Fastest States for CNA License
50 states ranked by fastest licensing times for CNA licensing, updated for 2026.
#1
Alabama
4-8 wks
Alabama ranks #1 for fastest licensing times among all states for CNA licensing. Total fees: $171.
View Alabama CNA requirements →Full Rankings
| # | State | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama (AL) | 4-8 wks |
| 2 | Arkansas (AR) | 4-8 wks |
| 3 | Colorado (CO) | 4-8 wks |
| 4 | Georgia (GA) | 4-8 wks |
| 5 | Iowa (IA) | 4-8 wks |
| 6 | Kentucky (KY) | 4-8 wks |
| 7 | Vermont (VT) | 4-8 wks |
| 8 | Wyoming (WY) | 4-8 wks |
| 9 | Arizona (AZ) | 4-10 wks |
| 10 | Connecticut (CT) | 4-10 wks |
| 11 | Florida (FL) | 4-10 wks |
| 12 | Idaho (ID) | 4-10 wks |
| 13 | Indiana (IN) | 4-10 wks |
| 14 | Kansas (KS) | 4-10 wks |
| 15 | Louisiana (LA) | 4-10 wks |
| 16 | Minnesota (MN) | 4-10 wks |
| 17 | Missouri (MO) | 4-10 wks |
| 18 | Nebraska (NE) | 4-10 wks |
| 19 | Nevada (NV) | 4-10 wks |
| 20 | New Mexico (NM) | 4-10 wks |
| 21 | North Dakota (ND) | 4-10 wks |
| 22 | Ohio (OH) | 4-10 wks |
| 23 | Oklahoma (OK) | 4-10 wks |
| 24 | Pennsylvania (PA) | 4-10 wks |
| 25 | Rhode Island (RI) | 4-10 wks |
| 26 | South Carolina (SC) | 4-10 wks |
| 27 | South Dakota (SD) | 4-10 wks |
| 28 | Tennessee (TN) | 4-10 wks |
| 29 | Utah (UT) | 4-10 wks |
| 30 | Washington (WA) | 4-10 wks |
| 31 | Alaska (AK) | 6-12 wks |
| 32 | California (CA) | 6-12 wks |
| 33 | Delaware (DE) | 6-12 wks |
| 34 | Hawaii (HI) | 4-12 wks |
| 35 | Illinois (IL) | 4-12 wks |
| 36 | Maryland (MD) | 4-12 wks |
| 37 | Massachusetts (MA) | 4-12 wks |
| 38 | Michigan (MI) | 4-12 wks |
| 39 | Mississippi (MS) | 4-12 wks |
| 40 | Montana (MT) | 4-12 wks |
| 41 | New Hampshire (NH) | 6-12 wks |
| 42 | New Jersey (NJ) | 6-12 wks |
| 43 | North Carolina (NC) | 4-12 wks |
| 44 | Oregon (OR) | 6-12 wks |
| 45 | Texas (TX) | 4-12 wks |
| 46 | Virginia (VA) | 6-12 wks |
| 47 | West Virginia (WV) | 6-12 wks |
| 48 | Wisconsin (WI) | 6-12 wks |
| 49 | Maine (ME) | 6-14 wks |
| 50 | New York (NY) | 6-14 wks |
Methodology
Rankings are based on official state licensing data collected from state nursing boards. Processing time estimates are based on typical application processing timelines reported by state boards. Data is verified regularly and updated for 2026.
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