Pennsylvania — The Keystone State
UPMC Senior Communities hires you as a paid Nurse Aide Trainee from day one of their 16-day program. Vincentian Pittsburgh offers a free 4-week program with a sign-on bonus for eligible hires. Pennsylvania employs 65,000+ CNAs — with Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, and UPMC all actively recruiting. Programs complete in as little as 2–3 weeks.
If you want to jumpstart your healthcare career without spending months in a classroom, Pennsylvania has accelerated CNA programs in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and beyond that can get you certified in as little as 2–3 weeks with full-time attendance. While Pennsylvania does not approve fully online CNA programs, many schools offer hybrid formats where lecture content is accessible online and in-person skills labs and clinical rotations are completed at approved facilities near you.
Pennsylvania requires a minimum of 80 hours of classroom instruction and clinical practice — slightly above the federal 75-hour minimum. The CNA competency exam is administered by Credentia through the CNA365® portal — all scheduling, registration, and registry management is handled there. You have 3 attempts within 24 months of completing training to pass both the written and skills portions.
Use our verified school locator below to instantly find Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved programs starting near your zip code. With over 160 approved programs across the state, new cohorts start frequently — enter your zip code and find what's available near you right now.
Speed comparison
Pennsylvania's 80-hour minimum and 160+ approved programs give you solid options for fast certification. From the 16-day paid UPMC trainee program to 3-week private school sprints in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, here are your fastest tracks ranked by speed.
| Program / School | Location | Speed | Cost | What Makes It Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPMC Senior Communities | Pittsburgh (North Hills area) | ⚡ 16 days — paid from day one | FREE + paid as Nurse Aide Trainee | Hired as paid Nurse Aide Trainee during 16-day course. Transitions to CNA role after successful completion. Apply through UPMC careers portal. |
| Tranquility & Allegiance Academy | Philadelphia area | ⚡ 3 weeks (103 hours) | ~$900–$1,200 | Small class sizes, individual attention, hands-on practice. 103 hours including clinical rotations in real-world environments. |
| CareBridge Academy | Philadelphia (N 10th Street) | 3.5 weeks (day) / 5 weeks (evening) | $1,845 (books + scrubs included) | 106-hour program. Day 3.5-week or evening 5-week cohorts. Lifetime job placement support. PDE-approved. |
| Philadelphia Academy for Nurse Aide Training (PANAT) | Philadelphia | 4 weeks (135 hours) | ~$800–$1,200 | 135-hour curriculum. Expert instructors, strong employer network. Designed for fast entry into healthcare. PDE-approved. |
| Vincentian Communities | Pittsburgh (North Hills) | 4 weeks — free + sign-on bonus | FREE (eligible hires may receive sign-on bonus) | Free paid 4-week program for employees. Placement into Vincentian community roles on completion. Eligible full-time hires may receive sign-on bonus. |
| SEIU Healthcare PA Training & Education Fund | Philadelphia + statewide TEF hubs | 110-hour program — union-funded | FREE for SEIU Healthcare PA members | Union benefit — free CNA training through TEF hubs for SEIU members. Tuition assistance and career advancement support also available. |
| Holy Family University / Community Colleges | Philadelphia region + statewide | 6 weeks accelerated | Under $2,500 (materials + uniform + equipment) | Holy Family 6-week accelerated: training materials, uniforms, and equipment included. Financial aid eligible. Northampton CC: 4-week accelerated option. |
UPMC Senior Communities offers one of the strongest employer-sponsored CNA training deals in Pennsylvania — you are hired as a paid Nurse Aide Trainee from day one of their 16-day course. Training takes place at select UPMC Senior Community facilities in the Pittsburgh area. After successfully completing the 16-day program and passing the Pennsylvania CNA exam, you transition directly into a CNA role within the UPMC system. Apply through the UPMC Careers portal and search "Nurse Aide Trainee" — this is a job application, not a school enrollment. Don't wait to apply — UPMC is one of Pennsylvania's largest healthcare employers with consistent recruitment.
Pennsylvania's CNA competency exam is administered by Credentia. All registration, scheduling, and registry management is handled through the CNA365® portal at cna365.com. You'll create a CNA365 account, register for testing, and receive your digital registry card there after passing. The exam has two parts: a written (or oral) knowledge test and a hands-on clinical skills evaluation. You have 3 attempts within 24 months of completing your training program. If you fail one part but pass the other, you only retake the failed part. Contact Credentia at (888) 204-6249 with registry or testing questions.
2026 salary data
Pennsylvania CNAs earn a median of $38,540/year ($18.53/hr) statewide. Philadelphia significantly leads — the metro median is $40,930/year and top earners approach $50,000. Pittsburgh is the second-strongest market. New regulations requiring stricter staffing ratios (1 CNA per 12 residents during day shifts) are driving up wages statewide.
| City / Area | Avg Hourly | Avg Annual | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia / Camden metro | $20–$25/hr | ~$40,930 | BLS median $40,930 — Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Temple Health hub. 32,410 CNAs employed. |
| Pittsburgh | $19–$24/hr | ~$39,520–$49,920 | UPMC — Pittsburgh's dominant health system. Allegheny Health Network. Top payer in western PA. |
| Allentown / Bethlehem / Easton | $18–$22/hr | ~$37,440–$45,760 | Lehigh Valley Health Network, St. Luke's University Health Network |
| Harrisburg / Hershey | $18–$22/hr | ~$37,440–$45,760 | Penn State Health (Hershey Medical Center), UPMC Pinnacle — state capital market |
| Erie | $17–$21/hr | ~$35,360–$43,680 | UPMC Hamot, Saint Vincent Hospital — Lake Erie corridor |
| Scranton / Wilkes-Barre | $17–$21/hr | ~$35,360–$43,680 | Geisinger, CommonSpirit Health — northeastern PA market |
| Rural Pennsylvania | $16–$20/hr | ~$33,280–$41,600 | Persistent shortages — employer-sponsored training widely available, fast hiring |
Sources: TheCNAGuide.com Pennsylvania (2026), BLS OES May 2023, Dreambound.com. New PA staffing ratio regulations driving wage increases statewide. Actual pay varies by facility, shift, and experience.
Landing your first job
Financial aid & free options
Your next step
Pennsylvania LPN programs run 12 months and the median LPN salary is $54,290/year — with Philadelphia metro LPNs earning more. Important PA-specific note: all Pennsylvania LPNs must complete a child abuse recognition and reporting course before receiving their initial license — unique to PA. CNA experience is highly valued in PA LPN admissions.
80 hours minimum. Credentia exam via CNA365® portal. PA Nurse Aide Registry. 2–6 weeks. UPMC paid 16-day or Vincentian free 4-week (Pittsburgh). CareBridge 3.5 weeks (Philadelphia).
Northampton CC, CCAC Pittsburgh, Philadelphia area programs, and 30+ approved PA schools. ~12 months. Median PA LPN salary: $54,290/year. Child abuse reporting course required for PA licensure.
University of Pennsylvania, Temple, Drexel, Penn State, Thomas Jefferson University, and community college ADN programs. Average PA RN salary: $77,060/year. Philadelphia metro RNs significantly above average.
For moms in Pennsylvania