Certified Nursing Assistant Schools in Knoxville, TN: Your Options

How long does it take to become a CNA in Knoxville? Often about two months or less. Tennessee requires 100 clock hours, and some programs finish in four to eight weeks, well short of a semester.

The real tension is cost and fit. Tuition runs from a few hundred dollars to about $2,000, before exam fees, supplies, and screenings. Free and employer-paid routes exist but come with fixed schedules and conditions. Pay is modest, so the cheapest approved path usually wins.

Programs within a 75-mile radius are ranked here, and schedules and prices vary widely across it. See the ranked program list →

Where Knoxville CNAs Work: Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Commuter Towns

The best-paying or best-known employer is not always the closest one, so your first job may mean driving across the metro. Knowing the employer mix helps you choose where to train and where to apply.

Main Employers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 3,130 nursing assistants in the Knoxville metro in May 2023, its most recent local figure.¹ That count covers all nursing assistants, not only those holding the CNA credential.

• Hospitals: University of Tennessee Medical Center (University Health System) and Fort Sanders Regional and Parkwest (both Covenant Health) are the best-known acute-care names.²
• Long-term care: Examples include NHC Healthcare Ft Sanders (160+ beds) and Senator Ben Atchley State Veterans' Home (140 beds, government-operated).²
• Home health and assisted living: Agencies and residential communities round out the market.²

Regionally, a February 2026 Tennessee labor market report lists 6 hospitals, 13 nursing homes, and 10 home-health agencies.²

Commuting From Surrounding Towns

Maryville, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Farragut, and Morristown all sit within reach of Knoxville employers, and many CNAs complete CNA programs in Tennessee in one town and work in another. Check the commute for your actual shift times before accepting an offer.

New CNAs should expect hospitals and nursing homes to staff around the clock, so day, evening, night, and weekend shifts are common starting assignments.

Free and Low-Cost CNA Training in Knoxville

Goodwill Industries-Knoxville's CNA training program lists $600 for tuition and a $122 nurse aide exam fee, but SNAP recipients may be able to attend at no cost; the 6.5-week day program runs Monday through Friday and includes about two weeks of clinical work.

Three Routes to Reduced-Cost Training

• Goodwill Industries-Knoxville: The program at 5307 Kingston Pike requires a background check, TB screening, and an 8th-grade reading level. SNAP recipients may qualify for aid, but free placement is not automatic. An optional BLS certification costs $65.
• NHC HealthCare Knoxville: This employer-sponsored program is advertised as free CNA training and combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.¹ Confirm whether trainees are paid during class and clinical hours, and whether tuition and exam fees are covered every cohort.
• WIOA funding: The American Job Center of East Tennessee can issue a voucher for approved training when you meet eligibility rules.² Adults must generally be 18 or older; youth ages 16 to 24 may qualify. Priority often goes to veterans, low-income applicants, and dislocated workers. Bring a photo ID, Social Security card, and proof of income or a layoff letter. Confirm the program is on the approved list before assuming a voucher will cover costs.

Ask What Free Leaves Out

Even when tuition is covered, the exam fee, background check, TB screening, scrubs, and supplies may still fall on you. Employer programs such as NHC may or may not cover these costs, and some may require a post-certification work commitment or repayment clause. Ask directly.

One Concrete Next Step

Call the American Job Center or a facility's HR office and ask: Am I eligible? Which costs remain mine? Is there a post-training work commitment? Similar employer-sponsored CNA training options exist in Morristown and other nearby towns.

The Real Cost of CNA Training Beyond Tuition

At TCAT Knoxville, published non-tuition costs for 2026 total $472 before the $130 state exam fee. These add-ons are often left out of tuition lists; the net price shown in program listings is a school-wide average and excludes them. CPR/BLS certification may add extra.

Can You Take CNA Classes Online in Knoxville? Day, Evening, and Hybrid Options

No legitimate Tennessee CNA program is fully online, because students must complete clinical hours on site at an approved healthcare facility. Searches for "online CNA classes Knoxville TN" mostly turn up hybrid formats, and hybrid options among nursing schools in Knoxville are limited.

Hybrid means the classroom theory is flexible or online, while skills lab practice and clinicals happen on site. Gateway Achievement offers a blended track of 75 hours over 3 to 5 weeks.

How Long Programs Run

Accelerated full-time tracks often finish in 3 to 4 weeks. Standard full-time programs commonly run 4 to 8 weeks, and part-time or evening tracks can stretch to 8 to 12 weeks. Mason Center's 154 clock hours take 7 weeks on weekdays. TCAT Knoxville describes its Nursing Aide program as about 2 months, and its fall 2026 evening sessions run Monday through Thursday, 2:00 to 10:00 PM. Vitali Medical Training and Excel Academy both list day and evening cohorts. Goodwill's 2026 sessions are weekday daytime only. Verified weekend calendars are hard to find, so confirm directly.

Questions to Ask Before You Enroll

• Clinical shifts: Which days and hours will clinicals fall on, and can they be scheduled outside business hours?
• Attendance policy: How many absences are allowed, and how are missed lab or clinical hours made up?

Tennessee CNA Requirements and Admission Checklist

Requirements vary by program and clinical site, so confirm details with the school before you apply. The items below reflect Tennessee minimums plus common Knoxville-area admissions steps.

1. Training hours

   Tennessee's minimum is 100 hours: 40 lecture, 20 lab, and 40 clinical, with at least 24 clinical hours in long-term care. Programs may exceed this.
2. Minimum age

   Many Knoxville-area programs require applicants to be at least 18 years old, but check each school.
3. High school diploma or GED

   State rules do not appear to require a diploma or GED for every program, but some Knoxville-area schools set their own requirement.
4. Criminal background check

   A background check is generally required; Knoxville programs often use a designated provider. Applicants cannot be on the Abuse Registry or have a theft conviction.
5. Drug screen

   Expect a urine drug screen, typically a 10-panel test through an approved vendor in the Knoxville area.
6. TB test

   A negative TB skin test or chest X-ray is usually required, often renewed yearly.
7. Immunizations

   Clinical sites commonly require MMR, varicella, Tdap, and annual flu vaccine; COVID-19 vaccination may be required by the facility. Hepatitis B may be started, completed, or declined.
8. CPR/BLS certification

   BLS CPR must be completed before clinical site work begins; some programs require it earlier.

Getting Certified: The Tennessee CNA Exam and Nurse Aide Registry

Earning your CNA credential in Tennessee involves completing approved training, passing a two-part competency exam, and being placed on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry. Credentia became the state's testing vendor on June 1, 2026. How long does it take? Tennessee doesn't publish a fixed total timeline; it depends on your training program's length, exam scheduling, and how quickly your passing results appear on the registry.

What CNAs Earn in Knoxville

Nursing assistants in the Knoxville metropolitan area earn a median $18.27 per hour, or about $38,000 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Top CNA Programs Serving Knoxville Students

Below are the top CNA programs serving Knoxville students. The list highlights campus-based options within commuting distance of Knoxville, along with approximate net prices and institution-wide graduation rates. Employer-sponsored and nonprofit training options covered earlier may cost less than any school listed here.

Rank	School	Location	Net price	Best for
#1	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville	Knoxville, TN	$20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.)	Working adults needing evening classes
Located in Knoxville, this public applied technology college offers a campus-based nursing aide program with day and evening cohorts at its Sherrill Boulevard and Liberty Street sites. The 120-clock-hour program runs about two months, with program tuition near $590, and the college reports an approximate institution-wide average net price of $20,000. This school has an institution-wide graduation rate of 71%. Nursing Assistant, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website 120 clock hours completed in about two months Day and evening cohorts at two Knoxville locations Tuition near $591; total estimated cost around $850 State-approved course with clinical training included Financial aid available for eligible students Prepares for Tennessee CNA state exam
#2	Roane State Community College	Harriman, TN	$4,000/yr (est. net price)	Budget-conscious commuters near Oak Ridge
Roane State Community College serves the Knoxville region from its Oak Ridge Campus, about 25 miles west of downtown. The campus-based Clinical Nurse Aid program includes 120 hours of training and 24 hours of supervised patient care in a long-term care facility, with Tennessee Department of Health approval. The college reports an institution-wide average net price near $4,300 and an institution-wide graduation rate of 36%. Clinical Nurse Aid, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website Tennessee Department of Health approved 120 hours of C.N.A. training 24 hours of supervised clinical in long-term care Offered at the Oak Ridge Campus Funding may be available via American Job Center Registration closes two weeks before start
#3	Walters State Community College	Morristown, TN	~$5,000/yr (est.)	Adults seeking entry-level healthcare training
Based in Morristown, roughly 40 miles northeast of Knoxville, Walters State Community College offers two campus-based CNA training options through its workforce division. One is a general Certified Nurse Assistant program, while the other is a more structured Certified Nursing Aide Training with a $899 program fee and 35 clinical hours. The college reports an institution-wide average net price around $5,400 and an institution-wide graduation rate of 33%. Certified Nurse Assistant, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website Offered through Allied Health Training division Campus-based career-focused healthcare training Works with local healthcare providers Prepares for entry-level medical settings Certified Nursing Aide Training, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website Program fee $899 35 hours clinical experience Students must be 18 or older Textbook cost $123 CPR certification required Background check and drug screen required State exam fee $140 Prepares for TN licensure
#4	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman	Harriman, TN	$10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.)
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman is located in Harriman, about 35 miles west of Knoxville and reachable for some commuters. The campus-based CNA program uses part-time evening classes over about two months, with total tuition and fees near $1,250 plus books and supplies. The college reports an approximate institution-wide average net price near $11,100, and this school has an institution-wide graduation rate of 69%. Certified Nursing Assistant, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website 120-hour training program Part-time evening classes Typical length about two months Total tuition and fees $1,249 Textbook and supplies cost $324 Minimum age 16 required Background check, drug screen, and physical required Prepares for state CNA exam
#5	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville	Huntsville, TN	~$16,000/yr (est.)
Located in Huntsville, Tennessee, about 60 miles north of Knoxville, this campus is outside the immediate Knoxville service area but may suit students in northern counties. The campus-based Nursing Aide program totals 120 clock hours with 80 classroom hours and 40 clinical hours, and tuition and fees are about $576. The school has an institution-wide graduation rate of 74% and an approximate institution-wide average net price near $15,900. Nursing Assistant, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website 120 total clock hours 80 classroom hours 40 clinical training hours Total tuition $576 Textbook cost $179 Day class type, campus-based Certificate credential awarded State exam eligibility
#6	Southern Adventist University	Collegedale, TN	$20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.)
Southern Adventist University is in Collegedale, near Chattanooga, roughly 100 miles southwest of Knoxville, so it is primarily an option for students willing to relocate or attend from the southern part of the state. The campus-based Clinical Nurse Aide program takes about 4 to 6 months and costs around $2,000, with payment plans and employer tuition reimbursement support. This school has an institution-wide graduation rate of 49% and an approximate institution-wide average net price near $24,300. Clinical Nurse Aide, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website $2,000 total program tuition Complete in 4 to 6 months Prepares for NRSA and CCMA certification exams Employer tuition reimbursement supported Payment plans available; $500 minimum deposit Hands-on clinical rotations included
#7	Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga	Chattanooga, TN	$24,000/yr (est. net price)
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga sits in Chattanooga, about 110 miles southwest of Knoxville, placing it outside the immediate Knoxville commuting zone. The campus-based CNA program is a five-week, 120-clock-hour course with rolling admissions every five weeks. This school has an institution-wide graduation rate of 60% and an approximate institution-wide average net price near $24,000. Certified Nursing Assistant, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website 5-week program length 120 clock hours total Campus-based training format Rolling admissions every five weeks Prepares for state exams Financial aid options available Career services available

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Knoxville CNA Questions, Answered

Here are direct answers to common questions about becoming and staying a certified nursing assistant in Knoxville, Tennessee. Use these as a starting point, then confirm current rules with the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry before making decisions.