CNA Classes in Georgia – Requirements, Salary, Jobs, Certification

All the top CNA classes in Georgia are looking to do their part to fill the growing demand for nursing assistants across the Peach state and the country! Find out more details below with our free guide that we feel will inform you on the steps to become a CNA in Georgia. The nursing assistant or nurse aide is a basic healthcare professional responsible for a variety of direct care activities at facilities that include nursing homes, hospitals and long-term care facilities (LTCs). Below we give you access to all the accredited CNA classes in Georgia and make it easy for you.

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How to become a CNA in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Community  Health’s (GDCH) Georgia Medicaid Management Information System (GAMMIS) regulates Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in the state. Eligibility for employment as a CNA in the state requires the individual being listed on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry.

Step 1 – You Will Have to Meet all CNA Program Entry Requirements for GA

Georgia’s prerequisites for starting in accredited CNA classes are pretty straightforward. We detail them for you below:

1 – Be at least 16 years old
2 – Be eligible to work in the U.S.
3 – Be able to Write in and Speak English
4 – Pass background check (not all training courses do them but is necessary for certification)

Step 2 – Enroll for training in a GAMMIS-approved CNA program

As previously mentioned, nursing assistant training in Georgia is governed by both the Georgia Medicaid Management Information System (GAMMIS) division of the Georgia Department of Community Health (GDCH). Only graduates who finish their classes at a program that is approved by both organizations will be able to challenge for certification in the state.

Step 3 – Satisfy the state’s requirement for classroom and clinical training hours

The State of Georgia requires that all CNA program graduates will have to complete a minimum of 85 hours in the classroom and an additional 24 hours of hands-on clinical classes. You will not be deemed eligible to sit for the state’s certification test (the NNAAP) unless you’ve satisfied this requirement.

Step 4 – Pass the NNAAP certification exam

In the State of Georgia, you’ll be legally required to pass a nationally-administered test for CNA certification – the NNAAP. The assessment is made up of a written section and a clinical part. Here is a link to the candidate handbook.

PearsonVUE is the national testing service that administers the test for aspiring nurse aides in the state. Regular exam locations in Georgia are typically in multiple cities each month. To determine when the upcoming test dates and times are at every venue, please talk to the provider directly.

Written Examination
& Skills Evaluation (both) $112
Oral Examination (English)
& Skills Evaluation (both) $112
Oral Examination (Spanish)
& Skills Evaluation (both) $112
Written Examination ONLY (re-test) $27
Oral Examination ONLY (English) (re-test) $27
Oral Examination ONLY (Spanish) (re-test) $27
Skills Evaluation ONLY (re-test) $85

Step 5 – Get listed on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry

After passing the certification test, the last step candidate will need to take to begin earning a living as a nursing assistant in the Peach State is having your name included on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry. This is a list of all certified nursing assistants in the state, and is maintained through the Georgia Medical Care Foundation. Unless your name is on this list, you will not be eligible to work. No action is typically necessary by you to make this take place.

Shortly after you have passed the NNAAP, the exam service will alert the registry of your brand new status. The normal waiting time to have your name placed on the list is 10 business days or less in Georgia.

CNA salary and jobs in Georgia

There is a growth expectation of 19% in the Peach State through 2024 for new nursing aide jobs. See our table below showcasing the salary outlook across Georgia.

Recommended CNA Programs in Georgia