CNA Certification Requirements in New York

New York requires 100 hours of approved training (70 classroom + 30 clinical) to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Training Program Requirements

New York CNA programs must be approved by the New York State Department of Health. Programs are available at:

• Community colleges (CUNY, SUNY systems)
• BOCES (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services)
• American Red Cross chapters
• Hospital-based and nursing home-based programs

Certification Exam

New York uses Prometric for CNA testing:

• Written Test: Multiple-choice knowledge assessment (oral option available)
• Skills Test: 5 randomly selected clinical competencies
• Cost: ~$105 total
• Results: Available online within 5-10 business days

Candidates must pass both the written and skills portions within 2 years of completing training.

Renewal

New York CNAs must renew every 2 years:

• Must show paid employment performing nursing assistant duties within the renewal period
• No specific continuing education hour requirement
• The state registry is maintained by the NYS Department of Health

Job Market

New York has strong demand for CNAs, especially in:

• New York City metro area (highest volume)
• Long Island
• Westchester County
• The Capital Region (Albany area)

Starting wages in NYC typically range from $18-22/hour, with some facilities offering sign-on bonuses.

Reciprocity

New York accepts out-of-state CNA certifications through reciprocity if:

• Your certification is active and in good standing
• Your training met or exceeded New York’s 100-hour requirement
• You have no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation