How to Get Your CNA License in Texas — Requirements, Training, and Exam Guide 2026
Texas needs CNAs — the state has one of the fastest-growing elderly populations in the country. Becoming a CNA in Texas takes as little as 4 weeks and costs $500-1,500 for training. This guide covers every step from training to passing the state exam and getting listed on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry.
Key Facts
- •Texas requires 100 hours of state-approved CNA training: 60 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of clinical hands-on training. This is one of the shortest requirements in the US (California requires 160 hours, Florida 120 hours). Many training programs can be completed in 3-4 weeks full-time or 6-8 weeks part-time.
- •The Texas CNA exam is administered by Prometric. It has two parts: a written/oral knowledge test (60 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours, 70% passing) and a skills demonstration test (you perform 5 randomly selected nursing skills on a live evaluator). Both must be passed to get licensed.
- •Texas CNA wages: $15-21/hour starting ($31,000-44,000/year). Hospitals pay more than nursing homes. Houston, Dallas, and Austin metro areas pay at the higher end. Many employers offer sign-on bonuses of $1,000-3,000 and tuition reimbursement for CNAs pursuing LPN or RN degrees.
- •The Texas Nurse Aide Registry is maintained by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Once you pass the exam, your name is added to the registry, which employers check before hiring. The registry must be renewed every 2 years with proof of employment (at least 8 hours of paid CNA work in the past 24 months).
Step 1: Complete State-Approved CNA Training
You must complete a Texas HHSC-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP). Programs are offered at community colleges, vocational schools, high schools, and some nursing homes. The program covers 20 core modules: patient rights, infection control, safety and body mechanics, personal care and ADLs, vital signs measurement, nutrition and hydration, communication skills, dementia care, and end-of-life care. Upon completion, you receive a Certificate of Completion which you need to register for the state exam.
Step 2: Pass the Prometric CNA Exam
The Prometric Texas CNA exam has two parts. The written test is 60 multiple-choice questions, 2-hour time limit. You can request an oral version in English or Spanish if you have difficulty reading. Passing score is 70%. The skills test requires you to demonstrate 5 randomly selected nursing skills (out of approximately 22 possible skills) on a live evaluator acting as a patient. You must pass all 5 skills. Common skills tested: hand hygiene, taking blood pressure, bed bath, transferring from bed to wheelchair, feeding a patient, perineal care, measuring and recording intake/output.
Step 3: Get on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry
Once you pass both parts of the Prometric exam, your results are automatically sent to the Texas HHSC Nurse Aide Registry. Within 2-3 weeks, your name will appear in the registry. Employers verify your certification by checking the registry online — you do not receive a physical license card in Texas. You must work at least 8 hours as a paid CNA every 24 months to keep your registry status active. If your status lapses, you must retake the exam.
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