How to become a certified nursing assistant in New York — Careers

Becoming a certified nursing assistant in New York requires a 100-hour, state-approved training program — split between classroom instruction and supervised clinical work — followed by a two-part competency exam, according to New York State Department of Health guidance governing nurse aide training programs. The credential is required before working in a licensed nursing home in the state.

The path is shorter than most licensed health professions, which is part of why the role is often a first job in the field. But the training hours, exam structure, and deadlines are set by state regulation, not by individual employers, and missing a deadline can mean starting over.

How long is CNA training in New York?

State-approved nurse aide training programs (NATPs) must provide a minimum of 100 clock hours: at least 70 hours of classroom and lab instruction plus 30 hours of supervised clinical training with residents in a nursing home, the New York State Department of Health's guide to nurse aide training programs and certification states. That exceeds the 75-hour federal minimum set for nurse aide programs nationally.

Programs can be approved through two different routes, per the same Department of Health guidance: the Department of Health approves programs run by nursing homes, other health care entities, or community organizations that do not charge tuition, while the State Education Department approves programs offered by schools or colleges that charge fees. The State Education Department's career and technical education office confirms it co-administers nurse assisting program approval with the Department of Health and requires SED-conducted site visits to renew a program's approval every two years.

How do you get certified after training?

Graduates of an approved program must pass a two-part competency exam — a hands-on Clinical Skills Test and a Written Test — administered by the testing vendor Prometric under contract with the state, according to the Department of Health's training program guidance. Passing both parts results in a CNA credential and an entry in the New York State Nurse Aide Registry, the state's official list of certified aides.

Employers are required to check that registry before hiring or assigning any nurse aide, the Department of Health's registry guidance states, and the registry also documents any finding of resident abuse, neglect, mistreatment, or misappropriation of property sustained against an aide under state public health law.

What happens if a candidate doesn't pass in time?

The state gives candidates three attempts to pass the Clinical Skills Test and three attempts to pass the Written Test, and the exam must be scheduled within 10 days of finishing the program, per the Department of Health's guidance. A candidate who has not passed within three attempts, or within 120 days of the first day of training or employment, can no longer work as a nurse aide trainee under state rules — a hard deadline that pushes candidates back to square one with a new program.

How much do certified nursing assistants make in New York?

Nursing assistants working in New York earned a mean annual wage of $46,020 as of May 2023, above the national mean, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, which counted about 84,550 nursing assistants employed statewide that period. Nationally, nursing assistants had a median annual wage of $39,530 — $18.96 an hour — as of May 2024, the most recent period in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Pay varies by setting and region within the state, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not break the New York figure into hourly or median terms at the state level, only the mean shown above. Neither figure is a guarantee of what any individual employer pays; job seekers should confirm current pay ranges directly with employers.

Where do New York's CNAs work, and how many get certified each year?

New York's Department of Labor, drawing on Department of Health licensing data, reported 41,093 nurse aide certificates issued statewide in the 12 months ending September 30, 2020, and 82,124 active certificates on the registry as of that date — the most recent breakdown the department has published on its occupational licensing pages. Those figures predate the pandemic-era staffing swings in nursing homes, so current registry totals may differ; the state's Nurse Aide Registry office can confirm current, active counts.

Nursing assistants in New York work mainly in nursing homes, where state certification is required, though similarly trained aides also work in hospitals, assisted living, and home care under related but separate credentialing rules not covered by the nurse aide program described here.

What is the job outlook for nursing assistants?

Employment of nursing assistants and orderlies nationally is projected to grow 2% from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook projects. That is a national figure, not a New York-specific forecast, and it reflects the bureau's own methodology rather than any single employer's hiring plans; the bureau counted about 1.5 million nursing assistant jobs nationally in 2024.

This article is informational and does not constitute career or legal advice. Training program hours, exam rules, and registry procedures are set by New York State and can change; candidates should confirm current requirements directly with the New York State Department of Health's Nurse Aide Registry office or an approved training program before enrolling.

For a related careers perspective, read How to become a certified nursing assistant in New York.