CNA Training Programs in California

Do you want to work in the health care field? Are you wondering if nursing is the right career path for you? An inexpensive way to find out if you enjoy caring for people who are sick, convalescent, disabled, or elderly is to complete a certified nursing assistant program. Becoming a nurse aide gives you a clear picture of what your future work environment looks like and will help determine if you wish to spend additional time and money to obtain a nursing degree. CNA training classes in Oakland, California are currently open for enrollment at the Quest Nursing Education Center. This private nurse aide school has been approved by both the California Department of Public Health and the Aide and Technician Certification Services to conduct nursing assistant courses. Certification programs may last between four to six weeks and courses prepare nurse aide trainees to pass the California CNA examination.

How many training hours are included in the nursing assistant program? Students are required to complete one hundred and sixty (160) hours of theoretical and clinical instruction. The cost of the CNA course is $950 including the application fee, textbooks, and other course materials. Prospective nursing assistant students are encouraged to fill out and submit an application to reserve their class seat. Unlike a community college which requires that applicants possess a high school diploma or GED, the Quest Nursing Education Center allows students to enroll as long as they are sixteen years old and have an unencumbered background record. Nurse aide graduates qualify to sit for the state of California CNA exam. Successfully passing this test grants a two year certification and the right to practice as a nurse aide in California.

Non-Facility Based CNA Courses in Santa Barbara County

Allan Hancock College South CNA Course - Santa Maria
800 South College Drive, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 922-6966

Allan Hancock College Nurse Aide Course - Lompoc Campus
800 South College Drive, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 922-6966

Allan Hancock College - Santa Maria
800 South College Drive, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 922-6966
Allan Hancock College also offers evening and weekend nursing assistant classes.

Lompoc Unified Adult School Nurse Aide Training Program
515 West Avenue, Lompoc, California 93436
Phone: (805) 735-8973

Santa Barbara City College Nurse Aide Course
721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Phone: (805) 965-0581

Facility-Based CNA Classes in Santa Barbara County

Buena Vista Care Center Nursing Assistant Program - Santa Barbara
160 South Patterson Avenue, Santa Barbara, California 93111
Phone: (805) 964-4871

Casa Dorinda C.N.A. Course - Santa Barbara
300 Hot Springs Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Phone: (805) 969-8051

Country Oaks Care Center Nurse Aide Training - Santa Maria
830 East Chapel Street, Santa Maria, California 93454
Phone: (805) 922-6657

Goleta Valley Community Hospital - Santa Barbara
351 South Patterson Avenue, Santa Barbara, California 93111
Phone: (805) 967-3411

Hillside House C.N.A. Course - Santa Barbara
1235 Veronica Springs Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 687-0788

Lompoc Convalescent Care CNA Training Course
216 North 3rd Street, Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 736-3466

Lompoc Skilled and Rehabilitation Center
1428 West North Avenue, Lompoc, California 93436
Phone: (805) 735-4010

Mission Terrace Nursing Assistant Course - Santa Barbara
623 West Junipero, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 682-7443

Marian Extended Care - Santa Maria
1530 Cypress Way, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 925-7747

Santa Maria Care Center
820 West Cook Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 925-8877

Sycamore Santa Barbara C.N.A. Course
2225 De La Vina Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 682-1355

Santa Ynez Valley Recovery Residence - Solvang
636 Atterdog Road, Solvang, CA 93463
Phone: (805) 688-5645

Samarkand Health Care - Santa Barbara
2566 Treasure Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 687-0701

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Pueblo at Bath Street,Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 682-7111

Senior Living Concepts - Santa Barbara
3880 Via Lucero, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Phone: (805) 687-6651

The Rehab Institute at Santa Barbara
427 Camino Del Remedio, Santa Barbara, California 93110
Phone: (805) 964-9640

Villa Maria Care Center Nurse Aide Course - Santa Maria
425 East Barcellus Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 922-3558

Vista Del Monte - Santa Barbara
3775 Del Modoc Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 682-1101

Valle Verde Health Center - Santa Barbara
900 Calle De Los Amigos, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 687-1566

Non-Facility Based CNA Programs in San Luis Obispo County

Cuesta Colleges Nurse Aide Program - San Luis Obispo
P.O. Box 8106, San Luis Obispo, California 93403
Phone: (805) 546-3241

Facility Based CNA Courses in San Luis Obispo County

Arroyo Grande Care Center Nurse Aide Course
1212 Farroll Avenue, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Phone: (805) 489-8137

Arroyo Grande Community Hospital
345 South Halcyon Road, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Phone: (805) 489-4261

Bayside Care Center Nursing Assistant Course - Morro Bay
1405 Teresa Drive, Morro Bay, California 93442
Phone: (805) 772-2237

Cabrillo Care Center CNA Training Program - San Luis Obispo
3033 Augusta Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Phone: (805) 544-5100

Casa De Vida - San Luis Obispo
879 Mienecke Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93405
Phone: (805) 544-5332

Country Care Convalescent CNA Course - Atascadero
14900 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422
Phone: (805) 466-0282

Danish Care Center Nurse Aide Course - Atascadero
10805 El Camino Real, Atascadero, California 93423
Phone: (805) 466-9254

De Groot's Nursing Home for Children C.N.A. Class - San Luis Obispo
1015 Buchon Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Phone: (805) 543-7663

Mission View Health Center CNA Program - San Luis Obispo
1425 Woodside Drive, San Luis Obispo, California 93401
Phone: (805) 543-0210

San Luis Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - San Luis Obispo
1575 Bishop Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93401
Phone: (805) 545-7575

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center - San Luis Obispo
1010 Murray Avenue, San Luis Obispo, California 93405
Phone: (805) 546-7600

Vineyard Hills Health Center Nurse Aide Training Program - Templeton
290 Heather Court, Templeton, CA 93465
Phone: (805) 434-3035

CNA Programs in Lassen, Shasta, Modoc and Trinity Counties, California

Nursing assistant programs prepare individuals for challenging the nurse aide certification exam and for entry level positions in health care environments. Each state has the authority to decide how many hours of training a nursing assistant course must consist of, as long as the minimum federal requirement of seventy-five hours is met. Students interested in attending CNA classes have a wide array of choices when it comes to selecting a training facility.

Nursing assistant courses are conducted at nursing homes, vocational schools, private schools, and community colleges. Program length, admission requirements, and cost of training vary depending on the policies of every training facility. Several states have implemented legislation which requires licensed long-term care facilities to reimburse CNA employees for the costs associated with training. An individual who has paid for nursing assistant training classes and who becomes employed by a nursing home within a year of obtaining certification, is eligible for financial reimbursement. Compared to other training programs in the health care field, nursing assistant classes are relatively short and inexpensive. Obtaining state certification as a CNA is the main requirement for securing a nurse aide job at a nursing home, hospital, rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility.

Nurse Aide Training Programs in California

California Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program Providers
Please select a California region from the maps below to find nurse aide training and competency evaluation program providers in your area.

CNA Programs in Northern California. CNA Programs in Southern California.

Select a county on the maps above or a county name from the list below to see a list of nurse aide training and competency evaluation program providers in your area.

CNA Training Schools and Programs

CNA classes, schools and programs by state.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions

Hailee S.on September 10, 2014 at 01:10 PM
I am really interested in becoming a certified nursing assistant. I am in the military and we go out to sea continuously. I do not have too much time to actually attend a program until next year. Who offers online CNA classes?


Admin on September 10, 2014 at 02:37 PM
Certified nursing assistant courses have both classroom and clinical instruction components. While you might be able to complete the theoretical component through an online course, the hands-on clinical training must be conducted at a facility such as a nursing home or hospital. Even if you find a program which offers online courses for the theoretical portion of the class, you still have to be present for on-site clinical training in order to complete the course. Even though you might have to wait a year until you are able to enroll and complete a nursing assistant training class, you still have the opportunity to decide on a particular school in the state where you are stationed in next. If you want to go further, contact the school and ask which textbook they use for their CNA classes. Purchasing the book and studying when you have time will prepare you for the class as well as for the state exam. Good luck!


How do I sign up for CNA training?

How long does it take to get a CNA certificate?

Do you have any advice for someone having to go to a CNA job interview?

Is it better to become a CNA or a LVN?

I am a pre-nursing student. Is there any benefit in becoming a CNA before going to nursing school?

CNA Resources

CNA Training Requirements

There is a wide disparity between CNA training requirements among the states. The difference lies in the mandatory number of total training hours necessary to complete state-approved CNA classes.


While according to federal law each nursing assistant course should contain a minimum of seventy-five (75) instruction and clinical hours, individual states have the liberty to mandate extra training requirements for certified nursing assistants. The majority of states exceed the threshold federal minimum requirements for nurse aide training programs because they are considered insufficient to result in an optimal and safe level of care for clients.


A review of nationwide state requirements for nurse assistant courses has found that the following states have mandated highest number of CNA program hours: Maine with a minimum of 90 hours of theory, 20 hours of laboratory skills and 70 hours of clinical instruction for a total of 180 hours; California with one hundred and sixty (160) training hours; Delaware and Oregon each requiring one hundred and fifty (150) hours; followed by the state of Alaska with one hundred and forty (140) hours; Virginia, Arizona, and West Virginia have a minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) training hours for state-approved classes.

CNA Training Programs

Nurse Aide Registries

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