There are no federal regulations stating that individuals are required to have a high school diploma prior to attending nurse aide classes, however, some states such as Florida require a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to testing if you are under 18 years old and have not attended a training program. A program coordinator at the school or nursing facility offering CNA training classes may tell you if a high school diploma or equivalent (GED) is required in your state so that you can enroll in the nurse aide program. Some facilities do not require a diploma as long as you have completed a 10th grade high school education. In the state of Texas a high school diploma or a GED is not necessary in order to attend and complete a nursing assistant program.