Nurse Aide Training Programs in New Mexico

A certified nurse aide should understand what is meant by the process of reciprocity and in what instances one needs to apply for reciprocity in New Mexico. Reciprocity is a process by which one state recognizes the educational credentials given to an individual by another state. By law, a nursing assistant certified in a state other than New Mexico needs to apply for reciprocity prior to becoming employed as a CNA in New Mexico. After review of one's credentials, the state in which you apply for nurse aide certification by reciprocity will grant or deny certification.

There are instances when a state may deny certification by reciprocity of a nurse aide. However, a nurse aide certification by reciprocity will be granted as long as your current certificate is active and in good status, and you are listed on the Nurse Aide Registry without findings of resident abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property. Certain documents will be needed when you apply for reciprocity in New Mexico, including a copy of your CNA certificate, a form of identification, and your social security number. For a complete list of requested documents and to obtain a reciprocity application contact the New Mexico Nurse Aide Registry.

Approved CNA Classes in Bernalillo County

Central New Mexico Community College - Albuquerque
525 Buena Vista Drive, SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
Phone: 505-224-3000

Universal Care Home Health - Albuquerque
8015 Mountain Road, Suite 216, Albuquerque, NM 87110
Phone: 505-990-1958

Albuquerque Public Schools
6400 Uptown Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110
Phone: 505-855-9040

Good Samaritan Society - Manzano del Sol Village - Albuquerque
5201 Roma Avenue, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
Phone: 505-262-2311

Princeton Place - Albuquerque
500 Louisiana Blvd., NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
Phone: 505-255-1717

Chaves County

Sunset Villa Care Center - Roswell
1515 South Sunset Avenue, Roswell, NM 88203
Phone: 575-623-7097

Roswell Job Corps Center
57 G Street, Roswell, NM 88202
Phones: 800-733-5627 and 575-347-5414

Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell
P.O. Box 6000, Roswell, NM 88202
Phones: 575-624-7349 and 575-624-7236

Colfax County

Raton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
1660 Hospital Drive, Raton, NM 87740
Phone: 575-445-2734

Miner's Colfax Medical Center Long Term Care - Raton
900 South 6th Street, Raton, NM 87740
Phone: 575-445-7700

Curry County

Clovis Community College
417 Schepps Blvd., Clovis, NM 88101
Phones: 800-769-1409 and 575-769-2811

Dona Ana County

Casa de Oro Care and Rehabilitation Center - Las Cruces
1005 Lujan Hill Road, Las Cruces, NM 88007
Phone: 575-523-4573

Emerald Nursing School - Santa Teresa
103 Livingston Loop, Suite B3, Santa Teresa, NM 88008
Phone: 575-332-4031

Eddy County

New Mexico State University - Carlsbad
1500 University Drive, Carlsbad, NM 88220
Phone: 575-234-9200

Lakeview Christian Home of the Southwest, Inc. - Carlsbad
1300 North Canal Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220
Phone: 575-887-3947

Grant County

Fort Bayard Medical Center
100 Calle El Centro, Fort Bayard, NM 88036
Phone: 575-537-8600

Western New Mexico University - Silver City
1000 West College Avenue, Silver City, NM 88061
Phone: 575-538-6960

Lea County

Hobbs Health Care Center
5715 North Lovington Highway, Hobbs, NM 88240
Phone: 575-392-6845

New Mexico Junior College - Hobbs
1 Thunderbird Circle, Hobbs, NM 88240
Phone: 575-492-2519

Lincoln County

Eastern New Mexico University - Ruidoso High School
125 Warrior Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345
Phone: 575-258-4910
This CNA training program is offered exclusively to enrolled high school students.

Eastern New Mexico University - Ruidoso
709 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345
Phones: 575-257-3007 ext. 331 and 575-257-2120

Luna County

Deming High School
1100 South Nickel St‎reet, Deming, NM 88030
Phone: 575-546-4863
This CNA training program is offered exclusively to enrolled high school students.

McKinley County

Navajo Technical College - Crownpoint
Lowerpoint Road, State Highway 371, Crownpoint, NM 87313
Phone: 505-786-4107

University of New Mexico - Gallup
705 Gurley Avenue, Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: 505-863-7500

Otero County

Good Samaritan Society - Betty Dare - Alamogordo
3101 North Florida Avenue, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Phone: 575-434-0033

New Mexico State University Alamogordo
2400 N. Scenic Drive, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Phone: 575-439-3600

Quay County

Dr. Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital - Tucumcari
301 East Miel De Luna Avenue, Tucumcari, NM 88401
Phone: 575-461-7000

Rio Arriba County

Northern New Mexico College - Espanola
921 North Paseo de Onate, Espanola, NM 87532
Phone: 505-747-2111

Espanola Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
720 Calle Hacienda, Espanola, NM 87532
Phone: 505-753-6769

Roosevelt County

Heartland Continuing Care Center - Portales
1604 West 18th Street, Portales, NM 88130
Phones: 505-359-4653 and 505-359-4719

Roosevelt General Hospital - Portales
42121 US Highway 70, Portales, NM 88130
Phone: 575-359-1800

San Juan County

Life Care Center of Farmington
1101 West Murray Drive, Farmington, NM 87401
Phone: 505-326-1600

San Juan College - Farmington
4601 College Boulevard, Farmington, NM 87402
Phone: 505-566-3224

San Miguel County

Vida Encantada Rehab and Nursing - Las Vegas
2301 Collins Drive, Las Vegas, NM 87701
Phone: 505-425-9362

Luna Community College - Las Vegas
366 Luna Drive, Las Vegas, NM 87701
Phone: 505-454-2527

Santa Fe County

Santa Fe Care Center
635 Harkle Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: 505-982-2574

Santa Fe Community College
6401 Richards Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87508
Phones: 505-428-1323 and 505-428-1270

Sierra County

Sierra Home Health Care and Hospice - Truth or Consequences
1400 North Silver Street, Truth or Consequences, NM 87901
Phone: 575-894-1735

Socorro County

Socorro Good Samaritan Village
1203 Highway 60 West, Socorro, NM 87801
Phone: 575-835-2724

Taos County

University of New Mexico - Ranchos de Taos
1157 County Road 110, Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557
Phone: 575-737-6200

Valencia County

University of New Mexico Valencia Campus - Los Lunas
280 La Entrada, Los Lunas, NM 87031
Phone: 505-925-8873

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

Felica G. on July 16, 2014 at 02:23 PM
How long do CNA classes take and what exactly do you have to do?


Admin on July 19, 2014 at 10:51 PM
Nursing assistant training courses may take anywhere between three weeks to three months to complete, depending on the facility or school which offers the program. To enroll in nurse aide classes you must meet certain admission criteria pertaining to education, health, and background history. Those who are accepted into CNA classes must complete both the classroom and hands-on practice sessions to graduate. Finally, one must pass a final exam which tests a candidate's skills and abilities to practice correctly and safely. When you pass this final test you become a certified nurse aide.


After becoming a CNA how much more experience, training or school has to be done to become a registered nurse?

I am in the military and I do not have too much time to actually attend a regular CNA program. Who offers online CNA classes?

How do I sign up for CNA training? I am having trouble finding the shortest training program in my area. Can you help me?

How long does it take to get the CNA certificate itself while in school taking courses?

Can you share any tips or advice regarding CNA job interviews?

CNA Resources

CNA 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

Alaska Wyoming Oklahoma Washington DC Delaware Maryland Maryland Delaware New Jersey New Jersey Connecticut Connecticut Rhode Island Rhode Island Massachusetts Massachusetts Vermont New Hampshire Vermont New Hampshire Missouri Indiana Pennsylvania Alabama Maine New York West Virginia Wisconsin Ohio Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Louisiana Mississippi Florida Georgia Tennessee Illinois Michigan Michigan Minnesota Utah Kentucky Kansas South Dakota Arizona Idaho Washington State California Arkansas Texas Nebraska North Dakota Iowa Hawaii Nevada Oregon New Mexico Colorado Montana