Nursing Assistant (CNA) Schools in Salt Lake City, UT

Points of interest…

Utah requires at least 100 hours of approved CNA training.
Utah CNA Training Centers lists an all-in cost of $765.
Intermountain Health hires Salt Lake City CNAs in 2027.

CNA programs in Salt Lake City take weeks rather than the two to four years that nursing schools in Utah require, which makes certification one of the fastest ways into Wasatch Front healthcare.

Utah requires at least 100 hours in a state-approved program plus a state exam, but cost and format vary widely. One Murray provider's documented all-in total is $765, while employer-sponsored and hybrid routes can lower that figure or shorten the time in a classroom. Where you train shapes what you pay and how quickly you start working.

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Who Hires CNAs in Salt Lake City and What the Job Pays

After completing CNA programs in Utah, a certified nursing assistant in Salt Lake City works for one of a handful of employer types: hospital systems, skilled nursing and long-term care operators, home health agencies, and assisted living communities. Intermountain Health, which lists openings across more than 25 hospitals and 200 clinics, is generally described as Utah's largest CNA employer. University of Utah Health and MountainStar Healthcare also hire in the metro. Avalon Health Care Group runs facilities such as Spring Creek Healthcare Center and the William E. Christoffersen Salt Lake Veteran's Home.

What the Job Pays

BLS publishes May 2025 wage estimates for nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131) in the Salt Lake City-Murray metro and for Utah statewide.¹ Exact median hourly and annual figures are not published in the available data, so check the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics search for the current local-versus-state comparison.¹ Job postings are not the same as BLS medians, but they show the range employers are advertising:

Veterans home: $21.12 to $24.51 per hour at the William E. Christoffersen Salt Lake Veteran's Home.³
Rehabilitation: $19.00 to $25.00 per hour at Encompass Health in Sandy.⁴
Long-term care and home health: roughly $18 to $22 per hour at Avalon Health Care Group and Brighten Life Home Health.³
Private-duty home care: $16 to $19 per hour at BrightStar Care of Salt Lake City.⁵

How to Use This

Look at the setting: Postings from rehabilitation hospitals and state-run facilities tend to sit at the higher end of the ranges above.
Ask about differentials: Evening, night, and weekend shifts commonly carry extra pay in facility-based roles. Confirm the amount with each employer.
Search where demand clusters: Salt Lake City proper, Murray, West Valley City, and Sandy have dense healthcare employment, and Ogden and Provo-Orem are within commuting range.
Compare benefits: Hospital systems often add tuition help for certified nursing assistant programs and advancement paths, which can matter as much as the hourly rate.

Free, Employer-Sponsored, and Hybrid CNA Training Options

Paying full tuition out of pocket is no longer the only way into CNA work in the Salt Lake Valley. Employers, state workforce dollars, free CNA training programs, and blended course formats all lower the cost or the time commitment, but each comes with conditions worth checking first.

Employer-Sponsored Training

Long-term care operators are the most common source of sponsored training. Avalon Health Care (206 North 2100 West, Salt Lake City; 801-596-8844) runs day, evening, and online class options. Orchard's blended CNA course, based in Orem, totals 104 hours: 80 classroom hours plus 24 clinical hours. Large health systems such as Intermountain Health may also hire for entry-level roles, so ask their recruiters directly whether training support is currently offered. Before enrolling anywhere, ask:

Is tuition covered upfront or reimbursed after hire?
Is there a required work commitment, and what happens if you leave early?
Does the course fee include the state exam?

If you pay on your own and then take a job at a nursing facility, ask about Utah's reimbursement route, which works within a 120-day window. Confirm the exact terms with your employer.

Utah DWS and WIOA Funding

The Utah Department of Workforce Services administers WIOA training grants under three tracks:

Adults: 18 or older, authorized to work, and registered with Selective Service if required.
Youth: ages 16 to 24 who are out of school, or low-income and still in school.
Dislocated workers: laid off, receiving or done with unemployment, or formerly self-employed.

Apply online at jobs.utah.gov/career or visit a local DWS Employment Center. Funding only applies to programs on Utah's Eligible Training Provider List.

Online CNA Classes in Utah: What Is Allowed

Partly. Hybrid programs move theory online, but the required lab and clinical work still takes place at an approved facility, in person. One ccCNA hybrid format splits 100 hours into 50 online, 25 lab, and 25 clinical hours. Before you pay for any course marketed as fully online, confirm Utah has approved it. Unapproved courses will not qualify you for the state certification exam.

Breaking Down the All-in Cost of CNA Training

A current published price list from Utah CNA Training Centers in Murray shows $575 tuition, a $40 textbook, $40 for a blood-pressure cuff and stethoscope, and a $110 Utah state testing fee, for a documented subtotal of $765. Scrubs are purchased separately, and CPR/BLS and background-check costs are not listed, so a complete all-in total varies by school. The $110 testing fee is the fixed statewide exam cost, typically split as $55 written and $55 skills per attempt.

Bar chart showing documented CNA training subtotal of $765 at one Salt Lake City area provider.

Utah CNA Certification Snapshot

Top CNA Programs in the Salt Lake City Area

Below are the top CNA programs serving Salt Lake City students, ranked by graduation rate, retention, and student-faculty ratio. The list covers schools within roughly 75 miles of the city, reaching into Davis and Utah counties.

Factors considered

First-year retention rates
Student-to-faculty ratio
Tuition adjusted for regional cost
Accreditation and program approval
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	Davis Technical College	Kaysville, UT	$13,000/yr (est. net price)	North metro commuters seeking hybrid flexibility
Davis Technical College in Kaysville sits about 19 miles north of Salt Lake City, making it a practical commuting option for metro students. Its Nursing Assistant program combines in-class and remote learning, runs about two months, and keeps costs low at $547 for adults and $183 for high school students. The college reports a 66% retention rate and a 10-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, supporting a focused learning environment. Visit Website ACEN accredited Two-month completion timeline Hybrid format blends in-class and online work Adult tuition $547, high school $183 Earns 3 college credit hours Prepares for Utah Nursing Assistant Registry exam Open to students 16 and older Full-time and part-time schedules available
#2	Mountainland Technical College	Lehi, UT		Budget-conscious learners wanting all-inclusive pricing
Mountainland Technical College in Lehi is about 23 miles south of Salt Lake City, within normal commuting range for the metro area. Its campus-based Nursing Assistant program runs 2 to 4 months, costs a flat $755 including tuition, fees, and materials, and is tuition-free for high school students. The program includes 144 training hours with 24 clinical hours and reports strong completion and placement rates. Visit Website ACEN accredited 2-4 month program length $755 total cost covers tuition, fees, materials High school students attend tuition-free 144 total training hours with 24 clinical hours First Aid and CPR certifications included Eligible for Utah state certification exams Locations in Lehi, Provo, Payson, Heber Valley 91% completion rate and 77% placement rate
#3	Dixie Technical College	Saint George, UT
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#4	Bridgerland Technical College	Logan, UT	~$2,000/yr (est.)
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#5	Utah State University	Logan, UT	$9,000 – $25,000/yr (est.)
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#6	Southwest Technical College	Cedar City, UT
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#7	Snow College	Ephraim, UT	~$6,000/yr (est.)
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#8	Utah Tech University	Saint George, UT	$16,000/yr (est. net price)
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#9	Tooele Technical College	Tooele, UT
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Questions to Ask Yourself

Do you need an employer to cover your tuition, and can you commit to the work requirement that comes with it?

Employer-sponsored training at a nursing home or hospital system usually erases the upfront cost but ties you to that facility for a set period. If you leave early, you may owe the tuition back.

Can you clear your schedule for a full-day accelerated course, or do you need evenings and weekends?

Accelerated day cohorts finish in a few weeks but assume you are not working. Evening and weekend sections stretch the same hours across more calendar time, which protects your current paycheck.

Is CNA work the destination, or a stepping stone into a nursing program?

If you plan to apply to nursing programs at SLCC or Weber State, confirm the course satisfies their patient-care experience or prerequisite expectations before you pay for it.

Where are the clinical rotations actually held?

Classroom sessions and clinicals often sit at different addresses. A program near your home in the Salt Lake Valley is little help if the clinical site is a 40-minute drive during morning shift change.

Salt Lake City CNA Program FAQs

Quick answers to common questions about CNA training in Salt Lake City. Use these details as a starting point and confirm current rules with the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry.

There is no single best school for everyone. The programs ranked on this page stand out, but the right fit depends on your cost, schedule, and sponsorship needs. Compare tuition, class times, clinical location, and whether an employer will cover training at Nursing Schools in Salt Lake City before choosing.

Free training usually comes through two paths. Employers, including some healthcare systems, may sponsor CNA classes in exchange for a work commitment. The Utah Department of Workforce Services can also help eligible job seekers cover tuition. Check current funding or hiring incentives directly with the employer or workforce office.

Yes, if your certification is current and you are in good standing in another state.¹ Submit proof of that state certification to the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry. If your out-of-state certificate has expired, the Registry requires completing a Utah nurse aide training and competency evaluation program.

Renew your certification every 24 months. You must complete at least 200 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services under a licensed nurse in that period. A licensed nurse, HR representative, or administrator signs the renewal form. Late renewal is possible up to six months after expiration if requirements are met.

Nursing Assistant Schools in Salt Lake City: Costs, Hours & Options

Points of interest…