Points of interest…
- Florida requires 120 hours of Board-approved CNA training with clinicals.
- Palm Beach State's 165-hour program costs about $1,427 before the state exam.
- Nursing homes cannot charge employed trainees for CNA training.
Florida does not permit a fully online CNA certificate, which rules out the "self-paced, finish-in-days" ads but still leaves a real choice for those weighing nursing career paths: a hybrid program that moves theory online and clinicals in person, versus a traditional classroom course. Both end at the same Prometric exam, and both can be done for roughly $1,400 out of pocket, or free if a nursing home hires you first.
The programs below are pulled from federal data within a 75-mile radius of Boynton Beach , where you can also compare nursing schools in Boynton Beach , reaching Delray Beach, Lake Worth Beach, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Fort Lauderdale. Cost and clinical scheduling tend to decide more than reputation does.
Where Boynton Beach CNAs Work: Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Home Health
A CNA in southern Palm Beach County, one of the regions served by CNA programs in Florida, is a hands-on care worker who helps patients and residents with bathing, dressing, eating, and moving around while a nurse directs the clinical side. Florida CNAs also take vital signs and assist with mobility and transfers, but they work under nurse supervision and do not make care decisions.
Employers cluster around Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Lake Worth Beach, and Boca Raton. Baptist Health Bethesda Hospital in Boynton Beach has listed Clinical Partner CNA roles in 2026, including a 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. shift with a $4,000 bonus.1
Long-term care is the larger pool. Terraces of Lake Worth Care Center, Isles of Boynton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center ($17.50 an hour in one listing),2 The Club at Boynton Beach, and Boca Pointe Center for Rehabilitation and Healing have all posted openings. Boca Pointe listed day and overnight shifts, with one posting offering up to $27 an hour plus health benefits and 401(k) matching.34 Home health agencies such as BrightStar Care of Delray Beach, Right at Home Boca Raton, and Star Multi Care Services recruit too, often starting around $16 an hour.23
What the Postings Show About Demand
Current listings across these cities include full-time, part-time, overnight, weekend, and immediate openings.52 One countywide posting sought multiple hires for shifts up to 12 hours.4 Some roles prefer experience, such as a Lake Worth skilled nursing listing asking for two to three years.6
Ask facilities directly whether they hire CNA trainees or reimburse training costs. Several local employers do, which leads into the free CNA training programs and funded options below.
Online, Hybrid, and 4-Week CNA Classes: What Florida Actually Allows
Plenty of ads promise a "fully online" CNA certification, but Florida does not permit one, and knowing why can save you money and disappointment.
What Can and Cannot Go Online
Florida's approved CNA training programs run 120 hours: 80 hours of classroom theory and 40 hours of hands-on clinical practice. A school can move much of the theory portion online or into a hybrid format, so you may complete lectures and reading from home. The clinical hours cannot. At least 20 of those 40 hours must happen in person at a licensed nursing home or long-term care facility, with 16 hours under direct RN supervision across at least two shifts. Simulated labs do not substitute. Anyone promising a diploma earned entirely from your laptop is selling something Florida won't recognize.
Among the programs below, every listed option is campus-based or hybrid, meaning in-person attendance is part of the deal regardless of how the theory is delivered.
About Those 4-Week Classes
Accelerated schedules advertised around West Palm Beach (often 2 to 6 weeks) compress the calendar, not the curriculum. A "4-week" course simply packs the same 120 hours into daily or full-time sessions. The total hours never shrink.
Before enrolling in any hybrid or accelerated program, ask one question: where and when do the clinicals happen, and is that facility within commuting distance of Boynton Beach?
The Real Cost of Becoming a CNA Near Boynton Beach
Using Palm Beach State College's 165-hour program as a representative example, the typical out-of-pocket total before the state exam is about $1,427. The Florida Prometric exam fee is paid separately and is not shown above; ask each program which costs are bundled into tuition.
Free and Funded CNA Training in Palm Beach County
Federal rules bar nursing homes from charging a CNA trainee for training or testing if the person is employed by, or has an offer from, the facility when the course begins.2 That is why most genuinely free CNA classes in Palm Beach County run through an employer or a workforce grant.
Main Routes to Low-Cost Training
- CareerSource Palm Beach County Training Opportunities: Funding comes through WIOA and only applies to programs on the eligible training-provider list. Adults 18 and older, dislocated workers (laid off, unemployed, or formerly self-employed), and youth ages 16 to 24 may qualify.1 Applicants register through Employ Florida and bring documents such as a driver's license, Social Security card, and pay stubs. Income limits and award amounts are not published, so confirm them directly.
- Employer-sponsored training: Some nursing homes hire you first and cover certification training while you work there, as described in the CMS Nursing Home Careers Overview.
- Reimbursement after hire: If you trained elsewhere and a facility hires you within 12 months of finishing, it may reimburse eligible costs.3 Ask about this in interviews. Facilities cannot require you to work six months to a year first.4
About "Free CNA Classes West Palm Beach"
"Free" usually means grant-funded or employer-paid, sometimes with a work commitment. Ask about eligibility, what is covered (tuition, books, uniforms, testing, registry fees), and whether a written agreement sets any service period.
Three Steps to Take
1. Contact CareerSource Palm Beach County (office hours run Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 4 PM) and ask about WIOA eligibility. 2. Call local long-term care facilities and ask if they offer paid CNA training. 3. Confirm the program is state-approved before you enroll.
Related Articles
What CNAs Earn in the Miami–fort Lauderdale–west Palm Beach Metro
Nursing assistants in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach metro earned a median of $18.28 per hour, or about $38,010 per year, according to the May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
How Long It Takes to Become a CNA in Florida
Florida's CNA pipeline has tightened in recent years, with electronic fingerprinting now required for the Board of Nursing background screening under House Bill 975. That makes the order of steps matter more than it used to.
The Path, Step by Step
- Training: Complete a state-approved program. Most sources describe 120 hours (80 classroom and lab, 40 supervised clinical), though one current source cites 75 hours. Confirm the total with the program and the Board before you enroll.
- Screening: Submit Livescan fingerprints for the Level 2 background check.
- Exam: Apply through Prometric, then pass both the written/oral and skills portions.
- Registry: After Board approval, your name is added to the Florida Nurse Aide Registry.
Realistic Timeline
A fast-track CNA program can finish training in a few weeks, while a part-time schedule stretches it to a couple of months. Prometric guidance suggests applying at least 50 days before your test date, so confirm current lead times. Results can appear online within about 48 hours of testing. Registry listing is reported anywhere from one week to three to five weeks after Board approval, and fingerprint or paperwork delays can add time.
Exam Structure and 2026 Fees
The written exam has 60 multiple-choice questions, offered in English and Spanish with an oral option. The skills test covers five randomly selected tasks and is English only. You must pass both parts, but if you fail only one, you retake just that part.
The written portion costs $35 and the skills portion $120, or $155 in total. Rescheduling costs $30. Fees are non-refundable.
Testing Without a Training Program
Florida allows eligible "challengers" to sit for the exam without completing an approved program. You still need Board approval, a clear background check, and passing scores on both parts. The trade-off is that you get no guided skills practice or clinical hours, and skills are where candidates often stumble.
To compare training options, see the statewide directory at /cna/programs/fl/.
Top CNA Programs Serving Boynton Beach Students
Below are the top CNA programs serving Boynton Beach students, ranked by IPEDS completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. Because program availability and costs change often, confirm current schedules, approval status, and total fees before submitting a deposit.
Factors considered
- First-year retention rates
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Program accreditation and approval status
- Tuition after aid adjustments
- Completion data and credential fit
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 | FVI School of Nursing and Technology | Miami, FL | $35,000 – $40,000/yr | Bilingual Miami-area learners needing flexible schedules | |
FVI School of Nursing and Technology delivers a nine-week Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide program with day, evening, and bilingual English-Spanish options, with bilingual instruction at the Miami campus and English-only at Miramar. Students complete on-campus labs and a 40-hour clinical externship, and the program includes CPR/BLS certification and Florida CNA exam preparation. Small class sizes and job placement assistance are also part of the student support model.
| |||||
| #2 | Fort Myers Technical College | Fort Myers, FL | Cost-sensitive students seeking compact campus training | ||
Fort Myers Technical College offers a 165-hour Nursing Assistant (Articulated) program that takes about six weeks and costs roughly $1,290 before additional fees. The campus-based course includes clinical rotations, CPR, medical terminology, and employability skills, and prepares students for the Florida Nurse Aide Exam. Applicants must be 18 or high school graduates and complete immunization, drug screen, and background check steps.
| |||||
| #3 | South Florida Institute of Technology | Miami, FL | $32,000/yr | Exam-focused students needing Saturday-only preparation | |
South Florida Institute of Technology provides a short exam-prep option for the CNA state certification. The 24-clock-hour course runs over six Saturdays on the Miami campus and costs $250. It focuses on 22 practical skills and theory, but requires prior nursing-related coursework before enrollment.
| |||||
| #4 | South Florida State College | Avon Park, FL | $4,000/yr (net price) | ||
South Florida State College offers a hybrid Nursing Assistant program that combines 90 hours of healthcare fundamentals with 75 hours of hands-on training over eight weeks. Evening and Sunday classes are designed for working adults, and eligible students may access scholarships or funding through CareerSource Heartland. The program prepares students for the state certification exam and employment in clinics, hospitals, and long-term care.
| |||||
| #5 | Cape Coral Technical College | Cape Coral, FL | $1,000/yr | ||
Cape Coral Technical College runs a 165-hour Nursing Assistant Articulated program that can be completed in about six weeks for an estimated $1,255. The campus-based format includes 40 clinical hours, small class sizes, and preparation for the Florida Certified Nursing Assistant State Exam. Students must be 18 or high school graduates and complete required immunizations, a drug screen, and a background check.
| |||||
| #6 | Gulf Coast State College | Panama City, FL | ~$5,000/yr (est.) | ||
Gulf Coast State College offers a hybrid Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate requiring 165 clock hours, with two weekly sessions over about eight weeks at the Gulf Franklin Campus. The program prepares students for the state CNA exam and serves as a pathway toward practical nursing. Admission is selective, and financial aid options are available.
| |||||
| #7 | Saint Johns River State College | Palatka, FL | $6,000/yr | ||
Saint Johns River State College provides a four-week Nursing Assistant program that requires 120 hours and focuses on long-term care settings. Classes are offered at the Orange Park and Palatka campuses, and the curriculum includes medical terminology, gerontology, legal responsibilities, and interpersonal skills. Graduates are prepared for Florida's CNA examination, and financial aid is available for eligible students.
| |||||
| #8 | Indian River State College | Fort Pierce, FL | $4,000/yr | ||
Indian River State College offers a Nursing Assistant program with day and evening sections at the Fort Pierce and Okeechobee campuses, plus spring, summer, and fall start dates. Coursework covers patient safety, vital signs, comfort, and assistance with daily living, with lab and clinical practice. Graduates are prepared to sit for the Prometric and Florida State Board of Nursing CNA exams and can pursue roles in long-term care, clinics, home care, and hospitals.
| |||||
| #9 | Santa Fe College | Gainesville, FL | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Santa Fe College delivers a 165-contact-hour Nursing Assistant Certificate program in Gainesville with clinical rotations at local facilities. The in-person course prepares students for the Florida CNA exam, and no high school diploma is required for entry. Scholarships, financial aid, and Florida Open Door Grant support may be available, though class size is limited. ACEN accredited
| |||||
| #10 | Chipola College | Marianna, FL | $1,000/yr (net price) | ||
Chipola College offers a Nursing Assistant Long Term (CNA) program with spring and fall admission cycles on its Marianna campus. Partnerships with DWYER Workforce Development and CareerSource Chipola can help students with costs, housing, transportation, and job placement. Graduates are eligible to take the Nursing Assistant Certification Exam, which has a $155 fee.
| |||||
Boynton Beach CNA Program FAQs
Quick answers to common questions about CNA training, testing, and certification in Florida. Always verify requirements with the Florida Board of Nursing before enrolling or applying.
Check the Florida Board of Nursing's approved CNA training program list rather than school advertisements. The list shows the program's legal name, license number, status, address, and contact. Confirm the program is approved and that the name and location match before you put down a deposit.
Not always. Florida has a route that may allow some applicants to take the Nurse Aide Competency Examination without completing state-approved training.1 You still must meet eligibility requirements and complete a background screening, so confirm your route with the Board before scheduling.
If you fail one part, you can retake it, but you must pass both the written and clinical skills sections within 2 years of your first passed test. After three failed attempts, Prometric requires at least 120 hours in a state-approved program before you can test again.2
Yes, but only if you hold a current, active CNA certificate or license in good standing in another state. Florida requires verification from the licensing agency, a Florida CNA Endorsement Application, and electronic fingerprints through an FDLE-approved Livescan provider.3 Without an active license, apply through Prometric for Florida's CNA exam.
