Pennsylvania requires 80 hours of CNA training — meeting the federal minimum — and uses Pearson VUE to administer the state competency exam, a distinction that sets PA apart from states using Prometric or D&S Diversified. The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) maintains the official Nurse Aide Registry, which records all certified CNAs in the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania's two dominant healthcare markets — Philadelphia in the southeast and Pittsburgh in the west — together employ tens of thousands of CNAs across major health systems including Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, UPMC, and Allegheny Health Network. A strong SEIU union presence in Pennsylvania's healthcare sector, particularly in Philadelphia, gives many CNAs access to collective bargaining for wages and benefits. PA CareerLink offices statewide connect job seekers to free or subsidized CNA training programs funded through federal workforce development dollars, making Pennsylvania one of the more accessible states for no-cost CNA certification.
Pennsylvania law requires a minimum of 80 hours of nurse aide training at a PA DOH-approved program — 5 hours above the federal minimum of 75 hours. At least 16 of those hours must be clinical training conducted at a licensed long-term care facility. The remaining hours are divided between classroom instruction and skills lab practice, with the exact breakdown varying by program. Training is available at community colleges (HACC, Community College of Philadelphia), vocational-technical schools, career/technology centers, Red Cross chapters, and some long-term care facilities offering employer-sponsored training. All programs must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Pennsylvania uses Pearson VUE to administer the CNA competency exam — this is a key distinction from the majority of states that use Prometric or D&S Diversified. The written (or oral) section contains 70 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit. The clinical skills evaluation requires candidates to correctly demonstrate 5 randomly selected skills chosen from the state-approved skill set. Candidates must pass both sections and have 3 attempts within 24 months of completing training. Pennsylvania Pearson VUE testing sites are located in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Harrisburg, Reading, Scranton, and Bethlehem.
Pennsylvania CNA candidates working in Medicaid/Medicare-certified facilities must complete a criminal background check through the Pennsylvania State Police (PATCH system) and an FBI fingerprint-based federal background check processed through IdentoGO/IDEMIA. Candidates with findings of patient abuse, neglect, or misappropriation are placed on the PA DOH Nurse Aide Abuse Registry and are barred from employment in any certified facility. Pennsylvania's background check requirements are stricter than many states due to Act 169 of 1996, which requires background checks for all individuals working with older adults. Most training programs require candidates to clear background checks before beginning clinical rotations.
Before beginning clinical rotations at a Pennsylvania licensed long-term care facility, CNA students must provide a negative TB test — PA nursing facilities require a 2-step Mantoux PPD for new employees and students — along with a physician's physical clearance and current BLS/CPR certification. Pennsylvania's Department of Health requires all healthcare workers in long-term care facilities to receive an annual influenza vaccine; students entering clinical sites in PA-regulated facilities must comply. Required immunizations typically include the Hepatitis B series, MMR, Varicella, and Tdap. Most clinical sites also require a drug screen. These requirements are enforced at both the program and facility level.
Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania represent the largest CNA market in the Commonwealth. Penn Medicine (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Jefferson-affiliated facilities) and Jefferson Health (14+ hospitals across the region) are among the top employers of CNAs in the state, offering competitive wages and union-backed benefits in many settings. Temple University Health System and Einstein Healthcare Network (now part of Jefferson) also hire CNAs in volume across their Philadelphia campuses. The Community College of Philadelphia offers affordable CNA training at approximately $800–$1,200 for residents. SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania has a strong presence in Philadelphia-area nursing facilities and hospitals, providing many CNAs with collectively bargained wages starting above $16–$18/hour. PA CareerLink Philadelphia operates multiple workforce centers that connect job seekers to free WIOA-funded CNA training programs. CNA wages in Philadelphia average $16–$20/hour, with union hospital positions reaching $20–$24/hour. The Philadelphia suburbs — Delaware County, Montgomery County, Bucks County, and Chester County — also offer strong CNA employment through Main Line Health, Crozer Health, and numerous SNFs. CNA scholarships and employer-sponsored training are widely available in the Philadelphia market.
Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania are anchored by two competing healthcare giants: UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) — one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the US with 40+ hospitals — and Allegheny Health Network (AHN), a subsidiary of Highmark Health. UPMC is one of the largest single employers in Pennsylvania and one of the top CNA employers in the state, offering employer-sponsored training programs, tuition reimbursement, and internal career pathways. AHN's network of hospitals across Western PA also recruits CNAs actively. Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) is the primary affordable CNA training provider in Pittsburgh, with programs available at multiple campuses. CNA wages in Pittsburgh average $15–$19/hour; UPMC and AHN union positions range from $18–$22/hour. The Pittsburgh metro's aging population and large number of skilled nursing facilities create steady year-round demand. Western PA rural communities — Butler, Greensburg, Uniontown, Beaver — offer CNA positions with lower competition but slightly lower wages ($13–$15/hour). PA Nurse Aide Registry status is required for all positions in UPMC and AHN facilities.
Allentown and the Lehigh Valley — including Bethlehem and Easton — form Pennsylvania's third-largest metropolitan area and a growing healthcare hub. Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is the dominant healthcare employer in the region, operating multiple hospitals including LVH-Cedar Crest (a Level I trauma center) and LVH-Muhlenberg. LVHN regularly recruits CNAs and offers competitive wages for the region. St. Luke's University Health Network, headquartered in Bethlehem, operates 15 hospitals across PA and NJ and is another major CNA employer in the Lehigh Valley. Northampton Community College in Bethlehem and Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) offer affordable CNA training programs. CNA wages in Allentown average $14–$18/hour, with LVHN and St. Luke's positions ranging $16–$20/hour. The Lehigh Valley's large Puerto Rican and Hispanic community creates demand for bilingual CNAs, particularly in long-term care facilities. PA CareerLink Allentown connects job seekers to free WIOA-funded CNA training. Pearson VUE testing is available in Allentown and Bethlehem. Free CNA classes may be available through PA CareerLink for eligible candidates.
Central Pennsylvania and the Harrisburg region serve as the administrative center of the Commonwealth and offer a stable, mid-sized CNA market. Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey is the dominant academic medical employer for CNAs in the region, offering strong wages and benefits. UPMC Pinnacle (now branded UPMC West Shore, UPMC Harrisburg, UPMC Carlisle) operates multiple facilities across Central PA and recruits CNAs consistently. WellSpan Health serves south-central PA with hospitals in York, Chambersburg, and Gettysburg. HACC (Harrisburg Area Community College) is the primary affordable CNA training provider for the region, with campuses in Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, and Gettysburg. CNA wages in Central PA average $13–$17/hour. The Lancaster County and York County markets have strong nursing home and assisted living demand due to large older adult populations. Pearson VUE testing is available in Harrisburg. PA CareerLink offices in Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York connect eligible candidates to subsidized CNA training. Working as a CNA in Central PA often means lower cost of living with stable employment opportunities.
Erie and Northwestern Pennsylvania offer a smaller but stable CNA market driven by the region's large older adult population and limited competition for healthcare positions. UPMC Hamot (a Level II trauma center) and Saint Vincent Hospital (part of Allegheny Health Network) are the two primary hospital employers for CNAs in Erie. Erie's large number of skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities — driven by one of Pennsylvania's highest concentrations of residents age 65+ — creates consistent demand for CNAs year-round. Mercyhurst University's Continuing Education division and Erie's Career Technology Center (PCTS) offer CNA training programs. CNA wages in Erie average $13–$16/hour — lower than Philadelphia and Pittsburgh but reflective of the region's lower cost of living. Scranton and the Lackawanna/Luzerne County area in Northeastern PA offer additional CNA opportunities through Geisinger Health System, Commonwealth Health, and Allied Services. Lackawanna College in Scranton and area career/technology centers provide CNA training. SEIU has some representation in Scranton-area nursing facilities. PA CareerLink Erie and Scranton offices connect candidates to workforce development-funded CNA training programs. Private duty CNA work is also available through regional home health agencies in Northwestern PA.
Search the Pennsylvania Department of Health website for a list of approved nurse aide training programs. Options include community colleges (HACC, CCP, CCAC), vocational-technical schools, career/technology centers (CTCs), Red Cross chapters, and employer-sponsored programs at long-term care facilities.
Obtain your 2-step TB test, physical examination clearance from a physician or CRNP, required immunizations, and BLS/CPR certification. Submit a Pennsylvania State Police (PATCH) criminal background check and FBI fingerprint check through IdentoGO. Most programs require clearances before clinical rotations. Check with PA CareerLink for free training opportunities.
Complete your 80-hour Pennsylvania-approved program: classroom theory, skills lab, and at least 16 hours of supervised clinical training at a licensed PA long-term care facility. Full-time programs complete in 2–4 weeks; part-time evening/weekend programs take 5–8 weeks.
After program completion, register for both the written knowledge test and clinical skills evaluation through Pearson VUE — Pennsylvania's state-designated exam provider. You'll need your program completion certificate. Testing sites in PA include Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Harrisburg, Reading, Scranton, and Bethlehem.
Take the written knowledge test (70 questions, 90 minutes, 70% to pass) and the clinical skills evaluation (5 randomly selected skills, all must pass). You have up to 3 attempts within 24 months of completing training. Both sections can be scheduled separately through Pearson VUE.
After passing both exam sections, Pearson VUE notifies the Pennsylvania Department of Health and you are placed on the PA Nurse Aide Registry. Registry status is verifiable online. Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks after exam passage.
Apply to hospitals, SNFs, home health agencies, ALFs, or staffing agencies in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania law permits nurse aide candidates to be employed for up to 4 months while waiting for registry placement if they are working under the supervision of a licensed nurse. UPMC, Penn Medicine, Jefferson, and AHN are among the first employers to contact in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
PA CareerLink is Pennsylvania's statewide network of workforce development centers — the Commonwealth's implementation of the federally funded Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) system. For eligible Pennsylvania residents, PA CareerLink can fund free or heavily subsidized CNA training, covering tuition, books, uniforms, and sometimes exam fees at approved training providers.
Who qualifies for free CNA training through PA CareerLink? Eligibility is based on WIOA guidelines and includes unemployed individuals, underemployed workers, laid-off workers, low-income adults, veterans, and individuals with barriers to employment. Income thresholds and eligibility criteria are assessed at your local PA CareerLink office. Priority is given to individuals who are long-term unemployed or receiving public assistance (SNAP, TANF, etc.).
How to access free CNA training in PA: Visit your nearest PA CareerLink office (locations in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, Erie, Reading, Scranton, and 60+ other locations statewide). Meet with a career counselor, complete an eligibility assessment, and request an Individual Training Account (ITA). The ITA can be applied toward any PA DOH-approved CNA training program on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). Community College of Philadelphia, HACC, CCAC, and many vocational-technical schools accept ITA funding.
Additional free or low-cost training options: Some Pennsylvania long-term care facilities and hospital systems — including UPMC, Jefferson Health, and regional nursing home chains — offer fully employer-sponsored CNA training with a commitment to work for the employer after certification. The Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association (PWDA) also lists regional training grants. Search careerlinkpa.com to find your nearest office. Free CNA classes are available in most Pennsylvania metro areas through CareerLink and employer-sponsored programs.