How to become a CNA in Tennessee.
Tennessee 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
- $122
- Exam fee
- 293
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Tennessee certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Tennessee 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 293 approved programs in Tennessee - 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 $122. Must complete testing within 24 months of training program completion 3 attempts for knowledge and 3 for skills; failing any portion 3 consecutive times requires retraining
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry. Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the TN registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Every 24 months; must have worked at least 8 hours (one documented day) for pay in a licensed health care facility in the previous 24 months. Name removed after 24 consecutive months without nursing related services.
Moving from another state
Reciprocity application (route E3) via Credentia for aides active and in good standing on another state's registry. Florida certifications are NOT accepted for reciprocity.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Tennessee.
CNA funding in Tennessee →Tennessee CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Training hours
- 75 hours
- Clinical hours
- At least 16 hours
- Exam provider
- Credentia
- Exam fee
- $122 ($35 knowledge, $87 skills)
- Fee details
- Knowledge exam $35 (test center or online); oral exam (English or Spanish, online) $35; skills $87 at test center. Both parts paid at scheduling the first time; fees not refundable. No separate retake price listed (retakes pay the same per part fee). Pre June 2026 D&S fees were $30 knowledge and $60 skills. Training and testing are free for candidates trained in a nursing home program and employed by a SNF.
- Deadline to test
- Must complete testing within 24 months of training program completion
- Retakes
- 3 attempts for knowledge and 3 for skills; failing any portion 3 consecutive times requires retraining
- Regulator
- Tennessee Health Facilities Commission
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: law.cornell.edu, publications.tnsosfiles.com, tn.gov, ecfr.gov. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Tennessee, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Tennessee?
Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Credentia runs the Tennessee nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $122.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Tennessee?
Reciprocity application (route E3) via Credentia for aides active and in good standing on another state's registry. Florida certifications are NOT accepted for reciprocity.
How do you renew a CNA certification in Tennessee?
Every 24 months; must have worked at least 8 hours (one documented day) for pay in a licensed health care facility in the previous 24 months. Name removed after 24 consecutive months without nursing related services.
How do I pay for CNA training in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.