There are many great Certified Nursing Assistant programs in Alabama to choose from and we detail them for you below. One of the careers in healthcare that is among the fastest-growing in the country and state of Alabama, nursing assisting is a great allied health career to choose for your future. We detail what to do to go about getting your CNA certification and your 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
The (ADPH) Alabama Department of Health regulates Alabama nursing assistants. Employment eligibility within the state of Alabama requires the completion of all of the ADPH’s training certification requirements and that nursing assistants get listed on the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry. Follow our guide below and you will be on your way to becoming a CNA in Alabama.
Find CNA Classes in Alabama Today
Step 1 – Satisfy Entry Requirements
Here is a list of the common requirements for entry in to Alabama nursing assistant classes and becoming an Alabama CNA.
Meet college/technical school admission requirements
Show proof of a HS diploma/GED
Be at least 16-18 years old
Pass a health physical
Have health insurance
Have current immunizations for tuberculosis, hepatitis-B and possibly others diseases (varies by school)
Have a current Healthcare Provider level CPR certification
Pass criminal background check
Pass drug test
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 an Alabama CNA certification, you must first complete a program that is approved by the ADPH.
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.
ADPH 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.
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
After a CNA candidate completes the Nurse Aide Competency Examination, the respective organization that did the testing notifies the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry once state certification requirements have been met. Here is a link to the application.
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 an expected 14.8% growth in new jobs for nursing assistants in the State of Alabama through 2024. The opportunity to work under registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provides a great opportunity to make the jumo to hire level careers such as LPN and RN positions.
Below is a list of the largest cities in Alabama and more data on nursing assistant pay across Alabama.
| 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 | Hourly | $8.71 | $11.31 | $14.78 |
| Yearly | $18,120 | $23,530 | $30,750 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | Hourly | $8.47 | $11.19 | $17.10 |
| Yearly | $17,620 | $23,280 | $35,570 | |
| Huntsville, AL | Hourly | $8.55 | $11.05 | $15.53 |
| Yearly | $17,790 | $22,980 | $32,290 | |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | Hourly | $8.36 | $11.01 | $14.87 |
| Yearly | $17,400 | $22,900 | $30,930 | |
| Southeast Alabama | Hourly | $7.98 | $10.72 | $18.45 |
| Yearly | $16,610 | $22,300 | $38,380 | |
| Gadsden, AL | Hourly | $8.28 | $10.56 | $13.06 |
| Yearly | $17,220 | $21,960 | $27,170 | |
| Decatur, AL | Hourly | $8.45 | $10.53 | $12.36 |
| Yearly | $17,570 | $21,910 | $25,700 | |
| Northwest Alabama | Hourly | $8.14 | $10.53 | $13.77 |
| Yearly | $16,920 | $21,900 | $28,640 | |
| Montgomery, AL | Hourly | $8.16 | $10.46 | $14.50 |
| Yearly | $16,970 | $21,750 | $30,150 | |
| Mobile, AL | Hourly | $8.06 | $10.40 | $13.49 |
| Yearly | $16,770 | $21,630 | $28,060 | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | Hourly | $8.02 | $10.35 | $14.46 |
| Yearly | $16,670 | $21,520 | $30,080 | |
| Southwest Alabama | Hourly | $8.01 | $10.08 | $12.49 |
| Yearly | $16,650 | $20,960 | $25,980 | |
| Northeast Alabama | Hourly | $7.97 | $9.93 | $12.57 |
| Yearly | $16,580 | $20,650 | $26,140 | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | Hourly | $7.83 | $9.85 | $12.72 |
| Yearly | $16,280 | $20,480 | $26,460 | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | Hourly | $7.85 | $9.83 | $13.55 |
| Yearly | $16,320 | $20,450 | $28,170 | |
| Dothan, AL | Hourly | $7.81 | $9.27 | $13.19 |
| Yearly | $16,240 | $19,270 | $27,440 |