Become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)

The CAL Nurse Aide Training Program is a state-approved, 100-hour hybrid CNA training program offered by The Center for Advancement & Learning in Simpsonville, SC. It combines online theory, in-person skills lab, and clinical training — designed for working adults who want to enter healthcare quickly without the long wait of a community college program.

The program is 6 weeks. Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Weeks 1–5 are classroom instruction and skills lab. Week 6 is clinical training at one of our clinical partner facilities. Clinical scheduling 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Clinical hours are subject to change based on site availability).

Tuition is $1,399, which covers instruction, lab, and clinical training. That is roughly half the cost of local community college CNA programs — and our 6-week program is half the time. You can put down a $300 deposit to hold your seat, with the balance due one week before the program starts. Payment plans are also available through Klarna or Afterpay at checkout. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement once you're working — it's worth asking your employer before you enroll.

The Center for Advancement & Learning is located at 1028 NE Main St, Simpsonville, SC 29681. Clinical hours take place at Patewood Post Acute, our clinical partner facility.

We keep cohorts small — 12 to 14 students maximum. This means you get real attention from your instructor, not just a seat in a crowded classroom.

You must be 18 or older with a high school diploma or GED, able to read and write in English, and able to pass a criminal background check and drug screening. You must also be available for all scheduled class, lab, and clinical sessions — attendance is mandatory.

A $300 deposit confirms your seat in the cohort. Your remaining balance is due one week before the program starts. All required documents must also be submitted and verified no later than one week before your start date. Students who have not completed their documents by that deadline may forfeit their seat.

You will need to submit: a copy of your high school diploma or GED, an immunization record (MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B), proof of current health insurance, and a completed physical health clearance form signed by your doctor. CPR/BLS and a TB test are also required before clinicals — if you don't have them, our clinical partner Patewood Post Acute will provide both at no additional cost.

No. Our program is designed for people who are brand new to healthcare. You will learn everything from the ground up.

Visit advancelearncenter.com/cna-program and complete your registration online. It takes just a few minutes. Once your payment and documents are submitted and verified, your seat is confirmed.

Upon completing the program, you will be eligible to sit for the South Carolina Nurse Aide Certification Exam (NNAAP), administered by Credentia. The exam is your final step to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. The state testing fee is approximately $140, paid separately and directly to the testing provider.

You can retake the exam. State regulations require you to test within 2 years of completing the program, or you will need to retake the training.

CAL actively partners with local Upstate SC healthcare employers. Graduates are introduced to our employer partner network, and Alumni Members receive our monthly newsletter featuring job openings from employer partners before they are posted publicly.