Nursing Assistant Schools in Virginia Beach: Costs, Hours & Starts

A state-approved CNA program in Virginia Beach can be finished in a matter of weeks, with 140 total training hours including 40 hours of direct client care, a timeline measured against the two to four years a degree demands. For someone who wants a fast, low-cost way to become a certified nursing assistant, that compression is the whole appeal.

The practical tension is less about whether jobs exist and more about cost and clearance: published tuition among named providers runs from roughly $950 to $1,155, and funding rarely covers an open-enrollment seat. Providers across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Newport News all serve this market, which is why directories disagree on how many options actually enroll the public.

Leading CNA Programs Within Reach of Virginia Beach

Below are the leading CNA programs serving Virginia Beach students, ranked by completion data, net price, and program fit. The roster includes state-approved programs across the surrounding region, not just the city center, which is why the number of options differs from local directories. Each entry highlights the format and practical factors that matter for Virginia Beach area learners.

Rank	School	Location	Net price	Best for
#1	Riverside College of Health Careers	Newport News, VA	$20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.)	Budget-minded Hampton Roads commuters
Riverside College of Health Careers in Newport News offers a short campus-based Nurse Aide Certificate that can fit a Tidewater commuter. The six-week program combines 72 hours of academic instruction, 42 hours of skills lab, and 50 hours of clinical experience. A flat $700 tuition and an Earn-and-Learn option make it a low-cost path to certification. Nurse Aide Certificate — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited Six-week campus-based program $700 total tuition with flat fee 72 classroom, 42 lab, 50 clinical hours Earn-and-Learn tuition-free work option Virginia Board of Nursing approved No prerequisite courses required Day division schedule
#2	Centra College	Lynchburg, VA	~$13,000/yr (est.)	Hybrid learners needing hospital clinicals
Centra College offers an eight-week hybrid Nurse Aide Program that combines classroom work with clinical experience at Centra facilities. The program prepares students for the NNAAP exam and includes locations in Lynchburg, Bedford, and Appomattox. This hybrid structure can work for learners who need a shorter credential and are open to travel. Nurse Aide Program, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited Hybrid eight-week program Clinical experience at Centra facilities Campus locations in Lynchburg, Bedford, Appomattox Prepares for NNAAP exam Virginia Board of Nursing approved Leads to CNA licensure preparation
#3	New River Community College	Dublin, VA	~$6,000/yr (est.)	Students wanting flexible session starts
New River Community College in Dublin offers both a Career Studies Certificate and non-credit workforce training for nursing assistants. The program is Virginia Board of Nursing approved and prepares students for the NNAAP exam. Its multiple session options may help students who want a spring or summer start. Nurse Aide Program, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website Career Studies Certificate option Non-credit workforce training track Virginia Board of Nursing approved Prepares for NNAAP exam Spring and summer sessions available
#4	Brightpoint Community College	Chester, VA	$5,000 – $12,000/yr (est.)
Brightpoint Community College offers a Nurse Aide/Medication Aide Career Studies Certificate with campus and hybrid delivery options. The curriculum includes anatomy, physiology, disease prevention, safety, infection control, and a supervised internship. G3 tuition assistance may lower costs for qualifying Virginia students. Nurse Aide/Medication Aide, CSC, Certificate or Diploma — Hybrid Visit Website Nurse aide and medication aide training Career Studies Certificate Hybrid and campus formats Covers anatomy, physiology, disease prevention Includes supervised internship G3 tuition assistance eligible
#5	Laurel Ridge Community College	Middletown, VA	~$6,000/yr (est.)
Laurel Ridge Community College offers a one-year Nurse Aide Program, also listed as Patient Care Technician / Nurse Aide, across Middletown, Fauquier, and Luray-Page County campuses. The program prepares students for the Virginia CNA exam and can stack into nursing prerequisites. G3 Scholarship eligibility may reduce cost. Nurse Aide Program (NUR 27), Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website One-year, two-semester program Offered at three campus locations Prepares for Virginia CNA exam Stackable nursing prerequisites G3 Scholarship eligible
#6	Germanna Community College	Locust Grove, VA	$5,000 – $12,000/yr (est.)
Germanna Community College in Locust Grove offers a seven-week Certified Nurse Aide program with classroom learning and hands-on clinical experience at local facilities. Admission requires a background check, drug test, physical exam, and up-to-date vaccines. The short schedule may appeal to students seeking a quick entry point, though travel from Virginia Beach requires planning. Certified Nurse Aide, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus Visit Website Seven-week program duration Clinical experience at local facilities Background check and drug test required Up-to-date vaccines and physical exam Students must be at least 17 No nursing application required

CNA Program Tuition in Virginia Beach, Provider by Provider

Published tuition among named Virginia Beach-area providers runs from $950 to $1,155, with Tidewater Community College asking students to call for current pricing. Tidewater Community College offers a 120-hour nurse aide program, while Virginia Beach City Public Schools does not state whether books, uniform, CPR, background check, and NNAAP exam fee are included. Plan for separate costs such as scrubs, shoes, a drug screen, and immunizations when estimating your all-in total.

Paid-for Training in Hampton Roads: Sentara, WIOA, and Job Corps

Are there genuinely free CNA training programs in Virginia Beach? Not on an open-enrollment basis. Training gets paid for one of two ways here: a funding agency approves you, or an employer covers the cost and expects you to work for them afterward.

Employer-sponsored seats

Sentara runs a 16-week hybrid nurse aide course based in Chesapeake, and Hampton Roads employers have periodically offered free or subsidized training tied to employment after certification. Nursing homes sponsor candidates too, sometimes covering tuition, books, and exam fees, and occasionally paying for class time, though paid class hours are not standard. These seats are competitive and commonly carry a multi-month work commitment. Before signing, ask for the commitment length and the consequences of leaving early in writing.

WIOA through Virginia Career Works

Workforce funding for Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake residents routes through the Virginia Career Works Hampton Center, 600 Butler Farm Road, Room 1015, Hampton (757-766-4900). Register on Virginia Workforce Connection, attend the required information session at the center, then work with a case manager who determines whether you qualify as an adult (generally 18 and older, with priority for low-income applicants, public assistance recipients, and veterans), a dislocated worker, or a youth aged 16 to 24. Funding only applies to CNA programs in Virginia that appear on the state's Eligible Training Provider List.

Job Corps

Job Corps is federally funded and free for income-eligible applicants aged 16 to 24. Its CNA track requires a high school diploma or equivalent and a background check reviewed case by case. Old Dominion Job Corps (Monroe, Virginia; 800-733-JOBS) is residential and well outside the region.

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Start Dates, Evening Cohorts, and Hybrid Coursework

An accelerated boot camp that wraps in a matter of weeks and a slower-paced term that runs across a full semester are two very different commitments, and Virginia Beach nursing schools offer both ends of that spectrum.

How Long It Takes

Across the Virginia Beach area, CNA training programs generally run anywhere from about four to twelve weeks depending on format, though some tracks stretch longer. Intensive daytime tracks are common on the fast end: TCC's Norfolk cohort, for example, runs October 5, 2026 through February 9, 2027 as a Monday-to-Friday program of roughly 65 sessions. TCC's Virginia Beach Campus lists its Nurse Aide Career Studies Certificate as a one-semester, 9-credit program. Evening and weekend sections exist to help working adults, but availability shifts term to term, so confirm the current schedule before you plan around it.

Cohort Timing and Online Options

Many private providers open new cohorts roughly every six to eight weeks, while college terms follow a semester calendar. CNA classes in Virginia are only partly available online. Some providers deliver theory in a hybrid or online format, but the clinical and skills hours (typically around 40 hours of in-person clinical for programs here) must be completed face to face at an approved facility. No fully online nurse aide program is established in the state.

Because cohorts fill and calendars change, call the provider directly for the next confirmed start date.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Virginia Board of Nursing Rules and Enrollment Requirements

Virginia-approved nurse aide programs currently require 140 total training hours, including 40 hours of direct client care. Before enrolling, confirm the provider's approval and clinical clearance steps.

1. Approved program list

   The program must appear on the Virginia Board of Nursing's approved nurse aide education program listing. Check the exact provider name and location, and ask for current approval status and expiration; do not rely only on "state certified."
2. Training hours

   Expect 140 total hours: at least 20 lab skills hours, 24 hours of instruction before direct client contact, and 40 hours of direct client care in a clinical setting. Out-of-state programs are not regulated by Virginia.
3. Background check and drug screen

   Criminal background checks and drug screens are not set by the Board as one statewide rule; clinical facilities commonly require them. Get the school's written clearance checklist and confirm with the site.
4. Health requirements

   TB testing and immunizations are commonly required by clinical sites, but specifics vary by facility, confirm the current list before starting clinical hours.
5. Age, education, and CPR

   Age and education minimums vary by provider; ask for the program's specific requirements. Some clinical sites require CPR/BLS certification before placement, ask upfront.

From Classroom to Registry: Passing Virginia's NNAAP Exam

Virginia now routes all nurse aide testing through Credentia, which means every question about scheduling, fees, and results goes to the vendor rather than the Board of Nursing. The path from coursework to a registry listing follows the standard steps to become a nurse.

The Steps in Order

• Finish a Board-approved education program (the standard route to eligibility).
• Create a Credentia account and submit the online application; pay by card, ACH, electronic check, or voucher ahead of time, not at the test site.
• Reserve your seat at least two calendar days before a test-center date. Both parts must be completed within 24 months of finishing training, and nursing-home trainees have a tighter 120-day window to certify.
• Pass both components, after which Credentia forwards results to the Board for your Nurse Aide Registry listing.

Fees and Retakes

The Written and Oral exams each cost $45, and the Skills exam runs $95. A first attempt covering Skills plus Written or Oral totals $140. Nursing homes must cover these fees for their employees, including retests. Fail three attempts and you must re-enroll in and complete another approved program before reapplying.

Pass Rates and Timeline

The Board publishes pass rates by program. In 2025, results ranged widely: high-school programs hit 76.9%, college programs 60.7%, and proprietary programs 48.9%. Ask any school for its current rate before enrolling. Start to finish, most students move from enrollment to a first CNA paycheck in roughly two to four months as they begin nursing careers.

CNA Pay and Top Employers in the Virginia Beach Metro

Wage data for this metro is uneven: the latest official BLS nursing-assistant distribution shows a median of $18.75 an hour, with the middle half of earners between roughly $17.70 and $21.90 and about 8,110 employed. A separate secondary source cites a 2023 median of $17.19 for the same geography, so treat the exact midpoint as a range rather than a precise point. The broader 2025 healthcare support group averaged $18.48 locally, below the national $19.62. At these wages, an employer-sponsored or WIOA-funded CNA program can pay for itself quickly, and even a modest out-of-pocket tuition bill can be recovered within the first few weeks of full-time work.

Commuting Options in Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Newport News

Hampton Roads spreads across several cities connected by tunnels and bridges, so a program at Nursing Schools in Chesapeake or Newport News may be a realistic commute from Virginia Beach. Not every provider near you trains nurse aides, though. Some local names on the state's lists are medication aide programs or LPN programs in Virginia instead¹, so check the program type before you drive anywhere.

Confirm Approval First

The Virginia Board of Nursing publishes its list of currently approved nurse aide education programs¹, and it also offers a licensee lookup and direct contact information.² Use those to verify Virginia nursing programs in Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, or Newport News. Listings change, so treat a third-party roundup as a lead, not proof.

Where to Look in Each City

Search the websites of Tidewater Community College, local career and technical centers, hospital-based training programs, and nonprofit workforce agencies for a "nurse aide" or "CNA" page. For background, BLS.gov covers national CNA training and career basics. The Virginia Health Care Association and the National Association of Health Care Assistants can point you to additional program leads and local contacts.

Before You Enroll

• Approval: Confirm the program is Board-approved for nurse aide training.
• Status: Call to learn whether it is operating now and accepting students.
• Logistics: Ask about location, cost, schedule, and where clinical hours take place.
• Comparison: Weigh at least two options on price, travel time, and start date.