CNA Schools in Staten Island, New York: Compare Local Options

How fast can you actually become a certified nursing assistant on Staten Island? New York State sets the training floor at 100 hours, and New Millennium Training Center runs a 4-week, 125-hour program that satisfies it, alongside hybrid formats that mix online coursework with in-person skills labs.

Borough hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies are hiring steadily, but the island itself hosts only a handful of approved programs, so cost, schedule, and clinical placement logistics matter more here than in boroughs with dozens of options, such as CNA Classes in Manhattan, New York.

That scarcity is exactly why comparing cost, schedule, and CNA clinical rotation logistics before enrolling pays off.

CNA Employers and Job Market in Staten Island

The real question isn't whether Staten Island needs CNAs, it clearly does, but which type of employer fits your schedule and goals: a hospital's fast pace, a nursing home's steady routine, or a home health agency's flexibility. Demand spans all three settings, and CNA jobs in Staten Island show up regularly across the borough.

Who's Hiring

Several facilities post CNA openings consistently:

• Staten Island University Hospital: A hospital-based setting for CNAs who want acute-care experience alongside nurses and specialists.
• NYC Health + Hospitals, Seaview: Combines long-term care, nursing home, and rehabilitation work, good exposure if you're unsure which specialty suits you.
• Verrazano Nursing and Post-Acute Center: A skilled nursing facility hiring full-time, part-time, and per diem CNAs, with pay around $24 an hour depending on shift and experience.¹
• Staten Island Care Center: Advertises CNA pay up to roughly $25.22 an hour, among the higher rates reported locally.²
• Richmond University Medical Center: Offers tuition reimbursement to eligible staff pursuing bachelor's or master's coursework tied to their career path, worth asking about if you plan to advance beyond CNA work later on.³

Getting From Classroom to Paycheck

Staten Island has about six CNA training programs, and most students find work through direct applications rather than a formal school-to-employer pipeline. That said, some staffing and placement services move quickly: White Glove Community Care, for example, is known for a fast application process that can lead to an interview almost immediately.⁴ Agencies like Empro Staffing occasionally list paid training tied to a specific job posting, but that's an employer perk attached to one opening, not a borough-wide benefit every CNA program offers.⁵

What This Means for Your Job Search

Don't wait for a program to hand you a job. Start applying to hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies as soon as you're certified, use the How to Land Your First CNA Job guide, and treat any tuition reimbursement or paid-training offer as a bonus tied to that specific employer rather than something guaranteed everywhere. Facilities offering skilled nursing or rehab care tend to have the steadiest CNA demand, while hospitals offer higher-intensity experience that can help if you plan to become an LPN or RN down the road.

Online, Hybrid, and Accelerated 4-Week CNA Classes

The New Millennium Training Center at 331 Seaview Ave in Staten Island runs a 4-week, 125-hour CNA program, with some formats built around Hybrid Online CNA Classes that combine online coursework and on-campus skills labs plus a 30-hour clinical externship. That's the fastest documented path to a CNA credential accessible from the borough, though New York State never allows clinical skills to be taught entirely online: hands-on nurse aide tasks and supervised patient contact must happen in person, no matter how much lecture content moves to a screen.

What Hybrid Actually Means Here

Hybrid CNA training typically splits the program into two pieces. Classroom theory, covering topics like infection control, patient rights, and basic anatomy, can be completed online at your own pace or on a set schedule. Skills practice (transfers, vital signs, bathing techniques) still happens on campus in a lab setting, and clinical rotations take place at an approved facility with an instructor present. New Millennium's weekday morning schedule (Monday through Friday, 9am to 1:45pm) is one accelerated option; check current course listings since hybrid availability can shift term to term.

Evening and Weekend Alternatives

For students who can't commit to daytime hours, CUNY College of Staten Island at 2800 Victory Blvd advertises evening CNA classes, weekend, and hybrid course formats for working adults, though the exact CNA schedule isn't fixed and requires a direct call to the school. IP Training School's Staten Island campus at 1924 Victory Blvd runs extended hours (weekdays 9am to 10:15pm, weekends 9am to 5pm) at the school level, giving night and weekend students more windows to enroll, though the CNA-specific slate should be confirmed before applying.

Speed Versus Flexibility

Accelerated CNA programs New York that run for 4 weeks compress the same required hours into fewer weeks, which suits students who want to start working sooner but demands a heavier weekly time commitment. Traditional part-time or evening tracks, sometimes stretching 7 to 8 weeks or longer, spread the workload out and fit better around jobs or family obligations. Neither format skips required clinical hours; they just arrange them differently. If a fully online theory option interests you, look at programs structured like Lehman College's model in the Bronx, which pairs online didactic learning with in-person skills instruction and an off-site clinical rotation, a useful template for what to expect even outside Staten Island proper.

CNA Programs Within Commuting Distance of Staten Island

Staten Island has a small number of CNA programs on the island itself, so it's worth widening your search to Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx if none of the local options fit your schedule or budget. Here's a practical rundown of programs approved for New York State CNA training within a reasonable commute.

On Staten Island

• New Millennium Training Center (331 Seaview Avenue, 10305): 4-week accelerated program, 125 hours, $1,700 promotional tuition. Free seats may be available through Workforce1, VA GI Bill, or ACCES-VR if you qualify. Call 718-667-7741.
• CUNY College of Staten Island (2800 Victory Boulevard, 10314): Continuing-education CNA program, 165 total hours including 30 clinical hours, $2,310 covering textbooks, materials, one exam fee, and BLS certification. Weekend sections available. Call 718-982-2000.

Hospital-affiliated pathways connected to Staten Island University Hospital, Richmond Center, and Sea View are sometimes offered, but 2026 cohort details were not published at the time of writing. Contact each facility's HR or education department directly if you want a hospital-based track.

Brooklyn options

• Uplift Communities (Brooklyn) offers CNA classes in Brooklyn NY: A tuition-free, 600-hour workforce development program running roughly 25 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Longer than a standard CNA course, but the free tuition and wraparound support make it attractive if you can commit to the schedule.

Manhattan options

• The Manhattan Institute (6th Floor, New York, NY 10016): 120 hours over 4 to 8 weeks, $1,300. Call 347-220-8181. The ferry plus a short subway ride puts this Manhattan CNA training within a manageable commute.
• 145 West 30th Street CNA Program (8th Floor, 10001): 125 hours, $1,750, which includes tuition, materials, uniform, and registration. Confirm the current calendar directly with the provider.

Bronx and upper Manhattan (hybrid formats)

• CUNY City College (160 Convent Avenue, 10031): 152.5 total hours with a hybrid format (Zoom lectures, in-person clinicals in NYC). Approved by NYSED. Longer commute from Staten Island, but the hybrid delivery cuts down on how often you need to travel.
• CUNY Lehman College (250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, 10468): 127 hours including a 30-hour clinical rotation. Evening online CNA classes in Bronx NY with weekday or weekend clinicals, and Workforce1 vouchers are accepted. Call 718-960-8000.

All of the programs above are approved by New York State for CNA training and exam eligibility. Before you enroll, verify the current start date, refund policy, and whether the exam fee is bundled. Costs and formats do shift between cohorts, so a quick phone call is the most reliable way to confirm what you'll actually pay in 2026.

Clinical Placement Sites and What to Expect

Clinical hours separate classroom theory from real-world patient care, and New York State requires a minimum of 30 supervised hours in an approved long-term care facility before you can sit for the certification exam. How your program arranges these hours, and where, directly affects the quality of your training and what to expect in CNA training.

How Programs Arrange Clinical Placements

New York-approved CNA programs must secure placements at state-approved facilities and provide supervision during your clinical rotation. This means most Staten Island programs handle placement logistics rather than leaving students to find sites independently. However, the level of transparency about where you will train varies considerably between schools.

New Millennium Training Center offers the clearest arrangement among local options: the program guarantees placement at Silver Lake Specialized Care Center for all students. This single-site model, backed by over three decades of operation since 1992, means consistent supervision and immediate job placement assistance upon completion.

The College of Staten Island integrates 30 clinical hours into its 19-session program alongside 135 lecture hours. While the program arranges placements through approved facilities, specific partner sites are not publicly listed. Students should confirm placement details during enrollment.

CNA Training New York City operates from 1924 Victory Blvd. and includes clinical hours as required by state standards, though the program does not publicly name its facility partners.

What to Expect During Clinical Rotations

Most Staten Island clinical placements occur in nursing homes and long-term care facilities rather than acute hospital settings. This aligns with state requirements and reflects the reality that CNAs spend the majority of their careers in these environments. During your rotation, expect to practice:

• Vital signs: Taking blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respiration rates
• Activities of daily living: Assisting with bathing, dressing, mobility, and feeding
• Documentation: Recording patient observations and reporting changes to nursing staff
• Infection control: Proper handwashing, gloving, and sanitation procedures

Questions to Ask Before Enrolling

Not all programs offer the same clinical experience. When comparing schools, ask directly:

• Does the program guarantee a clinical placement, or might I need to arrange my own?
• Which specific facilities host rotations?
• What is the student-to-instructor ratio during clinical hours?
• Are clinical hours completed at one site or spread across multiple locations?

Programs with formal agreements at reputable facilities typically provide more structured supervision and smoother transitions into employment.

Related Articles

CNA Salary and Job Outlook in Staten Island (New York Metro)

The table below shows 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for nursing assistants in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area, which includes Staten Island. Because the BLS reports occupational wages at the metro level, these figures represent the broader market rather than Staten Island alone.

What Does CNA Training Really Cost in Staten Island?

In 2026, CNA training costs on Staten Island typically land between $1,700 and $2,310. The gap reflects what is bundled: a $1,700 tuition at New Millennium Training Center may leave books, scrubs, fingerprinting, and the state exam as separate expenses, while CUNY College of Staten Island's $2,310 price includes textbooks, materials, BLS, and one exam fee. For eligible students, Workforce1, VA GI Bill, ACCES-VR, or employer-sponsored work-commitment programs may cover tuition and related expenses.

New York State CNA Certification and Exam Preparation

Certification in New York is a fixed sequence, not a menu of options, and skipping a step means starting over. You complete an approved training program, sit for the Prometric CNA state exam, and get listed on the New York State Nurse Aide Registry before you can legally work as a CNA.

The Certification Path

New York requires 100 total training hours, including at least 30 hours of supervised clinical practice, delivered through a program approved by the state health or education department. Students must be at least 16 to enroll and 17 to sit for the exam, and a background check with fingerprint-based screening is part of the process. Once training is finished, your school submits a verification form to Prometric using your email, and you apply online to schedule your test date. A 2026 update eliminated paper certificates as of August 1, so registry placement and confirmation now happen digitally rather than through mailed documents.

Prometric Exam Format and Fees

The Prometric New York nurse aide exam has two parts: a knowledge test (written or oral) and a hands-on clinical skills demonstration. The combined written and skills exam runs $115, while the oral version costs $135. If you need to retest, expect separate fees for each component: $57 for written, $67 for oral, and $68 for clinical skills. Scheduling happens through Prometric's online system once your program confirms your eligibility.

Local Pass Rates and Prep Support

Staten Island programs do not currently publish individual pass rate data, so there is no local benchmark to compare schools against on this measure alone. If CNA program pass rates matter to your decision, ask admissions directly how recent cohorts performed and whether the school tracks first-attempt success.

Preparing for Test Day

Many programs build CNA skills test preparation into the curriculum through mock skills stations and timed written practice. When comparing schools, ask specifically whether retake support is included at no extra cost, since a second attempt at the clinical skills portion alone can add real expense if you have to pay out of pocket.

How to Choose the Right CNA School in Staten Island

Staten Island's CNA training market, one part of the CNA classes in New York City landscape, has consolidated around a handful of state-approved private schools plus one community college option, which means your real decision usually comes down to matching schedule, cost, and clinical logistics to your own life rather than picking between dozens of look-alike programs. Work through the factors below in order, and rule out any school that fails the first one.

Start With State Approval

In New York, a CNA program must be approved by NYSED in conjunction with NYSDOH for graduates to sit for the Prometric competency exam and land on the state nurse aide registry. This is state approval, not national accreditation, so ignore claims about being "nationally recognized" if the school is not on the official state list.

Before you pay a deposit:

• Ask the school for its Nurse Aide Training Program Number and written proof of approval.
• Cross-check the name and address against the NYSED-approved nurse aide list and the NYSDOH-approved training program database.
• Confirm that completion makes you eligible for the Prometric exam, not just an internal certificate.

Compare Two or Three Programs Side by Side

Once you have a shortlist of approved schools, put them on a simple grid:

• Total cost: Published tuition on Staten Island ranges roughly from $700 to $1,700 at private centers, with College of Staten Island around $2,310. Ask what is not included: exam fee, uniforms, textbooks, background check, immunizations, and supply fees can add several hundred dollars.
• Schedule: Day, evening, weekend, and accelerated formats all exist locally. Confirm the exact start date, total weeks, attendance policy, and make-up rules for missed clinical days.
• Clinical placement: Ask which specific nursing home or hospital hosts the clinical rotation, whether placement is guaranteed, and how you get there. A vague answer is a red flag.
• Pass rates: If the school publishes Prometric pass rates, treat above 75% as acceptable and above 85% as strong. If they refuse to share numbers, weigh that accordingly.

Red Flags to Walk Away From

Skip any program that is not on the state approval list, quotes a low tuition but adds large mandatory fees after enrollment, cannot name your clinical site, or pressures you to enroll the same day you tour.

CNA Schools in Staten Island: Ranked and Compared

Below are the top CNA programs serving Staten Island students, ranked by completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. The list includes several CUNY and SUNY options that Staten Island residents can reach by ferry, bus, or car, as well as upstate programs with accelerated formats or strong financial support. For each school, the focus is on training format, cost efficiency, and the clinical or exam preparation support that matters most for New York State certification.

Next Steps to Enroll in a CNA Program

Becoming a CNA in Staten Island takes a few focused steps. Here is how to move from research to certification efficiently.

Compare and Contact Programs

Select two or three programs that fit your schedule, budget, and location preferences. Contact each school directly to confirm current class schedules, tuition costs, and any upcoming enrollment deadlines. If you need help narrowing your options, review the program comparison earlier.

Before committing, verify that your chosen program holds New York State approval (NYSED with NYSDOH). This ensures your training hours count toward certification and that you can sit for the state competency exam.

Budget for the Full Process

Beyond tuition, set aside funds for the state certification exam, which costs approximately $115 to $130 including both written and skills components. Factor in scrubs, a watch with a second hand, and any required immunizations or background checks your clinical site may require.

Timeline From Enrollment to Certification

A typical path looks like this:

• Weeks 1 through 4: Complete classroom instruction and skills lab training
• Weeks 5 through 6: Finish clinical hours at a partnered healthcare facility
• Week 7 or 8: Schedule and pass the Prometric New York nurse aide competency exam
• Week 9 and beyond: Receive your certification and begin applying for CNA positions

Accelerated programs can compress this timeline, while evening or weekend schedules may extend it to ten or twelve weeks. Either way, most students move from enrollment to job-ready status within two to three months.

Take the first step today by reaching out to your top program choices and requesting current CNA program start dates.