Becoming a certified nursing assistant in New York requires completing a state-approved training program of at least 100 clock hours — 70 hours of classroom and lab instruction plus 30 hours of supervised clinical work with nursing home residents — then passing a two-part competency exam, according to New York State Department of Health guidance on nurse aide training and certification.
How many training hours does New York require?
New York's 100-hour minimum exceeds the federal floor set for nurse aide training under Medicare and Medicaid rules, which some states meet with as few as 75 hours. The state's New York State Department of Health guidance on nurse aide training and certification breaks the requirement into two pieces: a minimum of 70 hours of classroom and skills-lab instruction, and 30 hours of supervised clinical training performed with residents inside a licensed nursing home, under an instructor's direct oversight.
| Training component | Minimum hours | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom and skills lab | 70 hours | Approved training program |
| Supervised clinical training | 30 hours | Licensed nursing home, with residents |
| Total | 100 hours | — |
Trainees may not begin clinical work until they have received prior classroom instruction and demonstrated the required skills and knowledge under an instructor's supervision, per the New York State Education Department, which jointly approves nurse aide programs alongside the health department.
What does the competency exam involve?
After training, candidates take a two-part exam — a hands-on clinical skills test and a written test, which can be administered orally — through the state's third-party testing vendor, Prometric. State guidance gives trainees three attempts to pass the clinical skills portion and, separately, three attempts to pass the written portion.
The exam has to be scheduled within 10 days of a trainee's last day of training, and the health department's guidance sets an outer limit: anyone who has not passed both parts within three attempts, or within 120 days of their first day of training, can no longer work as a nurse aide trainee and must restart the process.
Who approves CNA training programs in New York?
Nurse aide programs need joint sign-off from the New York State Education Department and the Department of Health, and program approval itself is time-limited — the education department's program guidance describes approvals running in two-year cycles. Programs must combine a health-sciences core curriculum with nurse-assisting content and clinical placements backed by written agreements with a healthcare facility, per New York State Education Department guidance.
What happens after the exam?
Passing both parts of the exam gets a candidate listed on the New York State Nurse Aide Registry as a certified nurse aide, per Department of Health guidance to nursing homes. The registry also records any substantiated findings of resident abuse or neglect and criminal convictions tied to an aide, and employers and consumers can check certification status through the registry by phone or through the state's online lookup tool.
Certification does not end training. State guidance to nursing homes requires facilities to give each certified nurse aide a performance review at least once every 12 months and to provide at least 12 hours of in-service education in every 12-month period to keep skills current.
How much do nursing assistants earn?
Nationally, nursing assistants had a median annual wage of $39,530 in 2024, or $18.96 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency does not break out a New York-specific figure on its public occupational summary page, so New York pay should be treated as likely to differ — often higher in the New York City metro area, where healthcare wages generally run above the national median, and lower in some upstate labor markets — until a state-level figure is confirmed.
Where is CNA training offered?
Nationally, nurse aide training is commonly offered through high schools, community colleges, vocational schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. New York's programs follow that same general pattern: the state education department's guidance describes approved programs run by schools and healthcare facilities, each requiring written clinical-affiliation agreements with a nursing home before students can begin supervised patient care.
Because program approval runs on a defined cycle rather than indefinitely, a program that trained aides last year is not guaranteed to still hold current approval. State guidance directs prospective trainees to confirm a program's approval status with the New York State Education Department or Department of Health before enrolling, rather than assuming any listing found online is current.
What is the job outlook for nursing assistants?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nursing assistant and orderly employment will grow 2% from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations, with about 211,800 openings projected each year nationally over that decade — the agency attributes most of that turnover to workers leaving the occupation or the labor force rather than to net job growth. The bureau's occupational outlook entry, last updated August 28, 2025, notes that a state-issued license or certification following a state-approved training program and competency exam is required to work as a nursing assistant, which is the credential New York's CNA process produces.
This article provides information about a licensing and training pathway; it is not career or legal advice, and requirements can change. Prospective trainees should confirm current program approval status, fees, and exam scheduling directly with the New York State Department of Health or a specific approved training program before enrolling.
For a related careers perspective, read How to become a certified nursing assistant in New York.
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