A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a healthcare professional who supports Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) in providing patient care. CNAs assist with essential daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and mobility.
Job Opportunities for CNAs:
Certified nursing assistants are eligible for positions in various healthcare facilities. Hospitals are the most common employer of nursing assistants, but CNAs are also commonly employed at specialty healthcare facilities such as cancer centers, children’s hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.
Some certified nursing assistants work in environments outside of healthcare facilities. Assisted living centers and nursing homes commonly hire nursing assistants. Some nursing assistants work as home health aides, providing care in a patient’s home.
Earnings Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that California has the highest CNA employment, with over 100,000 CNAs currently employed. California CNA wages can start at $42,000 per year, which is among the top 5% in the nation.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in California
Becoming a CNA in California involves three key steps:
1. Fulfill Training Requirements
- Be at least 16 years old
- Complete a minimum of 60 hours of classroom instruction
- Complete 100 hours of supervised clinical training
- Ensure that training is conducted at a state-approved facility or school. Bay area CNA school is a state approved CNA training facility. You can go to CDPH website and search for our school in Alameda county.
2. Undergo a Criminal Background Check
All candidates must pass a background check via the Live Scan fingerprinting process. Live scan must be done before start of your CNA training.
3. Pass the State Certification Exam
The certification exam includes two parts:
- Written exam
- Clinical skills evaluation
You must pass both exams within two years of completing your training. Otherwise, retraining is required. You’re allowed up to three attempts within the two-year period. You can take the state exam at any of the following state approved testing providers.
State-Approved Testing Providers:
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has approved the following testing providers:
🩺 Credentia Nurse Aide LLC
Offers testing at various Bay Area locations. Candidate Handbook
- Create an account: CNA365©
- Submit your electronic application and upload your CDPH 283B form
- Pay exam fees using a credit or debit card
- Select a testing date and location
- You’ll receive confirmation via email (a valid email address is required)
🩺 D&S Diversified Technologies – Headmaster, LLP
View test schedules at: ca.tmutest.com. They have testing center in Livermore, CA for bay area students. Click the “Test Dates” calendar for updated info.
Contact:
Phone: 800-393-8664
Email: California@hdmaster.com
Main site: HD Master California Nurse Aide Testing
🩺 Regional Testing Center (Southern California Students)
View exam schedules: Golden West College RTC
Start your application on their site.
Contact:
Phone: (714) 895-8708
Email: rtc@cccd.edu
To prepare for your CNA certification test, you can visit our Learning Resources page.