CNA Classes in Salt Lake City, UT

How Much Does CNA Training Cost in Salt Lake City?

Tuition at Salt Lake City programs runs Free to $345 (about $345 on average). Beyond tuition, plan for the state exam fee ($110 total for both the written Knowledge Exam and the Manual Skills Exam combined), the application/registry fee (No separate state application fee — the $110 Headmaster TMU fee covers exam and UNAR certificate processing for first-time candidates), a background check, and uniforms or supplies. All in, total CNA training cost in Utah typically falls around $500-$1,500 including UNAR-approved program tuition, the $110 Headmaster exam, BCI fingerprinting fees, and certificate processing. Note that 1 Salt Lake City program offers free training — see the highlighted options above.

How to Become a CNA in Salt Lake City, UT

1. 1

   Confirm Utah eligibility and select a UNAR-approved program

   Confirm you are at least 16 years old, can pass a Utah BCI and FBI fingerprint background check, and have no substantiated findings on the UNAR abuse registry. Choose a UNAR-approved Nurse Aide Training Program from the official list at utahcnaregistry.com. Approved providers include Davis Technical College, Salt Lake Community College, MTECH, Snow College, Bridgerland Technical College, Utah Tech University, and several facility-based programs.

2. 2

   Complete 100 hours of UNAR-approved training

   Finish at least 100 hours of instruction split between classroom theory, supervised skills lab practice, and clinical hours in a UNAR-approved long-term care setting. Curriculum covers basic nursing skills, mental health and social services needs, restorative care, residents' rights, dementia and Alzheimer's care, infection control, and Utah-specific abuse and neglect prevention. Programs typically run 4-6 weeks full time.

3. 3

   Submit fingerprints for BCI and FBI background check

   Schedule a Utah BCI fingerprint appointment - most candidates use the Utah Department of Public Safety LiveScan vendors. Results are tied to your TMU account by your training program, and you cannot be placed on the registry with an unresolved disqualifying finding such as a felony conviction for abuse, neglect, theft from a vulnerable adult, or specified sexual offenses.

4. 4

   Create a TestMaster Universe (TMU) account and schedule both exams

   Your training instructor enters your information into TMU, which creates your Utah candidate profile at ut.tmutest.com. From there you pay the $110 exam fee, choose test dates, and select a Utah testing location - tests are offered statewide at technical colleges, community colleges, and approved skilled nursing facilities. Bring two valid forms of ID on test day, one of which must be government-issued photo identification.

5. 5

   Pass the written Knowledge Exam and Manual Skills Exam

   The Knowledge Exam is 75 multiple-choice questions covering Utah-specific care standards and core CNA competencies. The Manual Skills Exam requires you to perform 3-4 randomly selected hands-on skills (always including handwashing and indirect care) in front of a UNAR-approved evaluator. Both exams must be passed within 12 months of completing training, and candidates receive up to three attempts before being required to retrain.

6. 6

   Receive your Utah CNA certificate from UNAR

   After UNAR verifies passing scores on both exams, you are added to the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry and your name is searchable at ut.tmutest.com/search. UNAR mails an official certificate and wallet card to your address on file within 7-10 business days. Employers in Utah are required by R432-45 to verify your active certification through the registry before hiring you.

7. 7

   Renew every two years with 200 paid work hours

   Utah CNAs must renew certification every 24 months and document at least 200 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services under licensed nurse supervision within the prior two years - this is one of the highest work-hour thresholds in the country. Renewal is completed through TMU; certificates that expire without meeting the 200-hour requirement require either retesting or completion of a UNAR-approved refresher to restore active status.

Becoming a CNA in Utah

Utah is one of the most centrally administered CNA systems in the country - the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR), operating from the UT Health Technology Certification Center in Kaysville, partners with D&SDT-Headmaster to deliver training program approval, testing, certificate issuance, registry maintenance, and renewal under a single TMU portal at ut.tmutest.com. This consolidation makes the process traceable and standardized but means every candidate, instructor, and employer must hold a TMU account.

Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Salt Lake City