CNA Classes Online in Florida: Comparing Top Schools
If you live in Florida and want to start a career in nursing as quickly as possible, becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) may be right for you. Florida CNA training courses are typically available at community college and vocational school campuses throughout the state — and some feature online learning for part of their programs. Below, we introduce you to online CNA classes in Florida, including how they work, how to get your state certification, and what Florida’s job market looks like for nursing assistants.
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Online CNA Programs in Florida: A Comparison
There are dozens of state-approved nursing assistant classes in Florida, and most require in-person participation, though a few online CNA classes in Florida do exist. These programs feature nursing theory and coursework available online. In some cases, that means attending regularly scheduled class sessions via live-stream.
It’s also common for students to complete online activities such as reading and written assignments at any time. However, students in online CNA classes in Florida must attend skills labs on their school’s campus and clinical practice experiences at program-approved medical facilities in the school’s or student’s local area.
To provide you with a fuller idea of how online CNA training works, we’ve spotlighted three Florida CNA classes that include online components:
Nursing Assistant (CNA) Workforce Certificate Program — Florida State College at Jacksonville
FSCJ’s Nursing Assistant (CNA) Workforce Certificate program provides the theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills needed to pass the Florida Board of Nursing CNA exam and to practice competently as a nursing assistant.
The program consists of two courses: Basic Healthcare Worker (Healthcare Foundations) and Nursing Assistant. Each course is five weeks long, and the Basic Healthcare Worker course must be completed before taking the Nursing Assistant course.
Coursework may be completed entirely in-person or through an online hybrid format, the latter combining synchronous live-stream classes and on-campus labs.
The Nursing Assistant course includes 40 clinical hours completed at the end of the course and should be attended off campus at either a FSCJ Designated site or clinical facility chosen by the student and approved by the program.
A number of financial assistance resources, including a tuition installment plan, are available to qualifying students.
Duration: 10 weeks (two five-week courses)
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $1,228.00
Admissions Requirements:
- U.S. citizen or legal immigrant
- At least 18 years of age
- High School Diploma or GED
- Undergo a Background & Drug Screening Check
These are the same requirements that must be met to take the Florida Board of Nursing CNA exam.
Curriculum:
Basic Healthcare Worker (Healthcare Foundations)
- Basic math and science
- Blood-borne diseases
- Communication
- Disease
- Emergencies
- Employability skills
- Infection control
- Information technology applications in healthcare
- Interpersonal behaviors
- Legal responsibilities and ethical issues
- Safety and security
- Wellness
Nursing Assistant
- The course consists of interactive activities, simulated labs, and hands-on experience to provide a foundation of basic skills needed for nursing assistant practice
Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate — Gulf Coast State College
Gulf Coast State College in Panama City offers a hybrid Certified Nursing Assistant Vocational Certificate program that is completed in eight weeks.
The curriculum consists of two courses: Basic Healthcare Worker and Nurse Aide and Orderly (Articulated). Both courses include hybrid-formatted core class sessions. Additionally, students complete campus-based labs and off-site clinical experiences as part of the Nurse Aide and Orderly course.
Students attend two class sessions each week, and the entire certificate program requires 165 clock hours of completed training. Completion of the program qualifies students to sit for the state CNA certification exam. Graduates who obtain their CNA licenses receive additional admission points toward their application to GCSC’s Practical Nursing program.
Duration: Eight weeks
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $543.13 (est. total tuition and fees)
Admissions Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Active TABE exam scores or equivalent PERT scores
- Satisfactory fingerprint/background check
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Completion of physical examination with satisfactory results
- Immunization documentation
Curriculum:
Basic Healthcare Worker
- Basic safety, security, and emergency measures
- Basic math
- Blood borne disease, including HIV/AIDS
- Communication
- Infection control
- Interpersonal techniques and employability skills
- Science skills
Nurse Aide and Orderly (Articulated)
- Communication
- Infection control
- Nutrition principles
- Patient biological, psychological, and social support
- Performance of patient care procedures, including physical comfort and safety functions for geriatric patients
Nursing Assistant Training Program — South Florida Health Care Institute
South Florida Health Care Institute, a private vocational school located in Boca Raton, offers its Nursing Assistant Training Program in a flexible blended format that features self-paced study and a unique case study-based curriculum.
Through the use of online videos, expert segments, and story-based interactive sections, students meet “residents” of a fictional rest home to gain the knowledge and skills needed to work as nursing assistants in real-world settings.
Additionally, students attend campus-based labs and in-person clinical practice experiences. Completion of the entire curriculum prepares students to take the Florida CNA certification exam.
The program cost listed below is all-inclusive covering all program fees, required course materials, basic life support certification, uniforms, and the state certification exam fee. Qualifying students are eligible for 100% tuition assistance through the program’s partnership with Boca Helping Hands. Start dates are available monthly.
Duration: Five weeks full-time (actual time varies by student pace)
Mode: Blended
Cost: $1,750
Admissions Requirements:
- 18 years of age or older
- High school diploma, GED, or passing scores on the TABE exam
Curriculum:
- The curriculum at SFHCI is organized differently from other programs. Here, students learn via simulation. The program centers on fictitious nursing home residents who require certain types and levels of care.
- Lily Lewis: Admissions, emergency care, infection, control, vital signs, positioning, and rehabilitative and restorative care
- Frank Grafton: Cancer, COPD, and poor cardiovascular health
- Helen Franco: The immune system, HIV/AIDS, bathing, grooming, personal protective equipment, restraints, and residents’ rights
- Martha: Obesity, diabetes, pressure injuries, and activities for daily living
- Dr. Timothy Lerner: The nervous system and care measures for disabled residents
- Stuart Boone: Alzheimer’s disease progression and care
- Michelle Gilmore: Developmental disabilities; kidney failure, and nursing home resident rights
- Beth Grafton: The reproductive system, pain, wound care, and infection control
- Preparing for the state certification exam
All You Need to Know: Student FAQs
If you’ve read through the information above, it’s likely you’ve come up with a number of questions about online CNA classes and state certification in Florida in general. The following FAQs should help you in answering some of those questions.
Can I really complete my CNA certification training online in Florida?
You can complete some, but not all, of your CNA training online. Currently, there are only a few CNA programs in Florida that feature distance learning components, though. Those that do include online coursework covering the theory and didactic portions of CNA training.
State-approved CNA programs, with or without online components, also include in-person requirements such as on-campus labs and clinical practice experiences typically attended at local program-affiliated healthcare facilities.
Convenience is key to the right online CNA program in Florida for your needs, so students can expect to access and complete some online coursework asynchronously while also attending classes online via live-stream at specifically scheduled times.
How much do CNA classes cost in Florida?
Costs for online CNA programs can vary substantially. For example, students in state-approved online CNA programs in Florida will find total program costs starting under $1,000 and up to $1,700 or more. This is shown by the figures quoted in the spotlights above and program listings just below. You’ll also find “test preparation” programs offered in Florida for as little as a few hundred dollars. However, these programs are not state-approved and require that you “challenge” the state CNA examination in order to obtain state certification. State-approved programs take longer and cost a bit more, but they prepare students more thoroughly for both the CNA certification exam and subsequent professional practice. Keep in mind, also, that you may be eligible for financial aid to help pay for your state-approved program.
Online CNA programs in Florida are sometimes formatted with a total number of clock hours as opposed to a total number of credits. The single cost figures below are for the entire program.
Nursing Assistant (Long-Term Care)
Total Hours: 120 (clock hours)
Total Cost: $818.55
Nursing Assistant Diploma
Total Hours: 6 credit hours
Total Cost: $1,750.00
How long is a CNA program in Florida?
Completion times for CNA programs in Florida also vary from school to school. Lengths for state-approved campus-based programs are anywhere from several weeks to a full semester. Online CNA programs in Florida tend to be a bit quicker – from as few as four weeks to as many as 10 weeks or longer. Additionally, a small number of programs are self-paced, allowing for shorter or longer completion times. Be sure to contact a program representative if you have any concerns about whether you’ll be able to fit your CNA training into your busy work and life schedules as accommodations may be available.
Expert Insight
Although it’s tempting to look for the shortest program available, it’s important to also consider how you learn best. Give yourself time to study, practice, and gain the confidence you need.
What professional skills will I gain during my CNA training?
The point of CNA training in Florida is to prepare students to take and pass the Florida Board of Nursing CNA certification exam which, in turn, means providing the full range of skills needed to perform competently and responsibly as a nursing assistant in any healthcare setting. Skills topics include, among others:
- Aiding with patient personal care activities including bathing, feeding, changing bed linens, walking, and more
- Basic anatomy and physiology
- Competent use of medical equipment
- Effective written and oral communication skills
- Feeding and nutrition
- Handling emergency situations
- Infection control
- Taking and monitoring vital signs including temperature, blood pressure, and pulse
Expert Insight
In addition to the hands-on skills, you’ll also learn how to effectively advocate for the resident. As their aide, you spend the most time with them and have insight that other members of the healthcare team may not have. This allows you to be their voice when addressing concerns.
How do I get my CNA license and certification in Florida?
Here are the steps you’ll take to obtain your Florida CNA license:
- Complete a state-approved nursing assistant program like any of the online CNA classes in Florida discussed in this guide. A state-approved course is not mandated, but it’s the best choice to gain the training you need to pass your certification exam.
- Complete all pre-exam requirements. This will include submitting your exam application and paying the required fees to Prometric, the administrator of the Florida CNA exam.
- Prepare for, take, and pass the CNA exam. The exam is 90 minutes long and consists of 60 multiple choice questions covering the full range of nursing theory and practice skills relevant to nursing assistant practice. A detailed content outline for the exam can be found here.
- Once you pass your exam and complete all necessary paperwork, you’ll be issued your Florida Board of Nursing CNA license and your name will be placed on the Florida CNA Registry.
CNA Careers: Florida Salary Insights
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $31,390 | $39,530 | $50,140 |
| Florida | $32,690 | $36,850 | $46,080 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $34,100 | $39,970 | $44,430 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $31,660 | $36,200 | $44,030 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $31,190 | $36,320 | $40,670 |
| Gainesville, FL | $33,860 | $41,030 | $43,510 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $30,560 | $34,810 | $42,050 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $33,200 | $36,780 | $45,080 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $32,610 | $36,080 | $40,260 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $33,990 | $37,690 | $46,380 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $35,740 | $38,520 | $45,820 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $34,530 | $38,750 | $47,820 |
| Ocala, FL | $30,830 | $35,660 | $41,380 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $31,820 | $36,210 | $45,750 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $31,290 | $36,290 | $44,230 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $32,810 | $37,130 | $43,930 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $31,210 | $35,700 | $44,280 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $32,450 | $36,990 | $46,600 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $35,360 | $36,610 | $43,830 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $31,650 | $37,330 | $45,380 |
| Sebring, FL | $30,050 | $35,470 | $42,820 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $25,690 | $34,070 | $42,760 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $33,510 | $36,700 | $46,080 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $31,210 | $36,070 | $41,410 |
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 |
| Florida | 91,270 | 102,910 | 11,640 | 12.80% | 14,910 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
