How to Become A Certified Nursing Assistant in Georgia
Georgia employs approximately 43,440 certified nursing assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,680 1. Nationally, certified nursing assistant employment is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 204,100 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a certified nursing assistant in Georgia, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Certified Nursing Assistant in Georgia
How do I become a certified nursing assistant in Georgia? Georgia requires credentials such as Qualified Medication Aide, Registered Professional Nurse, Licensed Undergraduate Nurse. The licensing authority is the Georgia Board of Licensed Practical Nursing 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
Do I need a license in Georgia? Yes. Georgia has licensing or registration requirements for certified nursing assistants. The Georgia Board of Licensed Practical Nursing oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do certified nursing assistants earn in Georgia? The median annual wage for certified nursing assistants in Georgia is $37,680 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,300 and experienced professionals can earn $47,310 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Georgia Board of Licensed Practical Nursing
- Median wage (Georgia): $37,680 per year 1
Certified Nursing Assistant License Requirements in Georgia
The Georgia Board of Licensed Practical Nursing oversees certified nursing assistant licensing in Georgia 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Qualified Medication Aide | A qualified medication aide (QMA) is a healthcare professional who helps patients take their prescribed medications and performs related tasks in a healthcare setting. |
| Registered Professional Nurse | A registered professional nurse, or RN, provides health care to patients with a variety of medical and mental health conditions. |
| Licensed Undergraduate Nurse | Licensed practical nurses help care for injured, sick and disabled people. |
| Nursing Home Administrator | Nursing home administrators must be licensed in Georgia. 1. 21 years of age 2. Reputable and responsible character 3. |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Licensed practical nurses help care for injured, sick and disabled people. |
| Speech Pathologist Aide | Speech-Language Pathologists Aide assist Speech Pathologist in diagnosing and treat speech and language problems. |
| Teacher Aides | Teacher aides perform duties that are instructional in nature or deliver direct services to students or parents. |
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Certified Nursing Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Georgia
Nursing Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Georgia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), nursing assistants wages in Georgia vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | 23,260 | $39,350 | $40,570 | $33,590 | $48,510 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | 2,560 | $37,140 | $36,910 | $28,990 | $44,100 |
| Chattanooga | 2,420 | $38,790 | $38,460 | $31,060 | $44,660 |
| Savannah | 1,710 | $38,450 | $37,820 | $32,520 | $43,100 |
| Macon-Bibb County | 1,450 | $36,540 | $36,900 | $30,000 | $44,570 |
| Columbus | 1,130 | $34,970 | $34,720 | $29,220 | $41,930 |
| Athens-Clarke County | 1,110 | $36,330 | $36,950 | $29,880 | $45,860 |
| Gainesville | 1,050 | $41,390 | $41,360 | $34,130 | $48,740 |
| Rome | 890 | $37,220 | $37,170 | $30,700 | $43,640 |
| Albany | 770 | $35,260 | $33,960 | $25,720 | $39,140 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | 590 | $35,940 | $35,860 | $30,990 | $44,180 |
| Valdosta | 470 | $34,040 | $33,950 | $27,350 | $42,170 |
| Dalton | 390 | $36,110 | $35,440 | $29,130 | $44,260 |
| Warner Robins | 380 | $37,500 | $37,390 | $30,100 | $43,940 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Top Metros for Certified nursing assistants in Georgia
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest certified nursing assistant employment within Georgia according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | 23,260 | $39,350 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | 2,560 | $37,140 |
| Savannah | 1,710 | $38,450 |
| Macon-Bibb County | 1,450 | $36,540 |
| Columbus | 1,130 | $34,970 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for certified nursing assistants in Georgia? Georgia currently employs approximately 43,440 certified nursing assistants 1. Nationally, certified nursing assistant employment is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as a certified nursing assistant in Georgia with an out-of-state license? Contact the Georgia Board of Licensed Practical Nursing for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Georgia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Georgia.
How much do certified nursing assistants earn in Georgia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for certified nursing assistants in Georgia is $37,680, which is $1,850 below the national median of $39,530 according to BLS data 1.
Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Georgia Board of Licensed Practical Nursing - Licensing Information: https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |