Your Complete Guide to CNA Classes in Myrtle Beach, SC

How quickly can you start working in one of the entry level medical careers in Myrtle Beach? Most CNA programs in the area run four to eight weeks, and with roughly 203,300 nursing assistant openings projected nationwide each year through 2035, graduates here step into a job market that needs them.

Local training options range from in-person cohorts at Horry-Georgetown Technical College’s CNA Training in Conway, SC campus to hybrid programs that pair online coursework with required clinical hours. Tuition typically falls between $400 and $1,200, and financial aid can cut that further. The median CNA wage in the Myrtle Beach metro sits at $36,520 per year.

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CNA Employers and Job Market in Myrtle Beach

Choosing where to work as a CNA in Myrtle Beach often means weighing hospital exposure against the closer relationships and flexible schedules of long-term and home care.

Major Employers and Where CNAs Work

For graduates of cna programs in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach and Horry County have three large health systems hiring CNAs: Tidelands Health, Grand Strand Health, and McLeod Health. Tidelands operates four hospitals and more than 70 outpatient locations across Horry and Georgetown counties. Grand Strand Health is expanding its South Strand hospital with a $220 million project that adds 59 beds and hundreds of new clinical roles. McLeod Health's $50 million Carolina Forest campus is expected to drive late-2026 hiring on the north end. In long-term care, local facilities include Myrtle Beach Manor, Grand Strand Rehab and Nursing Center, Brightwater/The Retreat at Brightwater, and NHC HealthCare Garden City in Murrells Inlet. Home health agencies such as Nightingales Nursing and Attendants, Home Instead, Comfort Keepers, and Healthcare Connect PCS also post CNA and nursing support jobs across Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Murrells Inlet, Surfside Beach, and Pawleys Island.

Hospital, Long-Term Care, and Home Health Roles

Hospital CNAs often work on fast-paced units, helping with admissions, transfers, and daily care while reporting changes to nurses. Long-term care roles center on consistent relationships with residents over weeks or months. Home health CNAs, also called home health aides, travel to clients' homes and may work one-on-one with a smaller caseload.

South Carolina requires CNAs to work under a licensed nurse's supervision. They assist with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and other daily living activities, and they may record vital signs and report changes in condition.

Pay and Hiring Signals

Posted pay varies widely, as it does for many entry level medical career salaries. Current listings show about $24 per hour for one per-diem CNA role, $15.50 to $17.00 per hour at Comfort Keepers, and $14 to $18 per hour at NuAngels Home Care. We did not find a county-wide signing bonus or tuition reimbursement program in local postings for 2026. The clearest hiring incentives are higher rates in some agency or per-diem roles and schedule flexibility, including weekend and split-shift options for CNAs who want nontraditional hours.

Online and Hybrid CNA Classes Serving Myrtle Beach Students

South Carolina does not allow fully online CNA training. Every program must include at least 40 hours of supervised clinical experience in person. The options below combine online coursework with required in-person labs or clinicals for Myrtle Beach area students.

State-Approved CNA Programs in Horry County and Nearby

Horry-Georgetown Technical College holds the clearest state-approved footprint for CNA training across the Waccamaw region, giving Myrtle Beach area students several campus options within a reasonable drive.

Horry-Georgetown Technical College Campuses

HGTC appears on the state-approved provider list and shows up under the Waccamaw region's approved training providers, a designation covering Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg Counties. Students can choose from:

• Conway campus: 2050 Highway 501 East, Conway, SC 29526. This is the primary HGTC site for CNA training Conway SC, and it carries current state approval.
• Myrtle Beach campus: 743 Hemlock Ave., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, offering a closer option for students living along the Grand Strand.
• Georgetown campus: 4003 South Fraser St., Georgetown, SC 29440, useful for students commuting from the southern end of the service area.

HGTC has also announced plans to launch in-person CNA classes at The Center for Health & Fitness at McLeod Health Loris starting in fall 2026, a partnership with McLeod Health. That Loris location has been reported locally but had not yet appeared on the official state-approved list at the time of writing, so students interested in that site should confirm current approval status directly with HGTC or the state before enrolling.

Other Training Sites to Research Independently

A handful of other schools show up in searches for CNA training near Conway and the surrounding Pee Dee area, including the Academy for Technology and Academics in Conway, Carolina Nursing Assistant Program Academy in Conway, Inspire Health Medical Institute in Myrtle Beach, LowCountry Medical Training Center in Kingstree, and Pee Dee Medical Career Training Center in Lake City. None of these were confirmed as state-approved CNA providers in the sources we reviewed, so treat them as leads rather than verified options. Anyone considering these programs should check directly with South Carolina's approval list or contact the school to confirm current standing before paying tuition or scheduling a start date.

When comparing CNA programs, ask about clinical site placements, class size, and whether the program's completion rate qualifies graduates to take the certification exam without delay.

CNA Salary in Myrtle Beach: What You Can Expect to Earn

The median annual wage for nursing assistants in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach metro area is $36,520 in 2025, about 14% below the national median of $42,260. A statewide South Carolina median was not included in the latest published data we reviewed, but the metro figure offers a realistic local benchmark. Nationally, nursing assistant jobs are projected to grow by about 2.3% from 2024 to 2034, and experience or additional certifications can raise earnings.

How to Become a CNA in South Carolina: Requirements and Steps

Becoming a certified nursing assistant in South Carolina follows a four-step path set by SC DHHS. You must complete state-approved training, pass background and health screening, pass the written and skills exam, and get listed on the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry.

Top CNA Programs for Myrtle Beach Students

Below are the top CNA programs for Myrtle Beach students. Horry-Georgetown Technical College stands out for its Grand Strand Campus and hybrid cohort, while other South Carolina colleges offer campus and hybrid options depending on scheduling and budget.

CNA Program Pass Rates and Graduate Outcomes in Myrtle Beach

South Carolina does not publish a statewide, program-by-program list of CNA certification exam pass rates, which means Myrtle Beach families researching local options will not find an official state scorecard the way they might in some other states. This is a gap in transparency, not necessarily a reflection of program quality, but it does mean prospective students have to do a bit more legwork before enrolling.

What the Available Data Shows

Horry-Georgetown Technical College's Grand Strand Campus reports a 100 percent first-time pass rate on its nursing licensure exam, a strong signal about the caliber of clinical instruction and faculty oversight in its health sciences division generally. That figure applies to the college's nursing program rather than to CNA certification specifically, but it is still useful context when a nursing school in the area demonstrates consistently strong exam preparation across its allied health offerings.

For comparison, some out-of-state CNA programs do report figures directly. Coastal Technical Institute in Florida, for example, posted an 89.06 percent first-time CNA exam pass rate in 2025. Florida requires this kind of public disclosure at the state level, which is why a number like that exists there but not for South Carolina providers. It is not a local statistic, but it illustrates the kind of benchmark a well-run program can achieve when outcomes are tracked and published.

How to Evaluate a Program's Track Record

Since Horry County and the wider Myrtle Beach area lack a centralized CNA program outcomes report, the responsibility shifts to the student to ask direct questions before committing tuition dollars.

• Ask the school directly: Request the program's most recent CNA exam pass rate and how many graduates took the test in the last year or two.
• Check clinical placements: Programs partnered with hospitals or skilled nursing facilities for hands-on training tend to produce better-prepared candidates.
• Look at instructor credentials: Programs led by registered nurses with long-term teaching experience typically show stronger outcomes.
• Ask about job placement support: Some programs connect graduates directly with local employers, which speaks to both training quality and industry relationships.

A school unwilling to share basic outcome information is worth reconsidering, even if pricing or scheduling looks appealing.

CNA Class Costs in Myrtle Beach: Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

CNA training costs in the Myrtle Beach area usually fall between $400 and $1,200 at vocational and private schools, while technical college pricing depends on residency and credit hours. Some students can reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs through Pell Grants, WIOA vouchers, Project HOPE, or employer-sponsored training at local nursing facilities. The table below compares common programs and funding paths; contact the school or agency directly to confirm current costs and eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions About CNA Classes in Myrtle Beach

Choosing a CNA program in Myrtle Beach means checking state approval, costs, and clinical hours before you enroll. Here are direct answers to the questions students ask most often.

1. Which CNA programs in Myrtle Beach are state-approved?

   South Carolina requires CNA training to be state-approved before you can sit for the Nurse Aide Registry exam. The official list is maintained by Credentia and the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, not by school marketing. Check that list directly, because specific Myrtle Beach program approval status was not independently confirmed in available research.

2. How much do CNA classes cost in Myrtle Beach, SC?

   Statewide, CNA program costs in South Carolina typically range from about $800 to $1,800, though some approved programs list tuition near $1,800 or $2,095 and others say to contact the school. Myrtle Beach specific tuition is not centrally published. Request a full cost breakdown from each program, including fees, textbooks, uniforms, and any exam costs.

3. Are there free CNA classes in Myrtle Beach?

   No clearly confirmed free CNA training program in Myrtle Beach was found in current research. However, South Carolina residents who qualify may use the SC WINS workforce scholarship to cover tuition for eligible short-term healthcare training, including some CNA courses. Contact programs or the state workforce agency to confirm whether that funding applies to a Myrtle Beach program and your situation.

4. How long does it take to become a CNA in South Carolina?

   South Carolina requires a 100-hour state-approved nursing assistant course as the training benchmark, including at least 40 hours of supervised in-person clinical work. Individual Myrtle Beach programs can vary their schedule, so total calendar length may differ. Ask each school about total weeks, class meeting times, and whether evening, weekend, or accelerated formats are available.

5. Can I take CNA classes online in Myrtle Beach?

   No fully online CNA program qualifies for certification in South Carolina. State rules require at least 40 hours of supervised in-person clinical training in a healthcare facility. Some programs may offer classroom theory online in a hybrid format, but you must complete the required hands-on clinical hours in person. Confirm the exact split before enrolling.

6. What are the requirements to enroll in a CNA program in Myrtle Beach?

   Requirements vary by school, but some Myrtle Beach area programs list a minimum age of 18, current CPR certification, a grade of C or better in program courses, and completion of a health record form plus a uniform purchase. Always confirm the program's specific admissions checklist, because prerequisites can differ between institutions.

Next Steps: Enroll in a Myrtle Beach CNA Program

Enrolling in a CNA program simply means picking a school, submitting an application, and locking in a start date before seats fill up. That process gets easier once you narrow down a few key decisions ahead of time.

Decide What Fits Your Life

Start by weighing format, cost, and approval status together rather than one at a time.

• Format: In-person classes offer hands-on practice and structure, online or hybrid options work better for busy schedules, and both can lead to the same certification if the CNA clinical rotation hours are covered.
• Cost and aid: Compare tuition against any grants, employer sponsorships, or payment plans a program offers before ruling it out.
• State approval: Confirm the program appears on South Carolina's approved list so your training hours count toward the CNA certification process.

Reach Out Before You Commit

Schedules, start dates, and application deadlines shift throughout the year, so call or email programs directly rather than relying on outdated listings. Ask about upcoming cohort dates, waitlists, and what documents you'll need on day one.

Take the Next Step

Once you've narrowed your options, request information from one of the programs detailed above. A quick inquiry gets you real answers on cost, schedule, and availability, and puts you on the path toward a CNA career in Myrtle Beach sooner rather than later.

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