How to become a CNA in Hawaii.
Hawaii requires 100 hours of nurse aide training, including 70 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Prometric and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 100
- Training hours
- 70
- Clinical hours
- Varies
- Exam fee
- 61
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Hawaii certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Minimum age: 18. Exam application asks about criminal convictions in the past 20 years with explanation required; registry verifies age 18+. No fingerprint check requirement found for certification. Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Hawaii requires 100 training hours, including 70 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam.
See all 61 approved programs in Hawaii - 3
Pass the state competency exam
The exam has a written or oral knowledge test and a hands on skills test, run by Prometric. Must pass both parts within two years of the first testing date Three attempts to pass both the Clinical Skills and Written tests within two years of first test date, then retrain and retest
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Hawaii Nurse Aide Registry (operated by Prometric for DCCA). Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the HI registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Every 24 months (biennial); must have worked for pay as a nurse aide providing nursing related care for at least one full day (8 hours) during the prior 24 months; renewal application due 30 days before expiration; $25 recertification fee listed in bulletin
Moving from another state
Route 2 Reciprocity/Out of State: submit application, copy of current active CNA certificate from other state, and reciprocity fee to Prometric; Prometric verifies status with other state registries; DCCA decides whether to place directly on registry or require the exam. Lapsed out of state certificates must test. HAR 16-89A-3(c): granted when other state's requirements are comparable.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Hawaii.
CNA funding in Hawaii →Hawaii CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Training hours
- 100 hours
- Clinical hours
- 70 hours
- Exam provider
- Prometric
- Deadline to test
- Must pass both parts within two years of the first testing date
- Retakes
- Three attempts to pass both the Clinical Skills and Written tests within two years of first test date, then retrain and retest
- Minimum age
- 18
- Background check
- Exam application asks about criminal convictions in the past 20 years with explanation required; registry verifies age 18+. No fingerprint check requirement found for certification.
- Regulator
- Hawaii Department of Human Services
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: humanservices.hawaii.gov, cca.hawaii.gov, files.hawaii.gov, medquest.hawaii.gov. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Hawaii, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Hawaii?
Hawaii requires 100 hours of nurse aide training, including 70 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Prometric and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
Who gives the CNA exam in Hawaii?
Prometric runs the Hawaii nurse aide competency exam.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Hawaii?
Route 2 Reciprocity/Out of State: submit application, copy of current active CNA certificate from other state, and reciprocity fee to Prometric; Prometric verifies status with other state registries; DCCA decides whether to place directly on registry or require the exam. Lapsed out of state certificates must test. HAR 16-89A-3(c): granted when other state's requirements are comparable.
How do you renew a CNA certification in Hawaii?
Every 24 months (biennial); must have worked for pay as a nurse aide providing nursing related care for at least one full day (8 hours) during the prior 24 months; renewal application due 30 days before expiration; $25 recertification fee listed in bulletin
How do I pay for CNA training in Hawaii?
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 Hawaii.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.