CNA Classes in Tennessee

The timeline to become a CNA in Tennessee typically ranges from 4 to 10 weeks from enrollment to certification. Tennessee requires a minimum of 75 hours of training combining classroom instruction and supervised clinical practice, which meets federal standards while providing comprehensive preparation for professional nursing assistant careers. Full-time accelerated programs at institutions like Nashville State Community College, Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis, Pellissippi State in Knoxville, and Chattanooga State can be completed in as little as 3-4 weeks with intensive daily schedules Monday through Friday. Standard programs typically run 4-6 weeks with morning or afternoon sessions. Part-time programs accommodate working students with evening or weekend classes and generally take 6-8 weeks to complete. Many healthcare facilities throughout Tennessee's major cities including Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, and Murfreesboro offer employer-sponsored training programs with flexible schedules based on facility needs and employee availability. After completing training, you'll register with Prometric to schedule your competency exam. Testing is available at Prometric centers in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and other locations throughout Tennessee's three Grand Divisions. Exam results are typically provided immediately after the skills test, with official scores processed within a few business days. Once you pass both components, your name is added to the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry within 7-10 business days. Most students complete the entire process—from first day of class to active registry status—within 5 to 12 weeks, making Tennessee one of the more efficient states for CNA certification.

CNA training costs in Tennessee are very affordable, typically ranging from free to approximately $1,500 depending on the program type and institution. Community colleges including Nashville State Community College, Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis, Pellissimi State in Knoxville, Chattanooga State, Volunteer State in Gallatin, and Roane State in Harriman offer programs ranging from $600 to $1,200 for Tennessee residents. These institutions receive state funding for workforce development programs, making them the most cost-effective options. Tuition at community colleges often includes textbooks, supplies, and materials needed for training. Private vocational schools and healthcare training academies throughout Tennessee typically charge $1,000-$1,500 but often provide accelerated schedules, smaller class sizes, and convenient locations in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and other cities. Many nursing homes and long-term care facilities across Tennessee offer FREE CNA training through employer-sponsored programs in exchange for employment commitments of 6-12 months after certification. This "earn while you learn" model is particularly common in rural areas of Middle Tennessee, East Tennessee, and West Tennessee experiencing healthcare worker shortages. 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. In addition to tuition, budget for the $110 Prometric exam fee (covering both written and skills components), required immunizations and health screenings ($100-$200), scrubs and clinical supplies ($50-$100), and CPR/BLS certification if not included in your program ($40-$75). Tennessee residents may qualify for financial assistance through Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development programs, Federal Pell Grants for eligible students, or Tennessee Promise (free community college for eligible high school graduates).

The Tennessee CNA competency exam is administered by Prometric and consists of two mandatory components that comprehensively test your knowledge and practical nursing skills. The Written Knowledge Test contains 60 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit. You must score at least 70% (42 correct answers) to pass. Questions cover: Basic Nursing Skills (vital signs, positioning, transfers, mobility assistance), Personal Care Procedures (bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, elimination), Infection Control (handwashing, standard precautions, PPE use, isolation procedures), Safety and Emergency Procedures (fall prevention, fire safety, emergency response, use of restraints), Communication and Interpersonal Skills (therapeutic communication, cultural sensitivity, resident interactions, reporting and documentation), Residents' Rights (privacy, dignity, independence, informed consent, confidentiality), Mental Health and Social Service Needs (emotional support, behavior management, coping with loss, end-of-life care), and Role of the Nurse Aide (scope of practice, legal responsibilities, ethical behavior). The Oral Examination is available upon request in English or Spanish for candidates who prefer auditory testing or have reading difficulties. The Clinical Skills Evaluation requires you to demonstrate five randomly selected nursing assistant skills in front of a trained evaluator with approximately 30 minutes to complete all skills. The mandatory skill is handwashing/hand hygiene, plus four additional skills randomly selected from the approved skills list. Common skills include measuring blood pressure, pulse, respiration, or temperature; assisting with ambulation or transfers using proper body mechanics and safety equipment; performing range of motion exercises; providing perineal care; catheter care; feeding assistance; positioning in bed; or making an occupied bed. You must perform each skill competently according to the standardized checklist focusing on safety, infection control, patient dignity, and proper technique. Testing centers are located throughout Tennessee including Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City, Jackson, and other communities.

Tennessee accepts CNA certifications from other states through reciprocity, allowing you to transfer your credentials without retraining or retesting if you meet specific eligibility requirements. To qualify for reciprocity, you must hold a current, active CNA certification in good standing from another state's nurse aide registry, have no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property on any state registry, have completed a training program that meets or exceeds federal requirements (minimum 75 hours with both classroom and clinical components), and your out-of-state certification must not have been expired for more than 24 months. To apply for reciprocity, contact the Tennessee Department of Health, Health Related Boards. You can find the reciprocity application form on the Tennessee Department of Health website at tn.gov/health. Submit the completed application along with verification of your current CNA certification from your state's registry (most states can send this electronically), proof of completion of a state-approved training program if required (diploma, certificate, or official transcript), and payment for any applicable processing fees. Tennessee requires a criminal background check as part of the reciprocity process, which you can complete through approved vendors including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) background check system. Processing time typically takes 3-6 weeks from receipt of all required documentation. Once approved, you'll be added to the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry and can begin working immediately at Tennessee healthcare facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies across all three Grand Divisions of the state. For questions about reciprocity or to verify the status of your application, contact the Tennessee Department of Health at (615) 532-5171 or check the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry online. Tennessee's straightforward reciprocity process makes it relatively easy for out-of-state CNAs to transfer their credentials, particularly for those relocating from neighboring states like Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, or Missouri.

Tennessee offers diverse employment opportunities for CNAs across its major healthcare systems and numerous community facilities. HCA Healthcare—the nation's largest healthcare company—is headquartered in Nashville and operates TriStar Health with facilities throughout Middle Tennessee including TriStar Centennial Medical Center, TriStar Summit Medical Center, and numerous hospitals in the Nashville metro area. Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville is one of the nation's premier academic medical centers with over 1,000 beds offering comprehensive services and exceptional advancement opportunities for CNAs. In East Tennessee, University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville (581 beds) and Covenant Health (operating 10 hospitals including Fort Sanders Regional and Parkwest Medical Center) provide excellent employment. Chattanooga's healthcare sector includes Erlanger Health System (the region's only Level I Trauma Center) and CHI Memorial. West Tennessee is served by Regional One Health in Memphis (the Mid-South's only Level I Trauma Center), Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and Baptist Memorial Health Care with facilities throughout the Memphis area and West Tennessee. Other significant employers include Ballad Health serving Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, Ascension Saint Thomas Health in Middle Tennessee, and numerous skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities statewide. The highest-paying areas include Nashville (the state's capital and largest city), Memphis, and Knoxville. Tennessee CNAs earn a median salary of $31,200 annually ($15/hour). With the state's cost of living 10% below the national average—particularly affordable housing in cities outside Nashville—CNAs achieve strong purchasing power and comfortable living standards while building rewarding healthcare careers in communities known for music, history, natural beauty, and no state income tax.