CNA Classes in Palm Coast, FL: Your Guide to Local Options

Roughly 200 CNA positions sat open in the Palm Coast area as of January 2026, and local training to fill one runs eight to twelve weeks. That timeline compression is the main draw, but it also creates the central tension for Palm Coast students: move fast through a short program, or spend more time weighing cost, clinical scheduling, and CNA exam preparation first.

Local options split mainly between Flagler Technical College's in-town program and Daytona State College's shorter, lower-cost track a short drive away. Both lead to the same state CNA certification and the same wage range, currently a median near $37,510 statewide.

Cost, admissions rules, and local job data all shift the calculus depending on which path fits your schedule.

Palm Coast's CNA Job Market: Where You'll Work After Training

After completing CNA classes in Florida, CNAs in Palm Coast rarely struggle to find work; local postings showed around 200 open positions across facility types as of January 2026, a volume that reflects steady demand rather than a temporary hiring spike.¹

Where the Jobs Actually Are

Skilled nursing and rehab facilities are often the best facility for new CNAs and anchor much of the local market. Palm Coast Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Florida Park Drive N handles short-term rehab and long-term care, while Bunnell Health and Rehabilitation Center, about 15 minutes away on Howe Street, posts CNA shifts ranging roughly $17 to $20 an hour.² Assisted living and memory care communities hire just as actively: Aviata at Grand Oaks and The Windsor of Palm Coast both run full-time and part-time day, evening, and night shifts, and AgeWell Senior Living has held on-site hiring events for CNA and caregiver roles.³ Home health agencies round out the picture, with Right at Home, Concierge Care Agency, HomeWell Care Services, and BrightStar Care of Volusia all placing CNAs and HHAs into in-home cases throughout Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Flagler Beach.⁴

What the Work Looks Like Day to Day

Florida's scope of practice defines what a certified nursing assistant can and cannot do, and it shapes daily routines no matter the setting. CNAs handle vital signs, bathing, dressing, mobility assistance, feeding, and basic charting, but they cannot administer medications, perform wound care beyond basic dressing changes, or make clinical judgments reserved for licensed nurses. In a skilled nursing facility, that means a packed schedule of resident rounds under RN supervision. In home health, it often means one-on-one care with more independence but the same boundaries around medical tasks. Assisted living roles tend to blend both, with more autonomy but fewer clinical resources on hand.

Florida CNA Pay at a Glance

Nursing assistants in Florida earn a median annual wage of $37,510.

Online and Hybrid CNA Classes Serving Palm Coast Students

Florida law requires every certified nursing assistant candidate to complete a set number of supervised clinical hours in a real healthcare setting, so a fully online CNA program does not exist here. What people usually mean by "online CNA classes" is a hybrid format: some lecture content delivered through a learning portal, paired with mandatory in-person labs and clinical shifts where you practice skills like transfers, vital signs, and personal care on real patients or in a skills lab.

Daytona State College's Format

Daytona State College, a primary regional option for Palm Coast students, currently runs its CNA training course (PRN0090) as evening in-person classes at the Daytona Beach Campus¹ rather than a fully remote model. As of the Spring 2026 term, the schedule listed Monday evening lecture from 5:00 to 9:50 p.m.², with Tuesday and Wednesday sessions devoted to lab and clinical work, totaling 80 lecture hours and 40 clinical hours.³ The college does offer hybrid courses elsewhere in its catalog, generally defined as blending online and on-campus instruction⁵ with 30 to 79 percent of hours held online⁴, but available information does not confirm that the CNA course itself is coded that way this term. Treat any online component as a supplement to, not a replacement for, in-person lab and clinical attendance.

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Pieces

When a program does incorporate online lecture time, it typically falls into one of two styles: synchronous, meaning you log in at a scheduled time alongside classmates, or asynchronous, meaning you watch recorded material and complete quizzes on your own schedule before a deadline. Ask any program directly which style applies before enrolling, since this affects how well the course fits around a job or family obligations.

Other Local Leads

Flagler Technical Institute and the Professional Development And Training Center both operate in or near Palm Coast and are worth contacting directly, since detailed 2026 schedule and format information for these providers was not confirmed. Application to Daytona State's course can be completed online or at any campus¹, but registration must happen before a mandatory orientation session.

CNA Programs Within Commuting Distance of Palm Coast

The main tradeoff for Palm Coast students is whether to train close to home at Flagler Technical College or drive to Daytona Beach for a shorter, lower-cost program at Daytona State. Both paths prepare you for the same Florida CNA exam, but the commute, schedule, and total hours differ.

Flagler Technical College: The Local Anchor

Flagler Technical College in Palm Coast offers a Nursing Assistant (CNA) program with 165 total contact hours. The evening cohort runs about three months, and the afternoon cohort runs about four months. Published materials list one five-Saturday clinical block from 6:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., which totals 40 clinical hours. The remaining 125 hours cover classroom and lab instruction. The credential is a Nurse Assistant - Articulated certificate, and the program is Pell-eligible, which indicates institutional accreditation, though the specific accreditor is not named in public program materials, so you may want to verify CNA program accreditation online. As of the 2025-2026 cycle, no waitlist or county-residency preference is documented.

Daytona State College: A Faster Commuter Option

Daytona State College in Daytona Beach runs an eight-week evening Nursing Assistant vocational certificate. The program is 120 contact hours, with 80 hours of lecture and lab plus a required 40-hour CNA clinical rotation. For Palm Coast residents who can manage the drive, that shorter timeline and lower published cost may be the main draw. The 2025-2026 program cost is about $329, and cohorts have run in spring and fall. No waitlist or Flagler County residency preference appears in available materials.

DeLand and Bunnell: Verify the Details First

DeLand is within a reasonable commute for many Palm Coast students, but current listings do not provide enough detail to compare. ALPI Technical Education Center lists a CNA-related program at about $1,205, and Patty Mac Inc lists instruction at about $500, but neither source publishes total contact hours or a classroom/clinical breakdown. Bunnell does not have a documented CNA program in the sources reviewed. If you are considering a DeLand option, call the school directly and ask for total hours, clinical placement sites, and whether the program meets Florida's minimum of 80 classroom/lab hours and 40 clinical hours.

What CNA Training Costs in Palm Coast: A Breakdown

Flagler Technical College publishes a 2024-2025 CNA total of $1,297.99, but its published itemization separates only tuition and fees. For a full published breakdown in the same regional market, Daytona State College's 2025-2026 in-state CNA certificate lists these approximate costs, which total $1,003.14.

How to Pay for CNA Training: Scholarships and Grants in Palm Coast

Paying for CNA training means covering tuition, exam fees, and related expenses, but Palm Coast students have several CNA scholarships and grants that can reduce or even eliminate out-of-pocket costs. Here is a look at the most accessible sources.

CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia and Dwyer Workforce Development

Through a partnership between CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia and Dwyer Workforce Development, qualifying residents can complete CNA training at no cost.¹ Eligibility is based on income level and employment status, and seats are subject to available funding. Beyond covering training expenses, Dwyer Workforce Development also offers college tuition support for CNA graduates who continue into nursing programs.² If you are unemployed or earning below a certain threshold, this is one of the strongest options to explore first.

Florida's Open Door Grant Program

Flagler Technical College participates in the Open Door Grant Program, which lists Nursing Assistant (Articulated) among its eligible programs for the 2025 to 2026 cycle.³ The grant covers a portion of program costs, though awards depend on funding availability and are not guaranteed to cover every expense. Students should contact FTC's financial aid office early because funds can run out.

Flagler Technical College Payment Options

For students paying out of pocket, FTC requires payment in full one month before the first day of class.⁵ The total in-state cost runs roughly $1,383 and already includes about $85 in additional fees for items like background checks or the certification exam.⁴ Credit card payments carry a 4.5 percent processing fee.⁵ FTC also accepts Bright Futures and Florida Prepaid, though students should confirm how these apply to clock-hour programs.³ Submit the FAFSA for nursing school application (school code 041583) at least two weeks before the program starts for any federal or institutional aid consideration.³

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Funding

CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia administers WIOA funds that can sponsor CNA students in approved training programs.⁶ Eligibility criteria and award amounts vary, so prospective students should schedule an appointment with a CareerSource career counselor to determine whether they qualify.

Tips for Stacking Aid

• Start early: Financial aid deadlines at FTC fall two weeks before classes begin, and workforce funding is first come, first served.
• Ask about layering: Check whether CareerSource sponsorship, Open Door grants, and FTC scholarships can be combined to cover remaining balances.
• Budget for extras: Uniforms, transportation, and supplies may not be covered by any single funding source.

CNA Program Admission Requirements in Palm Coast

Admission rules vary by program. Use this checklist to compare Flagler Technical College’s published technical-certificate requirements with Daytona State College’s CNA-specific health and safety steps.

1. Minimum age

   Flagler Technical College lists 16+ for college-wide technical certificates; Daytona State CNA requires 18+.
2. High school diploma or GED

   Daytona State typically expects a high school diploma or equivalent. Flagler Technical College does not require one for technical certificates, except apprenticeship programs, and allows simultaneous GED study.
3. Criminal background check

   Daytona State requires a Level II background check with drug screening and fingerprinting before class/clinical. Flagler Technical College’s CNA-specific background check rules are not published.
4. Health screening

   Daytona State requires a physical, negative TB test, and immunization verification through titers or boosters, including Td/Tdap within 10 years.
5. CPR certification

   Daytona State requires BLS for Healthcare Provider before the first day; accepted cards from American Heart Association or American Red Cross only.
6. Orientation and placement

   Daytona State requires a mandatory orientation; placement testing may be required unless prior scores waive it, confirm current rules. Flagler Technical College lists no SAT/ACT minimums. No Palm Coast residency requirement is published.
7. Application documents

   Daytona State requires a college admission application, CNA class registration, and first-day paperwork; Flagler Technical College asks transfer students for official transcripts.

CNA Exam Pass Rates and Job Placement in Flagler County

A high pass rate sounds reassuring, but the real question is whether the number reflects a big enough group of test-takers to mean anything for your own odds. That's the tension worth understanding before you lean on CNA program pass rates to pick a program.

What the Numbers Actually Show

Flagler Technical College's most recent full-year figure from the Florida Board of Nursing puts its combined first-time CNA exam pass rate at 83.65% for 2024. That annual number is built from several quarters with very small numbers of test-takers, sometimes just two candidates per quarter, so a single retest or absence can swing the percentage sharply. Quarterly snapshots for Q2 2024 and Q2 2022 both show 100% first-time passage, again on small groups. "First-time pass rate" means candidates who passed on their initial attempt; it doesn't capture students who eventually passed after a second or third try, so treat any single quarter as a data point, not a guarantee.

Daytona State College publishes strong first-attempt licensing results for its associate and bachelor's nursing programs (99.24% and 99.11% in recent years)¹, but those figures apply to RN graduates, not the CNA-level Nursing Assistant certificate. DSC does not separately publish a CNA state exam pass rate in its student achievement reporting.²

Job Placement: What's Published, What Isn't

Neither Flagler Technical College nor Daytona State College publishes an official job placement rate specific to its CNA program for recent cohorts. The closest available figure is a statewide field-level placement statistic of 90% for Nursing Assistant vocational certificate holders from the 2021-22 reporting year, which reflects the broader field rather than any single Palm Coast-area school.³

Locally, a regional CNA training initiative reported 88 participants employed out of 195 enrolled, with an average placement wage of $16.51 an hour, above its $15 target.⁵ Combined with Volusia County's 5.3% unemployment rate⁴, that points to steady, if uneven, hiring demand for newly certified aides in the area.

Florida CNA Licensure at a Glance

Top CNA Programs Serving Palm Coast Students

Below are the top CNA programs serving Palm Coast students, ranked by completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. The list includes nearby campuses in Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard counties as well as a few statewide options for learners willing to relocate. Use the details to compare schedule, clinical hours, and total cost before applying.

Next Steps: How to Choose the Right Palm Coast CNA Program

Three questions should drive your final decision, and answering them in order will save you weeks of back-and-forth with admissions offices.

Ask These Three Questions

• Cost versus length: Does the local convenience of Flagler Technical College outweigh Daytona State's shorter timeline and lower cost, or does a compressed schedule justify the longer commute?
• Schedule fit: Can you realistically attend daytime clinicals, or do you need Flexible CNA Class Schedules for evening, weekend, or hybrid format from a Daytona-area provider?
• Employment support: Does the program help graduates connect with local hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies in Flagler County, or are you on your own after the exam?

Confirm Enrollment Details Directly

Program calendars, seat availability, and tuition figures change between enrollment periods. Contact Flagler Technical College and Daytona State College admissions offices directly to confirm current start dates, waitlist status, and any updated fees before you commit to an application.

Verify State Approval

Before paying a deposit anywhere, confirm the program appears on the Florida Board of Nursing's approved list. Only graduates of approved programs are eligible to sit for the state competency exam, so this step protects your time and money.

Once you've weighed cost, schedule, and job placement support, and confirmed the program's approval status, the next move is straightforward: request enrollment information or attend an information session this week to lock in your seat for the next available class.

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