New York — The Empire State
A Queens Village school completes all classroom instruction in just 14 class days. State-approved Nurse Aide Training Programs (NATPs) are a unique New York advantage — they're provided free of charge to trainees. New York is also among the highest-paying states in the country for CNAs.
New York City has an unusually dense concentration of accelerated CNA options. A Queens Village school runs all classroom instruction in just 14 class days (roughly 2.5-3 weeks), with tuition of $1,330 covering books, supplies, and a uniform. Lehman College's CUNY hybrid program completes the full curriculum in about 4 weeks for an all-in cost of just $1,148 — and comes with some of the strongest scholarship support of any program in the city, including the Helena Rubenstein Career Success Scholarship (up to 90% of tuition) and the ASSET Scholarship (50-60%).
New York requires a minimum of 100 training hours — higher than the federal minimum — with many programs running 120-130+ hours for more thorough preparation. The competency exam is administered by Prometric: a 60-question written test (90 minutes) plus a 30-45 minute skills evaluation performed by a Registered Nurse. A genuine New York advantage: Department of Health-approved Nurse Aide Training Programs (NATPs) are provided free of charge to trainees — a state-level guarantee that most states don't offer.
Use our verified school locator below to instantly find NYS Department of Health-approved programs starting near your zip code — from NYC's five boroughs to Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse.
Speed comparison
New York City alone hosts 23+ CNA programs, and the free NATP guarantee makes New York one of the more accessible states nationally. Here are New York's fastest and most notable tracks ranked by speed.
| Program / School | Location | Speed | Cost | What Makes It Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queens Village Accelerated School | Queens Village, NYC | ⚡ 14 class days (fastest in NYC) | $1,330 — books, supplies, uniform included | Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. Small class sizes, registration by appointment only. Job placement assistance included. |
| Lehman College (CUNY) | Bronx | ~4 weeks — hybrid | $1,148 all-in (exam voucher included) | Most financially accessible accelerated option with scholarships — up to 90% off with the Helena Rubenstein Career Success Scholarship. |
| The New Millennium Training Center (TNMTC) | Staten Island | 4 weeks — 125 hours | $1,700, 4 weekly installments of $425 | Guaranteed externship at Silver Lake Specialized Care Center. No HS diploma required — Ability-to-Benefit exam available. Accepts Workforce1 and VA GI Bill. |
| Isabella Geriatric Center | New York City | Multiple cohorts per year | FREE — exam fees covered | Classroom, hands-on practice, and short internship. Two cohorts run each year. |
| UHS Senior Living at Ideal | Upstate NY | 5 weeks — paid training | FREE + paid, job guaranteed | Taught by a licensed educator. Exam fees covered and a CNA position guaranteed upon certification. |
| Elderwood (multiple locations) | Statewide | 3 weeks — 100 hours | FREE — employer-sponsored | Two weeks classroom, one week clinical. Covers the certification exam and onboarding requirements. |
New York has a genuinely unusual advantage: Department of Health-approved Nurse Aide Training Programs (NATPs) are provided free of charge to trainees as a matter of state policy — not just at select employer-sponsored facilities, but as a broader structural feature of the state's approach. Combine this with the dozens of employer-sponsored free programs (Isabella, UHS Senior Living, Elderwood, and more) and New York offers some of the most accessible free training in the country, even before factoring in scholarships like Lehman's.
The New Millennium Training Center in Staten Island doesn't require a high school diploma to enroll — an Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) exam serves as an alternative pathway. They also accept Workforce1 vouchers, VA Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, ACCES-VR, and public assistance vouchers, making this one of the more accessible accelerated options in the city for candidates facing multiple barriers to entry.
2026 salary data
New York CNAs earn an average of $46,020/year ($22.06/hr) statewide — among the highest in the nation. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area leads at $46,590/year, with Long Island and NYC both commanding wages exceeding $21/hr.
| City / Area | Avg Hourly | Avg Annual | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City (5 boroughs) | $21–$24/hr | ~$46,020–$46,590 | Nearly 500 CNA positions open at any given time. 23+ CNA programs across the city. |
| Long Island | $21–$23/hr | ~$43,680–$47,840 | Among the highest-paying regions in the state alongside NYC. |
| Buffalo / Rochester | $19–$22/hr | ~$39,520–$45,760 | Upstate hubs with multiple accelerated and hybrid training options. |
| Capital Region (Albany) | $19–$21/hr | ~$39,520–$43,680 | Home to several 6-week campus-based CNA programs. |
| Statewide average | $22.06/hr | ~$46,020 | 17% of NY residents are 65+, projected to outnumber those under 18 by 2040 — sustained long-term demand. |
Sources: BLS OES May 2024, CNAClasses.com New York (2026), TopNursing.org New York (2026). New York's high cost of living, especially in NYC and Long Island, should be weighed against its top-tier CNA pay. Actual pay varies by facility, shift, and experience.
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Your next step
New York LPN bridge programs are available through community colleges and vocational schools statewide. Because New York's NLC legislation is still pending implementation, an LPN license earned here currently requires separate licensure to practice in other states.
100 hours minimum. Prometric exam. New York State Nurse Aide Registry. As fast as 14 class days. State-approved NATPs provided free of charge.
Community colleges and vocational schools statewide, including CUNY and SUNY systems. ~12 months. New York's pending NLC status may extend multistate privileges in the future.
SUNY and CUNY nursing programs, NYU, Columbia, and numerous ADN bridge programs statewide. New York's deep hospital network offers strong advancement opportunities.
For moms in New York