CNA Requirements by State (2026): Minimum Age, Training Hours and Exam

The Short Answer

Every state follows the same federal floor: a nurse aide training program must be at least 75 hours, with at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, and 16 hours of training before any direct contact with a resident (42 CFR 483.152). Beyond that floor each state sets its own hours, and many go well above it: California and Missouri are the highest confirmed below at 160 and 175. Minimum age is set state by state too, and most states do not publish one for training.

The table below lists only what each state's own page confirms. 27 states have a confirmed training-hours figure and 13 have a confirmed age rule; the rest say “not confirmed” and link to the state page to check. A training program or employer may also set its own age minimum.

CNA Age Requirements by State (16 vs 18 Years Old)

Most state agencies do not set a single uniform age minimum for training, allowing high school vocational programs and community colleges to enroll students at 16. Where a specific age is confirmed on an official state portal:

• 16 Years Old: Illinois, Maryland (to apply for certification), Nebraska (to work as a nurse aide), Pennsylvania (before the competency exam), Tennessee (for clinical placements), and Vermont (to be licensed). New York lets students enter training at 16 and take the competency exam at 17.
• 17 Years Old: Louisiana for nurse aide trainees.
• 18 Years Old: Florida and Wisconsin require candidates to be at least 18 before registry placement.
• No State Age Rule: Michigan has no age minimum for training or testing, Oregon’s Board sets none, and North Carolina sets no rule but recommends students be at least 16½.

Many healthcare employers will not hire individuals under 18 due to facility liability policies and restrictions on operating mechanical patient lifts, so check with your prospective employer or training provider before you enrol.

How CNA Certification Works

The path is the same in outline everywhere: complete a state-approved training program, pass the competency evaluation (a written or oral test and a skills test), and be listed on the state Nurse Aide Registry. Some states also require a background check before or after certification.

The CNA Competency Exam

The competency exam has two parts and you must pass both. Under the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) the written test is 70 multiple-choice questions (60 scored) with a two-hour limit, and the skills test is five skills, all of which must be passed. Not every state uses NNAAP: Florida’s exam is run by Prometric and Illinois’s written portion by Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, for example. Ask your state which provider it uses.

Our guides go deeper on each part: the written exam content outline and key numbers and the skills test critical steps.

Renewal and Moving States

In North Carolina and Tennessee, CNA registration runs 24 months, and renewal requires at least eight hours worked for pay in nursing or nursing-related services during that period; both say so on their registry pages. Other states add their own rules, so check the registry that lists you.

If you move, contact the new state’s registry about endorsement (transferring your certification). Nebraska, for example, publishes an interstate endorsement application. Whether you must retest depends on the state.

CNA Requirements FAQ

Start Preparing for the Exam

Once you know your state’s rules, practice the written exam. QuizCram’s CNA practice test is written from the 2024 NNAAP content outline, with an explanation and source on every answer. The first 20 questions are free.

Sources

• 42 CFR 483.152 — requirements for approval of a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program (eCFR).
• State agency pages listed in the table, each read on 2026-09-30.