Points of interest…
- Wake Tech charges $305 for Nurse Aide I before extra required fees.
- Hybrid CNA classes still require in-person clinical hours in 2027.
- Raleigh-Cary nursing assistants earned $39,710 median annual pay in 2025.
North Carolina puts your name on the Nurse Aide I Registry only after you finish a state-approved program and pass the state competency exam, which makes program approval the first thing worth checking. CNA classes at Nursing Schools in Raleigh run short by design: most take a few weeks to a few months, and tuition at Wake Tech sits at $305 before the medical documentation fee, CPR, uniforms, and testing costs are added.
The tension is rarely cost alone. Fast tracks, evening sections, hybrid theory hours, and employer-paid training all exist here, but every route still requires supervised clinical hours in person. Raleigh-Cary nursing assistants earned a median of $39,710 in May 2025, so the math on tuition tends to work quickly.
Why Raleigh Is a Practical Place to Start as a Nurse Aide
Raleigh gives new nurse aides more places to work, and more ways to get started, than most mid-sized metros. Demand comes from several kinds of employers at once, so a fresh graduate is rarely limited to a single option.
Where Raleigh-Area CNAs Work
Hospital systems anchor the local market: WakeMed, UNC Rex, and Duke Raleigh Hospital all employ nursing assistants on inpatient units. Beyond the hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and home health agencies throughout Wake County hire aides for long-term and in-home care. Each setting offers a different pace, so it helps to know whether you prefer fast-moving acute care or steadier, relationship-based work with residents.
Training and jobs are not confined to the city limits, and CNA programs in North Carolina extend beyond Raleigh. Cary, Garner, and Wake Forest sit within an easy drive, and Durham and Chapel Hill extend the commute range if a program or employer there fits your schedule better.
Nurse Aide I vs. Nurse Aide II
North Carolina uses two tiers. Nurse Aide I is the entry credential and is listed on the state DHSR registry. Nurse Aide II is an add-on listed through the Board of Nursing that allows additional tasks, typically in hospital-based roles. Most people start with Nurse Aide I and consider the second tier later.
A Job and a Stepping Stone
CNA work pays the bills while it builds bedside experience. Many Raleigh students use it as a first rung toward LPN programs in Raleigh or RN programs, learning patient care before committing to a longer course of study.
Wake Tech, Hybrid, Evening, and 4-Week CNA Classes in Raleigh
Hybrid CNA training programs can move the theory hours online while fully in-person schedules keep every class period on campus, but neither path lets you skip the hands-on work North Carolina requires.
Wake Tech's format
Wake Tech's Nurse Aide I is a non-credit Workforce Development course built around 168 contact hours.1 In blended sections, 28 hours of theory run online through Blackboard, while the other 100 hours of lecture and lab are in person, plus a 48-hour clinical rotation, four-hour clinical orientation, eight-hour mock competency, and eight-hour written and skills final.1 Plan for required in-person dates listed in the section details; online access starts after the first meeting.
Schedules and the four-week question
Day, evening, and weekend sections are offered at Scott Northern Wake, Perry Health Sciences, and Public Safety Education campuses, with new sections starting almost every month.2 That gives working adults choices, but exact times vary by section and campus. A legitimate four-week option is not a standard Wake Tech format. Because the state requires 168 hours, a true four-week schedule would demand about 42 contact hours per week before exams and study time. If another provider markets a four-week CNA class, verify it still covers the full 168 hours and arranges supervised clinicals.
Why online CNA only goes so far
Theory can be online, but North Carolina requires in-person skills lab and supervised clinical hours. No fully online program leads to NC Nurse Aide I listing.1
Confirm seats early
Seats fill quickly. Confirm the next start date, registration window, campus, and schedule directly with the school before relying on published lists of nursing schools in North Carolina.
What CNA Training Really Costs in Raleigh
At Wake Tech, Nurse Aide I tuition and fees are $305, which includes malpractice insurance, lab supplies, and campus access but not the required $119 medical documentation fee, CPR/BLS, uniforms, or the state exam. The donut below shows a realistic all-in breakdown using Wake Tech's published fees plus typical regional costs for required items. Private programs often charge more but may bundle some extras.
Related Articles
What Nursing Assistants Earn in the Raleigh-Cary Area
The May 2025 federal wage estimates for nursing assistants in the Raleigh-Cary metro area show a median annual wage of $39,710 and a mean of $40,460, with total estimated employment of 6,420. New CNAs should budget toward the 25th percentile figure of $36,820 rather than the median, because first-year long-term care roles often pay below the midpoint until workers gain experience, move into hospital positions, or collect night and weekend shift differentials that can raise hourly pay above these annualized averages. The 75th percentile wage of $45,410 and the separate state and national OEWS tables from BLS and the North Carolina Department of Commerce both suggest that pay varies widely by setting, schedule, and location.
| Data Point | Raleigh-Cary, NC |
|---|---|
| Estimated employment | 6,420 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $36,820 |
| Median annual wage | $39,710 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $45,410 |
| Mean annual wage | $40,460 |
Questions to Ask Yourself
Can you commit to daytime clinical shifts, or do you need an evening or weekend cohort?
Clinical hours at nursing homes and care facilities often run on weekday mornings. If you work or care for family during the day, an evening or weekend cohort may be the only schedule you can finish.
Would you accept a facility work commitment in exchange for free training?
Some employers cover tuition if you agree to work for them afterward. That saves money upfront, but it limits where you work first, so confirm the length of the commitment and any repayment terms before you sign.
Do you plan to bridge to LPN or RN later, making a community college program more useful?
A community college CNA course can put you on a path to later nursing coursework and familiar advisors. If you only want quick entry to work, a shorter private or employer-run class may fit better.
Is your commute to clinical sites in Cary, Durham, or Wake Forest realistic?
Clinical placements may not be near your home or classroom. Check the typical sites and your travel time and cost, since missed clinical days can delay completion and your state exam.
Top CNA Schools in and Near Raleigh, NC
Below are the top CNA programs serving Raleigh students, ranked by IPEDS completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. The programs below blend classroom, lab, and clinical training for North Carolina Nurse Aide I and II credentials. Contact each program directly, because seat limits and scheduled sections change throughout the year.
Factors considered
- First-year retention and progression
- Student-to-faculty ratio and support
- Accreditation status and exam alignment
- Net price after aid
- Clinical access and program format
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 | Southwestern Community College | Sylva, NC | ~$5,000/yr (est.) | Career changers wanting hospital clinical rotations | |
Southwestern Community College in Sylva offers a Nurse Aide Certificate with clinical rotations at area hospitals and CPR certification built into the Nurse Aide I class. The admission process includes an entrance exam, and enrollment is limited. For Raleigh students, Sylva is not a practical daily commute, but the program can work for learners who can temporarily stay in the region.
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| #2 | Beaufort County Community College | Washington, NC | ~$7,000/yr (est.) | First-time aides seeking affordable entry | |
Beaufort County Community College in Washington offers a Nurse Aide I program totaling 164 hours, with campus-based classes and hands-on clinical experience. The listed course cost is $205.25, and free or eligible options may be available. Washington is about two hours east of Raleigh, so this is better suited to learners with a temporary stay rather than a daily commute.
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| #3 | Wayne Community College | Goldsboro, NC | ~$2,000/yr (est.) | Campus learners needing hands-on exam prep | |
Wayne Community College in Goldsboro trains students for entry-level Certified Nursing Assistant roles through campus-based Nurse Aide I and II courses. The program includes a mandatory information session, background check, drug screen, and vaccinations, with a $180 course fee plus insurance. Goldsboro is about an hour east of Raleigh, within reach for some eastern Wake commuters. ACEN accredited
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| #4 | Isothermal Community College | Spindale, NC | $11,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Isothermal Community College in Spindale offers both Nursing Assistant I and II training, with the Nurse Aide I program running 188 hours and a hybrid schedule option. The listed course cost is $185, and class size is capped at 10 students. Spindale is far west of Raleigh and is not a reasonable daily commute, so it may suit learners with temporary housing in the region.
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| #5 | Wilson Community College | Wilson, NC | $3,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Wilson Community College offers a Nurse Aide I program that combines classroom lectures, hands-on labs, and clinical experiences, then prepares graduates for the North Carolina Nurse Aide I state exam. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, immunizations, and a background check. Wilson is about a 50-minute drive east of Raleigh, making it one of the more practical commuting options in this list.
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| #6 | Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem, NC | $7,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem offers Nursing Assistant I and II programs, with the level I course running eight weeks during daytime hours. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, TABE placement test, immunizations, and background checks. Winston-Salem is roughly two hours west of Raleigh, so this is best for learners with flexible schedules or temporary housing.
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| #7 | Craven Community College | New Bern, NC | $3,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Craven Community College in New Bern offers a campus-based Nurse Aide I program with class, lab, and clinical components plus state testing available on campus. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, background check, and health documentation. New Bern is about two hours southeast of Raleigh, so commuting is not realistic for most students.
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| #8 | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Hudson, NC | $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) | ||
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in Hudson offers a Nurse Aide I certification program with classroom, lab, and clinical practice. The registration fee is $210, and admission requires a social security card, government photo ID, and immunization records. Hudson is in the foothills west of Raleigh and is not a practical daily commute, but it may work for learners with local housing.
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| #9 | College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City, NC | ~$2,000/yr (est.) | ||
College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City offers Nurse Aide I and Nurse Aide II pathways through its Workforce Development department. The short, noncredit courses include class, lab, and clinical time, with a mandatory orientation for Nurse Aide I. Elizabeth City is in the northeastern corner of the state, so this is not a practical commute from Raleigh, but it can be a relocation or temporary stay option.
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| #10 | Rockingham Community College | Wentworth, NC | ~$2,000/yr (est.) | ||
Rockingham Community College in Wentworth offers a Nurse Aide I program that prepares students for Certified Nurse Aide listing through classroom, laboratory, and clinical training. The curriculum covers patient care, aging processes, nutrition management, and medical documentation. Wentworth sits north of Greensboro and is not a practical daily commute from Raleigh, so this works best for learners with a local base.
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In Raleigh, state approval and in-person clinicals matter more than speed or price, because only an approved program with supervised hands-on training qualifies you to sit for the state exam.
