Compare costs, program lengths, and outcomes for online and nearby CNA training options available to Stafford residents.
Connecticut requires a minimum of 100 hours of state-approved training to earn a nursing assistant certificate, but Stafford residents searching for in-person CNA programs in Tolland County will encounter very few options. The handful of programs in the Hartford metro area often have waitlists tied to employer partners.
The need is real. Hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies throughout the Hartford region, including Stafford Springs, continue to struggle with staffing shortages, fueled by an aging population and high turnover in direct care roles.
For Stafford students, the most practical path often involves enrolling in an online CNA program that accommodates Connecticut’s curriculum standards, then arranging clinical hours at a local facility. That balancing act between flexibility and proximity defines the current training landscape here.
No state-approved CNA programs were found directly in Connecticut, so the following nationally available online programs allow Stafford students to complete didactic coursework remotely. Keep in mind that all programs require in-person clinical hours, which will need to be arranged locally, as covered later in this guide. These hybrid options offer a flexible starting point for Connecticut residents eager to enter the healthcare field.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Infinity College | Lafayette, LA | $0/yr (net price) | Two-week hybrid completers | |
Infinity College is a private career school in Louisiana offering a Nursing Assistant program that can be completed in just two weeks. The hybrid format includes evening classes and small group sizes, focusing on hands-on skills like infection control and personal care. The program includes an 80-hour externship, though state certification exam fees are separate.
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| #2 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay, WI | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | Credit-transferring degree seekers | |
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College offers an approved Nursing Assistant technical diploma with both classroom and clinical experiences. The program prepares students for the Wisconsin CNA exam and boasts a 91% graduate employment rate. Credits may transfer toward an associate degree at NWTC, and multiple campus locations provide scheduling flexibility for hybrid learners.
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| #3 | Odessa College | Odessa, TX | $3,000 – $5,000/yr | Budget-friendly accelerated trainees | |
Odessa College in Texas provides an accelerated 8-week Certified Nurse Aide program combining online theory with weekend clinical rotations. The total tuition of $1,900 covers textbooks, scrubs, and the state exam fee. Designed to meet Texas curriculum standards, it emphasizes compassionate elderly care and offers payment plan options for budget-conscious students.
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| #4 | Cloud County Community College | Concordia, KS | $12,000/yr (net price) | ||
Cloud County Community College in Kansas delivers a 90-hour Certified Nurse Aide course blending online learning with hands-on clinical sessions. The hybrid program prepares students for state certification and qualifies for military and financial aid. It focuses on essential patient care skills for employment in nursing homes and hospitals.
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| #5 | Pima Medical Institute-Aurora | Aurora, CO | $23,000/yr | ||
Pima Medical Institute's Aurora campus in Colorado offers a Nursing Assistant certificate program that can be finished in about six weeks. The on-campus curriculum includes clinical skills, infection control, and soft skills training. Graduates are eligible to take the CNA exam, and financial aid options such as Federal Pell Grants may be available.
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| #6 | Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | $11,000/yr | ||
Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin provides a fast-paced 81-hour Nursing Assistant technical diploma at a low total program cost of $445.15. The hybrid program includes a 27-hour clinical practicum and prepares students for state certification. Day and evening part-time classes are available across multiple campuses.
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| #7 | Brightpoint Community College | Chester, VA | $5,000 – $12,000/yr | ||
Brightpoint Community College in Virginia offers a Nurse Aide/Medication Aide Career Studies Certificate in a hybrid format. The program trains students in anatomy, safety, and medical documentation, with an internship for field experience. Eligible students may receive G3 tuition assistance, though this benefit is limited to Virginia residents.
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| #8 | Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire, WI | $12,000/yr (net price) | ||
Chippewa Valley Technical College in Wisconsin offers a Nursing Assistant technical diploma through face-to-face instruction that can be completed in 14 weeks or less. The program combines lecture, lab, and clinical practice, with an estimated total cost of $423. Credits earned can be applied toward a nursing associate degree at CVTC.
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| #9 | Victoria College | Victoria, TX | $3,000/yr (net price) | ||
Victoria College in Texas conducts a Nurse Aide program with a free online theory prerequisite followed by 50-60 clinical hours on campus. Tuition is $650, which includes a textbook. Completion qualifies students for the Texas Nurse Aide Registry Exam. Evening classes and two campus locations add scheduling convenience.
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| #10 | College of Western Idaho | Nampa, ID | ~$9,000/yr (est.) | ||
College of Western Idaho provides a 12-week Certified Nursing Assistant Preparation program at a cost of $945. The hybrid curriculum blends online instruction with in-person skills training and prepares students for the Idaho CNA certification exam. The program accepts applicants age 16 and older and is located at the Nampa Campus.
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How do you actually get certified as a nursing assistant in Connecticut? The path is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and follows a clear sequence: complete a state-approved training program, pass a competency exam, and get listed on the Nurse Aide Registry.
The foundation is a state-approved CNA program that delivers at least 100 total hours of instruction. These hours break down into a minimum of 75 hours of classroom or lab work and 25 hours of hands-on clinical practice. Before you even step into a clinical setting, the state mandates 16 hours of preclinical foundation training to cover infection control, safety, and basic patient communication. All programs must be coordinated by a registered nurse who has at least two years of nursing experience, including one year in a nursing home. Approved programs in the Stafford area, whether offered at community colleges, technical schools, or healthcare facilities, list their curriculum and schedules on their websites.1
After completing your training, you'll schedule the Connecticut Nurse Aide Competency Exam (CT-NACE), administered by Prometric. The exam has two parts. The written knowledge test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions; you need a score of at least 72% to pass. There is also an oral option available if you have difficulty reading English. The skills evaluation tests your ability to perform five randomly selected nursing assistant tasks under the observation of an evaluator. The initial exam fee is $118. If you need to retest, a written retake costs $45 and a skills retake costs $73. You get up to three attempts within a 24-month period. Testing takes place at designated Prometric locations across the state, including sites in the Hartford and Springfield regions that serve Stafford students.2
Once you pass both parts, your name is submitted to the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry, typically appearing within 48 hours. You must also pass a criminal background check, which the testing vendor or your training program will help initiate. Certification must be renewed every 24 months, and to be eligible for renewal you need to have worked at least eight hours in a nursing-related role during that period. The renewal application verifies your continued employment and good standing.
Not just any class counts: Connecticut requires that your training come from a DPH-approved provider. If you're considering an online CNA course, make sure it has a formal agreement with a Connecticut clinical site where you'll complete your 25 hours of hands-on training. The online theory portion can be very flexible, but the clinical hours must be in person. For a statewide list of approved programs and other details, visit the Connecticut CNA programs page on topnursing.org.
Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Connecticut follows a state-defined sequence to ensure competency and patient safety. Below are the key steps from enrollment to active registry listing.
CNA training in Connecticut typically runs from 5 to 12 weeks, depending on whether you attend full-time, part-time, or choose a self-paced format. The state requires a minimum of 100 hours of training, including classroom instruction and clinical practice. Full-time programs condense those hours into about 5–6 weeks, often meeting daily during the day. Part-time options spread the same coursework over 8–12 weeks, with classes scheduled two or three times per week to accommodate working adults.
Online and hybrid CNA programs add flexibility by moving the didactic portion online. Many allow you to complete theory modules at your own pace, which can shorten or lengthen your overall timeline depending on how quickly you move through the material. Once you finish the online component, you still need to attend in-person skills labs and a clinical externship.
Evening and weekend schedules are common in the Hartford/Tolland County area. For example, Northeast Medical Institute offers both day and evening cohorts, and CT State Community College provides hybrid options that blend online learning with on-campus sessions. These flexible formats make it easier to start training while balancing a job or family commitments.
The posted tuition for CNA training and the amount you actually pay after financial aid can differ significantly. Connecticut students have access to several funding sources that can reduce or even eliminate out-of-pocket costs, making it worth exploring all options before enrolling.
Online programs that accept Connecticut students show a wide spread in CNA program costs. In the rankings on this page, institution-wide net prices after aid range from under $300 to over $6,300, though these are averages for all students at the school, not specifically CNA certificate seekers. The actual outlay for a given CNA program may be lower or higher depending on program length, fees, and your aid eligibility. Many schools also offer payment plans to break up the cost into smaller installments.
Prospective students should start by checking with Stafford-area nursing facilities about free training opportunities, then explore WIOA and HCAP funding through the nearest American Job Center.
Figuring out whether to train online or in person often comes down to one tradeoff: flexibility versus hands-on experience.
Online CNA programs let you complete the classroom theory portion from home, on your own schedule. For Stafford students balancing work or family, that flexibility can make the difference. Many online options also cost less than traditional in-person classes and may open doors to programs based elsewhere in the state without a commute.
No matter how much of the coursework you complete online, the clinical training hours must be done in person at an approved nursing home or rest home under nursing supervision.1 This is where you practice the 25 required skills like taking vital signs and assisting with daily living. And you'll be evaluated on five of those skills during the state exam. So while the theory can happen via a screen, your time with real patients cannot be simulated.
Connecticut regulations do permit hybrid programs where the foundational 16 hours of theory (covering topics such as communication, residents' rights, infection control, and safety) are delivered online.1 However, the remaining 84-plus hours of skills lab and clinical training must take place at a licensed facility. No program in the state is fully online.2 If a private school charges tuition, it must also hold approval from the Connecticut Department of Public Health.1
All that adds up to a clear verdict: online convenience paired with mandatory in-person clinicals. For Stafford students, the smart move is to look for hybrid programs that minimize commute time while still meeting the state's 100-hour requirement.1 The right program balances the flexibility you need with the hands-on experience you'll depend on to pass the state exam and succeed on the job.
What can Stafford CNAs expect to earn, and where can they find work?
In the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Development Area, which includes Stafford, CNAs earned a median hourly wage of $18.37 in 2023, according to the Connecticut Department of Labor.1 This is nearly identical to the national median of $18.36 for nursing assistants that year.2
Local hourly wages ranged from $16.01 at the 10th percentile to $22.96 at the 90th percentile in 2023.1 The spread reflects differences between entry-level roles and positions requiring experience, additional certifications, or supervisory duties. Nationally, the lowest 10 percent earned $14.44 and the top 10 percent made $23.45 in 2023.2
Several facilities in and around Stafford regularly hire CNAs. Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford Springs is a major local employer and part of the Trinity Health Of New England network. Evergreen Health Care Center, also in Stafford Springs, provides skilled nursing and long-term care. Larger Hartford-area systems like Hartford HealthCare and Trinity Health Of New England operate hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living centers within commuting distance, offering a variety of CNA positions.
Nationally, the BLS projects that employment of nursing assistants will grow 4 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.2 Connecticut’s aging population is expected to increase demand for long-term care and home health services, making CNA jobs in the Stafford area relatively stable and widely available.
Prospective nursing assistants in Stafford Springs often have questions about program quality, local training options, and where to turn for reliable information. Below we address some of the most common inquiries, drawing on official state resources and regional employer practices.
