If you choose to enroll in one of the great accredited Certified Nursing Assistant programs in Alabama, you’ll be entering a career in healthcare that is among the fastest-growing in the state. We detail what to do about certification and training, plus we show all the information that shows how much the career is growing and what to expect in the future.
How to become a CNA in Alabama
Certified nursing assistants in Alabama are regulated by the Alabama Department of Health (ADPH). In order to be eligible for employment within the state, they are required to complete the ADPH’s training certification requirements and become listed on the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry.
What’s the process for becoming certified in Alabama?
In order for you to become a certified nurse aide in the State of Alabama, you’ll be required to complete the following five steps.
Step 1 – Complete high school or earn your G.E.D.
Earning your high school diploma is one of the basic foundations to becoming employed in any type of professional job. This is also true when it comes to working in healthcare. While it is possible to secure some entry-level positions without a diploma or G.E.D., you will eventually find that your opportunities for advancement are limited.
Furthermore, many CNA training programs require applicants to be high school graduates or G.E.D. holders as part of their admissions requirements. Therefore, if you’re planning on working in healthcare, it is a good idea to complete this important first step.
Step 2 – Enroll in an ADHP-approved CNA training program
As mentioned, nursing assistant training in Alabama is regulated by the ADPH. In order for you to become eligible to test for certification, you must first complete a program that is approved by this organization.
Choosing the best program for your particular situation usually involves several considerations. When comparing your options, you should take the following into account:
- Make sure the program is approved by the ADPH
- Ensure that at least 70% of program graduates passed the NACES
- See if available courses fit your schedule
- Find out what the course costs, and be sure you can afford it
Recommended CNA Courses in Alabama
Only Choose Approved Nurse Aide Courses in Alabama
If you have questions about regulations or training see the information listed here. All approved nursing assistant programs in the state of Alabama are listed below.
Complete List of Approved Nursing Assistant Programs in Alabama
American Red Cross
1101 Washington Street Northwest, Huntsville, Alabama 35801
(256) 536-0084
www.redcross.org
Calhoun Community College
102 Wynn Drive NW, Huntsville, Alabama 35805
(256) 890-4700
calhoun.edu
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
2602 College Drive, Phoenix City, Alabama 36869
(334) 291-4900
www.cv.edu
Bevill State Community College
491 Tuscaloosa Avenue, Carrolton, Alabama 35447
800-648-3271
bscc.edu
Easter Seals Central Alabama
2125 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36116
(334) 288-0240
www.eastersealsca.org
Gadsden State Community College
1001 George Wallace Drive, Gadsden, Alabama 35903
(256) 549-8200
www.gadsdenstate.edu
H. Council Trenholm State Technical College
1225 Air Base Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36108
(334) 420-4200
www.trenholmstate.edu
J.F. Drake State Community & Technical College
3421 Meridian Street, North Huntsville, Alabama 35811
(256) 539-8161
drakestate.edu
Lawson State Community College
3060 Wilson Road SW, Birmingham, Alabama 35221
(205) 925-2515
www.lawsonstate.edu
Liveoak Village Independent and Assisted Living
2300 North Cedar Street, Foley, Alabama 36535
(251) 943-6733
liveoakal.com
Morningside of Cullman
2021 Dahlke Drive Northeast, Cullman, Alabama 35058
(256) 737-1088
www.morningsideofcullman.com
Morningside of Sheffield
413 Cox Boulevard, Sheffield, Alabama- 35660
(256)-381-1058
www.morningsideofsheffield.com
NHC Place
1335 Greenbrier Road, Anniston, Alabama 36207
(256) 835- 3959
www.nhcplaceanniston.com
Northwest – Shoals Community College
800 George Wallace Boulevard, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661
(256) 331-5200
www.nwscc.edu
Northeast Alabama Community College
Rainsville, Alabama- 35986
(256)-228-6001
www.nacc.edu
Oaks on Park wood
2651 Laurel Oaks Drive, Bessemer, Alabama- 35022
(205) 497-4560
www.oaksonparkwood.com
Reid State Technical College
P.O. Box- 588, Evergreen, Alabama 36401
(251) 578-1313
www.rstc.edu
Shelton State Community College
9500 Old Greensboro Road, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405
(205) 391-2211
www.sheltonstate.edu
Southern Union State Community College
1701 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, Alabama 36801
(334) 745-6437
www.suscc.edu
Step 3 – Complete the state-required classroom and clinical hours
Obviously, graduating from your nurse aide training program is an immensely important step. Successfully completing this step in the State of Alabama requires you to complete 75 hours in the classroom and an additional 16 hours of hands-on clinical training.
You will not be considered eligible to take the state’s certification exam (the NACES) unless you have met this requirement.
Step 4 – Pass either the NNAAP or NACES certification exam
In Alabama, you’ll have the option of taking two different exams to test for CNA certification – the NACES and the NNAAP. Both exams contain a written section and a clinical section.
The written section of each exam is timed, and will require you to answer multiple-choice questions about the material that was covered during your training program. The clinical portion requires you to demonstrate the skills you’ve learned in a clinical setting. A passing score on both sections of the exam is required in order to become certified.
These exams are administered by national testing services PearsonVUE (NNAAP) and ProMetric (NACES). Monthly test sites in Alabama are usually in the cities listed below. Please refer to the services websites for dates and times.
- Eufaula
- Gadsden
- Montgomery
- Selma
- Talladega
Pearson Vue test fees are listed below and here is a link to their application.
Written Exam and Skills Evaluation $100.00
English Oral Exam and Skills Evaluation $120.00
Spanish Oral Exam and Skills Evaluation $120.00
Written Exam ONLY $40.00
English Oral Exam ONLY $60.00
Spanish Oral Exam ONLY $60.00
Skills Evaluation ONLY $60.00
Prometric fees are below and here is a link to their candidate bulletin for all new applicants.
Written Exam: $35
Oral Exam: $35
Clinical Skills Exam: $40
Step 5 – Get listed in the Alabama Certified Nursing Aide Registry
The final step in becoming eligible to work as a CNA in Alabama is getting your name listed on the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry. This is a list of all certified nursing assistants in the state, and is maintained by the ADPH. Your name must appear on this list in order to work in the state. Fortunately, you generally will not have to do anything in order for this to happen. Here is a link to the application.
After you’ve passed either the NACES or NNAAP, the testing service will notify the registry of your new status. In Alabama, your name is usually added to the list within a week of passing the certification exam.
Should you have any questions about the registry, or your status on it, you may contact it directly using the information provided below.
Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry
Alabama Department of Public Health
Division of Health Care Facilities
The RSA Tower
201 Monroe Street, Suite 700
Montgomery, AL 36104
CNA salary and jobs in Alabama
There is a high demand for CNAs across the U.S. and in Alabama. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 17% growth in brand new jobs nationally and 14.8% in the State of Alabama through 2024. Common workplaces are in hospitals, nursing homes and general care facilities. Some government facilities also employ nursing aides, orderlies and assistants.
The opportunity to work under registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) also makes being a certified nursing assistant a perfect stepping-stone to other jobs in nursing in Alabama.
Below is a list of the largest cities in Alabama and further data on nursing assistant pay by area and county.
| Location | Pay Type | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Hourly | $9.64 | $12.78 | $18.22 |
| Yearly | $20,040 | $26,590 | $37,900 | |
| Alabama | Hourly | $8.15 | $10.59 | $14.52 |
| Yearly | $16,950 | $22,030 | $30,200 | |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL MSA | Hourly | $8.71 | $11.31 | $14.78 |
| Yearly | $18,120 | $23,530 | $30,750 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL MSA | Hourly | $8.47 | $11.19 | $17.10 |
| Yearly | $17,620 | $23,280 | $35,570 | |
| Huntsville, AL MSA | Hourly | $8.55 | $11.05 | $15.53 |
| Yearly | $17,790 | $22,980 | $32,290 | |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA | Hourly | $8.36 | $11.01 | $14.87 |
| Yearly | $17,400 | $22,900 | $30,930 | |
| Southeast Alabama BOS | Hourly | $7.98 | $10.72 | $18.45 |
| Yearly | $16,610 | $22,300 | $38,380 | |
| Gadsden, AL MSA | Hourly | $8.28 | $10.56 | $13.06 |
| Yearly | $17,220 | $21,960 | $27,170 | |
| Decatur, AL MSA | Hourly | $8.45 | $10.53 | $12.36 |
| Yearly | $17,570 | $21,910 | $25,700 | |
| Northwest Alabama BOS | Hourly | $8.14 | $10.53 | $13.77 |
| Yearly | $16,920 | $21,900 | $28,640 | |
| Montgomery, AL MSA | Hourly | $8.16 | $10.46 | $14.50 |
| Yearly | $16,970 | $21,750 | $30,150 | |
| Mobile, AL MSA | Hourly | $8.06 | $10.40 | $13.49 |
| Yearly | $16,770 | $21,630 | $28,060 | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL MSA | Hourly | $8.02 | $10.35 | $14.46 |
| Yearly | $16,670 | $21,520 | $30,080 | |
| Southwest Alabama BOS | Hourly | $8.01 | $10.08 | $12.49 |
| Yearly | $16,650 | $20,960 | $25,980 | |
| Northeast Alabama BOS | Hourly | $7.97 | $9.93 | $12.57 |
| Yearly | $16,580 | $20,650 | $26,140 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA | Hourly | $7.83 | $9.85 | $12.72 |
| Yearly | $16,280 | $20,480 | $26,460 | |
| Columbus, GA-AL MSA | Hourly | $7.85 | $9.83 | $13.55 |
| Yearly | $16,320 | $20,450 | $28,170 | |
| Dothan, AL MSA | Hourly | $7.81 | $9.27 | $13.19 |
| Yearly | $16,240 | $19,270 | $27,440 |