CNA Classes in NYC & Brooklyn

New York City is one of the most diverse, vibrant, and exciting cities in the world. It is also home to many high-quality healthcare facilities that offer excellent career opportunities for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). Here are a few good reasons why you should consider becoming a CNA in New York City:

  1. The annual wages for CNAs in New York is 23.5% higher than the national average for CNAs
  2. There are currently over 82,000 CNAs working in the New York City metro area
  3. You can complete CNA classes in as little as 4 weeks


CNAs are a critical part of healthcare teams at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. It’s a relatively quick and easy way to enter into the healthcare field, with many CNAs eventually moving on to become licensed practical nurses or RNs. To enter the field, however, you’ll need to pass an accredited course and the written and skills portions of the CNA exam. The first step, however, is finding an affordable CNA program in NYC or Brooklyn. We’ve assembled a list of potential CNA classes in Brooklyn and NYC to help you find a program that’s the right fit for you on your educational and career path. 

New York CNA Requirements

Before enrolling in a CNA program, you should ensure that you meet basic admission requirements: Class requirements for becoming a CNA vary from state to state, but all CNAs must complete basic training requirements.

Requirements for being a certified CNA in New York:

  • Being a minimum of 18 years old
  • Being able to pass a physical exam 
  • Holding current immunization records
  • Passing a criminal background check
  • Many programs require a high school diploma, GED, TASC, or HSE

Upon meeting basic admission requirements, candidates must complete the basic steps for becoming a CNA in New York City:

  • Enroll in an accredited CNA program
  • Complete 100 total hours of classroom education
    • 70 classroom hours
    • 30 clinical hours
  • Passing the written and skills portions of the CNA exam
  • Being listed on the New York state CNA registry

CNA Programs in Brooklyn & NYC

There are a number of CNA programs in Brooklyn and NYC for you to choose from as you look to begin your career in healthcare. If you’re looking for free CNA classes in NYC or you have financial aid and are looking for CNA classes in Brooklyn you’ll want to contact these institutions directly to find out the exact details and availability of their programs.

Best CNA Program in New York

New Age Training

The New Age Training CNA course offers comprehensive training on fundamental nursing skills and theory, ensuring you meet the necessary requirements of the New York State Department of Health curriculum. The course provides education in the Basics of being a RHCF Nurse Aide, basic nursing skills, personal care skills, mental health and social service needs, care of residents with special needs, basic restorative services, supervised clinical experience, and CPR certification preparation.

Price: $1,750. Price includes all study materials, uniform and supplies 
Address: 145 West 30th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-947-7940 
Website: https://newagetraining.com/courses/cna/
Job Placement: Yes
Additional Features: Provides externship in a nursing home or Residential Health Care Facility. Training also includes CPR training and preparation for CPR certification, as well as preparation for the New York State CNA certification exam.

Most Affordable CNA Classes in New York

Royal Learning Institute

Royal Learning Institute (RLI) is the most affordable CNA program in Manhattan RLI that provides the basic requirements for becoming a CNA in New York while setting candidates up for long-term success. Conveniently, RLI’s CNA program location is just a two minute walk from Penn Station. As a part of their 130 hour CNA classes, RLI teaches you the fundamentals of what it takes to become a CNA including learning basic nursing skills, personal care skills, mental health and social service needs, and basic restorative skills. Their program also offers internship opportunities and offers career development services.

Price: $1,200. Price includes registration, books and one uniform 
Address: 254W 29th St. 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001
Phone: 347-658-3774
Website: https://www.rli.edu/nursing-assistant-cna/
Job Placement: Yes
Additional Features: Financial aid services offered

Free CNA Classes in New York

Bronx Learning Center

Accessing free educational opportunities when you can is a powerful way to enhance your professional career. The Bronx Learning Center offers an amazing, no-cost chance for adults who are looking to develop their work skills and become CNA certified in New York. 

Price: Free 
Address: 3450 E Tremont Ave., The Bronx, NY 10465
Phone: 718-863-4057
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://nyassembly.gov/member_files/082/20060210/
Job Placement: No
Additional Features: Day and evening classes are available

Accelerated CNA Classes in New York

City College of New York

For those looking for an accelerated CNA program that still meets New York’s certification requirements, we would recommend the Accelerated Certified Nurse Assistant Program at City College of New York. Their program lasts 6 weeks and consists of 130 hours of instruction with 100 hours in the classroom and 30 hours coming from a clinical externship located in the Bronx. They boast a 98% pass rate and require a high school diploma, GED or High School equivalency degree and the ability to pass a physical exam. As with many programs, there is an added cost above tuition to cover books, the CNA exam, your uniform and CPR training (if necessary). Class material focuses on the basics of healthcare including anatomy and physiology, basic life support, taking vital signs, and the fundamentals of patient care. The final six weeks of the class is when students get hands-on experience doing a clinical externship in a nursing home where they can learn the basics of personal care and other hands-on CNA skills.

Price: $1,235
Address: 160 Convent Avenue New York, NY 10031
Phone: 212-650-7312
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/cps/cna
Job Placement: No
Additional Features: The course is offered in a hybrid format with most classes offered online. Financial aid is not offered through this program and the program has vaccination requirements.

All CNA Classes in New York City

CNA Training ProviderLocationPhone Number
First Care of New York
Bronx, NY 10458(718) 364-7251
Jewish Home Lifecare
Bronx, NY 10468(718) 410-1220
Grand Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
Bronx, NY 10473-2696(718) 518-8892
Hostos Community College 
Bronx, NY 10451(718) 518-4444
Bronx Community College 
Bronx, NY 10453(718) 289-5100
Monroe College 
Bronx, NY 10468(718) 933-6700
ASA College 
Brooklyn, NY 11201(718) 522-9073
Adult and Continuing Education- Medgar Evers College 
Brooklyn, NY 11225(718) 804-8850
Mandl School- The College of Allied Health 
New York, NY 10019(212) 247-3434
The City College of New York 
New York, NY 10031(212) 650-7000

The CNA schools displayed in this section offer tuition-based programs.

How much do CNAs get paid in New York City?

CNAs in New York City earn an average annual salary of $44,720 according to the BLS, which is 23.5% higher than the national average. However, this figure can vary significantly depending on factors such as experience level, location, and job type. The highest-paid CNAs in New York City earn over to $52,270 per year.

How Much Do CNA Courses Cost in New York City?

You can expect to pay between $1,000 – $2,000 for the total cost of CNA classes in New York City with most classes averaging about $1,300 in tuition. Costs can vary based on the length of the program, whether they provide in-person or online classes, and costs that are included as a part of tuition.

Job Opportunities for CNAs in New York City

CNAs in New York City work in a wide range of settings and for many different employers. Below are the most common employers for CNAs in New York City along with the total number of CNAs working for each employer type:

New York City CNA Employment

Industry TypeTotal Employment
Health Care and Social Assistance75,032
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities39,054
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)29,345
Hospitals26,265
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals24,073
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities8,772
Federal, state, and local government8,353
Ambulatory Health Care Services7,384

Helpful Links For New York CNAs

Finding a local training class is critical to becoming a CNA, but if you are still in the research phase of learning more about the profession or the requirements to gain your certification, we suggest the following links: