Nursing Assistant Schools Near Columbia: Cost, Hours and Exam Prep

South Carolina lets you sit for the nurse aide certification exam only after completing a training program approved by the state Department of Health and Human Services, a requirement that applies across South Carolina nursing programs. That rule outweighs price and speed: an unapproved course leaves you with a certificate and no path onto the registry.

Most Columbia students still want a short program and a small bill. Advertised pricing ranges from $1,495 at Nursing Unlimited to $2,495 at Midlands Technical College, and what's bundled in, such as the exam fee and supplies, differs by school.

Choices reach beyond Nursing Schools in Columbia into Lexington, Irmo, West Columbia, Cayce, and Camden, plus regional schools in Sumter and Orangeburg. Often the cheapest route isn't a school at all: nursing facilities hiring new aides must reimburse training costs under federal rules.

2027's Best CNA Programs Near Columbia, SC, Ranked

Below are the top CNA programs serving Columbia students, ranked by the factors that matter most for a Columbia commuter: cost after aid, schedule format, and how reliably students at each school finish. Use this list to compare schools that are closest to the city's clinical job market. Keep in mind that short non-credit CNA courses are often priced separately from the institution-level figures shown; the next section breaks down tuition in detail.

Rank	School	Location	Net price	Best for
#1	Midlands Technical College	West Columbia, SC	$5,000 – $15,000/yr (est.)	Columbia-area students seeking local job pipelines
Midlands Technical College sits in West Columbia, just across the Congaree River from downtown Columbia, making it the most convenient option for many city residents. Its Certified Nursing Assistant Academic Certificate blends classroom, online, and clinical work, and graduates who earn certification report guaranteed interviews with local employer partners. The program stacks toward other health credentials and has direct ties to Midlands-area clinical sites. Certified Nursing Assistant Academic Certificate — Hybrid Visit Website ACEN accredited 22 credit hour hybrid certificate Estimated cost $4,488 before aid Combines online, classroom, and clinical work Background check and drug screening required CPR certification and immunizations needed Prepares for NNAAP exam and SC registry Grade C or better required to progress Financial aid available for eligible students
#2	Spartanburg Community College	Spartanburg, SC	~$2,000/yr (est.)	Students needing low-cost non-credit training
Spartanburg Community College runs a non-credit CNA program through its School of Nursing, with new sessions starting in fall, spring, or summer. The 110-hour training is campus-based and built for direct entry into patient care roles, and the college offers financial aid and scholarships for those who qualify. It is a common stepping stone to the college's practical nursing and associate degree nursing tracks, though the commute from Columbia is about 90 miles each way. Certified Nursing Assistant - Non-Credit, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website Non-credit CNA training through School of Nursing Minimum 110 hours required Starts in fall, spring, and summer Financial aid and scholarships available Campus-based instruction in Spartanburg Program ID XAHS 500-CNA Focuses on patient care and nursing assistant skills Common first step toward LPN or ADN programs
#3	Florence-Darlington Technical College	Florence, SC	$5,000 – $7,000/yr (est.)	Working adults needing flexible campus locations
Florence-Darlington Technical College offers its CNA program through Corporate and Workforce Development, so no standard college application is required. Training is available at the Main Campus and Health Sciences Campus, and graduates are eligible to take the SC Nurse Aide Exam. The program focuses on practical skills for skilled nursing facilities, but the Florence location is roughly 80 miles from downtown Columbia. Certified Nursing Assistant, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website Continuing education, no college application required Available at Main Campus and Health Sciences Campus Prepares for SC Nurse Aide Exam Curriculum focused on skilled nursing facilities Training under nursing supervision Registration via phone or email Costs and dates subject to change Located in Florence, about 80 miles from Columbia
#4	Trident Technical College	Charleston, SC	$5,000 – $9,000/yr (est.)
Trident Technical College delivers a Certified Nurse Aide Training Program at its Thornley Campus in Charleston, about 100 miles from Columbia. The 121.25-hour program combines classroom, lab, and clinical work and includes Basic Life Support certification. It is ACEN accredited and prepares students for the SC Nurse Aide Exam. Certified Nurse Aide Training Program, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited 121.25 total training hours 80 classroom hours plus 41.25 clinical hours $2,000 program cost with textbooks included Basic Life Support certification included ACEN accredited program Campus-based at Thornley Campus in Charleston Age 18+ and background check required Prepares for SC Nurse Aide Exam
#5	Tri-County Technical College	Pendleton, SC	$10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.)
Tri-County Technical College offers a Certified Nurse Aide program through its QuickJob pathway, with day and evening classes at the Easley QJ Center and Pendleton Campus. The program is ACEN accredited and eligible for financial aid for those who qualify. Its focus on direct patient contact suits students who want hands-on care work, though the Pendleton location is about 120 miles from Columbia. Certified Nurse Aide, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited ACEN accredited certification program Financial aid available for qualified students QuickJob outcome designed for fast workforce entry Day and evening classes available Offered at Easley QJ Center and Pendleton Campus Focus on direct patient contact and personal care Face-to-face instruction format Located in Pendleton, about 120 miles from Columbia
#6	Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College	Orangeburg, SC	$5,000 – $8,000/yr (est.)
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College offers a Nursing Assistant certificate that runs as a 9-semester-hour program and is ACEN accredited. Students complete clinical experience and must pass a criminal record check and Social Security verification. The Orangeburg campus is about 40 miles south of Columbia, one of the closer options on this list. Nursing Assistant Certificate — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited 9 semester hour certificate program ACEN accredited Prepares for state CNA certification exam Requires 80% competency in core courses Criminal record check and Social Security verification required Clinical experience included Covers body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy, infection control Located in Orangeburg, about 40 miles from Columbia
#7	York Technical College	Rock Hill, SC	~$6,000/yr (est.)
York Technical College offers a 112-hour Certified Nursing Assistant course with a tuition of $2,095, plus potential SC WINS scholarship support for eligible South Carolina residents. The campus in Rock Hill is about 70 miles from Columbia, and students should plan for background checks, drug testing, and vaccinations. The college also offers a separate 37-credit Nursing Care Certificate for those wanting a longer pathway toward nursing. Certified Nursing Assistant, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited 112-hour comprehensive course Approved by SC DHHS Tuition is $2,095 SC WINS scholarship potential for eligible residents Background check, drug test, and vaccinations required Prepares for Nurse Aide Competency Exam On campus in Rock Hill ACEN accredited Nursing Care Certificate — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited 37 credit hour program Requires 2.5 GPA minimum ACEN accredited Pathway toward nursing degree Includes anatomy, physiology, and patient care courses Background checks and drug screenings mandatory Three semester completion plan Campus-based instruction
#8	Horry-Georgetown Technical College	Conway, SC	~$4,000/yr (est.)
Horry-Georgetown Technical College runs a 9-credit Nursing Assistant certificate at its Georgetown and Grand Strand campuses, about 120 miles from Columbia. The ACEN-accredited program requires general college admission, CPR certification, and a minimum age of 18. Graduates are eligible to sit for South Carolina's CNA competency exam. Nursing Assistant Certificate — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited 9 credit hour certificate ACEN accredited Prepares for SC CNA certification exam Offered at Georgetown and Grand Strand campuses General college admission required Must be at least 18 years old CPR certification needed before enrollment Minimum grade C in all courses to progress
#9	Williamsburg Technical College	Kingstree, SC	~$10,000/yr (est.)
Williamsburg Technical College offers a one-semester Nursing Assistant certificate that totals 16 credit hours and includes clinical hours at a long-term care facility. Students work under LPN and RN supervision and cover CPR, anatomy, and geriatric care. The Kingstree campus is about 70 miles southeast of Columbia, and admission requires a high school diploma or GED. Nursing Assistant Certificate — On-Campus Visit Website One-semester, 16 credit hour program Prepares for state CNA competency exam Clinical hours at long-term care facility Supervised by LPNs and RNs Covers medical terminology, CPR, anatomy, geriatric care High school diploma or GED required Criminal background check and drug screening required Located in Kingstree, about 70 miles from Columbia
#10	Miller-Motte College-Charleston	Charleston, SC
Miller-Motte College in Charleston offers a campus-based Certified Nursing Assistant program that runs 120 clock hours over five weeks, with rolling enrollment every five weeks. The program is designed to prepare students for state licensing exams and includes hands-on patient safety and medical terminology training. Charleston is about 100 miles from Columbia, and published cost details are limited. Nursing Assistant, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website 120 clock hour, five-week program Campus-based instruction Rolling enrollment starts every five weeks Prepares for state licensing exams Covers patient safety and medical terminology Hands-on training with registered nurse supervision Located in Charleston, about 100 miles from Columbia No cost details published

CNA Programs Columbia SC Tuition: What You'll Actually Pay

CNA course pricing in Columbia, SC varies mainly by what is bundled into the sticker price. Nursing Unlimited advertises an all-inclusive $1,495 tuition that includes the $140 state exam fee and required supplies, while Midlands Technical College lists $2,495 in tuition with fees and equipment billed separately. For a realistic budget, expect roughly $1,500 to $2,500 or more once all required costs are added.

Free CNA Training Columbia, SC: Grants, Employers, and SC Works

Free CNA training programs in Columbia usually mean trading something: proof that you meet workforce-funding eligibility rules, or a job commitment to a nursing facility. Either route can work, but both need to be lined up before you pay a school yourself.

SC Works Midlands and WIOA

WIOA training funds are federal and eligibility-based, so no award is guaranteed. Start with a WIOA orientation, then a screening at a local SC Works Center. Bring your Social Security card, a photo ID showing your current address, and income verification if you worked in the past six months. You may not qualify for all services if you're in default on a student loan or, for men over 18, are not registered with Selective Service. The center decides eligibility, approves your training plan, and confirms whether your chosen CNA school is one of the approved CNA programs in SC. Current 2026 income limits and award amounts aren't published, so ask during screening.¹

Employer Training and the Federal Rule

Under 42 CFR 483.152, if a nursing facility employs you or has offered you a job on the day training begins, you can't be charged for any part of it, including textbooks, course materials, and the competency exam.² If you pay your own way and start working as a nurse aide at a nursing facility within 12 months of finishing, those costs are reimbursed pro rata for the time you're employed.² South Carolina's claim process isn't clearly published, so keep contracts, receipts, material invoices, testing fees, completion records, and employment paperwork.

Searching for a "MUSC CNA program"? We couldn't confirm a current employer-sponsored CNA training program at MUSC Health Columbia or Prisma Health for 2026.³ Ask their recruiters directly rather than assuming tuition is covered.

Can You Train for Free?

Yes, if you qualify for WIOA funding or secure a facility job offer first. Next steps:

• Book a WIOA orientation with SC Works Midlands before enrolling anywhere.
• Ask Columbia-area nursing homes whether they hire trainees or make offers before classes start.
• Save every receipt in case you qualify for reimbursement later.

Accredited CNA Programs Columbia SC: How to Check State Approval

Colleges earn accreditation from independent bodies, but CNA programs work differently. In South Carolina, nurse aide training is state-approved, and the agency that grants approval is the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SC DHHS).¹ A school can be regionally accredited and still run a nurse aide course that SC DHHS has not approved.¹

How to Verify Approval

How do I check if a CNA program is state-approved in South Carolina? Look up the program on the SC DHHS list of State Approved Nurse Aide Training Programs, which gives each program's training-program code, address, and phone number, or email the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry at [email protected] to confirm.¹

The most recent list we found is dated 2025, so confirm any program with the registry before you pay.¹ Candidates must finish an approved program before they can sit for the state exam and be placed on the registry.¹

Approved training totals 100 hours, including 40 clinical hours in a hospital or approved nursing facility.²⁴ The classroom portion is described as 40 hours plus a 20-hour skills practicum in some state materials² and as 60 nonclinical hours in others.³ Ask the school which breakdown it follows.

Red Flags

• No clinicals: A fully online program with no in-person clinical component cannot meet the 40-hour requirement.²
• No approval code: If the school cannot give you its SC DHHS training-program code, keep looking.¹
• Vague promises: Wording like "exam-ready" or "eligible for certification" without naming state approval is a warning sign.

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CNA Pay in the Columbia Metro and Where the Career Can Lead

In the Columbia metro, nursing assistants earn a median annual wage of about $37,400, with most CNAs falling between $34,020 and $39,340. Major Midlands employers include Prisma Health, MUSC Health Columbia, Lexington Medical Center, the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, and several nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals. For statewide CNA program options, see the South Carolina guide on topnursing.org.