Key Takeaways:
- A certified nursing assistant provides direct patient care in a hospital and other healthcare settings under the supervision of a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse.
- Most CNA programs last between four to 12 weeks, but some may be up to six months.
- Although there may be limited opportunities to advance your career as a certified nursing assistant, many use the experience as a way to enter nursing.
Natalie Cekovich points to one word to describe the role of a certified nursing assistant (CNA): helper.
It sounds like a simple description – but her word choice actually speaks to the difference they make.
As a certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP), Cekovich, who also works as a professor of biology at Portage Learning, sees their impact each day. She explains CNAs:
- Provide essential hands-on care
- Build trust with patients
- Offer valuable insights to the broader team
And as the U.S. population ages and people’s needs grow, becoming one offers you the opportunity to meaningfully support patients and build valuable healthcare experience.
What Is a Certified Nursing Assistant?
Certified nursing assistants provide direct patient care in hospitals and other healthcare settings under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN).
It can be a good first job for those interested in a medical career because you develop skills needed for the field such as:
- Monitoring and reporting changes in someone’s condition
- Communicating with patient families and physicians
- Practicing empathy and compassion
- Following safety and infection-control procedures
What Does a CNA Do?
Certified nursing assistants serve as the primary caregiver for people staying in a hospital or a nursing or group home. Some of the tasks you may perform on a daily basis include:
- Measuring vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature
- Feeding patients and tracking their food and liquid intake
- Collecting and stocking medical supplies
- Caring for minor wounds
- Helping patients bathe, dress, and groom themselves
- Answering phone calls
- Getting patients in and out of beds or wheelchairs and transporting them
CNAs also act as the liaisons between patients and medical staff, notifying their care team of any abnormal changes.
Certified nursing assistants work within defined boundaries that vary by state. In most areas, you cannot administer medications, including over-the-counter drugs, or perform clinical assessments, such as making decisions about care. The RNs and LPNs you work under handle those responsibilities.
Is Being a Certified Nursing Assistant Stressful?
CNA work can be stressful.
You spend most shifts on your feet, lifting, turning, and transferring patients, and you deal with unexpected emergencies such as when:
- Someone falls and suffers a major injury
- A resident chokes during mealtime
- A patient becomes aggravated and begins attacking you or their roommate
A certified nursing assistant’s workload may also contribute to their stress level.
Not all states place staffing ratio requirements on CNAs, so depending on where you live, you could be responsible for caring for quite a few people.
For example, nursing homes in Florida must employ one certified nursing assistant for every 20 residents.
Requirements to Become a CNA
To become a CNA, follow these steps:
- Earn your high school diploma or GED
You must graduate from high school before enrolling in a certified nursing assistant program. - Complete a CNA program
Most programs last less than six months, and you can take them while in high school or through your local community college.
They include a combination of lectures, clinical experience, and tests. By the end, you’ll understand the following:
- Professional communication skills
- Healthcare regulations
- Collection and recording of patient information
- Emergency protocols, including CPR
- Basic medical terminology
- Become certified
Whether a certified nursing assistant needs a license depends on the laws of the state where they live.
Most require CNAs to pass a specific exam, known as the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program, to become certified.
It contains two parts, made up of a 60-70 multiple-choice question section and a demonstration component in which you must display your ability to perform certain skills related to patient care.
To meet the demands associated with working as a certified nursing assistant, you should be:
- Compassionate
- Dependable
- A critical thinker
- Observant
- A good listener
- Flexible
How Long Does It Take to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant?
Most CNA programs last between four to 12 weeks, but some span six months. The length of time depends on the state you live in and its training requirements.
CNA Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), full-time certified nursing assistants earned an average annual salary of $42,260 in 2025.
Those who worked in a federally run facility, such as a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, made slightly more than those who worked in a state- or privately-owned hospital or nursing or residential home.
Because these workplaces provide care at all hours, CNAs often work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Where Do Certified Nursing Assistants Work?
The largest employers of certified nursing assistants include the following, according to the BLS:
- Nursing care facilities: 36%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private: 32%
- Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities: 11%
- Home healthcare services: 5%
- Government facilities, excluding state, education, and locally run hospitals: 3%
CNAs vs. Licensed Practical Nurses vs. Registered Nurses
CNAs hold less education and clinical independence than LPNs and RNs. Here’s how they compare in four key areas.
Education
Certified nursing assistants: A state-approved certificate program, which takes several weeks to a few months to complete, plus a certification exam.
Licensed practical nurses: An accredited practical nursing diploma or certificate program, which can be finished in 12 to 18 months, plus passing the NCLEX-PN exam.
Registered nurses: An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which takes two to four years, plus passing the NCLEX-RN exam.
Scope of practice
Certified nursing assistants: Work under the direct supervision of an LPN or RN. Helps patients with daily living activities, such as bathing and eating and checks basic vital signs.
Licensed practical nurses: Work independently but reports complex findings to an RN. Provides primary care, including administering certain medications, changing dressings, and collecting samples.
Registered nurses: Work without supervision. Assesses patients, creates and coordinates care plans, and gives more complex medications and treatments.
Salary
Certified nursing assistants: Average yearly salary of $42,260.
Licensed practical nurses: Average yearly salary of $64,400.
Registered nurses: Average yearly salary of $97,550.
Career prospects
Certified nursing assistants: Limited advancement opportunities within the role, with most jobs available in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
Licensed practical nurses: Opportunities to work in a variety of healthcare settings and patient populations, such as in a physician’s office or pediatrics.
Registered nurses: Numerous career opportunities that can align with your interests and the ability to advance into leadership roles, such as nurse managers or nurse educators.
How Can a Certified Nursing Assistant Become an RN?
Although there may be limited opportunities to advance your career as a certified nursing assistant, many use the experience as a way to enter nursing.
“A lot of times, I see CNAs go into nursing because, let’s be honest, they’re doing the job of a nurse and aren’t getting paid for it,” Professor Cekovich states.
Here’s how you can become a registered nurse as a CNA:
- Gain CNA experience
Once you pass your certified nursing assistant program, secure a job.
Becoming one doesn’t necessarily shorten how long it takes to earn your ADN or BSN, but it teaches you the soft skills needed to be a nurse, strengthening your nursing school application – and allowing you to determine whether you should pursue another role in healthcare. - Finish nursing school prerequisites
You must take certain courses to get into an associate or bachelor’s degree nursing program.
Applicants enrolling as a freshman must complete high school algebra, precalculus, biology, and chemistry with a related lab.
Transfer students, including those who go back to college as an adult, will usually be asked to take the following courses:
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II with Lab
- Microbiology with Lab
- Developmental (Lifespan) Psychology
- Statistics
- English Composition
- General Chemistry I with Lab
Portage Learning, an accredited institution, specializes in healthcare prerequisites.
Its online, self-directed format allows you to affordably finish courses any time, from anywhere. Credits earned transfer to more than 2,800 colleges and universities across the country. - Obtain an ADN or BSN
Working as a certified nursing assistant while enrolled in an ADN or BSN program can be a great way to manage tuition costs.
Just be sure to manage your time well so you can maintain good grades and perform well in your clinicals. - Pass the NCLEX-RN
The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) determines whether recently graduated nursing students possess the knowledge needed to practice.
You must pass the standardized test to obtain your nursing license and start your career.
Other paths you can take after earning your CNA include:
- Continuing to work as a certified nursing assistant
- Pursuing licensed practical nursing education
- Exploring other healthcare career paths, such as occupational therapy or perfusion
Should I Become a Certified Nursing Assistant?
It’s difficult to imagine what a healthcare facility would be like without CNAs.
Who would:
- Provide essential hands-on care
- Build trust with patients, or
- Offer valuable insights to the broader team
A career as a certified nursing assistant can open the door to meaningful work while giving you valuable experience.
But beyond those opportunities lies the chance to be there for people when they need a helping hand most.
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