Points of interest…
- Broward College offers in-person CNA training for Fort Lauderdale students.
- CareerSource Broward funds free CNA training through WIOA for qualifying adults.
- Accelerated CNA classes in Fort Lauderdale finish in about four weeks.
Nursing assistant work remains one of the quickest routes into Broward County healthcare. Many Florida programs run about 120 hours, which can mean six to eight weeks of full-time study rather than a semester.
The options here sit in Fort Lauderdale or nearby in Lauderdale Lakes, Tamarac, Hollywood, and Pompano Beach. They differ on price, schedule, and format, but one constraint is fixed: only Florida Board of Nursing approved training qualifies you to take the CNA certification exam.
Top CNA Schools in and Near Fort Lauderdale
Below are the top CNA programs serving Fort Lauderdale students, ranked by IPEDS completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. Each school below earned its spot on affordability, completion track record, and how practical it is to reach from a Fort Lauderdale address. Because no ranked campus sits inside Fort Lauderdale this year, the list begins with Miami-area options and then moves to programs elsewhere in Florida.
Factors considered
- First-year retention rates
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Affordability after financial aid
- Program fit for working adults
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 (est.) | Bilingual learners needing flexible Miami-area classes | |
FVI School of Nursing and Technology runs a Miami-area campus program that prepares students for the Florida CNA exam in about nine weeks. The nursing assistant and home health aide track includes bilingual English/Spanish instruction at the Miami campus and English-only classes at Miramar, with day and evening schedules. Students complete a 40-hour clinical externship and earn CPR/BLS certification as part of the program.
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| #2 | South Florida Institute of Technology | Miami, FL | ~$32,000/yr (est.) | Working adults needing weekend exam prep | |
South Florida Institute of Technology sits in Miami and offers a compact, exam-focused nursing aide preparation course for students who already have some nursing-related coursework. The class runs over six Saturdays and covers 22 practical skills plus the standards and medical abbreviations tested on the Florida CNA exam. This is a narrow preparation option, not a full entry-level training program.
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| #3 | Fort Myers Technical College | Fort Myers, FL | Budget-conscious students wanting campus-based training | ||
Fort Myers Technical College offers a 165-hour Nursing Assistant (Articulated) program that combines classroom instruction with clinical rotations. The six-week, campus-based program costs roughly $1,290 before additional immunizations and background-check fees. Graduates are prepared to sit for the Florida Nurse Aide Exam and pursue hospital, long-term care, and assisted-living roles.
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| #4 | South Florida State College | Avon Park, FL | $4,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
South Florida State College in Avon Park runs a hybrid nursing assistant program with evening and Sunday class sections, which can help working adults fit training around a schedule. The eight-week program totals 165 hours and includes both healthcare fundamentals and hands-on training. Scholarships and CareerSource Heartland funding may reduce the cost for eligible students.
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| #5 | Cape Coral Technical College | Cape Coral, FL | ~$1,000/yr (est.) | ||
Cape Coral Technical College offers a Nursing Assistant Articulated program that runs about six weeks and includes 40 clinical hours. The 165-clock-hour program is small and hands-on, with instruction designed to prepare students for the Florida CNA State Exam. Admission requires immunizations, a drug screen, and a background check.
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| #6 | Gulf Coast State College | Panama City, FL | ~$5,000/yr (est.) | ||
Gulf Coast State College offers a hybrid Certified Nursing Assistant certificate at its Gulf Franklin Campus in Port St. Joe. The 165-clock-hour program can be completed in roughly eight weeks with two weekly class sessions. It is a selective-admission pathway that prepares students for the state CNA exam and offers financial aid options.
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| #7 | Saint Johns River State College | Palatka, FL | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | ||
Saint Johns River State College delivers a four-week nursing assistant program at its Orange Park and Palatka campuses. The 120-hour career certificate focuses on long-term care, medical terminology, legal responsibilities, and gerontology. Graduates are prepared to take Florida's CNA examination.
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| #8 | Indian River State College | Fort Pierce, FL | ~$4,000/yr (est.) | ||
Indian River State College offers a nursing assistant program with spring, summer, and fall start dates and both day and evening sections. Coursework centers on patient safety, vital signs, comfort, and daily living support, with practice in labs and clinical settings. Graduates are ready to sit for the CNA exam through Prometric and the Florida State Board of Nursing.
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| #9 | Santa Fe College | Gainesville, FL | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Santa Fe College in Gainesville offers a 165-contact hour nursing assistant certificate with clinical rotations at local facilities. The in-person program does not require a high school diploma and is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. Scholarships, financial aid, and veterans benefits may be available to eligible students. ACEN accredited
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| #10 | Chipola College | Marianna, FL | $1,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Chipola College in Marianna admits students to its long-term nursing assistant program twice a year. The campus-based program prepares students for the Nursing Assistant Certification Exam and connects them with DWYER Workforce Development and CareerSource Chipola for help with costs, housing, transportation, and job placement.
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Fort Lauderdale CNA Training: Quick Answers
Costs vary widely by school, schedule, and whether a program is free or employer sponsored. The cost section below compares typical Fort Lauderdale-area tuition, fees, and total expenses across local programs so you can plan accurately.
Florida requires 120 hours of approved CNA training. Your total timeline depends on the class schedule and how quickly you schedule the state written and clinical skills exam. Many students complete CNA classes in Florida within a few weeks to a few months.
Yes. Free CNA training programs or low-cost CNA classes are sometimes offered through Broward County employers, workforce development programs, or nursing facilities that cover training if you agree to work afterward. The free and hybrid section below lists current local options.
Florida clinical skills must be completed in person, so fully online CNA training is not allowed. Hybrid online CNA programs pair online coursework with scheduled in-person labs and clinicals. See the free, online, and hybrid section below.
Use the Florida Board of Nursing's CNA Program Web List. Confirm the school's name, location, phone, and status appear as Approved. Do not rely on a school's own advertising. The requirements section below explains approval in more detail.
Yes. Florida allows eligible applicants to challenge the state exam without completing Board-approved training. You must be at least 18 or hold a high school diploma or GED and pass a Level 2 background check. See requirements below.
Yes, through endorsement. Florida requires a clear, active, out-of-state credential in good standing, license verification from the issuing state, and Level 2 fingerprinting. Some applicants must also show two years of CNA work in the past four years.
How Much CNA Training Costs in Fort Lauderdale
CNA training through nursing schools in Fort Lauderdale is rarely a single line-item price. The tuition figure a school advertises usually covers classroom instruction, while the full cost of becoming certified includes several additional charges.
Public technical programs are the most predictable starting point among nursing schools in Florida. Broward College lists in-state on-campus tuition at $117.90 per credit and workforce-education rates at $84.35 per credit or $2.82 per contact hour; out-of-state rates are higher. However, a CNA or Patient Care Technician certificate total depends on credit or contact hours, and current published totals for McFatter, Atlantic Technical, and Sheridan Technical are not firmly established for 2026. A 2025-2026 Broward Technical Colleges document lists Patient Care Assistant at about $3,973 for 290 hours and Patient Care Technician at about $6,930 for 600 hours, but those figures may not include all fees or reflect every campus.
Private career schools often post lower starting costs. Center for Career Training in Lauderdale Lakes advertises "$0 to start class," but that is a starting-payment claim, not a full tuition quote. A separate online Broward College Patient Care Technician listing shows $2,310, and a general CNA course range at Florida vocational schools is roughly $199 to $600. Institution-wide net price averages at public colleges may be as low as roughly $1,100 to $4,200 after aid, but those are not CNA certificate prices.
What to Verify Before Paying
Ask each school for a written total before enrolling. Clarify whether registration fees, textbooks, scrubs, background checks, health screenings, and the state certification exam are included. Confirm whether the exam fee is bundled or billed separately.
Where Your CNA Money Actually Goes
Typical out-of-pocket totals in Fort Lauderdale include tuition, registration and lab fees, books and supplies, a uniform, a physical and TB test, and the Florida CNA exam fee, but exact Broward prices for most of those items were not verifiable for 2026. The one required cost every applicant can pin down is the Florida Level 2 fingerprint-based background screening. Below are the fixed state and federal records fees; add a Livescan provider fee, so typical Broward totals run about $70-$105 depending on the receiving agency.
Related Articles
Florida CNA Rules: Training Hours, Board Approval, and the State Exam
A Florida CNA is a nursing assistant certified by the Florida Board of Nursing after finishing an approved training program and passing a state exam, under Section 464.203 of the Florida Statutes.1
Training Hours and Board Approval
Programs are commonly described as 120 hours2, including supervised clinical practice. The statute does not set an hour count, and sources disagree, so confirm the current figure with any school. In Florida, "accredited" means approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. Check the Board's education and training programs page, or ask the school for its approval documentation before paying a deposit.
PCA and PCT Program Titles
Patient Care Assistant and Patient Care Technician programs at Broward technical colleges are not a different credential. These tracks typically include the nursing assistant component and lead to the same exam. The CNA certificate comes only after you pass and the Board lists you.
Exam and Registry Steps
- Apply: Submit the Florida CNA application and complete Board background screening.3
- Test: Prometric runs the Florida Nurse Aide Examination. The combined fee is $155, or $35 for the written portion alone.3
- Pass both parts: The written exam has 60 questions in 90 minutes.3 The clinical portion covers five skills in roughly 31 to 40 minutes.3 Audio and oral formats are available.3 You have two years to pass both4, and three failed attempts require retraining.
- Get listed: The Board issues your certificate and adds you to the Florida CNA Registry.4
For options beyond Broward, see CNA programs across Florida.
What Broward CNA Programs Ask for at Admission
Requirements vary by campus, so confirm each item with the program before you apply.
- Age and diploma/GEDMcFatter's Practical Nursing lists a high school diploma or GED; Patient Care Assistant pages may not state a minimum age, so ask the admissions office.
- Level 2 background checkHealth programs in Broward County often require Level 2 screening, typically with fingerprinting. Certain offenses can affect clinical eligibility, so ask how convictions are reviewed.
- Immunizations, TB test, and physicalBroward College health-science admissions require a physical form; McFatter's Practical Nursing lists immunization clearance. CNA pages may omit the full list, request it.
- Drug screening and CPR/BLSMcFatter's Practical Nursing and Broward College health-science require drug screening. BLS/CPR may be due after acceptance or before clinicals.
- Entry or basic-skills testingSome public technical college health programs use a basic-skills assessment or TEAS. The Patient Care Assistant pages reviewed do not list one, so ask if it is waived.
Day, Evening, or Accelerated: Matching a Program to Your Schedule
A four-week accelerated class and a 20-week full-time technical program may lead to the same certification test, but they make very different demands on your work schedule and home life. The clearest local examples are Broward College, whose in-person Patient Care Technician sections run about 11 to 12 weeks with daytime and evening weekday options, and Sheridan Technical College, whose full-time PCT program is listed at roughly six months. If you see a shorter accelerated option advertised, ask the school to show the current start and end dates before paying, because not every Fort Lauderdale area program confirms an accelerated track.
Clinical Rotations Often Set the Real Schedule
Even evening and daytime sections share a common wrinkle: clinical rotations in nursing homes, rehab centers, or hospitals frequently follow fixed daytime or early-morning shifts. Broward's in-person classes orient at the YMCA, but clinical site assignments are decided separately. No weekend schedule was confirmed for the Broward and Sheridan options named above, so call the program office if your availability is weekends only. Always ask for the exact clinical facility and shift block before enrolling, and confirm whether you will need to arrange transportation.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Can you be on a clinical floor during daytime hours, or do your clinicals need to work around a job?
Most Broward clinical rotations happen on day shifts at nursing homes and hospitals, so a program with evening or weekend placement is worth hunting for if you cannot leave a weekday job.
Are you targeting a hospital patient care role or a nursing home CNA position?
Hospitals in the Fort Lauderdale area often hire into PCA or PCT roles that layer phlebotomy or EKG skills onto CNA training, while long-term care facilities hire straight off the certification.
Would you accept a work commitment in exchange for free training?
Employer-sponsored and no-cost CNA programs typically require you to work for the sponsoring facility for a set period after certification, which trades upfront savings for less flexibility in your first job.
Is LPN or RN school your next step after certification?
Schools with their own practical nursing or associate degree nursing tracks let you continue in a familiar system, and some count CNA coursework or clinical hours toward later admission requirements.
Free, Online, and Hybrid CNA Training in Broward County
Free training usually costs you something else, whether that is paperwork, a waiting period, or a work commitment. Two routes are worth checking first.
Workforce funding and employer sponsorship
CareerSource Broward administers WIOA training help for residents 18 and older who are work-authorized and either unemployed or low-income. You start with an Employ Florida account, then go through career center screening, assessment, and approval. Get that approval before you enroll. Awards can reach $12,000 for in-demand training, but that is a ceiling, and not every CNA program is necessarily approved for funding.
Nursing homes and home health agencies sometimes pay for training if you agree to work for 6 to 12 months. Federal rules also require nursing facilities to reimburse training costs for an employee who becomes certified within 12 months of hire. Get any reimbursement terms in writing.
Online and hybrid reality check
Florida CNA training totals 120 hours: 80 of theory and 40 of supervised clinical practice, with at least 20 of those in a nursing home. Theory can be taught online in a hybrid format, but skills and clinical hours happen in person. A fully online CNA program is not possible. Before paying for any hybrid option, confirm it is approved by the Agency for Health Care Administration, or you cannot take the Prometric exam.
Typical Nursing Assistant Pay in the Fort Lauderdale Area
Nursing assistants in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro area earn a median $18.27 per hour, or $38,010 annually.
