How to Become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) in Alabama

Checked against Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry · Verified 2026-10-14

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: See state office
Certified by: Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry

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Who can apply

You must complete an ADPH-approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program (or equivalent nursing education, such as an RN or LPN program approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing).
You must pass both the written (or oral) test and the skills test within 24 months of finishing training.
ADPH says a Patient Care Technician (PCT/PCA) must still complete a state-approved nurse aide training program to be placed on the registry.

Step by step

Enroll in an ADPH-approved nurse aide training program (offered at most community colleges, many nursing homes and some private schools). Alabama does not approve online CNA programs.
Complete at least 75 clock hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical training in a nursing home and 16 hours of lab training.
Your training program picks the test provider: Credentia or Prometric. Apply to test with that provider (for Credentia, create an account on its Credentia Platform).
Pass the written (or oral) exam and the skills exam within 24 months of finishing training and within three attempts.
Your passing results go to ADPH, which lists you on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry. Alabama does not issue a CNA certificate or license; your score report is the official document.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: ADPH requires at least 75 clock hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical (clinical) training in a nursing home and 16 hours of lab training. At least 16 hours of training must come before any direct contact with residents. This matches the 75-hour federal minimum.

Exam: Training programs choose either Credentia or Prometric as the test provider. Both give a written (or oral) knowledge test plus a skills test. Credentia's written test has 70 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, and its skills test has 5 randomly selected skills. Credentia fees: written $55, English or Spanish oral $55, skills $80. Prometric fees (effective July 1, 2023): written $40, oral $40, clinical skills $45. You get three attempts within 24 months of finishing training to pass both parts. After three failures, you must retrain before testing again.

Practice for the CNA written exam free — physical care skills, safety & infection control, and the nurse aide role →

What it costs in Alabama

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Nurse aide training tuition$
Competency exam (written or oral + skills): Prometric $85 or Credentia $135, depending on the provider your program uses$85–$135

Estimated total in Alabama$85–$135Plus 1 item with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Credentia exam fees: written $55, English oral $55, Spanish oral $55, skills $80.
Prometric exam fees (effective July 1, 2023): written $40, oral $40, clinical skills $45.
Training tuition varies by program. Under federal and Alabama law, if you work as a nurse aide in a Medicaid/Medicare nursing home (or have a written job commitment from one), your employer must pay your exam and retest fees. If such a facility hires you within 12 months of passing, it may reimburse your training and testing costs.

Pay in Alabama

Before you compare job offers, see what a paycheck takes home in Alabama after taxes.

Starting out on an entry-level wage? Check the SNAP income limits in Alabama by household size.

How long it takes

Credentia says written and oral results are available immediately and skills score reports are generally available within 24 hours of the test event.

What other sites get wrong about Alabama

Myth: Alabama candidates choose their testing vendor (Credentia or Prometric).

Fact: ADPH says the nurse aide training program chooses the test provider, Prometric or Credentia. source

Staying on the registry

Renewal: Alabama has no renewal form or fee. Your listing stays active while you work, and for 24 months after your last date worked, as a paid nurse aide (at least 8 hours every 24 months) in a nursing home, hospital, home health agency, hospice agency or mental health facility under RN supervision. Volunteer work, private sitting, assisted living and doctor's office work do not count. Continuing education does not keep you active, though skilled nursing facilities must give CNAs 12 hours of in-service training each year. If you have not worked for more than 24 months, you must retrain and retest.

Online options: Credentia lets you take the written or oral exam online from home or work with a live remote proctor; the skills test is in person. Credentia's Alabama handbook says Alabama does not approve any online CNA training programs.

Good to know in Alabama

Transferring from another state: Alabama has no reciprocity form. You must be hired by a nursing home (or other qualifying employer), which then verifies your active, good-standing out-of-state certification with ADPH so you can be placed on the Alabama registry. If you only want home health work, ADPH cannot transfer you; you must complete an approved program and pass both Alabama tests.

Nursing students: Nursing students enrolled in an Alabama nursing program who passed Fundamentals of Nursing and clinical skills within the past 24 months can apply to take the competency test with a letter from their instructor.

Your registry number: ADPH uses your Social Security number as your certification number. Employers can verify listings 24 hours a day on the ADPH registry site or by calling (334) 206-5169.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry before you apply.