Points of interest…
- Tennessee requires 75 CNA training hours, including 16 supervised clinical hours.
- Vanderbilt, HCA/TriStar, and Ascension Saint Thomas hire Nashville CNAs.
- Credentia has run Tennessee's nurse aide exam since June 1, 2026.
Getting certified quickly in Nashville usually becomes a choice between paying for a short training program or accepting a free class tied to a work commitment. Tennessee sets a minimum of 75 hours for nurse aide training, so even fast-track programs run several weeks rather than a semester.
Local hiring leans toward hospital systems and long-term care operators, while state online-hybrid rules still require in-person clinical hours. Cost, scheduling, and exam readiness vary widely among the programs below.
Nashville's CNA Job Market: Who's Hiring and What It Pays
Where do CNAs actually find work in Nashville, and what does the job pay right now? The main hiring channels are hospital systems such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center, HCA/TriStar, and Ascension Saint Thomas, along with long-term care operators like NHC and a steady base of home health agencies.
Where the jobs are
Nashville's hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies all need nursing assistants, though pay and shift patterns vary by setting. Hospitals and larger health systems often operate their own training pipelines or tuition-reimbursement programs, while long-term care facilities and home health employers may hire new graduates of CNA programs in Tennessee more quickly. Pay can differ by employer type, with hospitals and nursing homes using different wage bands, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report setting-specific medians for this metro area.
What the data shows
The May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimate puts Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin metro employment at roughly 7,420 nursing assistants1, with a median annual wage of $39,5101. An earlier May 2023 estimate listed median hourly pay at $18.132. A separate Tennessee statewide comparison is not available in the data reviewed, so treat the metro figures as the clearest local benchmark for now. That employment count signals steady demand across the region.
Many CNAs use the role as a stepping stone to LPN programs in Nashville or RN tracks at Nashville-area employers, especially systems that offer tuition assistance for advancing credentials.
Can You Take CNA Classes Online in Tennessee?
Tennessee's Department of Health requires certified nursing assistant programs to include at least 75 total hours: 59 hours of classroom or theory instruction and 16 hours of supervised clinical training. The clinical portion must involve hands-on patient care, and the state rule requires an instructor to be present or readily available on site during all clinical hours. Some programs exceed these minimums, but the state floor is 75 hours.
An online-only CNA certificate cannot lead to Tennessee certification because that supervised clinical time cannot be completed remotely. A hybrid format may still work when the theory portion is delivered online as long as the required skills lab and clinical hours are done in person. The Department of Health has not issued a blanket ban on online classroom hours, but it also has not published a clear statewide rule approving every online theory format.
Before you pay, check the Tennessee approved nurse aide training program list to confirm any hybrid program you are considering, including those at nursing schools in Nashville, appears on that list. If a school claims all CNA hours can be finished from home, treat that as a red flag.
Free and Employer-Paid CNA Classes in Nashville
As staffing shortages persist across Tennessee's long-term care sector, more Nashville facilities are offering free CNA training programs in exchange for a commitment to work for them afterward.
How Employer-Sponsored Training Works
Several Nashville-area operators run "train-to-hire" programs that fold tuition and sometimes exam fees into the deal. CareRite Centers runs a three-week, in-person course on Wedgewood Avenue at no cost, with a one-year full-time work agreement attached; its next class starts April 6, 2026. NHC HealthCare advertises free training with exam fees covered, now in a two-week hybrid format, and expects graduates to accept work at one of its skilled-nursing facilities. Trevecca Center for Rehabilitation and Healing and Nashville Center for Rehabilitation & Healing are also reported as free or employer-paid routes.
Structures differ in important ways. Some programs pay you while you train; others fund the course but not your time in class. Mt. Pleasant Health & Rehabilitation, for example, pays Hospitality Aides from day one. Many attach a service period, and leaving early can trigger repayment of some or all training costs, though exact figures for Nashville facilities are rarely published up front.
Non-Employer Funding Routes
If you'd rather not sign a work agreement, WIOA funding through your local American Job Center and other Middle Tennessee workforce grants can cover tuition at approved providers.
One practical rule: get the work-commitment length and any repayment clause in writing before you sign anything.
Related Articles
The True Cost of CNA Training in Nashville
The figures below use the midpoint of typical Nashville-area cost ranges reported for 2026. Net price figures from ranked schools are institution-wide averages, not exact CNA quotes. WIOA funding or employer sponsorship can cover most of this total for eligible students.
Tennessee CNA Exam and Registry: From Classroom to Certified
Since June 1, 2026, Credentia has administered Tennessee's nurse aide testing, which uses the NNAAP Competency Examination. It has two parts: a knowledge test, offered in written or oral form, and a hands-on skills demonstration.
Fees and Retakes
The knowledge portion costs $35 and the skills portion $87, for $122 in total. Fees are paid when you schedule and are nonrefundable. The sources reviewed don't say whether any additional charges apply, so confirm the full cost when you register.
You get three attempts within two years of finishing training. If you fail only one portion, you can generally retake just that part. Sources differ on whether the three attempts apply to the exam as a whole or to each component, so check Credentia's current candidate guidance before you test. Once the two years pass, you must retrain before testing again.
Registry Placement and Timeline
After you pass both portions and meet all nursing licensure requirements, you are listed on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry. Score reports typically post within about 24 hours, and results are connected to registry placement automatically. Placement time is less clear. One 2026 estimate says 4 to 6 weeks, while another suggests about 10 business days, and official sources don't settle it.
A realistic plan is a few weeks of classes and clinicals, scheduling the exam, then up to several weeks for registry listing. Many employers want you listed before your first shift.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do you need to earn a paycheck while you train, or can you pay tuition upfront and keep your options open?
Employer-sponsored programs at nursing homes and hospitals may cover tuition and pay wages during training, but they tie you to that employer. Paying your own way costs more now and lets you apply anywhere once certified.
Can your schedule handle a 4-week accelerated daytime course, or do you need evening and weekend clinicals?
Fast-track daytime classes get you to the state exam sooner but are hard to fit around a full-time job or childcare. Evening and weekend formats take longer but let you keep earning.
Are you willing to commit to one nursing home for 6 to 12 months in exchange for free training?
Free CNA classes often come with a work agreement, and leaving early can mean repaying tuition. Read the contract for its length, shift expectations, and any payback clause before you sign.
Can you reach the program's clinical site from Antioch, Madison, or Hermitage during rush hour?
Clinical shifts often start early, and a site across town can mean a long crawl on I-24, I-40, or I-65. Map the drive or bus route at the actual start time before enrolling.
Approved CNA Programs Within Commuting Distance of Nashville
Verify the Program on the State List
Before you pay anyone, confirm the program is approved. The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission maintains a live database of approved nurse aide training programs, and only graduates of listed programs can test for the registry. Statewide, Tennessee counted 292 approved programs as of mid-20261, spread across long-term care facilities, high schools, vocational and technical schools, and private-for-profit centers. The state does not publish a simple county-by-county handout, so search the official database by location and match the exact provider name before enrolling.
Commute Zones Around Nashville
Training is available throughout Davidson County and the surrounding ring. Antioch, Madison, and Hermitage tend to lean toward private training centers and nursing-facility programs within the broader nursing programs in Tennessee. For community college or TCAT-style options, look toward Murfreesboro (Rutherford County), Franklin (Williamson County), and Clarksville (Montgomery County), where larger public institutions and nursing schools in Clarksville operate. Schedule formats vary widely: expect to see 4-week accelerated tracks, evening classes, and weekend cohorts built for people already working.
Ask About Pass Rates
Tennessee does not publish a reliable, program-by-program first-attempt pass rate you can look up. Because that data is not posted, ask each program directly for its most recent first-attempt pass rate on the state competency exam, and get the answer in writing before you commit.
Top-Ranked CNA Programs Serving Nashville Students
Below are the top-ranked CNA programs serving Nashville students, ranked by institutional completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. These campus-based programs prepare graduates for the Tennessee nurse aide exam.
Factors considered
- First-year retention rate
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Program accreditation and approval
- Net price after aid
- Clinical training hours
Data sources
- BEA state price parities, used to adjust tuition — bea.gov
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Program-level records maintained in house
- Original research on individual programs
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) — nces.ed.gov
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville | Huntsville, TN | ~$16,000/yr (est.) | Rural students seeking low-cost daytime training | |
The Nursing Aide program at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville prepares students for entry-level patient care roles. The 120-hour certificate combines 80 classroom hours with 40 clinical hours and covers patient care, safety protocols, and medical terminology. Total program cost is about $576 in tuition with textbooks near $179.
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| #2 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman | Harriman, TN | $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) | Working adults needing part-time evening classes | |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman offers a Certified Nursing Assistant program designed for students who need evening training. The 120-hour course blends classroom instruction with clinical experience and typically takes two months part-time. Tuition and fees total $1,249, with books and supplies adding about $324.
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| #3 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | $20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.) | Students wanting day or evening options | |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville provides a campus-based Nursing Aide program that can be completed in about two months. The 120-hour course costs $591 in tuition, with total estimated expenses around $850 including books and fees. Classes are offered during day and evening hours at multiple Knoxville-area locations.
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| #4 | Roane State Community College | Harriman, TN | $4,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Roane State Community College's Clinical Nurse Aid program is approved by the Tennessee Department of Health and prepares graduates for the state CNA exam. The 120-hour course includes classroom skills labs and 24 hours of supervised patient care. Students may qualify for tuition assistance through local workforce agencies.
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| #5 | Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN | $20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.) | ||
Southern Adventist University's Clinical Nurse Aide program trains students in patient care, vital signs, and infection control. The certificate takes about four to six months and costs $2,000, with payment plans available. Graduates may pursue roles in hospitals, nursing homes, and home health settings.
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| #6 | Walters State Community College | Morristown, TN | ~$5,000/yr (est.) | ||
Walters State Community College offers multiple Certified Nurse Assistant training options through its Allied Health Training division. One program provides career-focused healthcare training in partnership with local providers, while a separate non-credit option includes a $899 program fee and 35 clinical hours.
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| #7 | Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | $24,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga offers a hands-on Certified Nursing Assistant program that can be finished in five weeks. The 120-hour campus program covers patient safety, medical terminology, and ethical responsibilities, with rolling admissions every five weeks. Career services and financial aid are available.
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Nashville CNA Training FAQs
In Tennessee, becoming a CNA requires completing a state-approved nurse aide training program and passing the state competency evaluation.1 Timeline varies by schedule: full-time Nashville programs may take as few as 2 weeks, while part-time options take longer. Always confirm the program is approved by the Tennessee Department of Health before enrolling.
Yes, 4-week CNA classes in Nashville can be legitimate if the program is approved by the Tennessee Department of Health and meets the state's minimum classroom and clinical hour requirements.2 Accelerated scheduling is allowed, but always verify approval status directly with the department before you enroll.
Tennessee accepts reciprocity from all states except Florida if your out-of-state certification is active, in good standing, and free of abuse findings.1 Apply online through Credentia. Florida-certified aides must complete Tennessee-approved training and pass the Tennessee competency evaluation. Processing times and fees vary, so check the Tennessee Department of Health website.
Tennessee CNA certification is valid for 24 months and renews every two years. You must document at least 8 paid nurse aide hours in a qualifying setting during the renewal period. Hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies qualify; private-duty, volunteer, and companion work do not. Use pay stubs, payroll printouts, or a notarized attestation.1
