Points of interest…
- Florida requires in-person supervised clinical hours for every CNA program.
- State fees cover the Prometric exam and Level 2 background screening.
- Free CNA training in 2027 often requires a signed work commitment.
A certified nursing assistant (CNA) provides hands-on care, from bathing and feeding to taking vital signs, in Palm Beach County hospitals, nursing homes, and private homes. Florida-approved training runs about 120 to 165 clock hours, including supervised clinicals, so many students finish in four to eight weeks.
Speed is the easy part. Total cost varies by school once exam and background-screening fees are added, and employer-linked routes such as MorseLife, which require a refundable $240 registration fee, often come with a work commitment. Schools ranked here, drawn from federal data, sit within commuting distance.
Only passing the state exam, not finishing class, puts a name on the Florida CNA registry, a step many take before pursuing LPN programs in Florida. Jump straight to the program list →
Why West Palm Beach Is a Strong Place to Start a CNA Career
For new CNAs exploring nursing career paths, the choice is often between facility work in a hospital or nursing home and one-on-one private-duty home care. West Palm Beach supports both, and demand is anchored by a large senior population: Palm Beach County had more than 401,000 residents age 65 or older in 2024.1
Hospitals and Long-Term Care Employers
Major systems that hire CNAs around West Palm Beach include Baptist Health South Florida, HCA Florida, Jupiter Medical Center, and St. Mary's Medical Center.2 Long-term care employers include MorseLife Health System, The Laurels of Wellington, Vi at Lakeside Village, and Hamlin Place of Boynton Beach.3 The Health Care District's Skilled Nursing Center in Riviera Beach earned Newsweek recognition this year.4 Listed 2026 pay for CNA and home-health roles in the county ranges from about $15 to $22 per hour, with private-duty cases sometimes higher.3
Commute-Ready Job Markets
A new CNA can find work close to home in Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Boca Raton. Wider regional options include Fort Lauderdale and Port St. Lucie, which expands the map for early career moves or part-time work.
The Work and the Next Step
Day to day, a Florida CNA takes vital signs, helps with bathing and mobility, assists with feeding, and reports changes under nurse supervision. It is a practical way to build bedside hours before applying to LPN programs in West Palm Beach or RN programs, and many students use it as a paid clinical foundation.
Online, Hybrid, Evening, and 4-Week CNA Classes: What Florida Actually Allows
No CNA programs in Florida can be completed entirely online, whatever a search ad suggests. Some providers deliver classroom theory in a hybrid or online format (College of Health and Allied Development lists a hybrid 120-hour program), but supervised clinical hours are completed on site at an approved facility. Most Nursing Schools in West Palm Beach with published details list fully in-person delivery.
Accelerated Day vs. Evening and Weekend Formats
Published schedules show how widely timelines vary:
- Medical Institute of Palm Beach: 120 hours, offered as a 5-week day track (Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.) or an 8-week night track (Monday to Thursday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.). Clinicals run Fridays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or weekends 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- De-Empire Academy for Healthcare Education: 165 clock hours over roughly 8 weeks, with day and evening options.
- Palm Beach State College: listed at 6 to 12 weeks.
- Paramount Training Services: advertises a 1-week, full-time daytime accelerated course.
Many provider listings leave out schedule details entirely, so confirm the format directly with the school before you pay a deposit.
Which Format Fits You
If you can't leave your current job, an evening track with weekend clinicals lets you keep earning while you train. If your priority is the fastest route to a paycheck and you can commit to daytime hours, an accelerated day program gets you to the state exam sooner.
The Trade-Off With 4-Week Classes
Compressed programs pack clinical shifts tightly together and leave little study time between your final class and the state competency exam. Students who learn best through repetition may find that a longer format gives them more room to practice skills before testing.
The Real Cost of CNA Training in West Palm Beach
The only training-related costs set by the state are the Prometric certification exam and required Level 2 background screening. Tuition, textbooks, scrubs, and physical/TB tests are set by each school and vary, so they are not shown here. Most students should budget separately for those school-set costs on top of the fixed fees below.
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Questions to Ask Yourself
Would you be comfortable working at this specific facility, on its shift schedule, for the full commitment period?
Free training usually means a work commitment at the sponsoring employer. If the unit, location, or night and weekend shifts don't fit your life, the savings can cost you more in burnout.
What do you owe if you leave early or fail the Florida skills exam?
Many agreements require repayment of training costs if you quit or don't certify. Ask for the exact amount, whether it is prorated, and get it in writing before you sign.
Does the program include the state exam fee and background screening, or are those on you?
A free class can still leave you paying for the certification exam, fingerprinting, scrubs, and a physical. Add those up so you can compare offers honestly.
Would a paid program with no strings let you negotiate a higher starting wage elsewhere?
Graduating without a commitment lets you compare offers from hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies. A better hourly rate can recover tuition faster than you might expect.
Checklist: How to Vet a CNA Program Before You Enroll
Before you pay a deposit, use this quick checklist to separate approved programs from expensive unknowns.
- Confirm Florida Board of Nursing approvalLook up the program on the Florida Board of Nursing's Education and Training Programs page using the exact legal program name and license number, then confirm the current status before enrolling. A school's general nursing approval is not enough.
- Check the 120-hour / 40-clinical-hour minimumAsk for a written schedule showing at least 120 total hours and 40 hours of supervised clinical training. If a program offers fewer hours, it does not meet the state minimum.
- Map the clinical siteAsk where clinical rotations occur. A site far from West Palm Beach may be unrealistic, especially for evening or weekend cohorts.
- Match the schedule and start dateConfirm whether day, evening, or weekend cohorts are currently enrolling and when the next start date is. A short program may still have limited seat availability.
- Ask for exam prep and pass-rate detailsRequest written first-time vs. all-attempt results for knowledge and skills separately, including the number tested and passed. Florida does not currently publish a program-level CNA pass-rate database, so rely on the school's own data.
- Get an all-in price in writingAsk for one document that lists tuition, textbooks, uniform, background screening, and exam fees. If the quote omits exam or screening costs, treat the total as incomplete.
Top CNA Programs Serving West Palm Beach Students
Below are the top CNA programs serving West Palm Beach students, ranked by IPEDS completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. The list includes schools within a 75-mile radius and, where needed, expanded options that offer campus, hybrid, or accelerated formats. Each entry highlights program details that matter most for working adults and career changers.
Factors considered
- First-year retention
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Accreditation status
- Net price after aid
- Campus and format fit
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 evening flexibility | |
FVI School of Nursing and Technology prepares students for the Florida CNA exam through a hands-on campus program with day and evening scheduling. The curriculum includes a clinical externship and CPR/BLS certification, which keeps training practical and job-focused. Bilingual instruction is available, and the school offers financial aid and job placement support for qualifying students.
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| #2 | Fort Myers Technical College | Fort Myers, FL | Budget-conscious students seeking a public option | ||
Fort Myers Technical College offers a compact 165-hour nursing assistant program that combines classroom work with clinical rotations. The curriculum covers patient care, medical terminology, and CPR, and the school reports a total program cost around $1,290 before additional fees. Applicants must be 18 or high school graduates and complete an information session, background screening, and health requirements.
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| #3 | South Florida Institute of Technology | Miami, FL | ~$32,000/yr (est.) | Prior nursing students needing exam prep | |
South Florida Institute of Technology offers a short, low-cost CNA exam preparation course for students who already have prior nursing-related coursework. The program runs six Saturdays and focuses on 22 practical skills, medical abbreviations, and ethical standards needed for the state exam. At $250, it is one of the most affordable options in the region for exam readiness.
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| #4 | South Florida State College | Avon Park, FL | $4,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
South Florida State College combines healthcare fundamentals with hands-on training in an 8-week hybrid format designed for working adults. Evening and Sunday classes provide flexibility, and the program can be funded through CareerSource Heartland for eligible residents. Students complete 165 total training hours and leave prepared to sit for the state certification exam.
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| #5 | Cape Coral Technical College | Cape Coral, FL | ~$1,000/yr (est.) | ||
Cape Coral Technical College runs a 165-hour nursing assistant program that can be completed in about six weeks. The estimated total cost is $1,255, including 40 hours of clinical experience, and the college is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. Small class sizes and hands-on instruction make it a direct path to the state CNA exam.
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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 that can be completed in eight weeks with two weekly class sessions. The program requires 165 clock hours and prepares students for the Florida CNA exam, with a pathway toward practical nursing. Admission is selective, and financial aid is available for qualifying students.
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| #7 | Saint Johns River State College | Palatka, FL | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | ||
Saint Johns River State College offers a four-week nursing assistant career certificate that focuses on long-term care. The 120-hour program includes medical terminology, gerontology, CPR, and employability skills, and classes are available at two campus locations. Financial aid is available for eligible students, making it a short and affordable option.
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| #8 | Indian River State College | Fort Pierce, FL | ~$4,000/yr (est.) | ||
Indian River State College delivers a nursing assistant program with day and evening sections and three start dates per year. Students practice in labs and clinical settings, focusing on safety, vital signs, and daily living skills, and the college publishes its certified nursing pass rate. Financial aid and scholarships are available, and classes run at two campuses.
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| #9 | Santa Fe College | Gainesville, FL | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Santa Fe College offers a 165-contact hour nursing assistant certificate with clinical rotations at local facilities. The in-person program is Florida Board of Nursing approved, and no high school diploma is required for admission. Class size is capped at 10 students per cycle, and scholarships plus financial aid can help offset costs. ACEN accredited
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| #10 | Chipola College | Marianna, FL | $1,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Chipola College admits its nursing assistant program twice a year, with a spring application deadline in October 2026. The campus-based program prepares students for the NACE exam and offers support through DWYER Workforce Development and CareerSource Chipola for costs, housing, transportation, and job placement. Selective admission requirements mean students should apply early.
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Choose a Florida-approved program with in-person clinicals, and read every word of a free-training agreement before you sign it.
CNA Classes in West Palm Beach: Common Questions
Florida does not publish a single statewide length for CNA training, so the timeline depends on the approved program you choose. Ask each school for its current schedule; some local programs offer accelerated formats, while others run a full term. After training, you must pass the competency evaluation and apply for registry listing.1
Florida requires supervised in-person skills practice and patient-care experience, so online coursework can supplement but not replace clinical training. Ask each program whether its online or hybrid format includes scheduled lab and clinical hours at an approved site. A fully online program without hands-on practice will not satisfy the state's competency requirements.2
Florida CNA certification renews every two years. You need at least 24 hours of documented in-service training each biennium. Paid CNA work can satisfy renewal only if you do not go 24 consecutive months without performing nursing-related services for pay. After that gap, you must complete a new training and competency evaluation program. The renewal fee is $50.2
Yes, if your out-of-state CNA license is current and active, you can apply for endorsement.3 If it is not active, you must apply to take the Prometric exam.3 Florida also offers a MOBILE endorsement for qualified CNAs with at least two years of active practice in the last four years, a clean disciplinary history, and completion of a Level II background screening. MOBILE applications go through the state's online portal.3
Florida by City
- CNA Programs in Boynton Beach
- CNA Programs in Brandon
- CNA Programs in Doral
- CNA Programs in Fort Lauderdale
- CNA Programs in Fort Myers
- CNA Programs in Jacksonville
- CNA Programs in Miami
- CNA Programs in Ocala
- CNA Programs in Odessa
- CNA Programs in Orange Park
- CNA Programs in Orlando
- CNA Programs in Pensacola
- CNA Programs in Port St. Lucie
- CNA Programs in Tampa
- CNA Programs in Winter Park
