Compare local cost, hybrid and evening formats, and free employer-funded training routes
How long does it take to become a CNA in St. Cloud? Minnesota requires a minimum of 75 training hours, so most central Minnesota programs finish in weeks, not semesters.
That speed is the draw. The complication is what sits around it: advertised tuition is separate from the state competency exam, the background study, and supplies, and employer-paid training at local senior care communities typically carries a work commitment with repayment terms. Demand holds steady across area hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, and home care, which keeps short-course training a reliable entry point into Minnesota's health care workforce.
Picking a first CNA job in St. Cloud means weighing pace against pay and predictability. A hospital floor, a nursing home, and a home care route each feel very different by the end of a shift.
The largest single employer is CentraCare's St. Cloud Hospital, the regional medical center for Central Minnesota. The St. Cloud VA Health Care System also employs nursing assistants. Beyond those two, nursing homes, assisted living communities, and home care agencies operate across the metro, including Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, and St. Joseph, with Little Falls a short drive north. CNAs willing to commute farther also find openings in Willmar and Monticello.
Minnesota DEED's Q1 2026 occupational estimates put the St. Cloud metro at about 1,580 nursing assistants, earning an average (mean) wage of $19.78 an hour.1 DEED does not report a median for the metro, so the fairest comparison is the statewide mean of $22.69 an hour across roughly 29,120 workers. The statewide median is $23.01.1 In a separate DEED estimate for the wider Central Minnesota region, the median is $22.57, and the middle half of earners fall between $19.35 and $23.65 an hour.1
DEED staff also noted that nursing assistant roles were among the Minnesota jobs that became easier to get hired into compared with the prior year.2
Hospital units tend to move faster and handle more acute patients. Long-term care builds relationships with residents over months, while home care offers more independence. Pay differs across these settings, so compare offers directly. Many local CNAs treat the job as a paid stepping stone toward LPN programs in St. Cloud or Nursing Schools in St. Cloud.
MDH-approved CNA programs in Minnesota must deliver at least 75 clock hours of training1, and at least 16 of those hours must be supervised practical training on a live person2. That second requirement is why you cannot qualify for the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry with a fully online CNA certificate.3 Classroom theory can move online. Hands-on skills cannot.
The state's curriculum standard pairs at least 59 hours of curriculum instruction with the 16 practical hours2, following the federal standard in 42 CFR 483.1523. Practical training takes place under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse4, in a skills lab, long-term care facility, assisted living facility, or hospital2. You perform care tasks on a real person, not just a mannequin. Site orientation and meal breaks don't count toward the practical minimum.
CNA programs labeled online or hybrid typically deliver theory in one of two ways:
MDH credits online study time only when the program's learning system tracks or records it.3 Untracked or self-reported study hours don't count toward the 75. Minnesota State's approved curriculum is built to work in hybrid courses.5
Evening and weekend cohorts are common for working adults, though schedules vary by provider. Before enrolling, confirm where and when lab and clinical hours happen. Convenient online theory can still come with daytime clinicals at a facility well outside St. Cloud.
The advertised tuition is rarely the full cost. Expect to pay separately for the Minnesota state competency exam, the Minnesota background study fee, scrubs or a uniform, textbooks or supplies, and any required TB test or CPR certification. A realistic all-in budget usually runs a few hundred dollars above the listed course fee, so ask each provider whether the exam fee is bundled into tuition before you compare bottom lines.
| Provider | Course Tuition | Training Hours | Format & Schedule | Exam Fee Included? | Other Required Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud Technical & Community College | $749.01 total for the 3-credit Nursing Assistant Course ($671.43 tuition plus $77.58 fees) | Not published | Not published | Not stated in published tuition-and-fees listing | Not stated in published listing |
| Scrubs Academy | Not published | Not published | Not published | No, Minnesota State Nursing Assistant Competency Exam is not included | Tuition includes textbook, supplies, and free open lab; background check not required to enroll |
Becoming a certified nursing assistant in Minnesota follows a clear, state-regulated sequence. The entire path from enrollment to registry listing is typically measured in weeks, not months. Here is what to expect at each step.
Below are the top nursing assistant schools serving St. Cloud students, ranked by completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. The list focuses on campuses within about a 75-mile radius of St. Cloud, so students can compare local options without sorting through schools elsewhere in Minnesota.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud, MN | ~$10,000/yr (est.) | St. Cloud locals seeking LPN pathway | |
SCTCC is the only campus in this ranking located inside St. Cloud, which makes it the most direct option for local students. Its 80-hour nursing assistant course combines 16 hours of classroom theory, 40 hours of lab and clinical practice, and 16 hours of supervised practical training. The program meets Minnesota state requirements, and the certification exam can be taken on campus. Completion also serves as a prerequisite for SCTCC's Practical Nursing pathway, creating a local CNA-to-LPN route. ACEN accredited
| |||||
| #2 | Ridgewater College | Willmar, MN | ~$10,000/yr (est.) | West-central Minnesota learners needing flexible start dates | |
Ridgewater College offers a five-week nursing assistant program with start dates throughout the year at its Willmar and Hutchinson campuses, both within commuting distance of St. Cloud. Students train in simulation labs and clinical settings, with small class sizes and attention to patient rights, legal considerations, and restorative care. The program is approved by the Minnesota Department of Health and prepares students for CNA certification. ACEN accredited
| |||||
| #3 | Alexandria Technical & Community College | Alexandria, MN | $14,000/yr (est. net price) | Alexandria-area learners focused on long-term care | |
Alexandria Technical & Community College runs an 84-hour, three-credit nursing assistant course that can be completed in four weeks. The state-approved program includes supervised lab practice and clinical experience in long-term care, and it also satisfies the prerequisite for the college's Practical Nursing program. The curriculum covers infection control, dementia care, communication, and emergency response.
| |||||
| #4 | Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park, MN | ~$10,000/yr (est.) | ||
Hennepin Technical College offers a hybrid nursing assistant certificate that combines online coursework with in-person skills practice and clinical hours. The program meets Minnesota's 75-hour training requirement and leads to CNA certification, with day classes starting in fall, spring, and summer. It is approved by the Minnesota Department of Health and can be used as a prerequisite for the Practical Nursing program.
| |||||
| #5 | Anoka Technical College | Anoka, MN | $17,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Anoka Technical College prepares students for both CNA and home health aide roles through supervised lab and clinical training. The certificate covers basic nursing skills, personal care, restorative services, mental health and social needs, and resident rights. Graduates are prepared to work in long-term care, hospitals, or home health agencies. ACEN accredited
| |||||
| #6 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls, MN | ~$13,000/yr (est.) | ||
| #7 | Riverland Community College | Austin, MN | $7,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
| #8 | Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls, MN | ~$14,000/yr (est.) | ||
| #9 | Northwest Technical College | Bemidji, MN | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
| #10 | Minnesota North College | Hibbing, MN | ~$10,000/yr (est.) | ||
These answers focus on Minnesota's rules for nursing assistant training, testing, and registry placement. Requirements can change, so confirm current details with the Minnesota Department of Health or your chosen program before enrolling.
