New York requires a minimum of 100 hours of CNA training — though most NYSDOH-approved programs run 120 hours or more — split between classroom instruction and supervised clinical practice. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) maintains the state's Nurse Aide Registry, which is entirely separate from the Board of Nursing and is notoriously slow: expect 8–12 weeks between passing your Prometric exam and receiving your official certification number. CNA exams in New York are administered by Prometric. With over 60,000 working CNAs across the state, New York offers the highest average CNA salaries in the nation — $36,000–$45,000 statewide, with New York City premiums pushing experienced CNAs above $50,000. A significant portion of NY CNAs are members of 1199SEIU, the nation's largest healthcare union, which negotiates above-market wages and benefits at major hospital systems including NYC Health + Hospitals and Northwell Health.
New York State regulations under 10 NYCRR Part 415 set the minimum at 100 hours, but NYSDOH-approved programs routinely exceed this — many run 120–160 hours to better prepare candidates for the Prometric skills exam. The curriculum must cover basic nursing skills, anatomy and physiology, infection control, resident rights, mental health and social service needs, personal care, and safety and emergency procedures. All programs must be NYSDOH-approved before graduates can sit for the Prometric exam. Programs are offered at community colleges, vocational schools, hospitals, and nursing homes throughout the state.
New York uses Prometric to administer the two-part CNA competency exam. The written knowledge test consists of 70 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit — a minimum of 70% correct is required to pass. The clinical skills evaluation tests 5 randomly selected skills from the NYSDOH skills checklist in approximately 30 minutes. Both parts must be passed within 24 months of training program completion. Candidates who fail one part can retake that component; retake fees apply. Prometric test centers are located throughout New York State, with the heaviest concentration in NYC and Long Island.
New York requires a Level 1 criminal background check for all CNA candidates before clinical placement and registry listing. This involves fingerprinting processed through the NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs and cross-referencing with the NYSDOH Nurse Aide Registry for any prior findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. The NYSDOH also checks the OIG Exclusion List. Many employers — particularly NYC Health + Hospitals and Northwell — run their own additional background screenings independent of the state process.
The NYSDOH Nurse Aide Registry is completely separate from the New York State Board of Nursing — a key distinction for CNA candidates and employers alike. After passing the Prometric exam, expect a wait of 8–12 weeks for your certification to be processed and your name added to the registry. This is among the longest processing times of any state. Employers in New York are legally required to verify registry status before hiring any CNA. The registry is searchable online at health.ny.gov. Renewal requires working a minimum of 8 hours of paid nursing-related work within each 24-month period — the clock resets with each renewal.
New York City is the largest CNA job market in the country, driven by NYC Health + Hospitals — the nation's largest public health system, with 11 acute care hospitals and over 70 clinics across all five boroughs — and NYU Langone Health, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian. A substantial portion of NYC CNAs are members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest healthcare union in the country, which negotiates contracts covering wages, benefits, and free CNA training through the 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds. Many union-affiliated NYC hospitals offer sponsored CNA training programs at no cost in exchange for a term of employment. CUNY community colleges including Bronx Community College, Kingsborough Community College, and LaGuardia Community College offer NYSDOH-approved programs for $800–$2,500. NYC CNAs earn the highest wages in the state, with experienced hospital CNAs under 1199SEIU contracts earning $22–$28/hour including differentials. Home health agency CNAs in NYC typically earn $18–$22/hour under Medicaid-funded programs. The city's sheer density of hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies means that certified CNAs in any borough can typically find employment within days of certification.
Long Island is anchored by Northwell Health — New York's largest private employer and health system — with major campuses at North Shore University Hospital (Manhasset), Long Island Jewish Medical Center (New Hyde Park), and South Shore University Hospital (Bay Shore). Northwell operates its own CNA workforce development pipeline and frequently posts sponsored training opportunities. Nassau Community College and Suffolk County Community College both offer NYSDOH-approved CNA programs for $1,200–$2,800. Westchester County north of NYC is home to NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital, Montefiore's Westchester division, and dozens of skilled nursing facilities that consistently recruit CNAs. Westchester Community College offers an affordable CNA program. Long Island and Westchester CNA wages typically run $19–$25/hour, slightly below Manhattan rates but well above the national average. Many CNAs in these suburban markets hold 1199SEIU membership and benefit from union contract protections. Access to CNA scholarships through BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) is available for Long Island residents.
The Hudson Valley region stretching from Rockland and Orange counties north through Dutchess and Ulster counties has a mix of community hospitals, long-term care facilities, and a growing home health sector. Vassar Brothers Medical Center (Poughkeepsie), Orange Regional Medical Center (Middletown), and Catskill Regional Medical Center are key CNA employers. Dutchess Community College and SUNY Ulster both offer NYSDOH-approved programs. The Hudson Valley benefits from proximity to both NYC and Albany markets, giving CNAs mobility within a reasonable commuting distance. Skilled nursing facilities in Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and Kingston consistently recruit due to a regional healthcare worker shortage. Starting wages of $17–$21/hour are typical, with larger systems offering 1199SEIU union contracts. The area's growing retiree population — driven by NYC residents relocating for lower costs — continues to increase long-term care demand. Many Hudson Valley CNAs transition to CNA to RN bridge programs through Mount Saint Mary College or Marist College.
Buffalo is Western New York's healthcare hub, with Kaleida Health (Buffalo General, Women and Children's, and Millard Fillmore hospitals) and Catholic Health as the dominant CNA employers. Erie Community College and Trocaire College offer NYSDOH-approved CNA programs for $1,000–$2,000. Buffalo's lower cost of living compared to NYC makes it an attractive market for CNAs: wages of $16–$20/hour go considerably further here than in the city. 1199SEIU also represents many Buffalo-area healthcare workers. Rochester, about 75 miles east, has Rochester Regional Health and Unity Health as key employers, with Monroe Community College offering a well-regarded CNA program. The broader Western NY region — including Jamestown, Niagara Falls, and Olean — has acute shortages of CNAs in rural nursing homes and home health agencies, with some facilities offering $2–$4/hour above regional average to attract workers. Private duty CNA work in Western NY pays well for those willing to travel to rural patient homes.
Albany is home to New York State government offices including the NYSDOH itself, and the Capital Region's healthcare market is anchored by Albany Medical Center (the region's Level 1 trauma center), St. Peter's Health Partners (Trinity Health system), and Ellis Medicine. Hudson Valley Community College and SUNY Adirondack both offer NYSDOH-approved CNA programs accessible to Capital Region residents. State government employment is a notable feature here — New York State's Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the Department of Health directly hire Direct Support Professionals and CNAs for state-run facilities at civil service pay grades. Albany's state worker culture means strong union representation: CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association) and PEF cover state-employed healthcare workers in addition to 1199SEIU at private facilities. Wages of $17–$22/hour are typical. Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, and the North Country region have growing elder care needs tied to retiring baby boomers who chose to age in place. The Capital Region is also a strong market for CNA to RN advancement through Albany's nursing schools.
Syracuse is anchored by Upstate University Hospital (SUNY Upstate Medical University) and St. Joseph's Health as the primary CNA employers in Central New York. Onondaga Community College offers a highly accessible NYSDOH-approved CNA program with some of the most affordable tuition upstate ($900–$1,600). The broader Central NY region — Utica, Rome, Binghamton, and the Southern Tier — faces significant CNA shortages driven by an aging population and healthcare workforce attrition. Facilities in these markets often offer sign-on bonuses of $500–$1,500 and above-average starting wages of $16–$21/hour. Mohawk Valley Health System (Utica) and UHS (United Health Services, Binghamton) are key employers. SUNY Morrisville and SUNY Delhi offer CNA programs for rural students in Chenango, Delaware, and Otsego counties. Free CNA classes through workforce development programs are available in Onondaga County through CenterState CEO's workforce initiatives and ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation) for qualifying applicants.
Visit health.ny.gov to search the official NYSDOH list of approved nurse aide training programs in your county. New York has hundreds of approved programs — community colleges, vocational schools, hospital-sponsored, and nursing home-based programs. Verify the program appears on the current NYSDOH-approved list before enrolling, as unapproved programs cannot submit candidates to Prometric.
Complete a TB test (PPD or chest X-ray within 6–12 months per facility policy), physical examination, hepatitis B vaccination series (or signed declination), and CPR/BLS certification. Submit to a Level 1 criminal background check early — New York's Justice Center process can take 3–4 weeks and must be complete before your first clinical shift. Some NYC programs require additional immunization documentation (MMR, varicella, flu).
Attend your NYSDOH-approved program: minimum 60 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of supervised clinical practice at an approved long-term care or healthcare facility. Most NY programs run 120+ hours. Topics include basic nursing skills, resident rights, infection control, anatomy, personal care, mental health, and emergency procedures. Programs range from intensive 3-week daytime tracks to 10-week evening/weekend formats.
Your training program submits your completion record to NYSDOH, which authorizes Prometric to schedule your exam. Register at prometric.com/cna for your New York exam. The combined fee is approximately $101 for both the written test and clinical skills evaluation. Schedule your exam promptly — New York City and Long Island Prometric centers book 2–3 weeks out, especially in spring and fall.
Take the 70-question written knowledge exam (90 minutes, 70% passing score) and the clinical skills evaluation (5 randomly selected skills from the NYSDOH checklist). Both parts must be passed. Results are typically available within a few days. If you fail one part, you can retake only that component. Note: you must pass both parts within 24 months of completing your training program.
This is New York's most frustrating step: after passing Prometric, your certification must be processed by NYSDOH and entered into the Nurse Aide Registry. This takes 8–12 weeks — longer than any other state. During this period, many employers will provisionally hire you based on your Prometric passing results. Check your status online at health.ny.gov. Do NOT contact Prometric for registry status — they are separate systems.
Once your name appears in the NYSDOH Nurse Aide Registry, you are officially certified as a New York CNA. Print your registry confirmation page. Your certification number enables employment at any NYSDOH-regulated facility. Update your registry record if you change employers or addresses. Your certification is valid for 24 months and renews automatically if you work at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work within that period.
New York's reciprocity process is one of the most bureaucratic in the country. Out-of-state CNAs who wish to transfer their certification to New York must submit a notarized reciprocity application directly to NYSDOH — a requirement unique to New York among most states. The process involves:
Important: The NYSDOH Nurse Aide Registry is entirely separate from the New York Board of Nursing. Sending your application to the wrong office will delay processing by weeks. All correspondence should go to NYSDOH's Office of Long Term Care, not the BON. New York does NOT participate in the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), so compact licenses do not apply to CNAs here. See the full CNA reciprocity guide for state-by-state transfer requirements.