Best Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Programs in Santa Cruz, California (2026)

Updated May 26, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Comparing certified nursing assistant schools in Santa Cruz, California starts with the local labor market and the credentials each program offers. For context, the state median annual wage for this occupation is approximately $47,630 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Santa Cruz Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$47,630BLS OEWS, May 2025
State employment110,060 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
Santa Cruz County unemployment rate5.9%BLS LAUS, 2024
California location quotient0.65BLS OEWS, May 2025

Nearby Cities

What You’ll Find Below

The school listings below are sorted by proximity to Santa Cruz. Each entry includes the school name, address, and the credentials offered. Use the Santa Cruz County and California figures above as a reference point when comparing program length, schedule, and tuition.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Programs near Santa Cruz

Certified Nursing Assistant Salary Snapshot

U.S.
U.S. Median Pay $42,260 $20.32 per hour
Job Outlook 2.3% 32,500 jobs (2024–2034)
204,100 openings/yr
Data Year: 2025 SOC: 31-1131 Source: BLS OEWS

Training & Certification Steps in California

  1. Complete an accredited or state-approved Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program (certificate, diploma, or associate degree).
  2. Build hands-on experience through labs, clinicals, or supervised practice as required in your state.
  3. Prepare for any required certification or licensing exams and keep up with continuing education.

Tips for Choosing a Program

  • Confirm the curriculum aligns with employer expectations and any national certification you plan to pursue.
  • Compare schedules. many schools near Santa Cruz offer evening, weekend, or hybrid options.
  • Ask about clinical, lab, or externship placements and how they are arranged.
  • Review program outcomes, career support services, and available tuition assistance. Individual outcomes may vary.

Certified-Nursing-Assistant Salary in U.S.

Median Salary $42,260 $20.32/hr
Average Salary $42,700 $20.53/hr

Salary Range

$33,940 10th pctl
$42,260 Median
$51,980 90th pctl
10th Percentile $33,940 $16.32/hr
25th Percentile $37,260 $17.91/hr
75th Percentile $47,220 $22.70/hr
90th Percentile $51,980 $24.99/hr

Employment & Outlook

Total Employed1,448,910
Growth (2024-2034)2.3%
Annual Openings204,100
Jobs per 1,0009.3

Nursing Assistants (31-1131) • BLS OEWS, May 2025 • bls.gov/oes

Next Steps

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade career guide using BLS, DOL, and state licensing data. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.