How Long Is CNA Training in Texas and Florida?

Federal rules set a 75-hour minimum. Texas requires 100 hours. Florida lets some people take the exam without a training program. Real programs often run longer than the minimum.

By the All CNA Classes Editorial Team · Updated November 3, 2026

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The federal minimum: 75 hours
Texas: 100 hours
Florida: training isn't always required
How long real programs take
From first class to certificate
Common questions

The federal minimum: 75 hours

Every state-approved nurse aide training program in the US must include:

at least 75 clock hours of training,
at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, and
at least 16 hours of training before any direct contact with a resident.

At least 16 h supervised hands-on practice Rest of the 75 h minimum (classroom and practice)

Source: 42 CFR §483.152(a) and (b), Cornell LII. States can require more.

Texas: 100 hours

Texas requires 60 hours of classroom training and 40 hours of clinical training in a state-approved program, 100 hours in total, before you take the state exam.

Source: Texas HHSC: Become a Certified Nurse Aide in Texas, checked November 3, 2026.

The free online classroom course

HHSC runs its own computer-based training (CBT) course that covers the 60-hour classroom part of nurse aide training online. The course is free. When you pass it, you get a Certificate of Completion, without a final grade.

HHSC says anyone who tries to charge for this course will be referred to its Office of Inspector General, and treats it as fraud that can cost the person their training or nurse aide certificate. If a school asks you to pay for the HHSC course itself, that is a warning sign.

The CBT course covers the classroom only. You still need to finish the 40-hour clinical part with an approved program before you can take the exam.

Source: Texas HHSC: Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP), checked November 2, 2026.

Clinical training in Texas

Every approved program gives at least 100 clock hours of training, including 40 clock hours of hands-on resident care in a nursing facility.
A program may hold clinical hours in a lab instead only when no suitable clinical site is within 20 miles of the program, or when HHSC decides facility training is risky because of a declared disaster.
If you did the classroom part through the free CBT course, you finish the 40 clinical hours with an approved program.

Source: Texas HHSC: Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP), checked November 2, 2026.

Florida: training isn't always required

In Florida you can qualify by passing the state exam and either completing an approved training program, or having a high school diploma or equivalent, or being at least 18. The Board of Nursing's page doesn't list a required number of training hours for approved programs.

If you fail the exam three times, you must complete an approved training program before you can test again.

Source: Florida Board of Nursing: Certified Nursing Assistant, checked November 3, 2026.

How long real programs take

Program lengths we've checked on the programs' own official pages:

Program	City	Length	Class times
FVI School of Nursing and Technology	Miami, FL	180 clock hours over 9 weeks, including a 40-hour supervised clinical	Day (8:30 am–1:30 pm) or evening (5:30–10:30 pm), Monday to Friday
Miami Dade College School of Continuing Education & Pro Dev	Miami, FL	120 hours	Not published

We add programs to this table as we check them. Program length is only part of the timeline: allow time to apply, complete a background check and schedule the exam.

From first class to certificate

Training hours are only the first part. Becoming a certified nursing assistant usually follows these steps:

Step 1Finish an approved programAt least 75 hours under federal rules, and 100 hours in Texas.
Step 2Apply to testApply and pay through Prometric, and complete your state's background check or fingerprints.
Step 3Pass both partsPass the written (or oral) test and the skills test.
Step 4Get on the registryIn Florida, being added takes three to five weeks after the Board approves you.

Sources: 42 CFR §483.152, Texas HHSC, Prometric Florida bulletin.

In Florida, Prometric sends your scores to the Board of Nursing about a week after you test, and the Board can take up to four weeks to issue your certificate. What happens after the exam.

Common questions

How many hours is CNA training in Texas?

Texas requires 100 hours in a state-approved program: 60 hours of classroom training and 40 hours of clinical training, including hands-on resident care in a nursing facility.

Can I take CNA classes online in Texas?

Only the classroom part. Texas HHSC offers a free online course for the 60 classroom hours, but you must complete the 40 clinical hours in person with an approved program before you can take the exam.

What is the minimum CNA training required by federal law?

At least 75 clock hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training and at least 16 hours of training before any direct contact with a resident.

Do I need a training program to become a CNA in Florida?

Not always. Florida lets you qualify by passing the exam and either completing an approved program, having a high school diploma or equivalent, or being at least 18. After three failed exam attempts, you must complete an approved program.

How long after the exam until I'm on the Florida CNA registry?

Being added to the Florida registry takes three to five weeks after the Board of Nursing approves you. Scores reach the Board about a week after you test.

Related guides

Sources

This guide explains official rules in plain language. It isn't legal advice. Your state's regulator has the final word.