CNA Classes in New York | 9 Best Programs To Ensure You Pass The Test

The healthcare industry is one of the most rapidly expanding industries in the job market today. No matter how much technology advances, people who are sick will still need the tender car that only another human can provide. If you’re ready to start a new career, then take CNA classes in New York. The CNA certification in New York is pretty easy to get, and you can graduate straight into one of the hundreds of CNA jobs in New York just waiting for you! 

What’s a CNA? A CNA Is a Certified Nurse Aide. Getting your CNA certification in New York will qualify you for the New York CNA registry. The New York CNA requirements dictate that with only a short training period and a certification exam, you can get your CNA license in New York and begin working immediately. 

This guide will help you understand the requirements and walk you through the process. Before you know it, you will be signing up for CNA classes in New York and jumping into the comfortable CNA salary that New York pays. 

Who is the regulatory body for CNAs in New York?

Although the New York Department of Labor has an extremely helpful website for anyone interested in attaining their CNA certification, it’s actually the New York State Department if Health that regulates and oversees CNA training and certification in the state.   


They oversee the certification, maintain the Nurse Aide Registry for New York, and work with Prometric to administer the New York State Nursing Home Nurse Aide Competency Examination. It is their regulations that dictate training programs. 

Who administers the CNA exam in New York?

The Ne York State Department of Health contracts with Prometric to administer their certification examination.  Their website has tons of valuable information. From it, you can apply to take the certification exam, you can access practice exams, and you will schedule you examination. 

New York State Requirements for CNAs

To become a registered CNA in New York, new candidates must take a state approved training course. These consist of 100 hours of training, with a majority of that training being hands-on clinical experience under supervision. Once they have completed the training, they can apply to sit for the state competency exam. If they pass both the written knowledge test and clinical skills test, they are automatically added to the Nurse Aide Registry (NAR) in New York and certified as Nurse Aides. 

 You can skip the training hours if you are already certified in another state. Simply take the certification examination and pass with your first try, and you will be given reciprocity status and added to New York’s certification registry. Nursing school students may also qualify to take the CNA certification without the training hours as long as they have significant experience in their own nursing programs. 

New York CNA Exam Details

Once you have completed your training, you can apply to take the certification exam. When Prometric processes and approves your application, they will send you information to log in and schedule your examination. You must bring your admission letter with you when you take your exams. 

Make sure to follow all their regulations and rules, because if you need to reschedule you will have to do it within a given window or pay a fee. If you fail to show up for your exam, you will have to pay the full retesting fee before being allowed to retest unless you had one of the approved emergencies (car breakdown, medical emergency, or death in the family) and submit proof within the allotted time span. 

On exam day, you must show up early. If you are late for your exams, you will not be allowed to take them and they will consider you a no show, which has to pay full fees to retake the test. Wear scrubs and non-skid shoes with a watch on your wrist that has a second hand. Don’t bring a smart watch or any electronics, because those are prohibited in the testing room and they don’t have anywhere to securely store your personal items.

Bring 2 forms of signed identification. One must be a government issued photo ID. Your name must match the name you registered with for your exam. Prepare to stay all day long. You will take your written (or oral) exam first. Upon completion, your proctor will let you know what time you are scheduled for your clinical skills test. 


Your clinical exam is timed. A computer will assign 5 skills randomly from the list of skills that you should know after training. Your exam time will depend upon the skills you’ve been assigned. They vary from 30 minutes to 40 minutes. You are required to pass all 5 skills in order to pass your exam, so even if you achieve a passing numerical score, if you fail a skill you fail the exam. 

Your Nurse Aide Evaluator (NAE) will watch you as you perform the skills, and grade you based on a standardized checklist. For each skill, there are key areas that must be performed correctly in order to pass the skill. If you make a mistake, you can tell your NAE that you made a mistake, let them know what step it was, and self correct as long as you have not moved on to a different skill. If you make a mistake with a safety skill, your NAE will automatically address the issue and you will not be allowed to correct it. 


Your written exam will consist of 60 multiple-choice questions. You must complete the exam in 90 minutes. The questions on your written exam will cover basic skills in the areas of roles and responsibility, safety, disease control, infection prevention, patient rights, anatomy and physiology, mental health, physical care, and aging care. 

How much does the New York CNA exam cost?

Some training programs will cover the cost of exams in their tuition fees. If not, then Prometrics charges first time testers $115 for both exams, which must be completed on the same day. If you need an oral knowledge test instead of a written one, it will cost an extra $20. If you need to retest, then the clinical retest will cost $68 and the written retest is $57. The oral retests cost $67. 


For candidates applying for reciprocity listing from another state’s certified CNA registry, the testing fee is $50. If you want a duplicate copy of your certification, you can request one for $15. Recertification fees cost $40, but your employer usually pays those.  

Where can I take the CNA exam in New York?

There are lots of approved test centers in New York. A lot of training programs contract with Prometric to administer the exam to their students at the conclusion of their program. This is ideal, because you will be allowed to test at your home facility in familiar surroundings.  

If your program doesn’t include the examination, there are several test centers located throughout New York. In Albany, you can go to Albany Scholarie Schenectady. Auburn residents can test at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES. Binghamton has a test facility at the Bridgewater Center. If you’re from the Bronx, then go to ABC Training Center or the Phoenix Nurse Aide Training Center. Brooklyn residents can close either Access Careers Brooklyn or the Next Step Institute. 

Clarence residents should test at Brothers of Mercy for a close facility, and Ridgewood candidates can go to the Home Health Consulting Agency. Jamaica has a facility at the American Medical Career Training and there is a facility in Norwood at St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES. New York center residents can go to Isabella Geriatric Center or new Age Training. In Nyack, there’s a facility at the Rockland BOCES and in Oleas you ca test at the Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES. 

Penn Yan has a location at The Homestead ant Sailors and Soldiers. If you’re in Rhinebeck, go to Ferncliff Nursing Home, and Rochester residents can test at the Rochester EOC. If you’re from Utica, go to the Masonic Home and Health, and Watertown residents can test at the Samaritan Keep Nursing Home. 

How much does a CNA get paid in New York?

CNAs are actually paid very well in New York because they are in such high demand. The average CNA salary in New York is $38,000. The salary range is around $35,000 to $42,000. CNAs can expect to receive around $5,000 each year in overtime pay. Humana and Swift Shift are favored employers, paying $27 per hour foe experienced CNAs.   

CNA Training in New York

The great thing about CNA training is that there are tons of state approved programs. The job is in high demand, and now you know what it takes to get your CNA certification. Take a look at these great programs and see if one of them is in your area! 

University at Buffalo – The State University of New York

Buffalo residents will be happy to know that University at Buffalo offers a really good CNA program.  Their program is designed to update students in the competencies required to pass CNA examinations and provide direct care to patients with a long-term healthcare need. It is a 9-week course, so you can become certified in just over 2 months. 

Hudson Valley Community College

Hudson Valley Community College offers hands on experience as you gain your CNA training. Their program focuses on elderly care and provides training in how to handle their activities, nutrition, and aging needs. Once you finish training, you will be prepared to take your CNA exam. They also allow you to connect with employers through job fairs and local training facilities, so that as soon as you graduate you will already have an employment offer!  

Broome Community College

Broome Community College is affiliated with SUNY. They have a very well respected nursing department, and their CNA program is designed to be a great first step in a fulfilling nursing career. Once you complete their training, you will be qualified to work as a CNA and ready to gain that work experience as you continue into their RN or LPN program.  

Niagara County Community College

Niagara County Community College is another great program for candidates who want to use their CNA as a first step into nursing careers. They have an exceptionally high passing rate of nearly 100% for CNAs and the same is true for their NCLEX-PN licensing exam. Let them prepare you for your certification. 

CUNY New York College

CUNY’s City College of New York offers CNA training as well. This certification is offered through their Continuing and Professional Studies program. Their program is extensive, offering 130 ours, rather than just the state mandated 100. This makes their graduates extremely competitive in the job market, with a leg up in hands on experience. Their tuition doesn’t cover the certification fees.  

Wilson Technological Center

Wilson Tech offers a strong CNA preparation program for young students. In fact, high school students are welcome to take their CNA training program to get a head start on their career and help them be competitive when it comes time for nursing school applications, many of which require CNA training as a prerequisite.

Arnot Ogden Medical Center

The Arnot Health program offers a unique opportunity to receive your CNA training from a potential employer. They are frequently hiring CNAs for their hospitals, and taking the CNA certification training from the Arnot Ogden School of Nursing will give you a competitive advantage against external job applicants.  

Adirondack Medical Center

The Adirondack Medical Center is another facility that favors their CNA graduates when hiring new employees. Their training will familiarize you with their facilities, supervisors, and healthcare team. By the time you finish your training and sit for your certification, you will most likely be confident that a full time job is waiting for you when your scores comes through. 

Health Services of Northern New York

For Potsdam residents, this facility is a great option. They are an alternative to nursing home cares, offering patients a partnership. Their training prepares you for the CNA exam and allows them to become familiar with a potential employer upon graduation.