How to become a CNA in Colorado.
Colorado requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Credentia and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 75
- Training hours
- 16
- Clinical hours
- $145
- Exam fee
- 113
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Colorado certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Application includes criminal history/discipline screening questions; flagged applications go to the Nurse Aide Advisory Committee. Rule 3 CCR 716-1 requires fingerprints for RN/LPN applicants; a fingerprint requirement specifically for CNA applicants was not confirmed in official text. Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Colorado requires 75 training hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam.
See all 113 approved programs in Colorado - 3
Pass the state competency exam
The exam has a written or oral knowledge test and a hands on skills test, run by Credentia. The exam fee is $145. Must pass both written and skills within 2 years (24 months) of Credentia receiving the application. 3 attempts per component; failing any component 3 times requires repeating a state approved training program. No time limit on the 3 attempts other than the 2-year application window.
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Colorado Nurse Aide Registry (Colorado State Board of Nursing, DORA Division of Professions and Occupations). Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the CO registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Certificate renewed per 12-20-202 C.R.S. with 60-day grace period; must attest to at least 8 hours of paid nursing care activities in the prior 24 months. Expired over 2 years requires retaking the competency evaluation. No CE requirement found.
Moving from another state
Certification by endorsement under the Occupational Credential Portability Program: current certification in good standing in another state/territory with substantially equivalent education, or held at least 1 year in a jurisdiction with substantially similar scope. Applied through DPO online services.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Colorado.
CNA funding in Colorado →Colorado CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Training hours
- 75 hours
- Clinical hours
- At least 16 hours
- Exam provider
- Credentia
- Exam fee
- $145 ($50 knowledge, $95 skills)
- Fee details
- Credentia Colorado NNAAP handbook knowledge base: Written+Skills $145, Oral+Skills $145, Written only $50, Oral only $50, Skills only $95. First-time testers must pay both parts. Non-refundable.
- Deadline to test
- Must pass both written and skills within 2 years (24 months) of Credentia receiving the application.
- Retakes
- 3 attempts per component; failing any component 3 times requires repeating a state approved training program. No time limit on the 3 attempts other than the 2-year application window.
- Background check
- Application includes criminal history/discipline screening questions; flagged applications go to the Nurse Aide Advisory Committee. Rule 3 CCR 716-1 requires fingerprints for RN/LPN applicants; a fingerprint requirement specifically for CNA applicants was not confirmed in official text.
- Regulator
- Colorado State Board of Nursing
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: law.cornell.edu, sos.state.co.us, dpo.colorado.gov, drive.google.com. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Colorado, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Colorado?
Colorado requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Credentia and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
Who gives the CNA exam in Colorado?
Credentia runs the Colorado nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $145.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Colorado?
Certification by endorsement under the Occupational Credential Portability Program: current certification in good standing in another state/territory with substantially equivalent education, or held at least 1 year in a jurisdiction with substantially similar scope. Applied through DPO online services.
How do you renew a CNA certification in Colorado?
Certificate renewed per 12-20-202 C.R.S. with 60-day grace period; must attest to at least 8 hours of paid nursing care activities in the prior 24 months. Expired over 2 years requires retaking the competency evaluation. No CE requirement found.
How do I pay for CNA training in Colorado?
Workforce vouchers, employer sponsorship, state grants, and scholarships all pay for nurse aide training. A nursing home that hires you within a year of certification must reimburse your training costs under federal rules.
Start your training in Colorado.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.