Certified Nursing Assistant Programs in Iowa

Did you know that the Iowa Care Givers Association (ICA) is one of the state's most trusted, independent, statewide association committed to identifying the needs of certified nurse aides? There are several critical needs of CNA trainees and nurse assistants in Iowa, with the most important being the quality of education and training received in CNA classes, followed by job availability upon graduation, adequate salaries, and sufficient number of work hours. According to statistical reports created by the Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa CNA registry, certified nurse aide programs are providing an adequate number of training hours for the preparation of new certified nurse assistants.

Unlike other states that go well beyond the federal requirement in terms of CNA program hours, the state of Iowa decided that CNA courses which provide seventy-five (75) hours of training are adequate to prepare nurse aides. Studies have also shown that a certified nurse aide working in a hospital receives better pay and benefits than a certified nursing assistant employed in long-term care facilities. Better CNA salaries are received by those who are employed in urban counties and who have been working as nurse aides for an extended period of time. The demand for new certified nurse aides continues to grow in Iowa's nursing homes, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. The majority of those who complete a nurse aide training class become employed by long-term care facilities as full-time employees, while a considerably smaller number find work in hospitals and home health care agencies.

Scott Community College Urban Center - Davenport
306 West River Drive, Davenport, Iowa 52801

Clinton Community College Nurse Aide Training
1000 Lincoln Blvd., Clinton, IA 52732

Muscatine Community College
152 Colorado St., Muscatine, Iowa 52761

Scott Community College Career Assistance Center - Davenport
627 West 2nd Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801

Genesis Medical Clinic - DeWitt
1008 11th Street, DeWitt, IA 52742

Kirkwood Community College Nurse Aide Program – Cedar Rapids
6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Kirkwood Community College CNA Program – Lincoln Center
912 18th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404

DMACC Nurse Assistant Program – Ankeny Campus
2006 South Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, Iowa 50023

DMACC - Boone Campus
1125 Hancock Drive, Boone, IA 50036

DMACC Nurse Aide Training Program - Carroll Campus
906 North Grant Road, Carroll, Iowa 51401

DMACC Nursing Assistant Program - Newton Campus
600 North 2nd Ave. West, Newton, Iowa 50208

DMACC CNA Course - Urban/Des Moines Campus
1100 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314

DMACC Nurse Aide Program - West Campus
5959 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, IA 50266

Western Iowa Tech Community College - Sioux City
4647 Stone Avenue, Sioux City, IA 51102

Iowa Western Community College Nurse Aide Training Course - Council Bluffs
2700 College Rd., Council Bluffs, Iowa 51502

Indian Hills Community College CNA Training Program - Ottumwa
525 Grandview Ave., Ottumwa, IA 52501

CNA Classes in Iowa ( 1 )

Nursing assistant programs prepare individuals for challenging the nurse aide certification exam and for entry level positions in health care environments. Each state has the authority to decide how many hours of training a nursing assistant course must consist of, as long as the minimum federal requirement of seventy-five hours is met. Students interested in attending CNA classes have a wide array of choices when it comes to selecting a training facility.

Nursing assistant courses are conducted at nursing homes, vocational schools, private schools, and community colleges. Program length, admission requirements, and cost of training vary depending on the policies of every training facility. Several states have implemented legislation which requires licensed long-term care facilities to reimburse CNA employees for the costs associated with training. An individual who has paid for nursing assistant training classes and who becomes employed by a nursing home within a year of obtaining certification, is eligible for financial reimbursement. Compared to other training programs in the health care field, nursing assistant classes are relatively short and inexpensive. Obtaining state certification as a CNA is the main requirement for securing a nurse aide job at a nursing home, hospital, rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility.

CNA Training Schools and Programs

CNA classes, schools and programs by state.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions

Mikka on August 27, 2009 at 05:03 AM
I am wondering where I can take the nursing assistant challenge test to reinstate my CNA license in Iowa?

Admin on August 28, 2009 at 06:27 PM
The CNA competency testing in Iowa is usually done at the facility which provides the training. You may call the Iowa Nurse Aide Registry at 515-281-4077 or 515-242-5991 and request the contact information for facilities in your area which currently administer the exam.

Can I enroll in a CNA class without a high school diploma or GED?

How long do nursing assistant classes take to complete?

After becoming a CNA how much more training does it take to become an RN?

I am really interested in becoming a certified nursing assistant. I am in the military and we go out to sea continuously. I do not have too much time to actually attend a program until next year. Who offers online CNA classes?

How do I sign up for CNA training?

CNA Resources

C.N.A Training Requirements

There is a wide disparity between CNA training requirements among the states. The difference lies in the mandatory number of total training hours necessary to complete state-approved CNA classes.


While according to federal law each nursing assistant course should contain a minimum of seventy-five (75) instruction and clinical hours, individual states have the liberty to mandate extra training requirements for certified nursing assistants. The majority of states exceed the threshold federal minimum requirements for nurse aide training programs because they are considered insufficient to result in an optimal and safe level of care for clients.


A review of nationwide state requirements for nurse assistant courses has found that the following states have mandated highest number of CNA program hours: Maine with a minimum of 90 hours of theory, 20 hours of laboratory skills and 70 hours of clinical instruction for a total of 180 hours; California with one hundred and sixty (160) training hours; Delaware and Oregon each requiring one hundred and fifty (150) hours; followed by the state of Alaska with one hundred and forty (140) hours; Virginia, Arizona, and West Virginia have a minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) training hours for state-approved classes.

CNA Training Programs

Nurse Aide Registries

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