Certified nursing assistant training ยท Jacksonville, FL

CNA Classes in Jacksonville, FL

CNA classes in Jacksonville include a 120-hour private-school course and a public college option in Orange Park. You can compare schedules below, or check Florida's exam route that lets eligible adults test without completing a training program.

Compare programs How to pay for training
Approved training120 hours, including 40 clinical hours
Exam providerPrometric, through the Florida Board of Nursing
Course optional?Yes, if you are 18 or have a high school diploma or equivalent
Published tuitionFirst Coast: $1,100, school page checked October 27, 2026

CNA training in Jacksonville and Orange Park

These adult programs have a current class or an upcoming start verified on October 27, 2026. The check line under each school links to its Florida Board of Nursing approval in the roster dated August 27, 2026.

2 local programs listed

SchoolProgramCredentialLengthScheduleCost
First Coast Nursing Assistant Training CenterJacksonville, FLFlorida Board of Nursing: Approved, program 1611; list August 27, 2026; checked October 27, 2026
Upcoming evening start: November 16, 2026; day start with seats listed: January 4, 2027. Clinical rotations are included.
School page 		120-Hour Nursing Assistant TrainingDiploma (CIE listing)120 hours; day program 4 weeks; evening program 5 weeksDay: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; final-week clinicals, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Evening: Monday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; clinicals on the third or fourth weekend, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and final week, 6-10 p.m.$1,100 tuition (school program page, checked October 27, 2026).
St. Johns River State CollegeOrange Park, FLFlorida Board of Nursing: Approved, program 1513; list August 27, 2026; checked October 27, 2026
The current class is underway. Its application window ended August 15; the next Orange Park start is not published.
School page 		Nursing Assistant - Long Term CareCareer Certificate120 hoursIn person; current Orange Park class: October 19-November 23, 2026.Ask school

Jacksonville campuses first, then nearby cities. Details come from each school's website; costs and start dates change, so confirm with the school.

CNA schools near Jacksonville: campus details

First Coast Nursing Assistant Training Center Jacksonville, FL

First Coast combines classroom lessons, supervised skills practice and clinical rotations at nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Florida Board of Nursing: Approved, program 1611; list August 27, 2026; checked October 27, 2026
Program
120-Hour Nursing Assistant Training
Credential
Diploma (CIE listing)
Length
120 hours; day program 4 weeks; evening program 5 weeks
Schedule
Day: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; final-week clinicals, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Evening: Monday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; clinicals on the third or fourth weekend, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and final week, 6-10 p.m.
Published cost
$1,100 tuition (school program page, checked October 27, 2026).
Address
3728 Philips Highway, Suite #2, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone
(904) 778-5547
Program page

How to pursue CNA certification in Florida

  1. 1

    Choose your exam route

    Florida allows testing without a course if you are at least 18 or hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Read the eligibility law before paying for training.

  2. 2

    Check approval and clinical hours

    For formal training, match the school's name and address to the Board roster. Florida's standardized course has 80 classroom hours and 40 clinical hours, described in this legislative analysis and governed by Rule 64B9-15.006.

  3. 3

    Complete the background screening

    The Board's application page requires electronic fingerprinting before approval. Follow its screening instructions and disclose the information requested on your application.

  4. 4

    Apply for your examination

    Apply through Prometric using the Board's instructions. If you completed approved training within six months before applying, you need only the written portion; other exam applicants generally take written and skills portions.

  5. 5

    Check your Florida registry record

    After certification is issued, use Florida's MQA license verification search to check your CNA record. Choose the nursing assistant profession and search your name before sharing your credential with an employer.

Nursing assistant employment and pay in Jacksonville

BLS reported 7,960 nursing assistant jobs in the Jacksonville, FL metropolitan area in its May 2025 OEWS estimates, the latest release listed on the OEWS tables page. For nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131), median wages were $18.15 per hour and $37,760 per year.

These figures describe the metro's existing jobs, rather than advertised vacancies. The median is the middle of the wage distribution, as explained in the BLS definitions. It is not a starting-pay offer. When you review a position, ask about the shift, weekly hours, physical tasks and pay listed by that employer.

CNA tuition and ways to pay

First Coast publishes $1,100 tuition on its program page, checked October 27, 2026. Request a written breakdown of testing, screening and supply charges before you pay. SJR State mentions scholarships that partially reimburse CNA requirements but does not publish tuition on this program page.

Start with CareerSource Northeast Florida, the local American Job Center network, to ask about WIOA training assistance. Eligibility, the approved provider list and available funding determine an award. First Coast also publishes an in-house payment plan. Ask SJR State's financial aid office whether this short certificate qualifies for FAFSA/Pell funding. Veterans should confirm the exact course's GI Bill eligibility using VA guidance. If an employer offers to pay for training, get its work commitment and repayment terms in writing.

Read the full guide to paying for training

Questions to ask before choosing CNA classes

  • Which start date has an open seat?
  • How many hours are classroom, lab and clinical?
  • Where are clinicals, and do they include weekends?
  • What must I pay beyond tuition?
  • Will my graduation date qualify me for the written-only exam?
  • What happens if I miss a clinical shift?

How to check a school

Common questions

Can I take the Florida CNA exam without a training program?

Yes. Florida law allows you to take the competency exam without approved training if you have a high school diploma or equivalent, or are at least 18. You still need to meet screening and exam requirements. If you fail after three attempts, you must complete an approved training program before testing again.

How long do Jacksonville CNA programs take?

The First Coast course runs four weeks by day or five weeks in the evening, with 120 total hours. SJR State also lists 120 hours, with its current Orange Park class running October 19-November 23, 2026. Ask about clinical shifts separately because they may differ from classroom hours.

Do approved-program graduates have to take the skills exam?

Florida law says graduates who completed an approved CNA program within six months before applying do not need the skills portion of the exam. If you are using another route, expect both portions unless the Board confirms an exception. A short exam-preparation class does not automatically give you the approved-program exemption.

Can I work while I wait for CNA certification?

Florida law allows nursing facilities to employ certain people for a single consecutive four-month period before CNA certification. Eligible groups include people enrolled in or finished with approved training. Certification must be completed within four months of initial employment as a nursing assistant in a licensed nursing facility. Ask the facility whether it hires applicants under this exception.

Why are some Board-listed schools missing from this table?

The state roster includes high-school programs as well as adult providers. This table covers adult classes with a current or next start that could be verified. Some providers publish only past calendars. Check approval and admissions separately, since a school appearing on the roster does not establish that it has an open class.

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Sources (22)

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Contact the programs directly to confirm an available start, clinical travel and a complete price before choosing your CNA training.

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