing your training program, you take a state competency exam that has two parts: a written (or oral) knowledge test and a clinical skills demonstration. During the skills portion, you’ll be asked to perform a set of randomly selected tasks, like taking vital signs or positioning a patient, while an evaluator watches. You typically get results within a few weeks, and if you pass, your name goes on your state’s nurse aide registry.
If you don’t pass on the first attempt, most states allow you to retake the exam. Some states give you three attempts before requiring additional training hours.
Work Restrictions for CNAs Under 18
Federal labor law places specific limits on what you can do as a CNA before your 18th birthday. The most important restriction involves powered patient lifts, the mechanical devices used to move patients between beds, wheelchairs, and other surfaces. You cannot operate any type of powered lift by yourself. This includes floor-based lifts, ceiling-mounted lifts, and powered sit-to-stand devices.
You can, however, assist with lifts as a junior member of a two-person team led by an adult employee (18 or older) who is trained on the equipment. Even then, you cannot independently make physical contact with the patient during the lifting process, such as placing or adjusting the sling. You can only assist while the adult team member is simultaneously performing the same task. Once you turn 18, these restrictions no longer apply.
Beyond lift restrictions, individual states and employers may have additional rules about shift lengths, late-night hours, or the types of facilities where minors can work. Your employer’s HR department will walk you through what applies to you.
How CNA Experience Helps With Nursing School
If you’re planning to eventually become a registered nurse, starting as a CNA gives you a measurable advantage. Nursing school applicants who’ve worked as CNAs bring patient care experience that shows up in their applications and interviews. Many RN programs factor healthcare experience into admissions decisions, and CNA work is one of the most direct forms of that experience you can get.
The practical benefits carry into the classroom too. CNA training covers many of the same foundational skills you’ll encounter in your first semester of nursing school: measuring blood pressure, transferring patients, performing bed baths, making occupied beds. Students who’ve already developed these skills through CNA work report an easier time passing their early clinical competencies, which frees up mental energy for the more advanced material.
Working as a CNA also gives you something harder to quantify but equally valuable: comfort around patients. You’ll have spent hundreds of hours interacting with people who are sick, in pain, or confused. That emotional familiarity with healthcare settings is something your classmates will be building from scratch.