Kansas requires 90 hours of CNA training — including classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and supervised clinical hours at a licensed healthcare facility — and uses D&S Diversified Technologies to administer the state competency exam. What makes Kansas distinctive is that the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) manages the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry, not the Board of Nursing — a critical distinction for candidates navigating the certification process. The Kansas City metro straddles the Kansas-Missouri state line, meaning CNAs working in the Johnson County or Wyandotte County areas must understand exactly which state's registry governs their license — KS and MO have separate registries and separate exam requirements (MO uses D&S Diversified with only 75 hours of training; KS requires 90 hours). Wichita is Kansas's largest city and second-largest CNA market, anchored by Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center. Kansas CNA salaries range from $26,000–$32,000 per year — modest by national standards but aligned with Kansas's lower cost of living. This guide covers all 2026 CNA requirements in Kansas, including how to use free CNA classes near me in Kansas.
Kansas requires a minimum of 90 hours of state-approved nurse aide training, which is 15 hours above the federal minimum of 75 hours. Programs must be approved by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and must include classroom instruction, skills laboratory practice, and a minimum of 16 hours of supervised clinical training at a licensed nursing facility or equivalent healthcare setting. Training is available at community colleges, vocational-technical schools, and some long-term care facilities through employer-based programs. Accelerated full-time programs typically complete in 3–4 weeks; part-time evening programs take 8–12 weeks.
Kansas uses D&S Diversified Technologies — not Prometric — to administer the NNAAP (National Nurse Aide Assessment Program) competency exam. The written section contains 70 multiple-choice questions with a 105-minute time limit, and the clinical skills evaluation requires demonstrating 5 randomly selected nursing procedures in front of a trained evaluator. Both sections must be passed to receive Kansas CNA certification. Candidates have up to 3 attempts within 24 months of completing their approved training program. Testing locations include Wichita, Overland Park, Topeka, Lawrence, and other cities across Kansas.
Kansas requires a criminal background check for CNA candidates seeking to work in Medicaid/Medicare-certified nursing facilities. The background check is administered through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and includes both state and federal criminal history. KDADS maintains a separate Nurse Aide Abuse Registry — individuals listed for patient abuse, neglect, misappropriation of property, or exploitation are barred from working as a CNA in any licensed Kansas facility. Medicaid-funded employers must also check the OIG (Office of Inspector General) exclusions list. Most CNA training programs require background check clearance before clinical rotations begin.
Before beginning clinical rotations at a Kansas 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 (American Heart Association or American Red Cross). Most KDADS-approved programs also require documentation of Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, and seasonal flu vaccinations. Many Kansas employers — especially larger systems like Ascension Via Christi and KU Health System — require a pre-employment drug screen in addition to the background check.
The Kansas City metro area — specifically the Kansas side encompassing Johnson County, Wyandotte County, and Leavenworth County — is the largest and highest-paying CNA market in Kansas. Johnson County is one of the wealthiest counties in the Midwest and has a rapidly growing senior population, driving strong demand for CNAs at its numerous upscale assisted living facilities, skilled nursing centers, and home health agencies. The University of Kansas Health System (KUMC), based in Kansas City, KS, is the dominant academic medical center in the region and a major CNA employer. Children's Mercy Hospital (Kansas City, MO) and AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in Merriam, KS are other major employers. Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Overland Park offers one of the most accessible and well-regarded CNA programs in the state. Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) serves the Wyandotte County market and offers affordable CNA training. CNA wages on the KS side of KC average $14–$17/hour, with hospital positions at KUMC reaching $18–$21/hour. Free CNA training programs may be available through Kansas WorkForce ONE centers in Overland Park and Kansas City, KS for eligible workers. Note: CNAs working on the Missouri side of the metro must obtain Missouri CNA certification separately — see the KC Metro highlight box below.
Wichita is Kansas's largest city and the second-largest CNA market in the state. The healthcare sector is anchored by Ascension Via Christi, the dominant hospital system in Wichita, operating St. Francis campus, St. Joseph campus, and several specialty facilities. Wesley Medical Center (HCA Healthcare), a Level I trauma center, is the region's busiest emergency hospital and a major CNA employer. Wichita VA Medical Center creates additional demand for CNAs serving the region's large veteran population. Wichita Area Technical College (WATC) offers a state-approved CNA program at affordable community college rates. Wichita State University's school of health sciences and Butler Community College (El Dorado) also offer CNA pathways. CNA wages in Wichita average $13–$16/hour; hospital positions at Wesley and Via Christi reach $16–$19/hour. The aerospace industry concentration in Wichita creates an unusually high demand for employer-sponsored CNA training, as manufacturing companies offer healthcare benefits that sometimes include tuition assistance for healthcare career transitions. Sedgwick County aging services programs also fund home-based CNA positions through Medicaid HCBS waivers.
Topeka, the state capital, hosts a concentrated and stable CNA market centered on state government healthcare operations, federal facilities, and regional medical systems. Stormont Vail Health is the primary hospital system in Topeka and the region's largest private employer — a key CNA hiring partner with a robust career advancement program. VA Eastern Kansas Healthcare System, with facilities in Topeka and Leavenworth, is one of the largest VA employers of CNAs in Kansas. Kansas Neurological Institute (KNI), a state-operated facility for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, employs a significant number of CNAs. Washburn University and Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech) both offer KDADS-approved CNA programs with strong placement rates. CNA wages in Topeka average $13–$16/hour; government-affiliated positions (VA, state facilities) often provide superior benefits even at comparable hourly rates. The presence of the KDADS offices in Topeka also means that registry lookups and reciprocity applications are processed fastest for Topeka-area candidates. Kansas Nurse Aide Registry verification is handled by KDADS online and by phone.
Lawrence (home of the University of Kansas) and Manhattan (home of Kansas State University) each offer smaller but distinctive CNA markets shaped by large university populations, teaching hospital affiliations, and active student-driven demand for flexible CNA employment. LMH Health in Lawrence is the primary hospital employer in the region and actively recruits CNAs from KU's allied health programs. Hays Medical Center serves the western Kansas corridor and is a key CNA employer in the region. Kansas State University's proximity to Manhattan supports the Ascension Via Christi Manhattan campus as a top regional CNA employer. Flint Hills Technical College in Emporia and Cloud County Community College in Concordia offer CNA programs for central Kansas. CNA wages in Lawrence and Manhattan average $12–$15/hour — lower than KC metro but with very low cost of living. Student workers in Lawrence can often combine part-time CNA work with KU coursework. The university towns also have higher availability of employer-sponsored training through senior living operators seeking to attract bilingual or graduate student caregivers.
Olathe is Johnson County's county seat and one of the fastest-growing cities in Kansas. Its rapidly expanding senior population — driven by suburban migration from the KC core — has created a highly active CNA job market with some of the highest wages in the state. AdventHealth Olathe (formerly Olathe Medical Center) is a major hospital employer. The concentration of upscale senior communities — including Sunrise Senior Living, Brookdale, and independent operators — means that CNAs with specialized dementia care or memory care experience can command premium wages. Ottawa University and MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe both have health sciences programs that partner with regional CNA training providers. CNA scholarships in Johnson County are available through the Kansas Health Foundation and community foundations. The Olathe area also has unusually high demand for bilingual (Spanish-English) CNAs due to its growing Hispanic population in the healthcare workforce. CNA wages in Olathe average $14–$18/hour — among the highest in Kansas outside of academic medical centers.
Search the KDADS website for a current list of approved nurse aide training programs in Kansas. Options include community colleges (JCCC, KCKCC, Washburn Tech, WATC), technical colleges, Red Cross chapters, and some nursing homes offering employer-based programs. Confirm the program is currently KDADS-approved before enrolling.
Obtain your TB test within 12 months, physical examination clearance, current immunizations, and CPR/BLS certification. Submit to a criminal background check through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). Most programs require these documents before clinical placement. A pre-enrollment drug screen may also be required.
Attend your KDADS-approved program for at least 90 hours including classroom instruction, skills lab, and a minimum of 16 hours of supervised clinical practice at a licensed Kansas nursing facility. Full-time accelerated programs complete in 3–4 weeks; part-time evening programs take 8–12 weeks.
After program completion, register for both the written and clinical skills exam sections through D&S Diversified Technologies — the Kansas state exam vendor (not Prometric). You will need your program completion certificate. Testing locations include Wichita, Overland Park, Topeka, and Lawrence.
Take the written knowledge test (70 questions, 105 minutes, 70% to pass) and the clinical skills evaluation (5 randomly selected skills, all must be passed). Both parts must be passed within 24 months of completing training. You have up to 3 attempts. Prepare using our free CNA practice test.
After passing both exam components, D&S Diversified notifies KDADS and you are placed on the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry. Registry status can be verified through the KDADS website. Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks. Your employer must verify your registry listing before you can work in a Medicaid/Medicare facility.
Apply to hospitals, SNFs, home health agencies, ALFs, or staffing companies in Kansas. Top employers include KUMC (Kansas City, KS), Ascension Via Christi (Wichita), Wesley Medical Center (Wichita), Stormont Vail Health (Topeka), and AdventHealth (Olathe/Shawnee Mission). Kansas law allows provisional employment while awaiting full registry placement in some circumstances — verify with your employer.
The Kansas City metro straddles the Kansas-Missouri state line, and this creates a real licensing challenge for CNAs working in the region. Kansas and Missouri are two separate states with two separate nurse aide registries and two different training requirements. Here is exactly what you need to know:
Kansas Side (Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Leavenworth County): CNAs working in Overland Park, Olathe, Leawood, Prairie Village, Kansas City KS, or Leavenworth must hold a Kansas CNA certification — listed on the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry managed by KDADS. Kansas requires 90 hours of training and uses D&S Diversified for the competency exam.
Missouri Side (Jackson County, Clay County, Cass County): CNAs working in Kansas City MO, Independence, Lee's Summit, Overland (MO), or Blue Springs must hold a Missouri CNA certification — listed on the Missouri DHSS Nurse Aide Registry. Missouri requires only 75 hours of training and also uses D&S Diversified for its exam. The registries are completely separate.
Can you hold both? Yes. Many KC metro CNAs maintain dual certification in both Kansas and Missouri to maximize job opportunities and staffing agency placement. Missouri will accept reciprocity from Kansas without retesting if your KS certification is active and in good standing with no abuse/neglect findings. The reverse is also possible: a Missouri-certified CNA can apply to KDADS for Kansas reciprocity.
Important for staffing agency workers: If you are placed by a Kansas City staffing agency, always confirm on which side of the state line your assignment facility is located before accepting. Working in a facility without the correct state's CNA certification is a regulatory violation and can result in registry action. When in doubt, verify the facility's address using the street number and confirm the state with your agency coordinator. See our full CNA reciprocity guide for the multi-state transfer process.