Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Georgia starts with completing approved nurse aide training, gaining hands-on clinical experience, and successfully passing the required competency examinations.
Whether you're beginning a healthcare career or looking for a faster path into patient care, CNA training can prepare you to work in nursing homes, hospitals, hospice, home health, and other healthcare settings.
The first step is choosing a Georgia-approved Nurse Aide Training Program (NATP).
Approved programs follow training and curriculum requirements established by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) to prepare students for nurse aide certification and employment in healthcare settings.
Hillendell Medical Training offers Georgia-approved CNA training with flexible program options and hands-on instruction at our Lawrenceville and Stone Mountain campuses.
Explore CNA ProgramsGeorgia requires approved CNA programs to provide a minimum of 85 hours of nurse aide training.
Your training includes CNA theory, hands-on skills practice, and clinical experience designed to prepare you to provide safe, effective care.
Students learn essential skills such as:
At Hillendell, CNA training is structured to help students move from learning the material to practicing skills and ultimately applying those skills in a healthcare setting.
CNA training cannot be completed entirely online in Georgia.
While approved programs may use an online Learning Management System (LMS) for CNA theory instruction, skills lab and clinical training must be completed face-to-face with an approved instructor.
Georgia's minimum 85-hour training requirement includes supervised clinical rotation in an approved healthcare facility.
Clinical training allows students to apply what they've learned while working with patients or residents in a real healthcare environment under appropriate supervision.
Partially.
Georgia allows approved CNA programs to provide theory instruction through an approved online learning platform. However, students must still complete their required skills lab and clinical training in person.
Hillendell offers several learning formats for students who need more flexibility, including Blended, Weekend Blended, Flex, and Hybrid Live CNA programs.
These options allow students to choose a schedule that works for them while still completing the required hands-on components of CNA training.
Compare CNA ProgramsBefore moving on to state competency testing, students must successfully complete their approved CNA training program and meet the program's academic, attendance, skills, and clinical requirements.
Once you've successfully completed your training and eligibility requirements, you're ready for the next step: the Georgia CNA competency examination.
After completing a state-approved CNA training program, candidates must successfully complete the required competency evaluation.
The examination includes two components:
Tests your understanding of the knowledge and concepts required of a nurse aide.
Requires you to demonstrate selected CNA skills and proper procedures.
You must successfully complete both components to move forward with certification and placement on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry.
Need additional hands-on preparation before your skills exam?
Hillendell offers CNA Skills Exam Prep, hands-on workshops, and extended CNA skills refresher training for candidates who want additional practice before testing.
Explore CNA Skills Exam & Test PrepCandidates who successfully pass both the written/oral and skills competency examinations are placed on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry.
Once your certification is active on the registry, you can begin pursuing CNA employment opportunities in eligible healthcare settings throughout Georgia.
The amount of time it takes depends largely on the training program you choose.
Georgia requires at least 85 hours of approved CNA training.
Hillendell's CNA programs are designed to be completed in approximately four weeks, allowing students to complete the required training and move toward state testing without spending months in school.
Georgia CNA certification must be renewed every two years.
To remain active on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry, CNAs generally must perform at least eight hours of paid nursing-related services during each 24-month certification period under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
If certification requirements are not maintained, additional competency testing or retraining may be required depending on how long the certification has been expired.
Hillendell offers multiple CNA learning formats designed around different schedules, including daytime, evening, blended, hybrid, and weekend options.