State-Approved CNA Programs in California [2023]

A list of state-approved CNA programs in California, including information on the CNA job outlook in California, average salary, and more.
Amy Harris
Amy HarrisNov 16, 2022
State-Approved CNA Programs in California for 2023

Choosing to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in California makes a great choice today.

Table of Contents[hide]
  1. Requirements to Become a CNA in California
  2. State-Approved CNA Programs in California
  3. CNA Job Outlook and Salary in California
  4. California Nurse Aide Registry

Requirements to Become a CNA in California

If you want to work as a CNA in California, you will need to enroll in a training program first. You will need to be at least 16 years of age. Make sure that the program you choose is approved by the California Department of Health and consists of classroom instruction and clinical training.

After you complete your program, you will be required to pass the state's CNA exam to be certified. If you receive a passing score on the CNA exam, your name will be placed on the California Nurse Aide Registry.

In addition to passing the CNA exam, certification requirements include a background check.

State-Approved CNA Programs in California

California is a great place to train for a CNA career, as there are many fine schools in the state. To help you make your decision, we are listing the top CNA schools below:

  1. American Red Cross

    2215 W Mission Rd, Alhambra, CA 91803 (818) 539-9931

  2. Bakersfield College

    1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305 (661) 395-4011

  3. Beaumont Adult School

    1575 Cherry Ave, Beaumont, CA 92223 (951) 845-6012

  4. West Los Angeles College

    9000 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230 (310) 287-4200

  5. American Red Cross

    311 Del Mar Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910 (909) 380-7255

  6. Southwestern College

    900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910 (619) 421-6700

  7. West Hills College

    300 W Cherry Ln, Coalinga, CA 93210 (559) 934-2000

  8. Summit College

    804 E Brier Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92408 (855) 970-4151

  9. American Red Cross

    2227 S Atlantic Blvd, Commerce, CA 90040 (562) 426-8176

  10. Mt. Diablo Adult Education

    1266 San Carlos Ave, Concord, CA 94518 (925) 685-7340

  11. Pacific Times Healthcare College

    90 W Grand Blvd Ste 107, Corona, CA 92882 (951) 734-1601

  12. FUHSD Adult School

    10123 N Wolfe Rd #2175, Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 522-2700

  13. Western Medical Training Center

    1161 E Main St UNIT 205, El Cajon, CA 92021 (619) 241-9931

  14. Regan Career Institute

    11350 Valley Blvd, El Monte, CA 91731 (626) 455-0312

  15. California Career Institute

    1240 S State College Blvd #135, Anaheim, CA 92806 (714) 539-5959

  16. Gavilan College

    5055 Santa Teresa Blvd, Gilroy, CA 95020 (408) 848-4800

  17. American Red Cross

    1501 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 539-9931

  18. Azusa Adult Education Center

    1040 E Gladstone St, Azusa, CA 91702 (626) 852-8400

  19. Citrus College

    1000 W Foothill Blvd, Glendora, CA 91741 (626) 963-0323

  20. Imperial Valley College

    380 E Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251 (760) 352-8320

  21. San Diego Job Corps Center

    1325 Iris Ave, Imperial Beach, CA 91932 (619) 429-8500

  22. Lake County Office of Education

    1152 S Main St, Lakeport, CA 95453 (707) 262-4100

  23. Goodwill SOLAC

    800 W Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90806 (562) 435-3411

  24. Long Beach Job Corps Center

    1903 Santa Fe Ave, Long Beach, CA 90810 (562) 983-1777

  25. Los Angeles Southwest College

    1600 W Imperial Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 241-5321

  26. University of Southern California

    3551 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, CA 90089 (213) 740-2311

  27. Merced College

    3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348 (209) 384-6000

  28. Professional Career Development Center

    420 Date St, Montebello, CA 90640 (562) 698-8301

  29. American Red Cross

    3901 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611 (916) 993-7063

  30. MiraCosta College

    1 Barnard Dr, Oceanside, CA 92056 (760) 757-2121

  31. Best American Healthcare University

    337 N Vineyard Ave 4th floor, Ontario, CA 91764 (951) 637-8332

  32. Butte College

    3536 Butte Campus Dr, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 895-2511

  33. College of the Desert

    43500 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260 (760) 346-8041

  34. Best American Healthcare University

    777 E Tahquitz Canyon Way #200, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (951) 637-8332

  35. California Nurses Educational Institute

    5200 Ramon Rd #1, Palm Springs, CA 92264 (760) 416-5955

  36. Pasadena City College

    1570 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106 (626) 585-7123

  37. Chaffey College

    5885 Haven Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737 (909) 652-6000

  38. Shasta College

    11555 Old Oregon Trail, Redding, CA 96003 (530) 242-7500

  39. Reedley College

    995 N Reed Ave, Reedley, CA 93654 (559) 638-0300

  40. Annenberg School of Nursing

    19300 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335 (818) 757-4431

  41. Best American Healthcare University

    6700 Indiana Ave Ste 255, Riverside, CA 92506 (951) 637-8332

  42. School of Career Education

    2100 E Alessandro Blvd, Riverside, CA 92508 (760) 863-3333

  43. Sierra College

    5100 Sierra College Blvd, Loomis, CA 95650 (916) 624-3333

  44. American Red Cross

    1565 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815 (916) 993-7063

  45. American River College

    4700 College Oak Dr, Sacramento, CA 95841 (916) 484-8011

  46. Charles A Jones Career & Education Center

    5451 Lemon Hill Ave, Sacramento, CA 95824 (916) 433-2600

  47. Sacramento Job Corps Center

    3100 Meadowview Rd, Sacramento, CA 95832 (916) 394-0770

  48. Inland Empire Job Corps Center

    3173 Kerry St, San Bernardino, CA 92407 (909) 887-6305

  49. California Medical College

    7851 Mission Center Ct #326, San Diego, CA 92108 (858) 357-8800

  50. BAMA Institute

    530 Bush St suite 301, San Francisco, CA 94108 (415) 508-5404

  51. City College of San Francisco

    50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA 94112 (415) 239-3000

  52. Treasure Island Job Corps Center

    351 H Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94130 (415) 277-2400

  53. American Red Cross

    2731 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95134 (707) 577-7640

  54. Solano Community College

    3095 Yerba Buena Rd, San Jose, CA 95135 (408) 274-7900

  55. Cuesta College

    CA-1, San Luis Obispo, CA (805) 546-3100

  56. Contra Costa College

    2600 Mission Bell Dr, San Pablo, CA 94806 (510) 235-7800

  57. American Red Cross

    601 N Golden Cir Dr, Santa Ana, CA 92705 (562) 426-8176

  58. Santa Barbara City College

    721 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805) 965-0581

  59. College of the Canyons

    26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91355 (661) 259-7800

  60. Allan Hancock College

    800 S College Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454 (805) 922-6966

  61. American Red Cross

    1450 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (818) 539-9931

  62. American Red Cross

    5297 Aero Dr, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 (707) 577-7640

  63. Barton Health

    2170 South Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 (530) 541-3420

  64. Sri Sai Krish Institute of Nursing

    12362 Beach Blvd, Stanton, CA 90680 (714) 890-7023

  65. Bradford College of Nursing

    9 El Dorado St, Stockton, CA 95202 (209) 475-9854

  66. San Joaquin Delta College

    5151 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95207 (209) 954-5151

  67. El Camino College

    16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, CA 90506 (310) 532-3670

  68. Ventura College

    4667 Telegraph Rd, Ventura, CA 93003 (805) 289-6000

  69. College of the Sequoias

    915 S Mooney Blvd, Visalia, CA 93277 (559) 343-6315

  70. Mt. San Antonio College

    1100 N Grand Ave, Walnut, CA 91789 (909) 274-7500

  71. Hillendale Home Care

    1777 N California Blvd Ste 210, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 933-8181

  72. College of the Siskiyous

    800 College Ave, Weed, CA 96094 (530) 938-5555

  73. East San Gabriel Valley ROP

    1501 W Del Norte St, West Covina, CA 91790 (626) 472-5100

  74. Rio Hondo College

    3600 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601 (562) 692-0921

  75. Los Angeles Harbor College

    1111 Figueroa Pl, Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 233-4000

  76. Pierce College

    6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 (818) 719-6404

CNA Job Outlook and Salary in California

In California, CNAs are in high demand today. Overall employment of CNAs in this state is projected to grow 14.3% from 2018 to 2028. The median salary for these professionals working in California is $36,348 per year.

Take a look at the CNA employment and salary situation in different metro areas in California below to get a detailed picture.

AreaTotal EmploymentAvg Hourly WageAvg Annual Salary
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward10,410$23.28$48,420
Santa Cruz-Watsonville260$21.13$43,960
Vallejo-Fairfield980$20.29$42,200
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara5,050$20.18$41,980
Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade5,390$20.17$41,950
Napa450$19.43$40,420
Salinas910$19.40$40,350
San Diego-Carlsbad9,020$19.08$39,690
Santa Rosa1,290$18.91$39,340
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara1,410$18.89$39,300
El Centro490$18.38$38,240
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim39,590$18.28$38,030
Madera390$18.16$37,780
Redding270$18.11$37,670
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura1,570$17.67$36,750
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario7,590$17.66$36,730
Modesto1,410$17.66$36,730
Yuba City420$17.65$36,710
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande580$17.59$36,590
Hanford-Corcoran310$17.38$36,150
Stockton-Lodi1,770$17.37$36,120
Visalia-Porterville1,170$16.17$33,640
Bakersfield1,460$16.15$33,580
Chico810$16.07$33,420
Merced470$15.79$32,840
Fresno2,490$15.52$32,270

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

California Nurse Aide Registry

If you have any questions on how to get, verify, renew and reinstate a CNA certification in California or transfer it to another state, you can contact the California Department of Public Health, Licensing & Certification Program at:

California Department of Public Health
Licensing & Certification Program

PO Box 997416, MS 3301, Sacramento, CA 95899
Phone: (916) 327-2445
Fax: (916) 552-8785
Registry Search: http://cvl.cdph.ca.gov/SearchPage.aspx

You Might Also Like

Learning the answers to common questions about CNA training requirements, can help you launch your new career and begin working in no time at all!
FAQs About CNA Training Programs
The main areas in which CNA and CMA careers differ include training requirements, job responsibilities, work environments and average yearly salaries.
Is There a Difference Between CNAs and CMAs?
Some things you should consider before choosing a CNA school include its accreditation status, course offerings, cost of the program, location and convenience.
What to Look for in a Good CNA School