CNA Training in New Hampshire
New Hampshire licenses nursing assistants as LNAs (Licensed Nursing Assistants). Training must be at least 100 hours, including 60 hours of clinical experience. The New Hampshire Board of Nursing, part of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), approves programs and issues licenses, and Excel Testing gives the competency exam.
If a licensed New Hampshire nursing home hires you within 12 months of finishing, the state can pay you back for your training and testing costs. Below you'll find each step, pay by area, ways to train free, and approved programs statewide.
Training
100+ Hours
Median Pay
$23.02/hr
Exam Cost
$200
Want to work in clients' homes? See what it takes to become a home health aide in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire home health aide →The 4 Steps to Certification in New Hampshire
Pick a State-Approved Program
The New Hampshire Board of Nursing approves every LNA program. Your options:
- Hospitals and nursing homes: many train people they hire, and nursing homes can't charge you for it.
- Community colleges: including Lakes Region, Manchester, River Valley, and White Mountains.
- Private schools and home care agencies: set their own prices and schedules.
Complete at Least 100 Hours
New Hampshire requires more than the federal minimum of 75.
Programs can run longer than the minimum.
Pass the Exam and Get Licensed
A written test and a skills test through Excel Testing, then a license from the Board.
| Written + skills exam | $200 |
| Retakes | Contact Excel Testing |
| LNA license application | $66 |
| Criminal background check | Required |
Stay Active
Your LNA license renews every 2 years.
- Work 200 hours as an LNA under a licensed nurse in the 2 years before renewal, or pass the competency exam in that time.
- Complete 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years, reported through CE Broker.
- Renew online through the OPLC portal for $66. If your license has expired, you'll need to reinstate it instead.
💰 How to Get CNA Training Free in New Hampshire
Get hired first, or get paid back by the state after.
Nursing Home Training
✨ Free When You're HiredState Training Reimbursement
✨ Paid Back After You're HiredNH Works (WIOA)
✨ Grant-Funded, If You QualifyNew Hampshire CNA Pay by Area
New Hampshire LNAs earn about $2.70 an hour more than the national median. The state's rural areas pay as much as its cities.
| Area | Median Hourly | Median Annual | CNAs Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central New Hampshire (rural) | $23.02 | $47,870 | 1,480 |
| Southwestern New Hampshire (rural) | $22.92 | $47,670 | 540 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton (MA-NH) | $22.88 | $47,590 | 26,130 |
| Northern New Hampshire (rural) | $22.65 | $47,100 | 1,140 |
| Manchester-Nashua | $22.31 | $46,400 | 2,410 |
| New Hampshire (statewide) | $23.02 | $47,870 | 7,810 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Nursing Assistants (31-1131). Medians exclude overtime and shift differentials. "Rural" rows are the BLS nonmetropolitan areas. The Boston metro includes workers in Massachusetts.
What It Costs to Get Certified
Train through a nursing home that hires you and the main costs are covered.
$0 with employer
Free through a nursing home that employs you. Colleges and private schools set their own prices.
$200
Written and skills tests together, through Excel Testing.
$66
Paid to OPLC when you apply. Includes the $28 Professional Health Program fee.
$66
Every 2 years.
Moving to New Hampshire?
If you're licensed in another state, you can apply for a New Hampshire LNA license by endorsement.
Active CNA in Another State
Your license must be active and in good standing. You'll need 200 hours of LNA work and 24 hours of continuing education in the past 2 years, unless you finished training and testing in that time. Your current state's registry sends verification directly to New Hampshire.
Lapsed or Never Tested
If your license has lapsed or you never passed a competency exam, expect to train and test in New Hampshire.
Questions? Call
(603) 271-2152
NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
CNA Schools in New Hampshire
Board-approved LNA training programs across New Hampshire: community colleges, private schools, home care agencies, nursing homes, and hospitals. Search by name, city, or county, or filter by county.
| Program | City | County | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| BILH Exeter Hospital LNA Program4 Alumni Drive, Exeter, NH 03833 | Exeter | Rockingham | (603) 580-7338 |
| Cheshire Medical Center LNA Program580 Court Street, Keene, NH 03431 | Keene | Cheshire | (603) 354-5454 ext. 2613 |
| Coos County Nursing HospitalCounty Farm Road, West Stewartstown, NH 03576 | West Stewartstown | Coos | (603) 246-3321 |
| Cottage Hospital LNA Program90 Swiftwater Road, Woodsville, NH 03785 | Woodsville | Grafton | (603) 747-9000 |
| Genesis Health Care Mountain Ridge Center6 Baldwin Street, Franklin, NH 03235 | Franklin | Merrimack | (603) 915-1533 |
| Glencliff Home393 High Street, Glencliff, NH 03238 | Glencliff | Grafton | (603) 989-3111 |
| Golden View Health Care LNA Program19 NH Route 104, Meredith, NH 03253 | Meredith | Belknap | (603) 279-8111 ext. 4137 |
| Kendal at Hanover67 Cummings Road, Hanover, NH 03755 | Hanover | Grafton | (603) 643-8900 |
| Lakes Region Community College379 Belmont Road, Laconia, NH 03246 | Laconia | Belknap | (603) 366-5310 |
| LNA Health Careers70 Market Street, Manchester, NH 03101 | Manchester | Hillsborough | (603) 647-2174 |
| Manchester Community College Workforce Development Center1066 Front Street, Manchester, NH 03102 | Manchester | Hillsborough | (603) 206-8164 |
| Merrimack County Nursing Home LNA Program325 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH 03303 | Boscawen | Merrimack | (603) 796-3275 |
| New Hampshire Veterans Home139 Winter Street, Tilton, NH 03276 | Tilton | Belknap | (603) 527-4895 |
| Portsmouth Regional Hospital LNA Program333 Borthwick Ave, Portsmouth, NH 03801 | Portsmouth | Rockingham | (603) 433-4950 |
| River Valley Community College1 College Place, Claremont, NH 03743 | Claremont | Sullivan | (603) 252-1812 |
| RiverMead LNA Program300 Rivermead Road, Peterborough, NH 03458 | Peterborough | Hillsborough | (603) 924-0062 |
| St. Francis Rehab406 Court Street, Laconia, NH 03246 | Laconia | Belknap | (603) 524-0466 |
| St. Joseph's Hospital LNA Program5 Woodward Ave, Nashua, NH | Nashua | Hillsborough | (603) 884-4622 |
| Sullivan County Health Care5 Nursing Home Drive, Unity, NH 03743 | Unity | Sullivan | (603) 542-9511 |
| Team Select Home Care LNA Program12 Stiles Road, Suite 103, Salem, NH 03079 | Salem | Rockingham | (603) 453-3189 |
| The Dover Center LNA Program307 Plaza Drive, Dover, NH 03820 | Dover | Strafford | (603) 749-9000 |
| Thrive Health Career Institute195 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 245, Portsmouth, NH 03801 | Portsmouth | Rockingham | (603) 600-4144 |
| White Mountains Community College, Littleton Academic Center646 Union Street, Suite 300, Littleton, NH 03561 | Littleton | Grafton | (603) 444-1326 |
No programs match. Try a nearby city or pick "All counties."
Source: New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, Nursing Assistant Educational Programs (October 2026). The state list does not include phone numbers for every program; missing numbers come from Google business listings. Know of a closed program or a wrong number? Report a correction.
New Hampshire CNA Questions, Answered
What is an LNA in New Hampshire?
A Licensed Nursing Assistant. New Hampshire licenses nursing assistants instead of certifying them, so CNAs are called LNAs there. The New Hampshire Board of Nursing, part of OPLC, issues the license.
How long is LNA training in New Hampshire?
At least 100 hours: 40 hours of classroom training and 60 hours of clinical experience.
How much does the LNA exam cost in New Hampshire?
$200 for the written and skills tests together, through Excel Testing. Contact Excel Testing for retake fees. The license itself costs $66.
Can I get LNA training for free in New Hampshire?
Yes. A nursing home can't charge you for training if it employs you or has offered you a job. If a licensed New Hampshire nursing facility hires you within 12 months of finishing, the state can pay you back for training and testing. NH Works is another option.
How do I renew my LNA license in New Hampshire?
Every 2 years, online through OPLC, for $66. You need 200 hours of LNA work under a licensed nurse and 24 hours of continuing education in the past 2 years.
How do I look up an LNA in New Hampshire?
Use the OPLC License Lookup on the New Hampshire OPLC website.
Sources
- NH OPLC: Applications for Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)
- NH OPLC: Nursing Assistant Educational Programs
- NH OPLC: Board of Nursing License Fees
- NH OPLC: Board of Nursing Education and Training Requirements
- Excel Testing: New Hampshire Nurse Aide Exam Registration
- NH DHHS: Licensed Nursing Assistant Training Reimbursement (He-E 804)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
Last verified: October 2026. The 40/60 hour split comes from a summary of Board rule Nur 704. Exam fees can change, so confirm with Excel Testing when you register. See something out of date? Report a correction.