CNA Classes in New Jersey | Certified Nursing Assistant Training Programs
NJ Department of Health Approved

CNA Classes & Training Programs in New Jersey

The Garden State | Start Your Healthcare Career in as Little as 4-6 Weeks

Find Programs Near You How to Get Certified
90
Minimum Training Hours
FREE
Background Check Fee
$44,480
Average Annual Salary
4-6
Weeks to Complete
About CNA Certification in New Jersey

Begin Your Healthcare Journey in The Garden State

New Jersey offers exceptional opportunities for aspiring Certified Nursing Assistants, with over 140 approved training programs statewide and a healthcare sector desperately seeking qualified caregivers. The Garden State's strategic location between New York City and Philadelphia—two of the nation's largest healthcare markets—creates unique advantages for CNAs seeking employment in world-class medical facilities. Major health systems including Hackensack Meridian Health (17 hospitals, New Jersey's largest healthcare provider), RWJBarnabas Health (11 acute care hospitals serving over 5 million patients annually), Atlantic Health System (7 hospitals including top-ranked Morristown Medical Center and Overlook Medical Center), Virtua Health, and Cooper University Health Care provide comprehensive career opportunities across the state. With approximately 31,610 CNAs currently employed in New Jersey and over 3,200 active job openings at any given time, the demand for skilled nursing assistants remains exceptionally strong.

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) oversees CNA certification through the Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP), requiring 90 hours of training—50 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of supervised clinical experience in a licensed long-term care facility. New Jersey's median CNA salary of $44,480 annually ($21.38/hour) ranks among the highest in the nation, with top-paying areas including Vineland, Trenton-Princeton, and the Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area. The state's aging population has increased 24.7% since 2010 and is projected to reach nearly 3 million seniors by 2029, driving consistent demand for compassionate care professionals. A distinctive advantage in New Jersey is that Criminal Background Investigation (CBI) fingerprinting is provided at NO COST to candidates—a significant savings compared to other states. With training programs available through community colleges, vocational schools, high schools, and healthcare facilities, becoming a CNA in New Jersey is accessible and affordable.

  • FREE fingerprint background check (no cost to students)
  • 140+ approved training programs statewide
  • Strategic location near NYC & Philadelphia job markets
  • 120-day conditional employment while completing certification

Quick Facts

Minimum Training Hours 90 Hours
Classroom Hours 50 Hours
Clinical Hours 40 Hours
Exam Provider PSI Services
Written Test Passing Score 75%
Skills Test Passing Score 80%
Regulatory Body NJ Dept. of Health

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Certification Process

How to Become a CNA in New Jersey

1

Complete NJDOH-Approved Training

Enroll in a Nurse Aide in Long-Term Care Facilities Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) approved by the New Jersey Department of Health. Programs require a minimum of 90 hours of training—50 hours of classroom instruction covering essential nursing concepts and 40 hours of supervised clinical experience in a licensed New Jersey long-term care facility. The standardized NJDOH curriculum covers infection control, safety procedures, communication skills, basic nursing techniques, vital signs monitoring, personal care, resident rights, emergency procedures, and the role of the nurse aide. Training programs are available through numerous providers including community colleges (Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, Bergen Community College, Camden County College, Hudson County Community College, Ocean County College in Toms River, Essex County College in Newark, Raritan Valley Community College), county vocational-technical schools (Burlington County Institute of Technology, Camden County Technical School, Essex County Vocational), private career schools (Healthcare Training Institute in Union, Prism Career Institute), and many licensed long-term care facilities that offer free or reduced-cost training in exchange for employment commitments. Program costs typically range from FREE (employer-sponsored) to $2,500, with most community college programs between $1,200-$1,900. IMPORTANT: You must complete a Criminal Background Investigation (CBI) with fingerprinting through the New Jersey State Police and FBI—this is provided at NO COST to the student through NJDOH.

2

Pass the State Competency Exam

After completing your NATCEP program, you must pass the New Jersey Nurse Aide Competency Examination administered by PSI Services LLC. UNIQUE TO NEW JERSEY: You must take and pass the Skills Evaluation FIRST before you're eligible to schedule the Written (or Oral) exam—this differs from most other states where both components can be taken on the same day. The Skills Evaluation tests handwashing (mandatory for all candidates) plus 4 randomly selected nursing assistant skills. You must score at least 80% on each skill without missing any critical key steps. If you fail one skill, you may retest with five skills; if you fail two or more skills, you must take a complete skills retest. After passing the Skills Evaluation, schedule your Written Exam through PSI at psiexams.com or by phone at 1-800-733-9267. The written test contains 60 multiple-choice questions covering nursing aide knowledge areas including basic nursing care, personal care, safety, infection control, communication, and resident rights—you have 90 minutes to complete it and must score at least 75% to pass. An Oral Exam alternative is available in English and Spanish for candidates with reading difficulties. You have up to three attempts within one year of your first skills test to pass both components; after three failures, retraining is required. Results for the written exam are given immediately at the test site; skills results are mailed within 10 days.

3

Get Listed on the NJ Nurse Aide Registry

Once you pass both exam components and your Criminal Background Investigation (CBI) clears, your name is added to the New Jersey Nurse Aide Registry maintained by PSI Services LLC under contract with NJDOH. This registry serves as official proof of your certification and employment eligibility—employers MUST verify your registry status before hiring you. If you've completed all requirements (exams passed + CBI cleared), you'll receive your CNA certificate immediately at the testing site after passing the written exam. If your CBI is still processing, PSI will take your photo and your certificate will be mailed once clearance is received. Allow up to 12 weeks for CBI processing. IMPORTANT: New Jersey does NOT require CNA certification to work in acute care hospitals—certification is only required for long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and sub-acute units within hospitals. However, most employers prefer certified candidates. A unique advantage in New Jersey is the 120-day conditional employment provision: Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities may employ you as a trainee for up to 120 days while you complete your training and testing—allowing you to earn while you learn. Your certification is valid for 24 months from the date you pass your written exam. To verify your status or check your certification, visit the NJ Nurse Aide Registry online or contact NJDOH at (866) 561-5914 or CNA@doh.nj.gov.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About CNA Certification in New Jersey

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in New Jersey typically takes 4-6 weeks from enrollment to certification, though the timeline can vary based on program format and your schedule. New Jersey requires 90 hours of NJDOH-approved training—50 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of clinical experience—which is efficiently delivered by most programs. Community colleges like Brookdale Community College (Lincroft), Bergen Community College (Hackensack), Camden County College, and Ocean County College (Toms River) offer programs that can be completed in as little as 4-8 weeks depending on whether you choose day, evening, or weekend schedules. Some accelerated private programs can be completed in 3-4 weeks with intensive scheduling. Healthcare Training Institute in Union and Essex County College in Newark offer popular programs in the northern region, while Rowan College of South Jersey serves the southern counties. Many long-term care facilities offer employer-sponsored training programs that allow you to work while completing your certification—these typically take 6-8 weeks. After training, schedule your Skills Evaluation through your instructor, then your Written Exam through PSI once you pass skills. Written exam results are immediate; skills results arrive within 10 days. Background check processing takes up to 12 weeks, but you can work conditionally for up to 120 days while awaiting clearance. Total time from enrollment to being work-ready is typically 6-10 weeks for most students, with determined individuals completing the entire process in as few as 4-5 weeks.
CNA training costs in New Jersey range from FREE (employer-sponsored programs) to approximately $2,500, with most quality programs costing between $800 and $1,900. A significant advantage in New Jersey is that the Criminal Background Investigation (CBI) with fingerprinting is provided at NO COST to students—a savings of $50-100 compared to other states. Community colleges offer excellent value: Brookdale Community College charges approximately $1,205 for their 90-hour program, Bergen Community College costs approximately $1,895, Ocean County College runs about $1,500, and Camden County College offers competitive rates around $1,200-1,400. County vocational-technical schools like Burlington County Institute of Technology and Camden County Technical School often offer programs at reduced rates. Private career schools like Healthcare Training Institute and Prism Career Institute typically charge $1,500-2,500 but may offer more flexible scheduling and smaller class sizes. The most affordable option is employer-sponsored training through nursing homes and long-term care facilities—many will train you for FREE in exchange for a work commitment (typically 1-2 years). Contact NJDOH at (866) 561-5914 for a list of facilities offering free training. Beyond tuition, budget for exam fees (paid to PSI—typically $50-100 combined for written and skills), uniforms, shoes, textbooks/workbooks ($50-100), physical exam and immunizations ($100-200), and transportation to clinical sites. Total out-of-pocket costs for most students range from $1,000-$2,000. Financial assistance may be available through NJ One-Stop Career Centers, workforce development grants, and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding for eligible candidates.
Yes, this is a unique aspect of New Jersey regulations. Unlike most states, New Jersey does NOT require nurse aides to be certified to work in acute care hospitals—certification is only mandatory for employment in licensed long-term care facilities (nursing homes), assisted living facilities, and sub-acute units within hospitals. Hospitals in New Jersey use the approved New Jersey State Board of Nursing Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) curriculum to develop and implement their own training programs for nursing assistants who will work in acute care settings. This means you can potentially work as an uncertified hospital aide or patient care assistant while pursuing your CNA certification. However, there are important considerations: most hospitals strongly PREFER hiring certified CNAs because the NATCEP certification demonstrates you've met standardized competency requirements; many hospital positions are actually listed as "CNA" or "Certified Nursing Assistant" in their job postings; and having your certification dramatically expands your employment options and earning potential. Major hospital systems like Hackensack Meridian Health, RWJBarnabas Health, Atlantic Health System, and Virtua Health typically prefer or require CNA certification even for acute care positions. Additionally, if you ever want to work in a nursing home, assisted living facility, home health care, or any Medicare/Medicaid-certified long-term care setting, certification IS required. The bottom line: while technically possible to work in NJ hospitals without certification, obtaining your CNA credential is highly recommended and will significantly enhance your career opportunities throughout New Jersey's extensive healthcare system.
Yes, New Jersey accepts CNA certifications from other states through reciprocity, but you must meet specific requirements to be placed on the New Jersey Nurse Aide Registry. If you're certified in another U.S. state or territory and in active, good standing (no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation), NJDOH offers two reciprocity pathways. Route 1 (Continuing Education-Based): Within the prior 24 months, you must have completed 24 hours of approved continuing education units (CEUs), including 12 hours in Alzheimer's/dementia care and 12 hours distributed across infection control, emergency procedures, abuse/neglect/resident rights/misappropriation, and pharmacy/medication. Route 1 applicants do NOT need to retake New Jersey exams. Route 2 (Employment-Based): Within the prior 24 months, you must have 24 months of full-time employment (at least 35 hours per week) as a CNA performing nursing-related services in a nursing home, supervised by a licensed nurse. Route 2 applicants MUST pass both the New Jersey Skills Evaluation and Written/Oral Exam. To apply for either route, call NJDOH at 1-877-774-4243 to request a reciprocity application packet. You'll need to provide documentation of your current, valid certification from your originating state's registry, complete the Criminal Background Investigation (CBI) with fingerprinting through IdentoGO (forms included in packet), and pay applicable fees. Processing times vary but typically take 4-8 weeks after all documentation is received. IMPORTANT: You cannot work as a CNA in New Jersey long-term care facilities until your reciprocity is approved and you're listed on the NJ Nurse Aide Registry—out-of-state credentials alone are not valid for employment in New Jersey LTC settings.
New Jersey has specific rules for exam retakes that differ from many other states. UNIQUE TO NEW JERSEY: You must pass the Skills Evaluation FIRST before you can take the Written Exam. For the Skills Evaluation: If you fail only one skill, you can retake a skills test with five randomly selected skills (rather than a complete retest). If you fail two or more skills, you must take a complete skills retest with all five skills plus handwashing. Results are mailed within 10 days of your skills test. For the Written (or Oral) Exam: You can schedule a retest through PSI immediately if you fail. Results are given at the test site immediately after completion, so you'll know right away if you passed or need to reschedule. The critical deadline: You have ONE YEAR from the date of your FIRST Skills Evaluation attempt to pass BOTH the Skills and Written exams. Within that year, you have up to THREE attempts to pass each component. If you exceed three attempts on either component OR exceed the one-year deadline, you must RETRAIN by completing another full NJDOH-approved NATCEP program before you can test again. Additionally, you must complete ALL testing within TWO YEARS of completing your training program. Exam fees must be repaid for each retest attempt. To maximize your chances of passing, study the candidate bulletin available from PSI thoroughly, practice all 22 potential skills (5 will be randomly selected), use free CNA practice tests online, and review the NJDOH curriculum modules. Many training programs offer test prep assistance or can recommend tutoring resources. If you're struggling, some programs offer refresher courses or additional skills practice sessions.
Maintaining Your Certification

CNA Certification Renewal in New Jersey

How to Renew Your New Jersey CNA Certification

New Jersey CNA certification is valid for 24 months from the date you pass your written exam and must be renewed before expiration to maintain active status on the Nurse Aide Registry. The renewal process in New Jersey is distinctive—it requires in-person verification at a PSI test center rather than an online or mail-in process. This ensures registry integrity and confirms your continued competency to provide patient care.

To renew your New Jersey CNA certification, you must meet the following requirements: (1) Provide documentation of at least 7 hours of paid employment providing nursing or nursing-related services in a licensed healthcare facility or agency within the previous 24 months. This must be paid work (not volunteer) in an approved healthcare setting under the supervision of a licensed nurse. (2) Remain in good standing with no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property. (3) Complete a Criminal Background Investigation (CBI) with fingerprinting prior to your certification expiration date. Schedule fingerprinting through IdentoGO using the forms provided with your renewal packet.

CNAs working in Medicare/Medicaid-certified long-term care facilities have an additional requirement: employers must provide at least 12 hours of in-service education annually (24 hours over the two-year certification period). Employers document this training in your personnel file. To complete renewal, bring your documentation to a PSI test center during walk-in hours (Monday 10am-4pm at most locations). PSI testing sites are located throughout New Jersey including Hamilton Township (Quakerbridge Road), Marlton, North Brunswick, New Providence, Rochelle Park, Parsippany, and Secaucus. If your certification has lapsed less than 5 years, you may apply for reinstatement by requesting a waiver from NJDOH, completing a new CBI, and retaking both the Skills and Written exams. If lapsed more than 5 years, you must retrain through a complete NATCEP program. Contact NJDOH at (866) 561-5914 or CNA@doh.nj.gov with questions about your specific renewal situation.

Renewal Cycle
Every 24 Months
Work Requirement
7 Hours Paid
In-Service CE (LTC)
12 Hours/Year
Renewal Method
In-Person at PSI
Career Opportunities

CNA Job Outlook & Salary in New Jersey

New Jersey offers exceptional career prospects for Certified Nursing Assistants, with the state ranking among the top nationwide for CNA compensation and job availability. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNAs in New Jersey earn a median salary of $44,480 annually or $21.38 per hour—significantly higher than the national median of $39,430. The highest-paying areas include Vineland ($44,500+), Trenton-Princeton, Atlantic City-Hammonton, and the Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area—which is notably the #1 metropolitan area in the entire nation for CNA employment level with over 79,570 nursing assistants employed. With approximately 31,610 CNAs currently working in New Jersey and over 3,200 active job openings statewide, qualified candidates are in high demand across all settings including long-term care facilities, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, assisted living communities, home health agencies, and hospice programs.

New Jersey's major healthcare systems are actively recruiting CNAs with competitive compensation packages. Hackensack Meridian Health (New Jersey's largest healthcare provider with 17 hospitals including #1 ranked Hackensack University Medical Center) offers extensive CNA opportunities throughout Bergen, Middlesex, Ocean, and surrounding counties. RWJBarnabas Health (11 acute care hospitals including Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston) serves over 5 million patients annually and operates the state's only certified burn center. Atlantic Health System (including top-ranked Morristown Medical Center—New Jersey's #2 hospital—and Overlook Medical Center) provides excellent career development programs. Virtua Health dominates southern New Jersey with multiple hospitals and outpatient facilities. Entry-level CNAs in New Jersey typically earn $17-20/hour, while experienced CNAs can earn $22-28/hour depending on facility, shift differentials, and specialization. Career advancement pathways through New Jersey's robust community college system (Brookdale, Bergen, Camden County College, HCCC, Middlesex College) include LPN and RN programs, with credits often transferable toward advanced nursing degrees at institutions like Rutgers University, Rowan University, and Seton Hall University.

Average CNA Salary in New Jersey
$44,480
per year
Hourly Wage
$21.38/hr
Nearby States

CNA Certification in Neighboring States

New York CNA Classes Pennsylvania CNA Classes Delaware CNA Classes
Official Resources

Important Links & Contacts for New Jersey CNAs

NJ Department of Health

State regulatory body overseeing CNA certification, NATCEP programs, and the Nurse Aide Registry

Visit Website

PSI Services

Official testing provider for NJ CNA competency exams (written and skills evaluations)

Schedule Exam

NJ Nurse Aide Registry

Verify certification status, check expiration dates, and confirm employment eligibility

Search Registry

IdentoGO Fingerprinting

Schedule fingerprinting appointments for Criminal Background Investigation (CBI)

Schedule Fingerprints

Approved Training Programs

Official NJDOH list of approved NATCEP training facilities throughout New Jersey

View Program List

NJDOH Contact

Phone: (866) 561-5914
Email: CNA@doh.nj.gov
P.O. Box 358, Trenton, NJ 08625

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