Online CNA Classes in New York: Review & Compare Schools
Get the training you need to pursue a career as a certified nurse aide (CNA) or nursing assistant in New York in just a few weeks. Let EduMed walk you through hybrid/online CNA classes & programs in New York, including how they work, how much they cost, and what to expect when you graduate.
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Online CNA Programs in New York: A Comparison
As one of the most populous states, New York offers a wide range of CNA training options, including programs with online components and opportunities to advance later through CNA-to-LPN bridge pathways. While most CNA programs remain campus-based, many now deliver the classroom portion online to add flexibility for busy students.
When comparing online CNA classes in New York, you’ll typically encounter three key elements:
- Online coursework formats: Didactic content may be synchronous (live, scheduled classes), asynchronous (self-paced), or a blend of both.
- In-person skills training: Hands-on labs are required and usually completed on campus.
- Clinical experience: All programs require supervised clinical hours at approved sites such as hospitals, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities.
Below are three New York CNA programs with online options that illustrate how these components come together in practice.
CNA Program — The City College of New York
The City College of New York offers a hybrid Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program that combines online classroom instruction with an in-person clinical externship. Online class sessions are attended full-time and synchronously on weekday evenings via live stream weekday evenings or on weekends for part-time students.
Clinical externships consist of 30 clock hours attended during the last four to six weeks of the program at an approved nursing facility in New York City. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the New York Nurse Aide Examination, leading to listing on the NYS Nurse Aide Registry.
Duration: Nine weeks (full-time); 24 weeks (part-time)
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $1,260 (tuition and fees)
Admissions Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent (GED or HSE)
- Medical clearance, including recent drug screen
- Fingerprinting and criminal background check
Curriculum:
Course topics include:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Basic Life Support
- Fundamentals of Patient Care (providing primary care services such as bedmaking, grooming, and the taking and monitoring vital signs)
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CNA Program — Dutchess Community College
Students residing in Poughkeepsie and surrounding areas can get the education and training needed to launch their nursing assistant careers through the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Program at Dutchess Community College.
The 120-hour hybrid program features nursing theory and skills training classes presented online and in-person at the Family Partnership Center in downtown Poughkeepsie. The 30 hours of required clinical rotations are completed in person at a program-affiliated nursing home in the school’s local area.
All prospective students are required to attend an online orientation session prior to registration. Completion of the program qualifies students to sit for the NYS Department of Health Certification Exam. Programs start in the spring, summer, and fall.
Duration: Two semesters
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $1,595 (tuition and fees)
Admissions Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Clean physical exam and proof of immunizations (for clinicals)
- Criminal background check and drug screen
Curriculum:
- Nurse theory coursework
- Skills instruction
- Hands-on clinical experiences that prepare students to assist patients with daily living activities such as nutrition, mobility, personal hygiene, and more
CNA Training Course — Lehman College
Lehman College is another CUNY campus offering comprehensive training leading to CNA certification and listing on New York State’s Nurse Aide Registry.
The curriculum of Lehman’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Hybrid Program consists of two courses. Course 1 includes didactic coursework accessed online along with skills instruction attended at CUNY’s Concourse facility in the Bronx. In course 2, students continue with their didactic coursework and skills instruction while completing 30 clinical rotation hours, providing hands-on care to patients at off-site medical facilities.
Qualifying students are eligible for several in-house financial aid resources, including the Adult Student Success in Educational Transition (ASSET) scholarship that pays 50% of the program’s tuition cost.
Duration: Approx. 16 weeks
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $1,998 (tuition, medical testing and immunizations, and voucher for CNA certification exam)
Admissions Requirements:
- High School diploma or equivalency
- Demonstrated fluency in English (a reading test may be needed)
- Clean criminal background check and negative drug screen
- Proof of required immunizations and physical exam
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination and booster are required
- Current American Heart Association CPR certificate or completion of CPR course (required before starting clinical rotations)
- Valid government ID
- Basic computer skills needed for online learning
Curriculum:
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Course 1: Covers anatomy and physiology and fundamentals of patient care
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Course 2: Advanced patient care practices and application of skills learned through in-person clinical rotations
Frequently Asked Questions from New York CNA Students
While the above information will help you get started in your review of online CNA programs in New York, you’ll likely still have a few questions about CNA training and about pursuing your state certification.
Here are the answers to five of the most frequently asked questions by prospective New York nursing aide students.
How long will it take to complete my CNA class in NY?
Prospective New York nursing assistant students will find CNA program completion times between six weeks and six months, with most falling in the nine- to 16-week range.
While some training programs in other states have CNA program lengths as little as four weeks, the time to completion for online CNA classes in New York varies from program to program due to factors such as the specific type of program you’re pursuing (basic certification prep, non-credit or for-credit certificate, etc.) and study pace (full-time, part-time, or self-paced).
How much do online CNA programs in NY cost?
The cost figures quoted in the spotlights above range from around $1,250 to just under $2,000. As with program lengths, the costs of online CNA programs in NY also vary from program to program, with one of the biggest factors affecting cost being the specific program type. Program length itself is another primary factor.
The prices quoted may not include books and other study materials, uniforms and equipment, and the fee for taking the state CNA certification exam. Be sure you understand what’s included in the quoted price and factor in any additional costs you’ll incur.
You may be eligible for one or more financial assistance resources for your CNA course that may include scholarships and grants for CNA students, tuition discounts and payment plans, and more. It’s important to speak with a program rep about the availability of funding assistance before enrolling in any class you’re considering.
What are the job duties and responsibilities of a nursing assistant in New York?
Examples of the wide variety of basic job duties CRNs are responsible for include:
- Bed pan positioning
- Catheter care
- Changing the linens on an occupied bed
- Patient ambulation, dressing, and feeding
- Positioning a patient in bed
- Providing personal maintenance care
- Taking and monitoring vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respiration, etc.)
- Transferring a patient from bed to a wheelchair
Your CNA training program will prepare you to perform all of these tasks and more to ensure that you can demonstrate your competency as a certified nursing assistant for both the state CNA certification exam and subsequent professional nursing practice.
How can I tell if a CNA program I’m considering is a quality one?
Determinants of a New York CNA class quality include program approval, accreditation, and certification pass rate.
In most cases, you’ll find information on state approval on a program’s website. You can check this list of current state-approved CNA programs as well.
Another thing to look for is institutional accreditation, which concerns the overall academic quality of the school offering your CNA training program. Institutional accreditation is overseen by several national and regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You can confirm a school’s current institutional accreditation status by using this DOE search engine.
Another sign of program quality is its certification exam pass rate. Contact the program directly for its latest pass rate figures. A combination of all these features will ensure that the program you’re deciding on is the right fit for your career goals.
What are the steps taken to become a CNA in New York?
The basic steps to becoming a working certified nursing assistant in New York are:
- Meet basic background requirements
- Earn a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Pass a criminal background check and drug screening
- Show proof of immunizations
- Complete a state-approved training program, like any of the online CNA classes in New York mentioned in this guide.
- Take and pass the New York State (NYS) Nursing Home Nurse Aide Competency Examination.
- A detailed outline of Nurse Aide exam content is available for students.
- After passing the exam, you will receive your CNA certificate in around five business days and be listed on the NYS Nurse Aid Registry.
New York’s CNA Salary & Career Trends
| Area ↕ | 10th Percentile ↕ | Median ↕ | 90th Percentile ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $31,390 | $39,530 | $50,140 |
| New York | $37,480 | $47,390 | $59,240 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $34,770 | $39,860 | $46,160 |
| Binghamton, NY | $32,910 | $39,170 | $48,190 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $35,570 | $38,940 | $47,470 |
| Elmira, NY | $33,450 | $36,920 | $43,720 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $35,820 | $39,280 | $47,980 |
| Ithaca, NY | $37,440 | $39,910 | $49,670 |
| Kingston, NY | $37,320 | $40,790 | $48,870 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $38,730 | $43,800 | $54,510 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $39,490 | $47,810 | $59,350 |
| Rochester, NY | $36,810 | $39,800 | $50,030 |
| Syracuse, NY | $37,480 | $41,410 | $49,130 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $35,820 | $38,810 | $46,870 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $35,320 | $38,160 | $45,280 |
Source: Nursing Assistants, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area ↕ | Curr. Jobs ↕ | Proj. Jobs ↕ | New Jobs ↕ | Growth % ↕ | Avg. Ann. Openings ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1,361,300 | 1,417,800 | 56,500 | 4.20% | 202,400 |
| New York | 92,350 | 114,280 | 21,930 | 23.70% | 2,190 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
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