CNA Classes in California
CNA classes in California offer residents the opportunity to earn their certification and begin working as Certified Nurse Aides in just a matter of months.
Home to America’s largest healthcare system, “The Golden State” is expected to lead the nation in demand for new CNAs through the end of the decade. By starting your CNA training now, you can take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and launch your career in healthcare.
| Name | City | Address | Type | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platt College-Los Angeles | Alhambra | 1000 South Fremont Avenue, A10, Alhambra, California 91803 | 4-year, primarily associate’s, Private for-profit | 47% |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | 1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, California 93305-1299 | 2-year, Public | 18% |
| Beaumont Adult School | Beaumont | 1575 Cherry Ave, Beaumont, California 92223 | < 2-year, Public | 29% |
| West Coast Ultrasound Institute | Beverly Hills | 291 S La Cienega Blvd Ste 500, Beverly Hills, California 90211 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 72% |
| Palo Verde College | Blythe | One College Drive, Blythe, California 92225 | 2-year, Public | 20% |
| Summit College | Colton | 851 S. Cooley Dr, Colton, California 92324 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 70% |
| Mt Diablo Adult Education | Concord | Loma Vista Adult Center – 1266 San Carlos Avenue., Concord, California 94518-1199 | < 2-year, Public | 70% |
| Trinity Vocational Center | Gardena | 1149 W 190th St Ste 2000, Gardena, California 90248 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 100% |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | La Puente | 14101 E. Nelson Ave, La Puente, California 91746-0002 | < 2-year, Public | 80% |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | 4901 E. Carson St., Long Beach, California 90808-1706 | 2-year, Public | 18% |
| Angeles College | Los Angeles | 3440 Wilshire Blvd Ste 310, Los Angeles, California 90010 | 4-year, primarily associate’s, Private for-profit | 84% |
| Career Development Institute | Los Angeles | 1830 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90035 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 86% |
| Preferred College of Nursing-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 3424 Wilshire Blvd Ste 1100, Los Angeles, California 90010 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 70% |
| American Career College at St Francis | Lynwood | 3680 E. Imperial Highway, 5th Floor, Lynwood, California 90262 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | NA |
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto | 435 College Ave, Modesto, California 95350-5800 | 2-year, Public | 17% |
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | One Barnard Drive, Oceanside, California 92056-3899 | 2-year, Public | 27% |
| Butte College | Oroville | 3536 Butte Campus Drive, Oroville, California 95965-8399 | 2-year, Public | 29% |
| California Nurses Educational Institute | Palm Springs | 5200 E. Ramon Rd. Suite I-1, Palm Springs, California 92264 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 80% |
| InfoTech Career College | Paramount | 8527 Alondra Blvd, #174, Paramount, California 90723-5258 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 71% |
| Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program | Redlands | 1214 Indiana Ct, Redlands, California 92374 | < 2-year, Public | 80% |
| Riverside City College | Riverside | 4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, California 92506 | 2-year, Public | 25% |
| Riverside County Office of Education | Riverside | 9825 County Farm Road, Riverside, California 92503-3504 | < 2-year, Public | 81% |
| American River College | Sacramento | 4700 College Oak Dr, Sacramento, California 95841-4286 | 2-year, Public | 27% |
| Charles A Jones Career and Education Center | Sacramento | 5451 Lemon Hill Ave, Sacramento, California 95824-1529 | 2-year, Public | 83% |
| Kaplan College-San Diego | San Diego | 9055 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, California 92123 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 79% |
| WestMed College | San Jose | 3031 Tisch Way, 1st Floor, Ste 3PW, San Jose, California 95128-2541 | < 2-year, Private not-for-profit | 72% |
| Mission College | Santa Clara | 3000 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, California 95054-1897 | 2-year, Public | 28% |
| Medical Allied Career Center | Santa Fe Springs | 12631 East Imperial Highway Bldg D-108, Santa Fe Springs, California 90670-4710 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | NA |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | 915 S Mooney Blvd, Visalia, California 93277-2214 | 2-year, Public | 17% |
| Kaplan College-Vista | Vista | 2022 University Dr, Vista, California 92083-7736 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 79% |
| East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program | West Covina | 1501 W Del Norte St., West Covina, California 91790 | < 2-year, Public | 89% |
To become eligible to sit for the state’s certification exam, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) requires candidates to have proof of completion from a state-approved program consisting of at least 150 hours of training (100 of which must be in a clinical setting), and be at least 16 years old.
Students who have previously completed an accredited LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) or RN program in California are automatically eligible to challenge for CNA certification as well.
Maintaining Your Certification
Certified Nurse Aides in California are required to renew the certification every two years in order to remain listed in the California Certified Nurse Aide Registry. To be eligible for renewal, the CDPH requires applicants to have completed 48 hours of Continuing Education or In-Service Training since the last renewal date. Applicants who have not met this requirement must retest for certification.
Demand for Certified Nurse Aides in California is expected to outpace the national average. As the following table illustrates, the need for new CNAs is expected to rise by 21% through 2018.
| State | 2010 | 2020 | Percent Change | Projected Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 109,500 | 134,100 | 23% | 3,880 |
Source: CareerInfoNet.org
Per the latest official data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median CNA salary in California is approximately $27,600 per year. The table shown below dissects CNA pay within the state in more detail.
| Type | Bottom 10% | Bottom 25% | Median | Top 75% | Top 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Hourly | $9.98 | $11.43 | $13.56 | $16.58 | $20.40 |
| California Yearly | $20,800 | $23,800 | $28,200 | $34,500 | $42,400 |
Source: CareerInfoNet.org
Resources: California Department of Public Health, California Office of Administrative Law, National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA), Resources for Programs in California, Resources for Programs in San Diego, Resources for Programs in Sacramento, State by State Interactive Map, Guide to CNA Courses, FAQS, Resources for CNA Programs Online
Live in southern California? Visit our San Diego page to find programs near you.