Nurse Aide Training Programs in Florida

Are you aware that in Florida you are not required to complete a nursing aide training program in order to challenge the CNA state exam? While most states require a person to first train in a state-approved nurse aide course and then sit for the examination, things are different in Florida. Some individuals may choose to study by themselves and when they feel ready they can challenge the nursing assistant test. If you are thinking of pursuing this route instead of formally training for your nurse aide career, then you need to know what others think of such a decision.

We have received feedback from nursing assistant program instructors, students enrolled in CNA classes, and experienced nurse assistants working in the field. Most of them agree that following a structured CNA course has many advantages over self study options. The most important aspect was the exposure to the clinical component of a CNA program. During clinical time students are exposed to real life environments and have to perform nurse aide skills on real clients. Self-study does not give you this exposure and therefore you may not be prepared for the realities of a CNA job. If you truly consider this path make sure you shadow a nurse aide so that you can observe first hand the duties and responsibilities of a CNA.

CNA Training Courses in Hillsborough County

American Red Cross - Tampa
217 North Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: (727) 251-0921

American Red Cross CNA Program - Tampa
716 Renellie Drive, Tampa, FL 33609
Phone: (727) 251-0921

Armwood High School CNA Training Program - Seffner
12000 US Highway 92, Seffner, Florida 33584
Phone: (813) 744-8040

Brandon Adult and Community Nurse Aide Program
1101 Victoria Street, Brandon, FL 33510
Phone: (813) 744-8131

Brandon High School C.N.A Course
1101 Victoria Street, Brandon, Florida 33510
Phone: (813) 744-8120

Brewster Technical Center - Tampa
2222 North Tampa Street, Tampa, Florida 33602
Phone: (813) 276-5448

Concorde Career Institute Nursing Assistant Course - Tampa
4202 West Spruce Street, Tampa, Florida 33607
Phone: (813) 874-0094

D.W. Waters Career Center Nursing Assistant Program - Tampa
2704 North Highland Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 233-2655

East Bay Adult Community School - Gibsonton
7710 Big Bend Road, Gibsonton, Florida 33534
Phone: (813) 672-5113

Erwin Technical Center Nurse Aide Training - Tampa
2010 East Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610
Phone: (813) 231-1800

Florida Medical Training Institue C.N.A. Class - Tampa
3611 West Hillsborough Blvd., Suite 216, Tampa, Florida 33614
Phone: (813) 871-3684

Florida School of Business - Tampa
4817 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33603
Phone: (813) 239-3334

Gaither High School Nurse Aide Course - Tampa
16200 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33618
Phone: (813) 975-7340

High Tech Erwin Center - Tampa
2010 East Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610
Phone: (813) 231-1800

Higher Level Medical Institute - Tampa
14404-06-08 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613
Phone: (813) 968-7999

Hillsborough Community College - Brandon Campus
10414 East Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL 33619
Phone: (813) 253-7982

Hillsborough Community College - Dale Mabry Campus
Tampa Bay Blvd. at Dale Mabry Highway, Box 30030, Tampa, Florida 33630
Phone: (813) 253-7982

Hillsborough County Bloomingdale High School - Valrico
1700 East Bloomingdale Avenue, Valrico, FL 33594
Phone: (813) 744-8018

Hillsborough County Alonso High School C.N.A. Class - Tampa
8302 Montague Street, Tampa, Florida 33635
Phone: (813) 356-1525

Hillsborough County Bowers-Whitley Career Center - Tampa
13609 North 22nd Street, Tampa, FL 33613
Phone: (813) 558-1750

Hillsborough County Simmons Career Center - Plant City
1202 Grant Street, Plant City, Florida 33563
Phone: (813) 707-7430

Hillsborough High School Nurse Aide Training Program - Tampa
5000 Central Avenue, Tampa, FL 33603
Phone: (813) 276-5620

Howard W. Blake High School CNA Course - Tampa
1701 North Boulevard, Tampa, Florida 33607
Phone: (813) 231-1886

JS and T Nursing Studies, Inc. - Seffner
1355 Parsons Avenue North, Seffner, Florida 33584
Phone: (813) 684-4498

Learey Technical Center - Tampa
5410 North 20th Street, Tampa, Florida 33610
Phone: (813) 231-1847

Leto Adult and Community School - Tampa
4409 West Sligh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614
Phone: (813) 356-1010

Leto High School Nurse Aide Program - Tampa
4409 West Sligh Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33614
Phone: (813) 872-5300

Metco Institute Nurse Aide Training Program - Tampa
4023 North Armenia Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: (813) 877-3775

Suncoast Institute of Technology, Inc. - Tampa
9340 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33612
Phone: (813) 793-5719

Plant City Adult and Community School C.N.A. Course
One Raider Place, Plant City, Florida 33563
Phone: (813) 757-9370

Plant City High School Nurse Aide Training Program
One Raider Place, Plant City, FL 33563
Phone: (813) 757-9370

Riverview High School Nurse Aide Training Program
11311 Boyette Road, Riverview, Florida 33569
Phone: (813) 671-5011

Tampa Bay Technical High School Academy of Health Professions
6410 Orient Road, Tampa, Florida 33610
Phone: (813) 744-8360

Tampa Bay Technical Center Nurse Aide Course
6410 Orient Road, Tampa, FL 33610
Phone: (813) 744-8360
Tampa Bay Technical Center also offers evening CNA classes.

Ultimate Medical Academy - Tampa
9309 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612
Phone: (727) 386-6350

Wharton High School Nurse Aide Training Program - Tampa
20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33647
Phone: (813) 631-4710

CNA Programs in Lake County

Career Training Institute Nurse Aide Course - Leesburg
101 West Main Street, Leesburg, Florida 34748
Phone: (904) 326-5134

East Ridge High School C.N.A. Class - Clermont
13322 Excalibur Road, Clermont, Florida 34711
Phone: (352) 242-2080

Lake Technical Center - Eustis
2001 Kurt Street, Eustis, Florida 32726
Phone: (352) 589-2250

Lake-Sumter Community College - Leesburg
9501 US Highway 441, Leesburg, FL 34788
Phone: (352) 365-3516

Lake-Sumter Community College Nurse Aide Course - South Lake
1250 North Hancock Road, Clermont, Florida 34711
Phone: (352) 243-5722

NTI-Nursing Assistant Training Holy Trinity Church - Fruitland Park
02201 Spring Lake Road, Fruitland Park, Florida 34731
Phone: (352) 323-9309

South Lake High School Nursing Assistant Training Program - Groveland
15600 Silver Eagle Road, Groveland, FL 34736
Phone: (352) 394-2100

VNA Carelink Healthcare Education - Clermont
151 East Minnehaha Avenue, Clermont, Florida 34711
Phone: (352) 394-2188

CNA Programs in Jackson County

Chipola College Nursing Assistant Course - Marianna
3094 Indian Circle, Marianna, FL 32446
Phone: (850) 526-2761

Nurse Assistant Programs in Martin County

Indian River State College - Chastain Campus
2400 SE Salerno Road, Stuart, Florida 34997
Phone: (772) 462-7570

Jensen Beach High School Nurse Aide Program
2875 Northwest Goldenrod Road, Jensen Beach, Florida 34957
Phone: (772) 232-3500

Martin County High School Adult and Community Education - Stuart
2801 South Kanner Highway, Stuart, Florida 34994
Phone: (772) 219-1800

South Fork High School Nurse Aide Program - Stuart
10205 Southwest Pratt and Whitney Road, Stuart, FL 34997
Phone: (772) 219-1840

Nurse Assistant Training Classes in Gadsden County

Gadsden Technical Institute Nursing Assistant Program - Quincy
201 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Quincy, FL 32351
Phone: (850) 875-8324

CNA Training Courses in St. Lucie County

CornerStone Institute at Garden City Elementary School - Fort Pierce
2202 Avenue Q, Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Phone: (772) 971-3686

First Step Learning Center, Inc. - Fort Pierce
1315 Delaware Avenue, Ft. Pierce, Florida 34950
Phone: (407) 947-8141

Indian River Community College Nursing Assistant Program - Fort Pierce
3209 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida 34981
Phone: (561) 462-4778

Keiser Career Institute - Port Saint Lucie
9436 South US 1, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
Phone: (954) 776-4476

Technical Outreach Program, Inc. - Ft. Pierce
1301 North 27th Street, Fort Pierce, Florida 34950
This CNA program is closed or currently inactive.

Treasure Coast High School - Port St. Lucie
1000 Southwest Darwin Blvd., Port St. Lucie, Florida 34953
Phone: (772) 807-4320

Treasure Coast Nurse Aide Training - Port St. Lucie
725 Southeast Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34983
Phone: (407) 340-3350

Webster College - Ft. Pierce
2192 North US 1, Bride Plaza, Fort Pierce, FL 34946
Phone: (407) 464-7474

Nurse Assistant Courses in Hardee County

Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation, Inc. - Wauchula
1962 Vandalah Road, Wauchula, Florida 33873
Phone: (863) 773-2857

Hardee Senior High School CNA Course - Wauchula
830 Altman Road South, Wauchula, Florida 33873
Phone: (863) 773-3181

CNA Training Classes in Nassau County

Fernandina Beach High School Nursing Assistant Course
435 Citrona Drive, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Phone: (904) 261-5713

Nursing Assistant Classes in Florida ( Page 5 )

Nurse Aide Training Classes in Florida

Florida CNA Training and Competency Evaluation Program Providers
Please select a Florida county from the table below to find nursing assistant training and competency evaluation program providers in your area.

Alachua County Baker County Bay County Bradford County
Brevard County Broward County Calhoun County Charlotte County
Citrus County Clay County Collier County Columbia County
DeSoto County Dixie County Duval County Escambia County
Flagler County Franklin County Gadsden County Gilchrist County
Glades County Gulf County Hamilton County Hardee County
Hendry County Hernando County Highlands County Hillsborough County
Holmes County Indian River County Jackson County Jefferson County
Lafayette County Lake County Lee County Leon County
Levy County Liberty County Madison County Manatee County
Marion County Martin County Miami-Dade County Monroe County
Nassau County Okaloosa County Okeechobee County Orange County
Osceola County Palm Beach County Pasco County Pinellas County
Polk County Putnam County Saint Johns County Saint Lucie County
Santa Rosa County Sarasota County Seminole County Sumter County
Suwannee County Taylor County Union County Volusia County
Wakulla County Walton County Washington County  

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.

CNA Training Schools and Programs

CNA classes, schools and programs by state.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions

A. Sanchez on July 6, 2009 at 09:17 PM
What do I have to do to transfer my CNA certification from Florida to Texas?


Rosa L. on July 12, 2009 at 10:24 AM
To transfer a CNA certification you need to qualify for reciprocity. Anyone who is currently listed on the CNA registry in a state other than Texas who wishes to transfer their credentials to Texas may do so through the process of reciprocity. Each applicant must complete and submit the reciprocity documents as outlined by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.


Am I required to attend a state-approved training program prior to testing for CNA in Florida?

Can I enroll in a CNA class without a high school diploma or GED?

How long do nursing assistant classes take to complete?

After becoming a CNA how much more training does it take to become an RN?

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?

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

Alaska Wyoming Oklahoma Washington DC Delaware Maryland Maryland Delaware New Jersey New Jersey Connecticut Connecticut Rhode Island Rhode Island Massachusetts Massachusetts Vermont New Hampshire Vermont New Hampshire Missouri Indiana Pennsylvania Alabama Maine New York West Virginia Wisconsin Ohio Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Louisiana Mississippi Florida Georgia Tennessee Illinois Michigan Michigan Minnesota Utah Kentucky Kansas South Dakota Arizona Idaho Washington State California Arkansas Texas Nebraska North Dakota Iowa Hawaii Nevada Oregon New Mexico Colorado Montana