Arizona requires 120 hours of CNA training — significantly above the federal 75-hour minimum — and uses D&S Diversified Technologies to administer the state competency exam. The Arizona Board of Nursing directly manages the Arizona Nurse Aide Registry, making it one of the few states where the Board of Nursing — rather than a separate health department — oversees CNA certification from training approval through registry maintenance. Phoenix's massive retiree population, one of the largest in the United States, drives extraordinary demand for CNAs across the metro, with Banner Health operating the largest healthcare network in the state and serving as the dominant CNA employer. Arizona's 120-hour requirement places it in the upper tier of state training mandates, signaling a higher baseline of clinical readiness for all certified nurse aides in the state.
Arizona law requires 120 hours of state-approved CNA training — 45 hours above the federal OBRA '87 minimum of 75 hours. Programs must be approved by the Arizona Board of Nursing and include both classroom instruction (covering anatomy, infection control, resident rights, communications, and safety) and supervised clinical practice in a licensed long-term care facility. Full-time programs typically complete in 3–4 weeks; part-time programs take 6–12 weeks. Training is available at community colleges, vocational schools, Red Cross chapters, and employer-sponsored programs at Banner Health and Dignity Health facilities.
Arizona uses D&S Diversified Technologies to administer the CNA competency exam. The written section contains 70 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit; passing requires a score of 70% or higher. The clinical skills evaluation requires demonstrating 5 randomly selected skills from the Arizona approved skills list. An oral exam option is available for candidates with documented reading difficulties. Candidates have up to 3 attempts within 24 months of completing their training program. Testing sites are located in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, and other cities across Arizona.
The Arizona Nurse Aide Registry is managed directly by the Arizona Board of Nursing (AZBN) — a key distinction from states where a health department or human services agency maintains the registry. After passing both sections of the D&S Diversified competency exam, candidates are added to the registry within 2–4 weeks. The registry is publicly searchable at azbn.gov. Any substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property results in a registry flag that bars employment in any Medicare or Medicaid-certified facility. Renewal is required every 2 years with documentation of 8 hours of paid nursing service.
Phoenix and the metro area — including Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe, Glendale, and Peoria — represent Arizona's largest and highest-paying CNA market. Banner Health, Arizona's largest private employer and the dominant healthcare network in the state, operates 14 hospitals in Arizona and hires CNAs in large volumes across the metro. Dignity Health (Chandler Regional, Mercy Gilbert, St. Joseph's) and HonorHealth (Scottsdale and north Phoenix) are also major CNA employers. Training programs are available at Maricopa Community Colleges (10 campuses including Mesa Community College, Scottsdale Community College, and Chandler-Gilbert Community College), GateWay Community College, and the American Red Cross Greater Arizona chapter. Phoenix-area CNA wages average $15–$19/hour, with hospital positions at Banner and Dignity Health reaching $20–$23/hour. The massive retiree population in Scottsdale, Sun City, and the East Valley drives exceptional demand at assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities. CNA scholarships and WIOA workforce funding are available through Arizona@Work for eligible candidates.
Tucson and Southern Arizona — including Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties — form Arizona's second-largest CNA market. Banner-University Medical Center Tucson is the region's leading academic medical center and a top CNA employer, while Tucson Medical Center and Carondelet Health Network (now Tenet Health) also hire CNAs across their facilities. Pima Community College offers one of the most accessible state-approved CNA programs in the Tucson area, with affordable in-district tuition for eligible residents. University of Arizona allied health programs also produce CNA candidates. Tucson CNA wages average $14–$17/hour — somewhat lower than Phoenix metro — but the lower cost of living in Tucson makes compensation competitive on a real-dollar basis. Southern Arizona's proximity to the US-Mexico border creates a bilingual advantage for Spanish-speaking CNA candidates, who are in particularly high demand at border-area facilities. CNA requirements are the same statewide regardless of region.
Flagstaff and Northern Arizona — including Coconino, Yavapai, Mohave, and Navajo counties — represent a smaller but growing CNA market with distinct characteristics. Northern Arizona Healthcare (Flagstaff Medical Center and Verde Valley Medical Center) is the primary employer for CNAs in the region. The Navajo Nation, which spans much of northeastern Arizona, has significant healthcare needs served by the Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal health programs that actively recruit CNAs. Yavapai College (Prescott) and Northland Pioneer College (Holbrook/Show Low) offer approved CNA training programs serving northern Arizona communities. Flagstaff CNA wages average $14–$18/hour, and the region's shortage of healthcare workers means CNAs willing to work in rural or tribal health settings may qualify for loan repayment and workforce incentive programs. CNA career paths in northern Arizona include specialized roles in tribal health administration and rural elder care.
Search the Arizona Board of Nursing website (azbn.gov) for a current list of approved nurse aide training programs. Options include Maricopa Community Colleges, Pima Community College, Yavapai College, Red Cross chapters, and employer-sponsored programs at Banner Health and Dignity Health facilities.
Obtain a TB test (Mantoux PPD or QuantiFERON Gold), complete a physical examination, gather immunization records, and obtain CPR/BLS certification. Submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). Most programs require these before clinical rotations begin.
Attend your Arizona Board of Nursing–approved program: classroom instruction covering anatomy, physiology, infection control, resident rights, communications, and safety; plus supervised clinical practice in a licensed Arizona nursing facility. Full-time programs complete in 3–4 weeks; part-time programs take 8–12 weeks.
After completing your program, register for both the written knowledge test and clinical skills evaluation through D&S Diversified Technologies (the Arizona state exam vendor). You'll need your program completion certificate. Testing sites are available in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, and other Arizona cities.
Take the written test (70 questions, 90 minutes, 70% to pass) and the clinical skills evaluation (5 randomly selected skills — all must be passed). An oral exam option is available. You have 3 attempts within 24 months of training completion. Schedule both sections through D&S Diversified.
D&S Diversified reports your results to the Arizona Board of Nursing, which adds you to the Arizona Nurse Aide Registry within 2–4 weeks of exam passage. Confirm your listing at azbn.gov before accepting employment. You are now eligible to work as a CNA in any Arizona Medicare- or Medicaid-certified facility.
Arizona CNA certification must be renewed every 2 years. Renewal requires proof of at least 8 hours of paid nursing service during the 24-month period. There is no mandatory continuing education beyond employment documentation. Renewal is processed through the Arizona Board of Nursing.
Arizona participates in the Nurse Aide Reciprocity process, allowing CNAs certified in other states to transfer their certification to the Arizona Nurse Aide Registry without retaking the full competency exam — provided specific requirements are met. Because the Arizona Board of Nursing manages the registry directly, all reciprocity applications are submitted to AZBN rather than to a health department — a distinction that matters for applicants familiar with other states' processes.
Requirements for Arizona CNA Reciprocity: You must hold an active, unrestricted CNA listing on your current state's nurse aide registry with no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property. Your out-of-state certification must have been obtained by passing a state-approved competency evaluation (written + skills). Submit a completed reciprocity application to the Arizona Board of Nursing along with verification of your current registry status and a completed Arizona DPS fingerprint background check.
Key Arizona-Specific Note: Arizona's 120-hour training requirement is higher than many other states. However, reciprocity does not require you to make up training hours if you were certified in a state with fewer required hours — the AZBN accepts your prior certification as equivalent. Allow 4–6 weeks for reciprocity processing.
Common Reciprocity States: CNAs moving to Arizona from California, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, or Utah can typically transfer credentials without retesting. If your certification has lapsed (not renewed within 24 months), you may be required to complete retraining and retest before being listed on the Arizona registry. For full guidance, see our CNA reciprocity guide.