Iowa — The Hawkeye State
Signature Healthcare in Waukee offers a 2-week FAST Track program for $865. Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines offers completely free CNA training — covering all textbooks, supplies, and the exam fee. Iowa has 13 CNA jobs per 1,000 total jobs — one of the highest concentrations in the country.
Iowa has one of the lowest CNA training requirements in the country — just 75 hours total, including 30 hours of clinical experience. That means full-time accelerated programs can get you from zero to exam-ready in as little as 2 weeks. Iowa also supports hybrid CNA training, letting you complete lectures online at home while attending required in-person labs and clinicals at approved facilities near you.
Iowa's CNA competency exam has two parts: a written knowledge test and a hands-on skills evaluation. The written exam can now be taken remotely online through Headmaster ($50) or Credentia ($70) — or in person at an Iowa community college for $50. The skills exam is taken at a community college near you. This flexibility means you can get certified faster without traveling far for testing.
Use our verified school locator below to instantly find Iowa DIAL-approved programs starting near your zip code. Iowa's training requirement is short — many private school sessions start every few weeks. Enter your zip code and see what's available near you right now.
Speed comparison
Iowa's 75-hour minimum is one of the shortest CNA training requirements in the US — making it one of the fastest states to certify. At 75 hours, a full-time program can theoretically cover all requirements in under 2 weeks. Here are your fastest options ranked by speed.
| Program / School | Location | Speed | Cost | What Makes It Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature Healthcare / MySigHealth (FAST Track) | Waukee (Des Moines metro) | ⚡ 2 weeks (FAST Track) | $865 (supplies extra) | Accelerated daytime 2-week format OR evening 5-week option (Tue/Wed/Thu 5:30–9:30pm + Sat clinicals). Multiple cohort starts. |
| Broadlawns Medical Center | Des Moines | Varies (free — high demand) | FREE — textbooks, supplies, exam fee all covered | Public hospital. All costs covered including state exam. Limited seats — apply early. Immediate employment opportunity at Broadlawns. |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs (Omaha border) | Varies — hybrid available | $650 (75 hrs online + 45 hrs clinical) | One of Iowa's most affordable programs. Online instruction + in-person clinical. Financial aid eligible. |
| DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College) | Ankeny / Des Moines metro | 6–8 weeks | ~$899 (multiple campus locations) | Public community college — financial aid eligible. Multiple metro locations including high school partnerships. |
| North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) | Mason City (north Iowa) | 6–8 weeks — hybrid available | Community college rates | Hybrid option — weekly in-person sessions + online theory. 3 starts per year. IDCWR approved. |
| HeartCert | Cedar Rapids | Accelerated available | Contact for current pricing | Private training center — Cedar Rapids area. DIAL approved. Fast cohort starts. |
| Employer-Sponsored (LTC Facilities) | Statewide | Varies | FREE (federal requirement) | Medicaid/Medicare facilities required by federal law to cover training costs. Iowa's large LTC sector makes this widely available. |
Broadlawns Medical Center, Des Moines's public hospital, offers completely free CNA training — covering all textbooks, supplies, and the state competency exam fee. This is one of the most comprehensive free programs in Iowa because it covers even the exam cost, which many "free" programs don't. Seats are limited and competition is high. If you're in the Des Moines area, contact Broadlawns's workforce development department as soon as possible to get on the waiting list. After completing training and passing the exam, you'll be positioned for immediate employment opportunities within the Broadlawns system.
Iowa made a significant update as of January 2026: community colleges now serve only as testing sites and proctors, while registration, payment, and exam records are handled by Headmaster or Credentia. This means you can now take the written exam entirely online through Headmaster ($50) or Credentia ($70) from home — no need to travel. Only the skills evaluation must be done in person at an Iowa community college ($115). This remote written exam option is genuinely one of the most flexible CNA testing arrangements in the Midwest.
2026 salary data
Iowa CNAs average $30,269/year statewide — below the national average, but Iowa's very low cost of living significantly increases real purchasing power. The top 10% of Iowa CNAs earn $47,000 in Des Moines and Council Bluffs. Iowa has 13 CNA positions per 1,000 total jobs — one of the highest concentrations in the country — meaning jobs are everywhere.
| City / Area | Avg Hourly | Avg Annual | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines / Waukee / Ankeny | $15–$19/hr | ~$31,200–$39,520 | UnityPoint Health, MercyOne — largest IA market, top 10% earn $47,000 |
| Cedar Rapids | $14–$18/hr | ~$29,120–$37,440 | UnityPoint Health St. Luke's, Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids |
| Davenport / Quad Cities | $15–$19/hr | ~$31,200–$39,520 | Genesis Health System — Illinois market adjacency |
| Sioux City | $14–$17/hr | ~$29,120–$35,360 | MercyOne Siouxland, UnityPoint Health — tri-state market |
| Iowa City / Coralville | $15–$19/hr | ~$31,200–$39,520 | University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics — academic medical center wages |
| Council Bluffs | $15–$20/hr | ~$31,200–$41,600 | Omaha market adjacency — top 10% CNAs earn $47,000 here |
| Rural Iowa | $13–$17/hr | ~$27,040–$35,360 | Consistent demand, fast hiring, lower competition. Iowa COL amplifies every dollar. |
Sources: CNAClasses101.com (2026), BLS OES May 2024, Dreambound Des Moines. Iowa's very low COL means $30K here buys more than $36K in many other states. Council Bluffs benefits from Omaha market wages.
Landing your first job
Financial aid & free options
Your next step
Iowa LPN programs run 12 months and median LPN salary is $47,000–$52,000/year — a meaningful step up from CNA wages. Iowa community colleges offer LPN programs in most regions, and many Iowa employers offer tuition reimbursement for CNAs pursuing LPN. The same community colleges that offer CNA training also offer LPN pathways — making the transition seamless.
75 hours (one of shortest in US). Written exam online via Headmaster ($50) or Credentia ($70). Skills exam at Iowa community college ($115). 2–8 weeks. Broadlawns free or Signature $865 FAST Track.
DMACC, NIACC, Kirkwood CC, Iowa Western CC and others. ~12 months. Median IA LPN salary: $47,000–$52,000/year. CNA experience is valued in LPN admissions. Many employers cover tuition.
University of Iowa, Allen College, Iowa community college ADN programs. Average IA RN salary: $72,000+/year (up to $94,480 for experienced). Iowa's RN demand is among the strongest in the Midwest.
For moms in Iowa