Nursing assistants hold 12,260 jobs across Utah, home to Best Nursing Schools in Utah, and hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies from Logan to St. George are actively recruiting to keep pace with an aging population and expanding rural care networks. CNA certification before nursing school is one of the fastest routes into that pipeline: state-approved programs run 100 hours minimum, and many students finish classroom and clinical requirements in four to eight weeks.
The tradeoff is real. Utah pays CNAs less than the national mean, tuition varies widely between technical colleges and private accelerated schools, and the 100-hour state training floor sits above the federal minimum, so out-of-state credentials don't always transfer cleanly. Cost, program length, and where you plan to work all shape which route makes sense.
Best CNA Schools in Utah: 2027 Rankings
Utah's CNA training landscape is compact and unusually affordable. Most of the strongest nursing assistant programs here can be finished in a single semester or less, and many cost a few hundred dollars rather than a few thousand. The schools below span technical colleges and universities, from Logan and Kaysville down to Saint George and Cedar City, with notes on what each credential covers and how it connects to Utah certification.
How we ranked these
- Median graduate debt levels
- Net price after financial aid
- Access to financial aid programs
- Post-completion earnings where reported
- Institutional graduation rates as context
- 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
Snow College
#1Ephraim, UT · $6,000/yr
Best for: Rural central Utah commuters
Snow College runs nursing assistant training from campuses in Ephraim and Richfield, and its reach extends into rural central Utah through additional outreach sites. It is one of the most affordable entry points in the state, and the Richfield campus also serves as a Utah CNA state testing site, so students can schedule the written and skills exams locally. Registration is handled through Health Professions advisors rather than online sign-up, and priority is given to adult learners and high school seniors.
- One semester program, 3 credits total
- Tuition $255 plus $75 in student fees
- Supplies about $125; books about $100 per year
- Certificate of completion awarded
- Campus-based at Ephraim and Richfield
- Hybrid online and in-person options available
- Fall, spring, and summer starts; summer term runs 5 to 6 weeks
- Prepares students for the Utah state certification exams
Utah State University
#2Logan, UT · $9,000 – $25,000/yr
Best for: Northern Utah students wanting a university setting
Utah State University delivers its nursing assistant technical certificate through the Health Professions program in Logan, with ACEN accreditation behind the coursework. The curriculum is built around patient quality of life and daily contact with residents and patients in nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living settings, where students assist RNs and LPNs while gathering vital health information. Individualized advising and a posted admission packet make it straightforward for new students to map out the certificate before enrolling.
- ACEN accredited
- Campus-based instruction in Logan
- Technical certificate awarded
- Trains for work in nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living
- Students assist RNs and LPNs with patient care
- Curriculum emphasizes patient quality-of-life care
- Admission packet and individualized advising through Health Professions
Utah Tech University
#3Saint George, UT · $16,000/yr (net price)
Best for: Aspiring nurses continuing on to RN programs
Utah Tech University's CNA certificate in Saint George is designed as the first rung of a longer nursing pathway rather than a standalone credential. The four-credit program pairs a state-of-the-art nursing laboratory with classroom instruction and clinical rotations in long-term care, home health, and hospital settings. Course grades are tied directly to state exam eligibility, so students planning to continue into Utah Tech's nursing programs leave with a foundation built to transfer.
- ACEN accredited, 4-credit certificate
- Combines nursing laboratory instruction, classroom work, and clinicals
- Prepares students for the Utah state certification exam
- Covers communication techniques, infection control, and patient care
- Trains for long-term care, home health, and hospital settings
- Grade of C or higher required in lecture and clinical for state exam eligibility
- Integrated into Utah Tech's broader nursing education pathway
Bridgerland Technical College
#4Logan, UT · $2,000/yr
Bridgerland Technical College in Logan is built for speed: students finish the nursing assistant certificate in one to three months, including 24 hours of supervised clinical work at a long-term care facility. Day and evening sections accommodate working adults, and the program reports a 94% completion rate, a 76% job placement rate, and a 97% licensure pass rate. Tuition and fees come to roughly $372 before books, uniforms, and supplies, and financial aid and scholarships are available.
- Campus-based program in Logan, Utah
- 1 to 3 months to complete, 3 credits
- Includes 24 hours of supervised clinical experience
- Estimated tuition and fees around $372
- Day and evening sections available
- AHA BLS Provider CPR certification required before starting
- High school diploma or equivalent; adult students 18 or older
- First come, first served registration; financial aid available
Dixie Technical College
#5Saint George, UT
Dixie Technical College offers a short, low-cost nursing assistant certificate in Saint George that can be finished in as little as six weeks. The program is accredited by the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry, reports a 100% licensure pass rate, and waives tuition for high school students while adding a $150 scholarship. A $544 all-in cost and no application fee keep the barrier to entry low, though the program is not eligible for federal financial aid.
- 6 to 18 weeks to complete, 3 credit hours
- Total tuition and course fees of $544
- High school students have tuition waived and may receive a $150 scholarship
- Campus-based program in Saint George
- No application fee; background check and immunizations required
- Accredited by the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry
- Earns a Dixie Tech certificate and prepares students for the state exam
- Not eligible for federal aid
Davis Technical College
#6Kaysville, UT · $13,000/yr (net price)
Davis Technical College in Kaysville runs a two-month nursing assistant program that blends in-class and remote learning, a format that suits working adults in northern Utah. Tuition and fees run about $547 for adults and $183 for high school students, and juniors and seniors are welcome alongside adult learners. Clinicals are scheduled outside class hours, and graduates are recommended to sit for the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry certification exam.
- Two months to complete, 3 credit hours
- Adult students pay about $547; high school students about $183
- Hybrid format combining in-class and remote learning
- Full-time, part-time day, and part-time evening schedules
- Open to high school juniors and seniors and adult students
- Prepares students for the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry certification exam
- Clinicals scheduled outside class hours
- CPR certification included
Tooele Technical College
#7Tooele, UT
Tooele Technical College keeps its nursing assistant program compact: about four months at roughly six hours per week, for a total cost of $985. Training combines classroom instruction with clinical practice and is structured around competency-based progress, so students move ahead as they demonstrate skills. There is no application fee, and financial aid, scholarships, and veteran services are available for students balancing work and school.
- Total program cost of $985
- About 4 months at roughly 6 hours per week
- Earns 3 college credits
- Classroom and clinical training included
- No-cost application
- Prepares students for CNA certification
- Financial aid and scholarships available
- Competency-based education with flexible scheduling
Southwest Technical College
#8Cedar City, UT
Southwest Technical College delivers its nursing assistant program from Cedar City with additional sites in Kane County and Beaver, extending access across southern Utah's rural communities. Students complete roughly two months of hybrid instruction for an all-inclusive $559.50 that covers tuition, books, fees, and supplies. Clinical hours are supervised by nurses, and the curriculum is shaped with input from local healthcare employers through an occupational advisory committee.
- About 2 months to complete, 3 credit hours
- All-inclusive cost of $559.50 covers tuition, books, fees, and supplies
- Hybrid format with some online components
- Hands-on clinical experience supervised by nurses
- Prepares graduates for Utah CNA state certification
- Main campus in Cedar City
- Additional sites at Kane County ISC and Beaver High School ISC
- Technical Certificate awarded
Mountainland Technical College
#9Lehi, UT
Mountainland Technical College spreads nursing assistant training across Lehi, Provo, Payson, and Heber Valley, giving Wasatch Front and Heber Valley students a campus within commuting distance. The 144-hour program takes two to four months, includes 24 clinical hours, and costs $755 all in, while high school students attend tuition-free. Classes are cohort-based with small maximum enrollments, and the program reports a 91% completion rate and a 100% licensure rate.
- 2 to 4 months, 144 total training hours
- Total cost of $755 including tuition, fees, and materials
- High school students attend tuition-free
- Includes 24 hours of clinical experience
- First Aid and CPR certification included
- Campus locations in Lehi, Provo, Payson, and Heber Valley
- Entrance assessment and immunizations required
- Eligible for Utah state CNA certification exams
Utah CNA Certification Requirements at a Glance
One hundred hours: that's the training minimum the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR) sets for CNA Classes & Programs seeking state approval, a full 25 hours above the 75-hour federal floor that some search results still reference. If you've seen "75 hours" quoted for Utah, that figure describes the federal minimum, not the state rule that actually governs enrollment here.
How the Hours Break Down
State rule is specific about one number: at least 24 supervised clinical hours in a long-term care setting. Beyond that floor, Utah law doesn't mandate an exact classroom count; it leaves the remaining hours to each UNAR-approved program. In practice, most schools land around a 76-hour classroom and lab component paired with the required 24 clinical hours, totaling 100. Others exceed the minimum substantially: programs in the 104 to 138-hour range are common, with clinical time still fixed at 24 hours and extra hours added to classroom instruction or skills lab.
Who Can Enroll
Applicants must turn 16 on or before their first day of class. Individual programs typically layer on their own admission paperwork, commonly a criminal background check, a negative TB test, and proof of routine immunizations, though these are program-level requirements rather than a single statewide checklist, so confirm specifics with the school you choose. Several Utah high schools offer CNA training through career and technical education pathways, letting eligible 16-year-old juniors and seniors (and sometimes sophomores who've turned 16) complete UNAR-approved coursework before graduation.
From Classroom to Registry
Once you finish an approved 100-plus-hour program, you're eligible to sit for UNAR's two-part competency evaluation: a written knowledge exam and a hands-on skills exam. Passing both gets your name placed on the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry. If you're already working as an aide, state rule gives you 120 days from your first day of employment to complete training and become a certified nursing assistant.
The Full Cost of CNA Certification in Utah
Before you enroll in a CNA program, it helps to see where every dollar goes. Tuition is just one piece of the puzzle. Below is a realistic breakdown of what Utah students should expect to spend from enrollment through certification, based on program data and current state fees. Plan on budgeting roughly $700 to $1,200 total, though costs at the low end can be significantly less if your program bundles supplies or you find used materials.
Free and Employer-Sponsored CNA Training in Utah
Can you get through no-cost CNA programs in Utah without paying tuition out of pocket? For a growing number of applicants, the answer is yes, if you're willing to earn while you learn nursing and work for the employer who covers it.
Employer-Funded Pathways
Intermountain Health's PEAK tuition program, delivered through InStride, gives eligible caregivers up to $5,250 per school year toward online coursework1, and the health system has previously described parts of its workforce education benefit as tuition-free for qualifying employees.2 Long-term care operators and nursing home chains around the state also routinely recruit CNA candidates by paying for training in exchange for a period of employment afterward. Exact terms vary by employer and aren't standardized statewide, so before you sign anything, ask precisely how long you're expected to stay and what happens if you leave early. Forfeiting the sponsorship or repaying a prorated share of the cost is common practice in healthcare hiring, even when the offer isn't spelled out in writing up front.
State-Funded and Low-Cost Options
Utah's Department of Workforce Services runs WIOA Individual Training Accounts for eligible adults, youth, and dislocated workers, which can pay for CNA tuition at schools on the state's approved training provider list. Registered apprenticeship funding through the same agency works similarly, covering classroom instruction and supplies when the sponsoring employer is listed with the state. Pell Grant eligibility can further offset costs for qualifying students enrolled at community and technical colleges.
Competency-Based Technical Colleges
Several Utah technical colleges use open-entry, competency-based CNA models where students move through material at their own pace and pay little more than a modest facility or supply fee, making these programs among the cheapest routes to certification even without an employer covering the bill.
Choosing Between Online and In-Person CNA Programs in Utah
No matter which program format you choose, Utah requires hands-on clinical hours completed in person at an approved healthcare facility. That means every CNA program in the state is either fully in-person or hybrid (online coursework paired with on-site clinicals). Among the ranked programs on this list, Davis Technical College and Southwest Technical College offer hybrid formats, while the remaining schools deliver fully campus-based instruction. Here is how the two formats compare across the factors that matter most.
| Factor | Hybrid (Online + In-Person Clinicals) | Fully In-Person |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule Flexibility | High. Didactic coursework can be completed on your own time, with only clinicals and lab sessions scheduled at set times. | Lower. Lectures, skills labs, and clinicals all follow a fixed campus schedule, though many schools offer day, evening, and part-time tracks. |
| Clinical Requirement | Same as in-person. Utah mandates supervised clinical hours at an approved site, so you will still attend a facility in person. | Clinical hours are built directly into the on-campus schedule, often immediately following classroom sessions. |
| Typical Cost Range | Approximately $547 to $560 at ranked hybrid programs such as Davis Technical College and Southwest Technical College. | Ranges widely, from roughly $255 at Snow College to around $985 at Tooele Technical College, depending on the institution. |
| Completion Speed | Generally about 2 months, similar to many in-person options. | Ranges from about 5 weeks (summer intensive) to 4 months, depending on full-time or part-time enrollment. |
| Learning Style Fit | Best for self-directed learners comfortable with digital coursework who need scheduling flexibility around work or family obligations. | Ideal for students who benefit from face-to-face instruction, immediate instructor feedback, and a structured daily routine. |
| Programs Available (Ranked) | Davis Technical College (Kaysville), Southwest Technical College (Cedar City). | Snow College (Ephraim, Richfield), Utah State University (Logan), Utah Tech University (St. George), Bridgerland Technical College (Logan), Dixie Technical College (St. George), Tooele Technical College (Tooele), Mountainland Technical College (Lehi). |
Utah CNA Competency Exam: Administrator, Format, and Prep Tips
The Utah CNA competency exam is the final test that turns a completed training program into an official listing on the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR). If you've seen conflicting information online about who runs it, here's the clear answer for 2026: Utah's exam is administered by D&S Diversified Technologies, operating under the Headmaster brand, through the TMU testing platform. Utah does not use Prometric or Pearson VUE for this credential, despite what generic national CNA guides sometimes suggest.
Fees and Scheduling
Once your instructor confirms you've completed your 100 hours of UNAR-approved training, you're scheduled through TMU. The written exam costs $55, the manual skills exam costs $55, and most candidates pay $110 to sit for both. You can schedule the two parts on separate dates if that fits your life better.
What the Two Parts Look Like
The written knowledge exam is typically 75 multiple-choice questions, with up to two hours to finish and a passing score around 75 percent. It's usually computer-based, with audio and Spanish-language options available for candidates who need them.
The manual skills exam evaluates five randomly selected tasks, always including hand hygiene, observed live by an evaluator within a 45-minute window. You need to nail 100 percent of the critical safety steps on each skill and hit roughly 80 percent overall to pass.
You get three attempts at each part, and both must be passed within one year of finishing training, or you'll need to retrain.
Three Ways to Walk in Prepared
- Drill the skills checklist: Practice each task exactly as the evaluator will score it, step by step, until hand hygiene and safety checks become automatic.
- Read the official candidate handbook: UNAR's handbook spells out exactly which skills are eligible and how scoring works, so there are no surprises on test day.
- Time yourself on practice questions: Simulating the two-hour written exam under real time pressure builds pacing and confidence before you sit for the real thing.
CNA Certification Steps From Enrollment to Registry
Becoming a certified nursing assistant in Utah follows a clear sequence. From your first day of class to appearing on the state registry, most candidates complete the entire process in roughly 8 to 14 weeks.
How Much Do CNAs Earn in Utah?
Utah's statewide median annual wage for nursing assistants was approximately $39,840 as of recent BLS data, which translates to roughly $19.15 per hour. This falls modestly below the national mean hourly wage of $19.04 reported for the same period, though differences in cost of living help offset the gap. Nationally, the BLS projects about 2.6% job growth for nursing assistants between 2024 and 2034, with an estimated 204,100 annual openings driven largely by replacement needs. Utah-specific percentile breakdowns are not published for this occupation, so the table below pairs available Utah figures with national percentile benchmarks for context.
| Wage Measure | Utah | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Wage | $39,840 | N/A |
| Mean Annual Wage | $40,450 | N/A |
| Mean Hourly Wage | $18.09 | $19.04 |
| 10th Percentile (Annual) | N/A | $30,020 |
| 25th Percentile (Annual) | $37,040 | N/A |
| 75th Percentile (Annual) | $44,350 | N/A |
| 90th Percentile (Annual) | N/A | $48,780 |
| Estimated State Employment | 12,260 | N/A |
| Projected National Job Growth (2024 to 2034) | N/A | 2.6% (+39,000 positions) |
Common Questions About CNA Training in Utah
Deciding whether to pursue an accelerated training schedule or a more flexible part-time approach is just one of many decisions facing prospective CNAs in Utah. Prospective CNAs in Utah most often ask how long training takes, what it costs, and whether free or online options exist.
How long does it take to get CNA certified in Utah?
Most students complete their training and certification in 4 to 12 weeks. Full-time programs at technical colleges often wrap up in about a month, while evening or weekend schedules extend the timeline to accommodate working adults. After finishing coursework and clinical hours, you must pass the state competency exam before appearing on the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry.
Can you earn CNA certification entirely online in Utah?
No. While some programs offer hybrid formats that deliver classroom instruction through online modules, every Utah-approved program requires in-person clinical hours. State rules mandate hands-on patient care practice under supervision, so plan to complete skills training at a healthcare facility regardless of how you handle the didactic portion.
Are there free CNA classes available in Utah?
Yes. Several nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Utah sponsor free training in exchange for a work commitment after certification. The state's Department of Workforce Services also connects eligible residents with funded training programs. Facilities like Rocky Mountain Care and select regional hospitals periodically offer employer-sponsored tracks, though availability varies by location and hiring needs.
What score do I need to pass the Utah CNA exam?
The written knowledge exam requires a score of at least 75 percent, which means answering 57 of 75 questions correctly. The manual skills exam demands at least 80 percent overall across the five randomly selected skills, with 100 percent accuracy on designated critical steps. You have 45 minutes to complete the skills portion.
Can high school students get CNA certified in Utah?
Yes. Students as young as 16 may enroll in approved programs. Many school districts offer Career and Technical Education pathways that include CNA coursework, allowing students to graduate high school with an active certification and a head start in healthcare.
How do I check if a CNA program is state-approved?
Visit the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry website and review its approved training programs list. The registry publishes program names, locations, and contact information. Completing an unapproved program disqualifies you from sitting for the state exam, so verify approval before enrolling.