CNA vs LPN/LVN: Training, Scope of Practice and Pay

The short answer

• CNA (Certified Nurse Aide): An entry-level care provider who assists patients and nursing home residents with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, and vital signs). Federal law requires a minimum of 75 hours of training, Texas requires 100 hours, and Florida requires completing a state-approved training program or passing the state exam via direct challenge.
• LPN / LVN (Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurse): A state-licensed healthcare professional who provides focused bedside nursing care under the direction of an RN or physician. As defined by the Texas Board of Nursing, the LVN scope is a directed scope of practice focused on patient safety and delivering care to patients with predictable healthcare needs. According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, educational programs typically take 1 to 2 years at technical schools or community colleges. Texas and California use the title LVN; Florida and most other states use LPN.
• Pay difference: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), LPNs earn roughly $10.64 more per hour than CNAs nationally ($22,140 per year), reflecting their broader clinical scope and legal licensure.

Side-by-side comparison

Training length, credential, and exams

The fundamental difference between a CNA and an LPN is the depth of education and the type of credential awarded.

Under federal regulation (42 CFR §483.152), nurse aide training programs must contain at least 75 clock hours of instruction, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical clinical training. Texas HHSC mandates 100 hours (60 classroom, 40 clinical). Florida requires completing an approved training program or challenging the exam directly if at least 18 years old or holding a high school diploma or equivalent. Upon passing the state examination (evaluated by Prometric in Texas and Florida), candidate names are entered onto the state Nurse Aide Registry.

By contrast, practical and vocational nursing programs are comprehensive postsecondary programs accredited by the state board of nursing (such as the Texas Board of Nursing or Florida Board of Nursing). According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, these programs typically take one to two years (usually 12 to 18 months) at vocational schools, community colleges, or hospitals. Graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN, a standardized national computer-adaptive examination developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), to receive a state license.

Clinical scope and daily duties

Both CNAs and LPNs work closely with patients, but their legal scopes of practice are distinct:

• CNA Scope: Certified nurse aides deliver essential direct physical support known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This includes bathing, dressing, grooming, repositioning bed-bound patients, measuring and recording vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiration), assisting with mobility and transfers, and promptly notifying the nurse of changes in a resident's condition. Nurse aides do not assess patients, develop care plans, or administer prescription drugs.
• LPN / LVN Scope: As outlined on the Texas Board of Nursing LVN Scope of Practice page, the LVN scope of practice is a directed scope that requires appropriate supervision by a registered nurse (RN), advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), physician assistant, or physician. The LVN is responsible for providing safe, compassionate, and focused nursing care to assigned patients with predictable healthcare needs, operating within institutional policies, and reporting changes in patient condition to the supervising nurse or physician.

Pay comparison in Texas, Florida and the U.S.

Because LPNs complete significantly longer training and practice licensed nursing care under professional supervision, they earn higher wages. Below are the official median wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS):

CNA and LPN/LVN figures from BLS OEWS (May 2025 data).

Using CNA experience to become an LPN

Working as a certified nurse aide provides foundational patient care experience that prepares you for practical nursing school and helps you confirm that direct care is the right career path.

Under federal rules (42 CFR §483.152(c)(1)-(2)), if a nursing facility employs you or has offered you a job, it cannot charge you for any part of an approved nurse aide training program (including textbooks). If you pay for training yourself and a nursing facility hires you within 12 months of finishing, the state must pay you back pro rata for the time you work there as a nurse aide. Because of this, many aides begin working with minimal out-of-pocket costs before continuing their education toward an LPN/LVN license.

Compare city programs to see where local community colleges offer CNA classes:

• CNA classes in Houston, TX
• CNA classes in Dallas, TX
• CNA classes in San Antonio, TX
• CNA classes in Miami, FL
• CNA classes in Orlando, FL
• CNA classes in Tampa, FL

Common questions