Certified Nursing Assistant in Georgia
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for GA. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Georgia.
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route How to become a certified nursing assistant in Georgia
To become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Georgia, you must complete an 85-hour state-approved training program, which includes at least 24 hours of clinical experience. After training, you need to pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam, administered by Credentia, which costs $130. The Georgia Nurse Aide Registry, managed by Alliant Health Solutions, oversees certification and renewal. Renewal is required every two years and necessitates proof of at least 8 hours of paid CNA work under nurse supervision within that 24-month period. Georgia also offers reciprocity for out-of-state CNAs who meet specific criteria.
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Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Georgia. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Georgia requirements
| Licensing body | Georgia Nurse Aide Registry (managed by Alliant Health Solutions, contracted by the Georgia Department of Community Health) |
| State license | Required |
| Education | 85-hour state-approved training program (at least 24 hours of clinical experience) |
| Experience | 8.0 hours |
| Exam | National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) via Credentia ($130) |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Reciprocity | Georgia offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing with recent work experience.Reciprocal states: Georgia offers reciprocity for CNAs with active certification in another U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia, provided they are in good standing and have worked at least 8 hours for pay as a CNA under nurse supervision within the past two years. |
| Notes | Renewal requires having worked for pay as a CNA for at least 8 hours in the past 24 months under the supervision of a licensed nurse. A criminal background check is required for employment in licensed facilities, and often for clinical rotations during training. There is no minimum age to become a CNA, nor is a high school diploma or GED strictly required for certification, though some training programs may require it. If certification expires for three or more years, retraining and retesting are required. |
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to Georgia? See whether Georgia recognizes an out-of-state credential — with the tier and pathway for all 50 states — in our Certified Nursing Assistant license reciprocity guide.
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- check_circleGeorgia license required — clearer credential signal to employers
Compare Certified Nursing Assistant head-to-head
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