CNA Classes in Bridgeport, CT

How Much Does CNA Training Cost in Bridgeport?

Beyond tuition, plan for the state exam fee ($118 total combined exam fee (written or oral + skills)), the application/registry fee ($0 — DPH charges no initial CNA application fee; reciprocity (Route 7) costs $55), a background check, and uniforms or supplies. All in, total CNA training cost in Connecticut typically falls around $1,000-$2,500.

How to Become a CNA in Bridgeport, CT

1. 1

   Confirm Connecticut eligibility

   Confirm you have no convictions involving abuse, neglect, or misappropriation that would disqualify you under Connecticut nursing home statutes. The Connecticut Department of Public Health does not require a state-administered fingerprint check for certification itself, but every Connecticut employer is required to run a state and FBI background check before hire. You should also be at least 16 (most programs require 18), be physically able to perform direct care, and pass a TB screening.

2. 2

   Enroll in a DPH-approved 100-hour training program

   Connecticut requires completion of a Department of Public Health-approved Nurse Aide Training Program of at least 100 hours — 25 hours above the federal floor. DPH publishes the official approved-program list at portal.ct.gov/dph. Options include community colleges (such as Capital, Gateway, and Norwalk), American Red Cross chapters, vocational-technical high schools, and many Connecticut nursing facilities that sponsor free training in exchange for a post-certification employment commitment.

3. 3

   Complete the curriculum including 25 hours of clinical

   Connecticut programs must deliver at least 75 hours of core classroom and lab instruction plus 25 hours of supervised clinical practice in a long-term care facility. A strict DPH rule requires you to complete at least 16 hours of foundational training in communication, infection control, residents' rights, and emergency procedures before you may have any direct resident contact. Programs are coordinated by RNs with at least one year of long-term care experience.

4. 4

   Register for the Prometric Connecticut CNA exam

   Within 24 months of training completion, register for the two-part competency exam through Prometric at prometric.com/nurseaide-ct. The combined fee is $118 covering both the written (or oral) exam and the skills evaluation. Prometric publishes the official Candidate Information Bulletin and operates testing sites at many Connecticut training schools (Regional Test Sites) and at dedicated Prometric centers in Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Norwich.

5. 5

   Pass the written and skills evaluations

   The written exam contains 60 multiple-choice questions and you must score 75% or higher within the 90-minute time limit. The skills evaluation gives you 31 to 40 minutes (depending on the skills drawn) to complete 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills, including the mandatory hand-washing skill. Connecticut places no limit on the number of attempts during the 24-month testing window — a candidate-friendly policy compared with most states.

6. 6

   Get listed on the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry

   Once you pass both portions, Prometric notifies DPH and you are added to the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry, the official record of certified nurse aides eligible to work in the state. Your active certification can be verified by anyone at registry.prometric.com/publicCT. Connecticut does not charge an initial certification fee.

7. 7

   Renew every two years with documented paid work

   Connecticut CNAs renew every 24 months. To renew, you must document at least one 8-hour shift of paid work as a CNA or in a position providing direct personal or nursing care during your certificate cycle, verified by your employer on DPH's Employment Verification Form. Renewal is free, but if your certificate lapses you must take a refresher course or retake the full 100-hour training program and re-test through Prometric before returning to work.

Becoming a CNA in Connecticut

Connecticut's CNA pathway is administered entirely by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) through its Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section. DPH approves all 100-hour Nurse Aide Training Programs, contracts with Prometric to deliver both the written and skills competency exams, and maintains the public Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry. The 100-hour training minimum places Connecticut among the higher-hour states in the Northeast — 25 hours above the federal floor and a meaningful step above neighbors like New York and Rhode Island.

Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Bridgeport