Utah — The Beehive State
Life Care Center in Salt Lake City runs an accelerated 2-week CNA program with three days of clinicals. Avalon Health Care's 3-week accelerated program is completely free if you're hired on afterward. Utah's CNA job growth is projected to significantly outpace the national average.
Utah has real speed options concentrated around the Salt Lake City metro. Life Care Center runs an accelerated 2-week program with three days of clinicals built in. Avalon Health Care offers a 3-week accelerated program as an alternative to their self-paced 3-month track — and it's completely free if you commit to employment there afterward. Utah CNA Training Center's 80-hour program (64 classroom + 16 clinical) runs 3-6 weeks depending on schedule, with no high school diploma required.
Utah requires 100 training hours, with most programs splitting roughly 50-64 classroom hours and 16-48 clinical hours. Utah is unusual in that it administers its own CNA exam through approved testing centers — the Utah Nurse Aide Registry (UNAR) contracts with D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) for registration and scheduling. You have one year from training completion to pass both the written and skills tests, with three attempts allowed for most candidates.
Use our verified school locator below to instantly find UNAR-approved NATCEP programs starting near your zip code — from Salt Lake City and Provo to Ogden and St. George.
Speed comparison
With 30+ approved programs concentrated in five metro areas, Utah gives you real choice on speed and cost. From Life Care Center's 2-week sprint to Avalon's free-if-hired track, here are Utah's fastest programs ranked by speed.
| Program / School | Location | Speed | Cost | What Makes It Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Care Center | Salt Lake City | ⚡ 2 weeks (fastest in UT) | Contact for tuition | Accelerated program with three days of clinicals built directly into the 2-week schedule. |
| Avalon Health Care | Salt Lake City (Woodland Park Care Center) | 3 weeks — accelerated | FREE if hired; $400 if not | 100 hours: 52 classroom + 48 clinical. Weekday and weekend schedules. Also offers a self-paced 3-month alternative. |
| Utah CNA Training Center | Statewide locations | 3-6 weeks | $345 | 80 hours: 64 classroom + 16 clinical. No high school diploma required — English proficiency demonstrated instead. Day, evening, and weekend classes. |
| ccCNA (Murray) | Murray (Salt Lake County) | Hybrid — flexible pacing | $550 (state exam fee separate, $110) | 100 hours: 50 online + 3 in-class days + 3 clinical days. Monthly in-class day scheduling for flexibility. |
| Granite Technical Institute | Salt Lake City area | High school pathway | FREE for grades 11-12 | Free tuition for enrolled high school juniors and seniors 16+. Only scrubs, shoes, and a watch required at student expense. |
| Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City | One semester — 130 hours | Community college rates | Comprehensive preparation covering both written and skills components of the state exam. |
Avalon Health Care's 3-week accelerated program becomes completely free the moment you commit to employment there — you only pay $400 if you decide not to work for them afterward. Combined with a genuinely fast 3-week timeline (Monday-Friday classes, 10am-2pm, plus clinical blocks), this is one of the strongest speed-and-cost combinations available in Utah.
Utah CNA Training Center doesn't require a high school diploma — you just need to demonstrate proficiency in both written and oral English. This removes a common barrier for career changers without a diploma. Combined with the state's relatively low $345 tuition at UCTC, this is one of the more accessible fast-track options in Utah for candidates facing multiple entry barriers.
2026 salary data
Utah CNAs earn a mean of $33,380-$37,630/year ($17.10-$18.33/hr) statewide. Salt Lake City offers the highest wages at a $38,410 median, with St. George close behind — and CNA job growth in Utah is projected at over 27%, significantly outpacing the national average.
| City / Area | Avg Hourly | Avg Annual | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $18–$21/hr | ~$38,410 median, top earners $45,880 | Highest starting wages in the state. Largest concentration of training programs. |
| St. George | $17–$20/hr | ~$36,760 median, top earners $45,490 | Southern Utah hub with strong wages close to Salt Lake City levels. |
| Provo/Orem | $16–$18/hr | ~$33,280–$37,440 | Home to Mountainland Technical College and multiple training centers. |
| Ogden | $15–$17/hr | ~$31,200–$35,360 | Growing healthcare demand along the Wasatch Front. |
| Statewide average | $17.10-$18.33/hr | ~$33,380–$37,630 | CNA jobs projected to grow 27.3% over the next decade — far outpacing the 4.2% national average. |
Sources: BLS OES May 2024, CNAClasses.com Utah (2026), TopNursing.org Utah (2026). Utah's growing senior population (up 15,000+ between 2022-2023) is driving sustained demand well above the national growth rate. Actual pay varies by facility, shift, and experience.
Landing your first job
Financial aid & free options
Your next step
Utah LPN bridge programs are available through technical colleges statewide, and your CNA clinical experience gives you a head start. Because Utah is a full NLC compact state, an LPN license earned here carries multistate practice privileges across 43 jurisdictions.
100 hours minimum. Exam via D&S Headmaster, contracted by UNAR. Utah Nursing Assistant Registry. As fast as 2 weeks at Life Care Center. 1-year exam eligibility window.
Utah technical colleges and community colleges statewide. ~12 months. Utah's NLC membership means multistate practice rights on graduation.
University of Utah, Utah Valley University, and numerous ADN bridge programs statewide. Utah's compact license carries across 43 NLC jurisdictions.
For moms in Utah