Campus-only programs starting at roughly $650 and hybrid courses topping $1,800 sit at opposite ends of Oregon's CNA training market, and the format you pick shapes your timeline, out-of-pocket cost, and how quickly you can sit for the state CNA certification exam. Oregon's 15 community colleges with approved nursing assistant programs span from Astoria on the north coast to Ontario near the Idaho border, offering everything from five-week accelerated tracks to full-year certificate pathways that bundle CNA 1 and CNA 2 credentials.
With the Oregon Employment Department projecting nearly 1,700 annual openings for nursing assistants through 2033, employer-sponsored and zero-tuition options are increasingly common, especially at long-term care providers competing for staff. That competition has kept median wages above the national median, but it has also made choosing the right program a more consequential decision than it was five years ago.
Best CNA Schools in Oregon: 2027 Rankings
Prospective CNAs in Oregon have strong options across the state, from coastal community colleges to larger Portland-area programs. The best school is usually the one that combines realistic clinical practice, a schedule you can manage, and a cost structure that does not derail your budget.
How we ranked these
- Median graduate debt
- Affordability and net price
- Program completion and retention
- Post-completion earnings
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
Oregon Coast Community College
#1Newport, OR · $8,000/yr (net price)
Best for: Flexible hybrid learners on the Oregon coast
Oregon Coast's Nurse Assistant Level 1 Training Program is a 120 hour, 7 credit route that meets Oregon State Board of Nursing requirements, with online lecture content and in-person skills labs before a 40 hour clinical placement. The college recently estimated full program costs around $2,147 including tuition, fees, background check, CPR, supplies, and OSBN application steps, which makes it one of the lower-cost CNA entries in the state. The program runs through both Newport and Lincoln City, and a sponsored cohort tied to Lincoln County School District may help selected students attend. No earnings figure is available for Oregon Coast in the 2024 College Scorecard data.
- 120 hour, 7 credit training sequence
- Estimated total program cost around $2,147
- Online lectures plus in-person skills labs
- 40 hour clinical experience in healthcare facilities
- Meets Oregon State Board of Nursing requirements
- Available at Newport and Lincoln City
- Sponsored Lincoln County School District cohort option
Umpqua Community College
#2Roseburg, OR · $8,000/yr
Best for: Career changers seeking a direct standalone certificate
Umpqua's Nursing Assistant Level One can be completed in about 11 weeks as a standalone certificate, with hybrid classroom and clinical training in a modern facility and no additional academic coursework required. The same course is also an on-ramp to Oregon certification, and the college reports strong first-time exam pass rates. Students from Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and California can qualify for Oregon resident tuition, which expands the pathway beyond the Roseburg area. The 2024 College Scorecard median for former Umpqua students is $36,676 about 10 years after entry.
- 11 week program duration
- Standalone certificate with no extra coursework
- Hybrid classroom and clinical training
- Designed for OSBN licensing exam with strong pass rates
- Modern clinical training facility
- Financial aid, scholarships, and grants available
- Residents of nearby states may pay Oregon tuition
Southwestern Oregon Community College
#3Coos Bay, OR · $9,000/yr (net price)
Best for: Career ladder students wanting CNA 2 preparation
Southwestern Oregon Community College's Advanced Nursing Assistant Career Pathway Certificate is unusual because it prepares students for both CNA Level 1 and Level 2 certification through one Oregon State Board approved 19 credit curriculum. Coursework goes beyond bedside skills to include patient care documentation and medical record management, which helps graduates move immediately into employment or further nursing education. The 2024 College Scorecard reports median former-student earnings of $38,349 about 10 years after entry; program level earnings are not yet published for this certificate.
- 19 credit Career Pathway Certificate
- Prepares for Oregon CNA Level 1 and Level 2
- Hands-on clinical plus classroom instruction
- Patient care documentation and medical records training
- Health information technology integrated into coursework
- Builds direct pathway to healthcare employment
Chemeketa Community College
#4Salem, OR · ~$8,000/yr (est.)
Chemeketa's Basic Nursing Assistant training is a 136 hour Oregon State Board approved course built around 70 classroom and lab hours plus 66 hours of clinical work in a long-term care facility. Program cost is roughly $1,466 before background checks, drug screening, immunizations, testing, and certification fees, and seats are allocated through a lottery rather than first come registration. The Yamhill Valley location is not currently accepting new classes, leaving Salem as the active campus. Chemeketa's 2024 Scorecard median earnings figure is $40,968 about 10 years after former students enrolled.
- 136 hour Oregon State Board approved course
- 70 classroom and lab hours plus 66 clinical hours
- Course cost approximately $1,466 before fees
- Seats assigned through lottery selection
- Offered year round at Salem campus
- CPR, background check, and drug screening required
Central Oregon Community College
#5Bend, OR · $5,000 – $14,000/yr
Central Oregon CC's three semester Nursing Assistant One Year Certificate also carries Community Health Worker training, making it a fit for students who want a slightly wider public health credential rather than a CNA-only course. The 34 to 43 credit campus program requires no formal academic prerequisites, but students must be 18 by clinicals, maintain a C average, and clear background, drug, and CPR checks. Because the certificate is not financial aid eligible, plan for out of pocket costs that include roughly $600 in immunizations and a $170 background check. Scorecard data from 2024 place median earnings at $38,940 about ten years after entry.
- Three term, one year certificate
- Also includes Community Health Worker training
- 34 to 43 total credits
- No formal academic prerequisites
- Must be 18 before clinical work
- Requires C or higher in courses
- Not eligible for federal financial aid
- Prepares for Oregon State Board certification
Lane Community College
#6Eugene, OR · ~$9,000/yr (est.)
Lane Community College has historically offered both Nursing Assistant 1 and Nursing Assistant 2 in Eugene, with each non credit course priced at $1,250 and capped at 10 seats to keep skills lab instruction close. As of this writing the program is paused, so the best next step is checking Lane's schedule for a reopening date before treating it as a current option. When active, the NA1 course requires no healthcare experience and ends with state certification eligibility, while NA2 adds advanced skills on top of a current CNA 1. The 2024 Scorecard median for former Lane students is $38,075 about 10 years after entry.
- Non credit course priced at $1,250
- CPR card and textbook included
- No previous healthcare experience required
- 10 seats per class, first come registration
- ACEN accredited program
- Clinical experience included for state exam
- Non credit NA2 course priced at $1,250
- Builds on current CNA 1 certification
- One term campus based course
- Labs and clinical experience required
- Includes CPR and textbook or workbook
- Covers anatomy, ethics, and legal issues
Rogue Community College
#7Grants Pass, OR · $11,000/yr (net price)
Rogue Community College offers one of Oregon's most compact NA1 timelines: 105 hours across 4 to 5 weeks, with online course work completed at your own pace and labs and clinicals scheduled in Southern Oregon. The $1,750 tuition does not include the $150 deposit, background check, BLS provider card, fingerprinting, or OSBN exam fees, so your true total is higher. VA tuition assistance and WorkSource funding are accepted, making the entry cost more manageable for qualified students. The 2024 College Scorecard median for former Rogue students is $36,845 about ten years after entry.
- 4 to 5 week completion window
- 105 total training hours
- $1,750 tuition before fees
- Online coursework with in-person labs
- Clinical sites in Josephine and Jackson Counties
- Accepts VA and WorkSource tuition assistance
- BLS Provider course required
- State approved for Oregon CNA eligibility
Clatsop Community College
#8Astoria, OR · $11,000/yr (net price)
Clatsop Community College keeps its Nursing Assistant program intentionally skills focused, spending an 11 week campus term on feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, and safe patient movement under nursing supervision. The narrow scope is designed for fast entry into direct care jobs rather than a longer certificate pathway. A continuing partnership with Clatsop Care provides clinical support and can help cover student costs, and recent workforce grants have expanded local allied health capacity. The 2024 College Scorecard puts Clatsop median earnings at $39,477 about ten years after entry.
- 11 week campus based training
- Prepares for state certification exam
- Direct patient care under nursing supervision
- Skills in feeding, bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Patient moving and positioning techniques
- Partnership with Clatsop Care supports clinical training
Mt Hood Community College
#9Gresham, OR · $8,000/yr (net price)
Mt Hood offers a clear two-step structure for ambitious CNAs: complete the 166 hour NA1 certificate, then return for the 96 hour CNA2 course that adds EKG and blood glucose skills. Both routes are campus based and OSBN approved, but admission starts with placement testing rather than an automatic seat, so budget time for prerequisites. The 2024 Scorecard median for former Mt Hood students is $41,125 about ten years after entry.
- 166 hour program with lecture, lab, and clinical
- 8 credit campus based option
- Oregon State Board approved
- Minimum age 16
- Reading, writing, and math placement required
- Criminal background check plus 10 panel drug screen
- Not financial aid eligible
- 96 hour advanced campus course
- Builds on current CNA 1 certification
- Covers blood glucose and EKG skills
- CPR card and information session required
- Offered each academic term
Klamath Community College
#10Klamath Falls, OR · $5,000 – $8,000/yr
Klamath Community College's NA training is streamlined enough to fit around other coursework: HEA 100 is a 5 credit class, capped at 10 students, and filled by order of registration rather than by a strict application deadline. If you want a small cohort and quick confirmation of your seat, this structure can be a plus; if you need broader timing options, the term start dates will matter. Klamath is also adding an RN-to-BSN through the statewide community college collaborative in Fall 2026, giving CNAs a future step to continue their education. Median earnings for former Klamath students from the 2024 College Scorecard were $34,357 about ten years after entry.
- 5 credit HEA 100 course
- Prepares for Oregon CNA exam
- Limited to 10 students per section
- First come, first served enrollment
- No strict application dates
- Requires C grade or better
- Criminal background check and immunizations required
- Can transfer credits toward nursing program
Clackamas Community College
#11Oregon City, OR · $8,000/yr
Clackamas offers an ACEN accredited Nursing Assistant 1 course that combines online course work with in-person labs and clinical rotations in long term care. The estimated total of $1,730 covers tuition and fees, textbooks, and supplies, while the 6.5 credit structure is designed for one term completion. Students must be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and the limited entry format means orientation and application steps matter. The 2024 College Scorecard median for former Clackamas students is $42,886 about ten years after entry.
- ACEN accredited program
- Approximately $1,730 total cost including materials
- 6.5 credits, one term format
- 72 lecture and lab hours plus 45 clinical hours
- Online instruction with in-person labs
- Scholarships and grants available
- Limited entry with mandatory orientation
- Clinical rotation in long term care
Linn-Benton Community College
#12Albany, OR · $12,000/yr
Linn-Benton's Nursing Assistant 1 course takes a middle path between online classroom and clinical: 73 hours of online classroom work with live skills labs, then 40 hours in long term care clinicals, totaling 113 hours. It is a non credit Oregon State Board approved route with separate pricing and limited enrollment, so this is not an open enrollment class. Applicants should expect a special admission form and a 75 percent exam requirement. The 2024 Scorecard median for former Linn-Benton students is $41,363 about ten years after entry.
- 113 hour Oregon State Board approved course
- 73 classroom hours delivered online
- Live skills labs with clinical time
- 40 clinical hours in long term care
- Non credit program with separate pricing
- Limited enrollment with special admission
- 75 percent final exam score required
- Prepares for Oregon certification exam
Treasure Valley Community College
#13Ontario, OR · $11,000/yr (net price)
Treasure Valley delivers its CNA course through evening online sessions and Saturday skills labs, which makes it a realistic pick for students juggling work in eastern Oregon. The 110 hour program includes CPR, clinical work at local agencies, and costs $725 for in-state tuition with slightly higher out of state tuition, plus fees. Applications are processed in order and seating is limited, so early action counts. Median school level earnings in 2024 College Scorecard data are $36,738 about ten years after entry.
- 10 week, 110 hour program
- Evening online classes plus Saturday labs
- Includes CPR certification
- Clinical experience at local agencies
- In state tuition from $725
- Minimum age 16
- Background check and drug screen required
- Applications accepted in order of receipt
Portland Community College
#14Portland, OR · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Portland Community College's non credit Nursing Assistant course is a single term, 112.5 hour pathway with a 40 hour clinical practicum at a local healthcare facility and a course cost of roughly $650. It is one of the higher volume entry routes in Oregon, but the program page warns that current sections are full, so the right move is to watch for the next application window rather than apply late. The 2024 College Scorecard median for former PCC students is $44,592 about 10 years after entry.
- One term, non credit program
- 72.5 lecture and lab hours
- 40 hour clinical practicum
- Cost approximately $650
- Covers vital signs, disease prevention, and patient care
- CPR certification included
- Admission on a first come basis
- Readiness for Oregon state exam
Columbia Gorge Community College
#15The Dalles, OR · $10,000/yr (net price)
Columbia Gorge's NUR 90 Nursing Assistant 1 course is a 7 credit campus option with 110 hours of lecture, lab, and skills training. The program's prerequisites are modest and specific: reading and writing placement, TB test, measles immunization, and a clear background check. That makes it workable for students who have not built a large college record. Median former-student earnings from the 2024 College Scorecard are $44,440 about 10 years after entry.
- 7 credit Nursing Assistant course
- Campus based instruction
- 110 total contact hours
- Covers healthcare team roles and client rights
- OSHA safety and infection control included
- Teaches vital signs and personal care skills
- Requires TB test and measles immunization
- BLS or AED certification included
Selecting a CNA Program That Fits Your Life
Every CNA program forces a tradeoff between cost, speed, and the depth of training you actually receive on the path to How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant. A $700 community college course that runs 15 weeks and a $1,800 accelerated program that wraps in five weeks can both lead to the same license, but the fit depends on your work schedule, your budget, and how quickly you need to start earning.
Start With OSBN Approval
Before anything else, confirm the program appears on the Oregon State Board of Nursing's approved list. Unapproved courses, no matter how polished the marketing, do not qualify you to sit for the state competency exam. This is non-negotiable: enrolling in a non-approved program means paying for training you cannot use. The OSBN publishes its current roster online, and any legitimate school will tell you its approval status without hesitation.
Weigh the Core Tradeoffs
Once you have a shortlist of approved programs, compare them across a few practical dimensions:
- Cost: Community colleges within CNA Classes & Programs often run $600 to $1,200, while private career schools and accelerated programs can reach $1,500 to $2,500.
- Schedule: Some programs compress into 4 to 6 weeks of full-time daytime instruction; others spread across a full semester with evening or weekend options for working students.
- Location: Factor in commute time to both the classroom and the clinical site, especially in rural counties where drive times can add hours each week.
- Exam pass rates: Ask directly. Schools that track and share this number tend to be the ones producing consistent results.
Ask About Clinical Placements
The clinical rotation is where classroom knowledge becomes real skill, and not all placements offer the same experience. A rotation in a long-term care facility builds strong fundamentals in daily resident care, while hospital placements expose you to acute cases, faster pacing, and a wider range of equipment. Home health settings develop independence and communication skills. Ask each program where students train, whether placements are guaranteed, and how sites are matched to students. The answer shapes what you will be qualified and comfortable doing on day one.
No-Cost CNA Training: Employer-Sponsored and Free Programs in Oregon
Marquis Companies runs zero-tuition CNA classes at multiple Oregon locations in 2026, including Klamath Falls, Portland, and Tualatin, with new cohorts starting weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on the site. Training typically runs 4 to 6 weeks, and graduates are expected to work at the sponsoring facility for roughly 6 to 12 months after certification. That work-commitment model is the norm across nearly every free CNA pathway in the state, mirroring earn while you learn nursing programs, so treat it as the price of admission rather than an unusual condition.
Facilities Currently Sponsoring Free Training
- Marquis Companies: Tuition covered, 4 to 6 week format, post-certification employment expected at the training location. Class frequency varies by facility.
- Avamere: Free NA classes with tuition and, in many cases, the state exam fee covered. A paid position is typically offered after certification, with a work commitment in the 6 to 12 month range. Perks can vary by location, so confirm specifics with the individual facility.
- Sapphire Health: Listed among Oregon facility-sponsored providers offering no-cost training in a 4 to 6 week format. Contact the facility directly for current cohort openings.
- Oregon Veterans Homes: Also among the free providers, with the same general 4 to 6 week structure. Openings tend to be tied to staffing needs at the Lebanon and The Dalles campuses.
Platinum Career Solutions has also appeared on lists of employer-linked training partners, though public details are limited.
Free vs Reimbursement: Know What You're Signing
A truly free program covers tuition, textbooks, scrubs, and often the state competency exam fee upfront. A reimbursement or partial-scholarship model, by contrast, expects you to pay first and get money back after you complete training or hit a service milestone. Ask directly which model applies, and get the work-commitment length, early-departure penalties, and wage rate during and after training in writing before you enroll.
Public Funding Options
If no facility program fits your schedule, WorkSource Oregon and funding tied to the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act can pay for CNA training at approved community college and private-school providers. Eligibility usually hinges on employment status, income, or dislocated-worker classification. Your local WorkSource center can screen you and point you to approved training vendors.
Geographic Reach
Most sponsored programs cluster in the Portland metro and the Willamette Valley, where long-term care employers are densest, but rural options exist through Marquis sites like Klamath Falls and through the Veterans Homes network, as noted in the Guide to Rural Nursing. Availability shifts month to month, so check current cohort listings directly with each employer.
Explore other Oregon related topics
Oregon CNA Certification: Training Hours, Exam, and Costs
Earning your CNA certification in Oregon involves a clear sequence of steps governed by the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN). For the most current requirements, always refer to OSBN's official website and locate OAR 851-061 along with the CNA application page. You can supplement your research with BLS.gov for state employment outlook and typical duties, but remember that only OSBN sets certification rules. Professional association sites such as the Oregon Health Care Association and local community college nursing pages are useful for program comparisons, though any regulatory changes should be verified directly through OSBN before you act.
Hybrid and Online CNA Training Options in Oregon
Since the Oregon State Board of Nursing began allowing more remote coursework after the pandemic, hybrid CNA programs have become the default flexible option for working adults, though fully online certification remains impossible in the state.
Why Fully Online Isn't an Option
OSBN requires 40 hours of clinical practice in a licensed care setting, plus 28 hours of skills lab time supervised by a qualified instructor. No program, in Oregon or elsewhere, can certify you through a screen alone. Any site advertising "100% online CNA certification" for Oregon is either misleading you or referring to a different state's rules. What you can do online is complete the didactic portion: infection control, patient rights, communication, basic anatomy, and documentation.
How Hybrid Programs Actually Work
In a hybrid format, lectures and quizzes move to a learning management system you access on your own schedule, usually evenings or weekends. You then report in person for skills labs (typically one or two full days per week) and clinical rotations at a partnered nursing facility. Total calendar time is often similar to in-person programs, but the flexibility matters if you're juggling a job or childcare. Pass rates on the state competency exam are comparable between formats when clinical hours are equivalent.
Where to Find Hybrid Options
Community colleges in the Portland, Salem, and Eugene metros , home to many of the Best Nursing Schools in Oregon , tend to offer the widest range of formats, including evening cohorts, weekend intensives, and hybrid tracks. Portland Community College, Chemeketa Community College in Salem, and Lane Community College in Eugene each run multiple sections per year. Rural and coastal programs more often stick to a single in-person format, so if flexibility is essential, expect to commute or relocate temporarily for training.
CNA 1 vs CNA 2 in Oregon: Training, Scope, and Career Impact
Oregon is one of the few states that recognizes two distinct levels of certified nursing assistant. Both CNA 1 and CNA 2 work under the supervision of a licensed nurse, and neither has an independent scope of practice. Instead, each level carries a fixed set of "authorized duties" defined in Division 63 of the Oregon Nurse Practice Act (OAR 851-063). Understanding the differences can help you decide whether upgrading to CNA 2 is worth the additional investment. Note that the Oregon State Board of Nursing has an active CNA 1 and CNA 2 Consolidation initiative, so the two-level structure may change in the future.
| Feature | CNA 1 | CNA 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Training Hours | 105 hours of approved coursework | Additional training beyond the CNA 1 requirement; hours vary by program and are defined in OAR 851-063-0035 |
| Typical Program Length | 3 to 11 weeks | Varies; CNA 2 programs are shorter add-on courses completed after CNA 1 certification |
| Prerequisite | No prior CNA certification required | Must hold current CNA 1 certification before enrolling |
| Core Authorized Duties | Basic client care, safety and comfort measures, collaboration with the health care team, and limited medication assistance (e.g., OTC bowel evacuation suppositories, topical barrier creams, anti-fungal preparations, pediculicides) as directed by the RN plan of care | All CNA 1 authorized duties plus expanded client care activities, including receiving and giving report, as specified in OAR 851-063-0035 |
| Supervision Structure | Works under the supervision and at the direction of a licensed nurse; may not work independently | Same supervision requirement as CNA 1; authorized duties do not expand with experience |
| Common Work Settings | Long-term care facilities, assisted living, home health, and some hospital units | Acute care hospital settings, emergency departments, and specialty units that require the expanded skill set |
| Career and Pay Impact | Entry-level certification that qualifies you for most CNA positions statewide | Generally opens doors to acute care roles; many hospitals prefer or require CNA 2 certification, and these positions often carry higher hourly pay, though exact differentials vary by employer |
What CNAs Earn Across Oregon: Statewide and Metro Pay
Oregon CNAs earn well above the national median, which sat at $42,260 per year as of May 2025. The statewide median annual wage for Nursing Assistants reached $49,830, translating to roughly $23.96 per hour. Pay does vary by region, with the Portland metro area and Bend typically offering the highest compensation, while southern Oregon metros like Medford fall slightly below the state median. All figures below reflect the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data available (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Hourly Wage | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon (Statewide) | 14,800 | $23.96 | $49,830 |
| Portland, Vancouver, Hillsboro (OR/WA) | 8,890 | $24.21 | $50,350 |
| Bend | 620 | $24.08 | $50,080 |
| Salem | 1,390 | $23.48 | $48,840 |
| Eugene, Springfield | 1,540 | $23.23 | $48,320 |
| Medford | 1,000 | $23.02 | $47,890 |
Oregon CNA Job Growth and Demand Outlook
Oregon's demand for nursing assistants is climbing well above the national pace, driven largely by the state's aging population and expanding long-term care needs. The Oregon Employment Department projects roughly 1,692 annual openings for nursing assistants through 2033, reflecting both new positions and turnover replacements. By comparison, national projections put growth for the same occupation at just 0.9% over a similar decade, making Oregon one of the stronger markets for aspiring CNAs.
