To become a CNA in Georgia you need to pass an accredited program as well as meet a list of state requirements. Many people begin their healthcare careers working as certified nursing assistants at hospitals, long-term care facilities, or nursing homes. If you’ve considered a career in healthcare, we’ve put together a list of the top CNA classes in Atlanta to help you with your research in finding the right program for you.
Highlights:
- Accelerated CNA programs near Atlanta can be completed in as little as 3 weeks.
- Most CNA classes in Atlanta cost less than $1,000
- Some training programs will assist you with job placement, meaning you can receive all your training and certifications and land a job in a matter of weeks.
- According to the latest Bureau of Labor and Statistics data, Atlanta CNAs on the higher end of the wage scale can make over $45,000 per year.
Georgia CNA Requirements
To become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Georgia, you must complete a state-approved nurse aide training program that includes at least 85 hours of instruction time, with at least 24 hours of clinical training. After completing the training program, you must pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam within one year. If you are already a certified nurse aide in another state, you may be able to transfer your certification to Georgia by applying for reciprocity.
Requirements for being a certified CNA in Georgia include:
- Have up to date immunization records
- Proof of graduating from a state-certified CNA program
- Pass the Georgia CNA exam
- Earn a listing on the Georgia CNA registry
CNA Programs in Georgia
CNA training can be completed at many different types of facilities. In Georgia, you can take state-approved CNA courses at locations such as nursing homes, acute care facilities, home care agencies, high schools, technical schools, post-secondary schools, community colleges and universities. We’ve compiled a list of some of the top CNA programs in Atlanta and the surrounding area, you’ll want to contact these listings individually to learn more about their class schedules and see if they offer options for scholarships or free CNA certification.
Best CNA Classes in Atlanta
Getting started as a CNA requires the right education. Check out our selections for the best CNA programs in Atlanta.
Faks Allied Health Education
The CNA program offered by Faks Allied Health Education introduces students to fundamental nursing skills. The course lasts from 4-8 weeks and encompasses instruction and demonstration of CPR/ 1st Aid/ AED, Total Patient Care, Taking Vital Signs, Communication with Patients & Family Members, Residents Rights, Infection Control & Safety Measures. The classroom instruction involves learning basic nursing skills, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and infection control. The program offers ample hands-on experience during clinical activities.
Price: $800
Address: 5530 Old National Hwy Suite: C, College Park, GA 30349
Phone: 404.763.0055
URL: http://faks-allied-health.com/cna/
Job Placement: No.
Additional Features: Classes available on weekdays, weeknights, and weekends.
Murray Career Institute
Murray Career Institute offers an array of medical training programs at reasonable prices, making it an excellent choice for individuals seeking to kickstart their medical careers. The institute provides flexible payment plans for all of its programs, including a three-week day CNA class, a three-week evening night program (availability based on enrollment numbers), a three-week Phlebotomy program, a six-month Pharmacy Technician program that offers bi-weekly sessions, and a seven-month Clinical Medical Assisting program that offers bi-weekly payments.
Price: Contact program for most recent cost information.
Address: 777 Cleveland Ave SW Ste 506, Atlanta, GA 30315
Phone: 404.228.1568
URL: https://murraycareerinstitute.com/
Job Placement: No.
Additional Features: Small class sizes, discounts available for early registration.
Covenant CNA School
At Covenant CNA School, students are trained to become highly qualified Certified Nursing Assistants who can make a positive impact in the healthcare industry. The school is committed to providing exceptional service to its students by maintaining professional standards of excellence, which in turn promotes excellent patient care.
The school’s mission is driven by a sense of commitment, obligation, and vision, aimed at empowering and nurturing nursing students while fostering a culture of acceptance. Covenant CNA School offers constructive training that equips students with the knowledge, skills, values, and beliefs required to succeed in today’s healthcare industry.
The school attracts a diverse student population, including high school juniors and seniors, individuals looking for a career change, and pre-nursing, pre-physician assistants, pre-med, and other allied health majors who need to meet program requirements. Covenant CNA School serves students from Atlanta and the surrounding metro counties, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Henry, and Gwinnett.
Price: $625
Address: 2470 Windy Hill Road Southeast Suite 445, Marietta, GA 30067
Phone: 770.315.7430
URL: https://covenant-cna-school.business.site/
Job Placement: No.
Additional Features: Grants available for some students.
Health Connect Career Center
Health Connect Career Center is dedicated to educating and empowering individuals to pursue a career in healthcare. The center’s mission is to provide knowledge and instill confidence in students, enabling them to become leaders in their profession and provide safe and quality care.
The center’s vision is to offer entry-level opportunities to as many individuals as possible, fostering a culture of inspiration, motivation, service, and education within the community. Health Connect Career Center is committed to delivering outstanding results and solutions that students can rely on.
The center believes that every student has the potential to achieve greatness, and their focus is to help students unlock their full potential at the highest possible level. The learning environment at Health Connect Career Center is both friendly and professional, emphasizing quality, value, and the best learning experience. Students can trust that the center will provide the resources and support they need to reach their goals.
Price: $1,139-$1,699
Address: 3300 Buckeye Rd Suite #500, Atlanta, GA 30341
Phone: 470.472.4222
URL: http://www.healthconnectcareer.com/
Job Placement: No.
Additional Features: In-person or hybrid online CNA courses available.
Cobb Medical Institute
The CNA classes offered at Cobb Medical Institute (CMI), Inc. are designed to provide students with practical instruction and advanced concepts in a safe and nurturing learning environment. The institute is committed to upholding a standard of excellence, serving a diverse student body, and preparing them for successful futures in the medical field. CMI, Inc. is driven by a vision to instill values such as trust, honesty, integrity, innovation, competence, effective improvement, academic excellence, and a positive attitude in their students, with the support of dedicated staff and faculty.
Price: $850
Address: 5590 Mableton Pkwy SW Suite 166, Mableton, GA 30126
Phone: 678.398.1234
URL: http://www.cobbcnaschool.com/
Job Placement: No.
Additional Features: 4 and 8-week courses available.
Cumberland Medical Institute
Cumberland Medical Institute offers a comprehensive 92-hour program for individuals seeking to become Georgia State Approved Certified Nursing Assistants. The program includes classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical training in top-rated nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and long-term care properties across Georgia. Upon completion of the course, students are fully equipped to take the Georgia State Certification Exam at Cumberland Medical Institute’s state-approved testing site, but advance registration is mandatory.
Morning and evening classes are available, and students are required to complete three days of clinicals towards the end of the program to practice the skills learned in the classroom. Clinicals take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 6:45 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Students will receive two uniforms, loaned textbooks, a skills DVD, CNA course materials, CNA State Exam prep materials, and job referrals/leads. The program has specific entry requirements, including a valid ID and Social Security card, a TB skin test or CRX, a clean criminal record, a high school diploma or GED, a positive attitude, and a desire to care for others. Cumberland Medical Institute is committed to providing its students with the tools they need to become successful nursing assistants.
Price: $950 – includes uniforms, textbooks, skills DVD, exam prep materials.
Address: 110 Evans Mill Drive, Suite 704, Dallas, Georgia 30157
Phone: 770.435.2555
URL: https://cumberlandmedical.net/
Job Placement: Yes.
Additional Features: Morning or evening classes available.
Atlanta Career Institute
Atlanta Career Institute offers a CNA program that is specifically designed to prepare students to take the State Exam and work alongside nurses and medical staff in providing basic care for patients. The program includes training in various skills such as bathing, feeding, dressing patients, observing physical and/or mental changes, and vitals. A total of 22 skills are taught through lectures, hands-on training, and videos, which are all available online for review in preparation for the state exam.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be eligible to take the Georgia State Exam. The program has specific course requirements that must be fulfilled within the first two weeks of class, including being at least 16 years of age, having a BP Cuff/Stethoscope (which can be purchased from ACI for $40), completing Basic Life Support – Heartsaver for Healthcare Providers training (offered at ACI for $70), obtaining a TB skin test or chest X-ray (no more than 2 years old), undergoing a drug screen (no more than 1 month old), providing a physician’s letter if pregnant, presenting a COVID Vaccination Card, or negative COVID test from a healthcare provider, and having two forms of identification, one of which must be government-issued, and both names must match.
Atlanta Career Institute is committed to providing its students with the necessary skills and training to become successful CNAs, and to meet the requirements of healthcare facilities across Georgia.
Price: $800 + $150 application fee
Address: 5380 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite 120, Norcross, GA 30071
Phone: 770.807.0170
URL: https://www.atlantacareerinstitute.net/
Job Placement: No.
Additional Features: Day, evening, and weekend classes available. Financial aid options for some students.
All American Training Academy
All American Training Academy (AATA) is committed to providing its students with lifelong skills in the nursing field to prepare them for their future careers. With over 40 years of experience in training certified nursing assistants, AATA offers an accelerated program that can be completed in just four weeks for day and evening classes, or six weeks for weekend classes. The program includes all necessary materials and supplies, as well as a background check and lab fees.
AATA’s experienced professionals provide hands-on instruction in basic care for clients in long-term and acute-care facilities. The academy’s goal is to better prepare students before they enter into their new career as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant).
To be eligible for the nursing assistant program, prospective students must be at least 17 years of age and schedule a consultation with AATA to determine their eligibility. They must also provide a current negative TB test or chest x-ray taken within the last 12 months, and a negative COVID-19 test prior to participating in clinicals.
Price: Contact the academy for current class pricing.
Address: 1691 Phoenix Blvd. Ste 100, College Park, Georgia 30349
Phone: 770.291.1211
URL: https://allamericantraining.net/
Job Placement: No.
Additional Features: Accelerated program can be completed in as little as 4 weeks.
Life Solutions for Health
Life Solutions for Health is dedicated to equipping aspiring nursing assistants with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their chosen field. The comprehensive training program emphasizes the practical application of patient care theory in real-world patient situations to prepare students for success in the healthcare industry.
Upon completion of the program, students will be well-prepared to pass the Georgia Nurse Aide certification exam and embark on a fulfilling career as an entry-level nursing assistant. Throughout the course, students will learn to provide physical and emotional support to patients in long-term care facilities and hospitals, implement patient care plans under the direction of LPN and RN staff, assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), and accurately collect and record vital signs.
Classes are conveniently scheduled Monday through Friday for three weeks, with clinical experience taking place over the course of the fourth week. Clinical days are held on weekends, with students reporting from 6:45am to 3:15pm on Saturday, Sunday, and the following Saturday. With this rigorous yet flexible curriculum, students are well-equipped to succeed as nursing assistants in a variety of healthcare settings.
Price: $1,000 – includes textbook, BLS CPR class, clinical skills supplies.
Address: 4798 Flat Shoals Pkwy., Decatur, GA 30034
Phone: 770.808.7788
URL: https://lifesolutionsforhealth.com/
Job Placement: No.
Additional Features: Day and evening course options. WIOA grant assistance information on their website.
AABACUS Certified Nursing Assistant Program **Online CNA Classes
AABACUS Certified Nursing Assistant Program is committed to providing flexible schedules for those interested in becoming nursing assistants. Located in Marietta, Georgia, they offer the latest training techniques from licensed professional nurses to help students learn to care for patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. The program accepts WIOA Scholarships and provides on-site Georgia State Board Exams.
The program aims to prepare individuals for a career in healthcare by emphasizing the importance of the nursing assistant’s role in a nurse-resident relationship. The goal is to help residents stay independent for as long as possible by getting to know their routine and preferences, giving care that reflects their control over their lives.
AABACUS offers three class schedules, including weekday classes for three weeks, weekend classes for five weekends, and virtual classes for four weeks. Upon completion of the program, students will be equipped to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable people and start a career that changes lives. Enroll today to start your journey to become a certified nursing assistant.
Price: $800
Address: 2188 Austell Road SW, Marietta, GA 30008
Phone: 404.997.9791
URL: https://www.aabacuscna.com/
Job Placement: No.
Additional Features: 3–5-week courses available with online class option.
How much do CNA classes cost in Atlanta?
The average price for CNA classes in Atlanta is around $900, but be sure to ask about what is included in the advertised price. Some schools will include materials and equipment, while others may not. Some schools may also have administration and registration fees you’ll want to look into as well, as those can significantly change the total cost of a program.
What’s the salary for CNAs in Atlanta?
CNAs in the Atlanta region make an average of $36,620 per year or $117.60 per hour. This is lower than the national average of $39,610, according to 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Where do CNAs work in Atlanta?
CNAs can work in a wide range of healthcare and educational settings. Below are estimated employment numbers for CNAs in various industries in the Atlanta market.
| Employer | Atlanta CNAs Employed |
|---|---|
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 4,981 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 4,086 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | 1,489 |
| Home Health Care Services | 883 |
| Employment Services | 411 |
| Individual and Family Services | 383 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 276 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 274 |
| Offices of Physicians | 184 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 170 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 150 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | 125 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 125 |
Helpful links for Atlanta CNAs
It’s a lot of work researching CNA programs in Atlanta. If you’re still on the hunt for more information we suggest the following links.: