CNA Classes in South Carolina

The timeline to become a CNA in South Carolina typically ranges from 4 to 12 weeks, depending on your chosen program format and schedule. South Carolina requires a minimum of 100 training hours—60 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of clinical practice—which is more comprehensive than the federal minimum of 75 hours. Accelerated programs at institutions like Greenville Technical College can be completed in as little as 3.5 weeks with intensive full-time schedules. Standard programs at technical colleges such as Florence-Darlington Technical College, Midlands Technical College in Columbia, and Spartanburg Community College typically run 6-8 weeks. Evening and weekend programs accommodate working students but take longer to complete—usually 10-12 weeks. Carolina Nursing Assistant Program Academy in the Columbia area offers a 4-week/100-hour program with flexible scheduling. After completing training, you must create a CNA365 account through Credentia, submit your application with documentation, and schedule your NNAAP exam. The written exam can be taken online or at a test center; skills evaluation must be in person. Score reports are generally available within hours of testing. Once you pass both components, your name is added to the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry approximately 10 business days later. Most students complete the entire process—from enrollment to certification—within 6 to 12 weeks.

CNA training costs in South Carolina are among the most affordable in the nation, typically ranging from free to approximately $2,000 depending on the program. Many programs cost under $1,000, making South Carolina an excellent place to start a healthcare career. Technical colleges like Midlands Technical College, Greenville Technical College, and Florence-Darlington Technical College offer programs ranging from $800 to $1,500. Some institutions like Denmark Technical College offer free training for qualified applicants through state workforce development programs. Private training schools like Carolina Nursing Assistant Program Academy (CNAPA) and Level Up Healthcare Training offer comprehensive programs including textbook and exam fees in their tuition. In addition to tuition, budget for the $140 Credentia exam fee (covering both written and skills components), any required immunizations or health screenings, scrubs and clinical supplies ($50-$100), and CPR/BLS certification if not included in your program. Many nursing homes and long-term care facilities throughout South Carolina offer free CNA training through employer-sponsored programs in exchange for employment commitments. Under federal OBRA regulations, if you're employed by or receive an offer from a Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing facility, your employer must pay all training and testing costs. If hired within 12 months of completing training, facilities must reimburse those costs on a prorated basis.

The South Carolina CNA competency exam is the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) administered by Credentia through the CNA365 portal. The exam consists of two parts that must both be passed to earn certification. The Written Examination contains 70 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour time limit. You must score at least 70% to pass. Questions cover: Basic Nursing Skills (vital signs, positioning, transfers), Safety and Emergency Procedures, Infection Control, Personal Care Skills (bathing, dressing, grooming), Psychosocial Care (communication, emotional support), Role of the Nurse Aide (scope of practice, delegation, ethics), and Residents' Rights. An Oral Examination is available in English or Spanish upon request—it includes 60 multiple-choice questions plus 10 reading comprehension questions. The Clinical Skills Evaluation requires you to demonstrate five randomly selected nurse aide skills in front of a trained evaluator, including mandatory hand hygiene and at least one measurement-related task (such as blood pressure, pulse, or temperature). The 23 possible skills include making an occupied bed, transferring patients, range of motion exercises, catheter care, feeding assistance, and perineal care. You have a 30-minute time limit and must perform each skill satisfactorily according to the standardized checklist. Test centers are located throughout South Carolina in cities including Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Florence, and Spartanburg.

South Carolina allows CNAs certified in other states to apply for reciprocity to join the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry without retraining or retesting, provided you meet specific eligibility requirements. There is no fee for reciprocity applications in South Carolina. To qualify, you must hold a current, active CNA certification in good standing from another state, have no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property on any state registry, have completed a training program that meets federal requirements (minimum 100 hours with clinical instruction), and your certification must not have been expired for more than 24 months. To apply, visit the CNA365 Registry Portal at credentia.com/test-takers/sc and select "Reciprocity Request." Important: Use a new email address not linked to any prior CNA365 account. Complete all required fields and upload your current out-of-state CNA certificate. You may also need to provide proof of your original training program completion showing total hours and clinical hours—this can be documented through a diploma, certificate, or notarized letter from the school. Click "Submit" once complete. You'll receive an email once your application is reviewed—allow 2-4 weeks for processing. If approved, your status will be listed as Active in the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry. For questions, contact Credentia at (888) 204-6249 or email SCDHHS at scnar@scdhhs.gov.

South Carolina offers diverse employment opportunities for CNAs across its major healthcare systems and communities. Prisma Health is the state's largest private, non-profit healthcare system, operating 18 hospitals across the Upstate and Midlands regions including Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital (864 beds—the state's largest hospital), Prisma Health Richland in Columbia, and facilities in Easley, Greer, Laurens, and Sumter. MUSC Health (Medical University of South Carolina) is the state's premier academic medical center, with its flagship 709-bed University Medical Center in Charleston consistently ranked #1 in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report. MUSC has expanded throughout the state with 16 hospitals including MUSC Health Florence Medical Center. Other major employers include McLeod Health in the Pee Dee region (Florence, Dillon), Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System (10,000+ employees), Roper St. Francis Healthcare in Charleston, AnMed Health in Anderson, and Tidelands Health along the Grand Strand. For coastal living, the Charleston and Myrtle Beach areas offer numerous hospital and long-term care positions with beach access. The highest-paying metropolitan areas include Charleston-North Charleston, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, and Spartanburg. South Carolina CNAs earn a median salary of $35,970 annually ($17.29/hour), with top earners in specialized settings and resort areas like Hilton Head reaching $40,000 or more.