How to Become A Certified Nursing Assistant in New York
New York employs approximately 87,990 certified nursing assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,590 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 New York, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Certified Nursing Assistant in New York
How do I become a certified nursing assistant in New York? New York requires credentials such as Certified Nurse Aide, Nurse Practitioner, Registered Professional Nurse. The licensing authority is the NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance 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 New York? Yes. New York has licensing or registration requirements for certified nursing assistants. The NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do certified nursing assistants earn in New York? The median annual wage for certified nursing assistants in New York is $48,590 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,450 and experienced professionals can earn $59,890 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: NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance
- Median wage (New York): $48,590 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Certified Nursing Assistant License Requirements in New York
The NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance oversees certified nursing assistant licensing in New York 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Certified Nurse Aide | Certified Nurse Aides provide more than 90% of the hands-on care received by nursing home residents. |
| Nurse Practitioner | A nurse practitioner (NP) is an RN who has completed advanced nursing education (usually a masters or doctorate degree) and is certified by the New York State Education Department as a “Certified Nurs… |
| Registered Professional Nurse | A registered professional nurse (RN) is a licensed health care professional who helps patients to achieve optimal health and prevent disease or injury. |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is an RN who has completed advanced nursing education (usually a master’s or doctorate degree) and is certified by the New York State Education Department as a “Clini… |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | A licensed practical nurse (LPN) is a licensed health care practitioner who provides nursing care under the direction of an RN, CNS, NP, midwife, physician assistant, specialist assistant, dentist or… |
| Nursing Home Administrator | The practice of nursing home administration means planning, organizing, directing, and managing the operation, as well as implementing the policies of a nursing home. |
| Advanced Home Health Aide | AHHAs perform advanced tasks for certain hospice and home care patients and enhanced assisted living residents under the direct supervision of an RN. |
| Home Health Aide | An HHA is a trained and certified health-care worker who provides assistance to a patient in the home with personal care (as hygiene and exercise) and light household duties (as meal preparation) and… |
| Personal Care Aide | Personal care aide shall mean a person who, under professional supervision, provides patients assistance with nutritional and environmental support and personal hygiene, feeding and dressing and/or, a… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: State exam required
- Experience: No experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Certified Nursing Assistant Wages by Metro Area in New York
Nursing Assistants Wages by Metro Area in New York
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), nursing assistants wages in New York vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | 79,480 | $49,270 | $50,810 | $43,240 | $60,530 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | 5,230 | $39,790 | $41,710 | $37,150 | $48,120 |
| Rochester | 5,130 | $40,050 | $42,020 | $38,070 | $47,800 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | 4,200 | $40,160 | $41,750 | $36,090 | $47,580 |
| Syracuse | 3,120 | $42,940 | $44,320 | $37,810 | $50,420 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | 2,380 | $45,730 | $46,940 | $39,460 | $55,700 |
| Utica-Rome | 1,590 | $43,560 | $42,460 | $37,470 | $46,940 |
| Binghamton | 1,310 | $44,410 | $43,180 | $33,870 | $47,860 |
| Kingston | 540 | $44,710 | $45,830 | $37,630 | $56,510 |
| Ithaca | 470 | $45,640 | $45,170 | $38,580 | $50,630 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | 470 | $38,320 | $39,620 | $36,470 | $43,870 |
| Elmira | 440 | $37,960 | $39,090 | $36,800 | $45,050 |
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 New York
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest certified nursing assistant employment within New York according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | 79,480 | $49,270 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | 5,230 | $39,790 |
| Rochester | 5,130 | $40,050 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | 4,200 | $40,160 |
| Syracuse | 3,120 | $42,940 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for certified nursing assistants in New York? New York currently employs approximately 87,990 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 New York with an out-of-state license? Contact the NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in New York? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New York.
How much do certified nursing assistants earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for certified nursing assistants in New York is $48,590, which is $9,060 above 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NYS Department of Health - Nursing Home and ICF/DD Surveillance and Quality Assurance - Licensing Information: https://www.health.ny.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |