Compare state-approved nurse aide training in Hampton Roads, from free to employer-paid
Entry-level healthcare hiring in Hampton Roads has stayed tight for years, and CNAs who complete the steps to become a CNA sit at the front of it. Hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies throughout Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake recruit nurse aides continually, and Virginia training runs weeks rather than months.
The real tension is cost versus speed. Tuition, the state exam, a background check, and supplies add up, yet some employers and workforce programs cover part or all of it in exchange for paperwork or a work commitment. Only Board of Nursing approved Virginia nursing programs lead to the competency exam, so where you enroll matters.
Hampton Roads is one of Virginia's most dependable hiring markets for CNAs, with hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and assisted living communities competing for entry-level caregivers across Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and the Peninsula. That demand keeps job prospects steady for newly certified aides who have completed CNA programs in Virginia.
Sentara Healthcare, headquartered in Norfolk, is the region's largest health system. Bon Secours Hampton Roads, Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, and Riverside Health System on the Peninsula also hire CNAs, along with skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home health agencies that serve older adults and patients discharged from hospitals.
Norfolk residents often train at Tidewater Community College or local private career schools, but commuting to Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, or Suffolk is common. Hampton and Newport News programs are also realistic options, though Interstate 64 and tunnel traffic on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel can turn a short Peninsula commute into a much longer trip at peak hours. Many readers will see adult learning centers and employer-run classes, including affordable CNA programs, in addition to community college workforce programs.
In Virginia, CNAs work under the supervision of licensed nurses. They help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility, and they report changes in a resident's condition. They do not independently assess patients, pass medications, or replace the judgment of an RN or LPN.
Classroom theory can sometimes move online, but hands-on training cannot. That split answers the question most Norfolk applicants ask: are any CNA training programs in Virginia truly online? Partly. Skills lab practice and supervised clinical hours at a care facility have to happen in person. Whether a given program may deliver its theory portion online is a point to confirm with the school and the Virginia Board of Nursing, since the sources reviewed here do not spell out the Board's rule on instructional delivery.
Working adults in Hampton Roads often choose evening or weekend sections. These typically meet a few nights a week or on Saturdays and Sundays, with clinical shifts scheduled separately at a partner facility. Because the weekly hours are lower, the same required training takes more calendar weeks to finish than a daytime cohort. Ask for the full start-to-finish timeline, including clinical dates, before you commit.
The Board of Nursing publishes nurse aide results on its "Testing Pass Rates by Program" page, last updated October 4, 2026. It lists current year-to-date NNAAP results, split into Written/Oral and Skills, with the past two years available as Excel files. Find the Norfolk-area program in those tables and note both scores.
The sources do not establish a statewide average or a minimum pass rate for nurse aide programs. The 80% standard you may see online applies to nursing programs and the NCLEX, not CNA programs.1 A sensible rule of thumb: compare a program's results against other programs in the report, and be wary of any school that falls well below the pack or cannot point you to its listing.
Free CNA training in Norfolk exists at some nursing schools in Norfolk VA, but it usually trades tuition for paperwork, waiting time, or a work commitment. Free and funded routes exist, though no single program is free for everyone, and 2026 terms should be confirmed directly with each provider.
Sentara has offered a 16-week hybrid nurse aide program through its Chesapeake location. No current cohort, pay, tuition coverage, or post-certification commitment is confirmed. Treat any paid-training offer as employer-specific and ask about repayment if you leave early before you sign anything.
Some nursing homes and long-term care facilities hire "nurse aide in training" staff, pay them during class, and may cover the exam in exchange for working there afterward. Terms vary: ask about the length of the work commitment, any repayment if you leave early, and whether clinical hours are paid. Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital lists tuition reimbursement and paid training among its benefits, but its CNA roles are aimed at certified applicants. Most programs require applicants to be 18 and hold a high school diploma or GED, though some later enter CNA to LPN Programs.
Totals vary by provider and what each program includes. This chart shows a typical midrange Norfolk budget using a $800 tuition midpoint from the $400-$1,200 area range, plus current state exam, background check, and uniform/supply estimates. Always ask each program which add-ons are already rolled into tuition.
You can qualify for Virginia's nurse aide exam through a full Board-approved training program, or through a clinical nursing course with at least 40 hours of direct client care.2 The approved program route is the main one for Norfolk students; the nursing-course alternative is a narrower option for students in some RN or lpn programs in virginia.
Virginia's Board-approved programs require at least 140 total clock hours, including 20 hours of skills lab.1 Students must complete at least 24 hours of instruction before direct client contact, then complete at least 40 hours of direct client care.1 Observation hours do not count toward that clinical total.1 Clinical areas and skills labs cap the student-to-instructor ratio at 10:1.3
Confirm any Norfolk program appears on the Virginia Board of Nursing's Nurse Aide Education Programs list.4 A school's own "state approved" claim is not enough on its own. Approval is based on documented compliance and a Board site visit.5 Use these steps: - Open the nurse aide education programs resource on the Virginia Board of Nursing site.4 - Find the program by school name and location. - Check that the listed program matches the one you plan to attend before paying a deposit.
Virginia uses the NNAAP exam, with both a written portion and a skills portion.6 You must take both portions within two years and pass within three attempts; after that, retraining is required before you can reapply.2 The Board application fee is $0, while renewal and reinstatement are $30 each.7 Any separate NNAAP testing fee should be confirmed with the exam administrator. After you pass and submit the application, plan for additional processing time before your name appears on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry.2 A full 140-hour program, even fast cna programs, can take several weeks to a few months, so expect the total path from enrollment to registry to fall within roughly a few months, not a single weekend.
Use this checklist as a starting point; requirements vary by provider and clinical site.
Below are the top CNA programs serving Norfolk students. Options in the broader Hampton Roads region appear first, with additional Virginia programs included for students willing to compare out-of-area campuses. Each card includes a practical commute note from Southside Hampton Roads.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Riverside College of Health Careers | Newport News, VA | $20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.) | Peninsula commuters wanting low-cost certification | |
A private health careers college with a short, flat-fee nurse aide program and an Earn-and-Learn track that can cover tuition while students work as hospitality assistants. The program emphasizes hands-on clinical hours in a modern medical setting, with no prerequisite courses required. For Norfolk students, this is a Peninsula option across the Hampton Roads harbor, usually within commuting distance from Southside.
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| #2 | Centra College | Lynchburg, VA | ~$13,000/yr (est.) | Hybrid learners seeking eight-week completion | |
A health system-based college offering an eight-week nurse aide program that blends classroom work with clinical experiences at Centra facilities. Students train for hospital, long-term care, and home settings, and the program meets Virginia Board of Nursing requirements for the NNAAP exam. For Norfolk students, this is a hybrid option in Lynchburg, roughly a three-hour drive, better suited to those considering relocation or short-term housing.
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| #3 | New River Community College | Dublin, VA | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | Workforce students needing spring and summer sessions | |
A community college in Dublin offering both a Career Studies Certificate and non-credit workforce training for nurse aides. The program prepares students for the NNAAP and has full Virginia Board of Nursing approval, with multiple session options in spring and summer. Norfolk students would need to consider a long commute or temporary housing, as this campus is in Southwest Virginia.
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| #4 | Laurel Ridge Community College | Middletown, VA | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | ||
A community college offering a one-year Nurse Aide Program (NUR 27) at multiple campuses in the northern Shenandoah Valley. The program prepares students for the Virginia CNA exam and can stack into a Patient Care Technician certificate that meets nursing program prerequisites. Norfolk students should treat this as an out-of-area option, with campuses well north and west of the metro.
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| #5 | Brightpoint Community College | Chester, VA | $5,000 – $12,000/yr (est.) | ||
A community college with a Career Studies Certificate that combines nurse aide and medication aide training. The curriculum includes anatomy, physiology, disease prevention, safety, infection control, and medical documentation, plus a supervised internship. Norfolk students would be commuting from the Richmond area's southern suburbs, so this is an out-of-area compare option unless hybrid components reduce travel.
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| #6 | Germanna Community College | Locust Grove, VA | $5,000 – $12,000/yr (est.) | ||
A community college in the Fredericksburg area with a seven-week certified nurse aide program that includes clinical experience at local facilities. Students learn patient care, medication administration, and health monitoring, with admission steps that include background check, drug test, and vaccines. For Norfolk students, this is an out-of-area campus requiring a significant commute or temporary housing.
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| #7 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond, VA | ~$5,000/yr (est.) | ||
A community college in Richmond offering a certified nurse aide program through the Community College Workforce Alliance, with a long-term care focus. Virginia residents may qualify for tuition assistance that makes the program low-cost or free. Norfolk students should see this as a Richmond-area option, not a daily commute from Hampton Roads.
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| #8 | Paul D Camp Community College | Franklin, VA | $5,000 – $11,000/yr (est.) | ||
A community college in Franklin offering a Career Studies Certificate in Nurse Aide with a one-year, full-time pathway for college-ready students. Coursework covers therapeutic communication, HIPAA compliance, culturally sensitive care planning, and ethical legal concepts, and graduates are eligible for the NNAAP. Norfolk students in Western Hampton Roads or northeastern North Carolina may find this more reachable, though it is still outside the immediate metro.
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| #9 | Danville Community College | Danville, VA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | ||
A community college with multiple nurse aide pathways, including a five-week certified nurse aide option with CPR and First Aid certification and a longer extended care certificate. The five-week format includes classroom, skills labs, and clinical experience, with financial aid often covering the $3,495 cost. Norfolk students should consider this a Southside Virginia option requiring relocation or a very long commute.
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| #10 | Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke, VA | $5,000 – $12,000/yr (est.) | ||
A community college in Roanoke offering a 28-day certified nurse aide program with four weeks of classroom education and a 40-hour clinical externship. The estimated $3,495 cost includes textbook, workbook, and exam voucher, and FastForward or G3 assistance may reduce out-of-pocket expense. Norfolk students would be commuting from the Roanoke Valley, so this is an out-of-area option.
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Below are answers to common questions about free and employer-sponsored training, certification transfer, and retake rules for Norfolk-area nurse aides. Different programs and testing vendors set their own terms, so confirm details directly.
