Georgia requires 85 hours of CNA training — 24 hours of classroom instruction, 16 hours of laboratory practice, 24 hours of supervised clinical training, plus 21 additional hours of combined instruction — and uses D&S Diversified Technologies (not Prometric) to administer the state competency exam. The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) directly manages the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry, a distinction from most states where the Board of Nursing oversees certification. Atlanta's booming healthcare sector, anchored by Emory Healthcare and Piedmont Healthcare, drives strong demand for CNAs across the state, with the metro area commanding the highest wages. Georgia's 85-hour minimum represents the federal baseline, making it one of the more accessible entry points for CNA certification in the Southeast.
Georgia law requires 85 hours of approved nurse aide training broken into four components: 24 hours classroom, 16 hours laboratory, 24 hours supervised clinical practice at a licensed nursing facility, and 21 additional hours of combined instruction. Programs must be approved by the Georgia DCH. All 85 hours must be completed before sitting for the D&S Diversified CNA competency exam. Training is available at community colleges, technical colleges, Red Cross chapters, and some long-term care facilities.
Georgia uses D&S Diversified Technologies — not Prometric — to administer the CNA competency exam. This is a key distinction for candidates who may have prepared using resources referencing Prometric. The written (or oral) section contains 60 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit. The clinical skills evaluation requires demonstrating 5 randomly selected skills. Candidates have up to 3 attempts within 24 months of completing training. Testing sites are located in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah, and other cities across Georgia.
Georgia requires a criminal background check for CNA candidates seeking to work in Medicaid/Medicare-certified facilities. The check is administered through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and includes state and federal criminal history. The Georgia DCH maintains a separate Nurse Aide Abuse Registry — any individual listed on this registry for patient abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property is barred from working as a CNA in Georgia. Employers are required to verify registry status before hiring.
Before beginning clinical rotations at a Georgia nursing facility, CNA students must provide a negative TB test (Mantoux PPD or QuantiFERON Gold) within the past 12 months, a physician's physical clearance form, and current CPR/BLS certification. Most approved programs also require current immunizations including the Hepatitis B series, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, and seasonal flu vaccine. These health requirements are set by individual training programs in compliance with DCH facility regulations.
Atlanta and the metro area — including Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties — represent Georgia's largest and highest-paying CNA market. Emory Healthcare, one of the nation's most respected academic medical systems, is among the top employers of CNAs in the state, offering competitive starting wages and tuition reimbursement programs. Piedmont Healthcare (11 hospitals across Georgia) and Wellstar Health System (11 hospitals including Kennestone and Atlanta Medical Center) also hire CNAs in high volumes throughout the metro. Training programs are available at Georgia Piedmont Technical College (Clarkston), Atlanta Technical College, Kennesaw State University's allied health division, and American Red Cross chapters across the metro. CNA wages in Atlanta average $14–$17/hour, with hospital positions at Emory and Piedmont reaching $19–$21/hour. Sandy Springs and the northern suburbs have seen particularly high demand due to rapid population growth. CNA scholarships and WIOA-funded grants are available through Georgia WorkSource centers for eligible candidates.
Savannah and the coastal Georgia region — including Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, and Liberty counties — offer a growing CNA market driven by retiree migration and the region's expanding healthcare infrastructure. Savannah Technical College offers a state-approved CNA program at community college rates (approximately $500–$900 for Georgia residents). Memorial Health University Medical Center (a Level I trauma center and the region's largest hospital) is the primary acute care employer for CNAs in Savannah. St. Joseph's/Candler Health System operates two major hospital campuses and multiple skilled nursing facilities in the Savannah area. Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield also drives demand for VA-affiliated and military family healthcare CNAs in the region. CNA wages in Savannah average $13–$16/hour, with hospital positions reaching $17–$19/hour. The region's growing retirement communities, including The Landings and Skidaway Island, create steady demand for home health and assisted living CNAs year-round.
Augusta and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) host one of Georgia's most distinctive healthcare markets, anchored by Augusta University Health System (home of the Medical College of Georgia) and Doctors Hospital of Augusta. The presence of Fort Gordon (now Fort Eisenhower) — one of the largest Army installations in the US — supports steady demand for CNAs in military healthcare, VA facilities, and family support services. Augusta Technical College offers an affordable state-approved CNA program. Wellstar MCG Health (formerly AU Medical Center) is one of the top academic hospital employers for CNAs in the state, offering clinical training partnerships and career advancement paths. CNA wages in Augusta average $13–$16/hour. The CSRA's large veteran population also creates strong demand for home health CNAs through VA community care programs. CNA registry status can be verified directly through the Georgia DCH online portal.
Columbus and Macon — Georgia's third and fourth largest cities — each have strong but distinct CNA markets. In Columbus, Columbus Regional Health (now part of Piedmont Healthcare) and the proximity to Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning) drive demand for CNAs across hospital, home health, and military-affiliated settings. Columbus Technical College offers a well-regarded CNA program. In Macon, Atrium Health Navicent (a Level I trauma center and the dominant healthcare employer in Middle Georgia) recruits CNAs actively and offers employer-sponsored training. Central Georgia Technical College provides affordable CNA programs in Macon and Warner Robins. CNA wages in both cities average $12–$15/hour — lower than Atlanta but with a significantly lower cost of living. The Warner Robins area (Robins Air Force Base) also creates demand for VA-affiliated CNA positions. Working as a CNA in Middle Georgia often means more diverse patient populations and faster career advancement due to lower competition for senior roles.
Athens and North Georgia offer CNA opportunities tied to the University of Georgia's affiliated medical community and the region's growing retirement population. Athens Regional Medical Center (now part of Piedmont Healthcare) is the primary hospital employer for CNAs in the Athens area. Athens Technical College offers state-approved CNA training. The mountain communities of North Georgia — including Gainesville, Dahlonega, and Blue Ridge — have seen an influx of retirees that has dramatically increased demand for home health and assisted living CNAs. Northeast Georgia Health System in Gainesville is one of the fastest-growing hospital systems in the state and a major CNA employer. CNA wages in Athens average $13–$15/hour; the rural mountain counties pay slightly less ($12–$14/hour) but offer very low competition for positions. The University of Georgia Health Center also employs CNAs in student health settings. Free CNA classes may be available through Georgia WorkSource Athens for eligible job seekers.
Search the Georgia DCH website for a list of approved nurse aide training programs. Options include technical colleges (TCSG), community colleges, Red Cross chapters, and some long-term care facilities offering employer-based training.
Obtain your TB test, physical examination clearance, current immunizations, and CPR/BLS certification. Submit to a criminal background check through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Most programs require these before clinical rotations begin.
Attend your Georgia-approved program: 24 hours classroom, 16 hours laboratory, 24 hours supervised clinical practice at a licensed Georgia nursing facility, plus 21 additional hours of combined instruction. Full-time programs complete in 3–5 weeks; part-time programs take 6–10 weeks.
After program completion, register for both the written and clinical skills exams through D&S Diversified Technologies (the GA state exam vendor — not Prometric). You'll need your program completion certificate. Testing sites are located in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah, and Athens.
Take the written knowledge test (60 questions, 90 minutes, 70% to pass) and the clinical skills evaluation (5 randomly selected skills). Both parts must be passed within 24 months of completing training. You have up to 3 attempts.
After passing both exam components, D&S Diversified notifies the Georgia Department of Community Health and you are placed on the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry. Registry status can be verified at the GA DCH website. Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks.
Apply to hospitals, SNFs, home health agencies, ALFs, or staffing companies in Georgia. Georgia law allows nurse aide candidates to work while awaiting full registry placement if the employer verifies exam passage with D&S Diversified. Grady Memorial, Emory, and Piedmont are among the first employers to contact in Atlanta.
Georgia participates in the Nurse Aide Reciprocity process, allowing CNAs certified in other states to transfer their license to the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry without retaking the full competency exam — provided they meet specific requirements. This process is coordinated through the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), which manages the registry independently of the Georgia Board of Nursing.
Requirements for Reciprocity: To transfer your CNA certification to Georgia, you must have 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). You must submit a completed reciprocity application to the Georgia DCH along with verification of your current registry status and a Georgia criminal background check through the GBI.
Key Georgia-Specific Note: Because Georgia's registry is managed by the DCH and not the Board of Nursing, the reciprocity application goes directly to DCH — not to a nursing board. This differs from most other states and can cause confusion for applicants used to dealing with state boards of nursing. Allow 4–8 weeks for reciprocity processing.
Out-of-State Candidates: CNAs moving to Georgia from Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, or North Carolina can typically transfer credentials without retesting. If your certification has lapsed (not renewed within 24 months), you may be required to retake the full D&S Diversified competency exam before being listed on the Georgia registry. See our full CNA reciprocity guide for details on the multi-state transfer process.