CNA Classes in Texas

The timeline to become a CNA in Texas typically ranges from 4 to 10 weeks from enrollment to certification. Texas 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 in the nation's second-largest state. Full-time accelerated programs at institutions like Houston Community College, Dallas College, Alamo Colleges in San Antonio, Austin Community College, and Tarrant County College in Fort Worth 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 Texas's major metropolitan areas including Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, and Corpus Christi offer employer-sponsored training programs with flexible schedules based on facility needs and employee availability. After completing training, you'll register with Pearson VUE to schedule your competency exam. Testing is available at Pearson VUE centers throughout Texas in all major cities and many smaller communities across the state's vast geography. 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 Texas Nurse Aide Registry within 7-14 business days. Most students complete the entire process—from first day of class to active registry status—within 5 to 12 weeks, with Texas's large number of testing centers and training programs making it relatively easy to get certified quickly.

CNA training costs in Texas are very affordable, typically ranging from free to approximately $1,800 depending on the program type and location. Community colleges including Houston Community College, Dallas College, Alamo Colleges in San Antonio, Austin Community College, Tarrant County College, El Paso Community College, and Lone Star College offer programs ranging from $500 to $1,200 for Texas 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 Texas typically charge $1,000-$1,800 but often provide accelerated schedules, smaller class sizes, and convenient locations in major metropolitan areas. Many nursing homes and long-term care facilities across Texas—particularly in rural areas and smaller cities experiencing healthcare worker shortages—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 common throughout Texas from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley. 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 $117 Pearson VUE 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). Texas residents may qualify for financial assistance through Texas Workforce Commission programs, Federal Pell Grants for eligible students, or various county-level workforce development initiatives.

The Texas CNA competency exam is administered by Pearson VUE 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 Texas in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Amarillo, Waco, and dozens of other communities.

Texas 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 Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). You can find the reciprocity application form on the Texas HHSC website. Submit the completed application along with verification of your current CNA certification from your state's registry (most states can send this electronically through the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program registry verification system), proof of completion of a state-approved training program if required, and payment for any applicable processing fees. Texas requires a criminal background check as part of the reciprocity process, which you must complete through approved vendors. Processing time typically takes 4-8 weeks from receipt of all required documentation. Once approved, you'll be added to the Texas Nurse Aide Registry and can begin working immediately at Texas healthcare facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies across all 254 counties. For questions about reciprocity or to verify the status of your application, contact the Texas HHSC at (512) 438-3161 or check the Texas Nurse Aide Registry online. Texas's straightforward reciprocity process and massive healthcare sector make it an attractive destination for CNAs relocating from other states, particularly from neighboring Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico.

Texas offers unparalleled employment opportunities for CNAs across its massive and diverse healthcare sector. Houston—the state's largest city and home to the world-renowned Texas Medical Center—employs thousands of CNAs at institutions including Memorial Hermann Health System, Houston Methodist, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, and HCA Houston Healthcare. Dallas-Fort Worth's expansive healthcare sector includes Baylor Scott & White Health (the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas), Texas Health Resources, Methodist Health System, Medical City Healthcare, and JPS Health Network. San Antonio's healthcare is anchored by Methodist Healthcare System, Baptist Health System, University Health System, and Christus Santa Rosa Health System. Austin's growing healthcare sector includes Ascension Seton, St. David's HealthCare, and Dell Medical School at UT Austin. Other major employment centers include El Paso (serving the binational region with Las Palmas Medical Center and Del Sol Medical Center), Corpus Christi (serving the Coastal Bend), Lubbock (serving West Texas and the South Plains), and Amarillo (serving the Panhandle). HCA Healthcare operates the largest network of facilities in Texas with hospitals throughout Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, and other markets. The highest-paying areas include Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, where CNAs can earn $32,000-$36,000 annually. Texas CNAs earn a median salary of $31,070 annually ($14.94/hour), with NO state income tax significantly boosting take-home pay compared to other states. With Texas's relatively affordable cost of living (especially outside major metros), diverse geography from Gulf Coast to Hill Country to West Texas, and massive healthcare employment base, CNAs achieve excellent quality of life while building rewarding careers in the Lone Star State.