How to become a CNA in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island requires 120 hours of nurse aide training, including 40 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Credentia and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 120
- Training hours
- 40
- Clinical hours
- $165
- Exam fee
- 59
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Rhode Island certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Original BCI (criminal background check) from the RI Attorney General's Office, dated within 4 months of the license application; any positive BCI needs a written explanation Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Rhode Island requires 120 training hours, including 40 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam.
See all 59 approved programs in Rhode Island - 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 $165. Pass the written and practical exams within 1 year of the date you began the training program
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Rhode Island Nursing Assistant license (RIDOH), Nurse Aide Registry. Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the RI registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Every 2 years (licenses expire June 30; renew by June 15). Must have worked as a nursing assistant at least 8 hours in the prior 24 months plus 12 hours of in-service training per year at the employing facility, or have finished training and passed the exam within the past 24 months.
Online classes
Online classroom allowed, with state conditions. Ask each program how its classroom hours are delivered. Skills lab and clinical hours are always in person.
Moving from another state
Licensure by endorsement for aides certified in another state under OBRA '87 standards who are active and in good standing on that state's registry; apply to RIDOH
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Rhode Island.
CNA funding in Rhode Island →Rhode Island CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Training hours
- 120 hours
- Clinical hours
- 40 hours
- Exam provider
- Credentia
- Exam fee
- $165 ($55 knowledge, $110 skills)
- Fee details
- Written, English oral, and Spanish oral are each $55; skills is $110. Both parts must be paid the first time. Each retake requires a new fee for that part. Separately, RIDOH charges a $35 nonrefundable license application fee. Nursing homes must pay exam fees for employed aides.
- Deadline to test
- Pass the written and practical exams within 1 year of the date you began the training program
- Background check
- Original BCI (criminal background check) from the RI Attorney General's Office, dated within 4 months of the license application; any positive BCI needs a written explanation
- Online classroom
- Online classroom allowed, with state conditions
- Regulator
- Rhode Island Department of Health
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: rules.sos.ri.gov, law.cornell.edu, health.ri.gov, credentia.com. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Rhode Island, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island requires 120 hours of nurse aide training, including 40 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 Rhode Island?
Credentia runs the Rhode Island nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $165.
Can you take CNA classes online in Rhode Island?
Online classroom allowed, with state conditions. Skills lab and clinical hours are always in person.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Rhode Island?
Licensure by endorsement for aides certified in another state under OBRA '87 standards who are active and in good standing on that state's registry; apply to RIDOH
How do you renew a CNA certification in Rhode Island?
Every 2 years (licenses expire June 30; renew by June 15). Must have worked as a nursing assistant at least 8 hours in the prior 24 months plus 12 hours of in-service training per year at the employing facility, or have finished training and passed the exam within the past 24 months.
How do I pay for CNA training in Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.