CNA Training in South Carolina

South Carolina requires 100 hours of nurse aide training, 25 more than the federal minimum. The SC Department of Health and Human Services approves programs and runs the Nurse Aide Registry, and Credentia gives the state exam.

That 100-hour rule matters if you're moving here: South Carolina only transfers CNAs whose training was at least 100 hours. Below you'll find each step, pay by metro, ways to train free, and approved programs statewide.

Training

100 Hours

Median Pay

$17.90/hr

Exam Cost

~$140

CNA student practicing patient care in South Carolina

The 4 Steps to Certification in South Carolina

1

Pick a State-Approved Program

SCDHHS approves every nurse aide program. Your options:

  • ✓Technical colleges: state scholarships can cover the full cost for SC residents.
  • ✓Nursing homes: many train people they hire, at no cost.
  • ✓Nursing students: if you passed Fundamentals of Nursing with a C or better in the last two years, you can test without a CNA course.
2

Complete 100 Hours

South Carolina adds 25 hours to the federal minimum.

100 Hours
Total training
40 Hours
Supervised clinical

You must finish training and pass both parts of the exam within two years.

3

Pass the Credentia Exam

A written (or oral) test and a skills test of 5 tasks.

Written or oral test~$45
Skills test~$95
Attempts3
Time to pass2 years
Don't pay out of pocket if you can avoid it: if you work as a nurse aide at a Medicare or Medicaid nursing home, your employer must cover the exam and any retest. Fail three times and you need another 100-hour program.
4

Renew Every Two Years

The registry emails you a renewal form before you expire.

  • ●Work at least 8 paid hours in nursing-related services in the 24 months before you expire.
  • ●Pay the renewal fee (about $35), unless you work at a Medicaid-certified SC nursing home. Then the facility pays it.
  • ●Keep your email current with the registry so you don't miss the form.

💰 How to Get CNA Training Free in South Carolina

If you live in South Carolina, start with SC WINS. It can cover the whole cost at a technical college.

SC WINS Scholarship

✨ Covers Tuition at Technical Colleges
ℹ️The SC Workforce Industry Needs Scholarship covers tuition, fees, and course costs, up to $5,000 a year, for critical workforce programs. Certified Nurse Aide is on the list at technical colleges.
⚡For South Carolina residents. Funds are first come, first served, so apply early.

Nursing Home Training

✨ Free When You're Hired
ℹ️Medicare and Medicaid nursing homes can't charge their employees for training or testing. In South Carolina they must also pay your exam and retest fees.
⚡Ask local nursing homes about nurse aide trainee jobs.

SC Works (WIOA)

✨ Grant-Funded, If You Qualify
ℹ️Your local SC Works center can pay for approved training if you're unemployed, laid off, or low-income.
⚡Apply before you enroll.
🌐scworks.org

Get Paid Back After You're Hired

✨ 12-Month Rule
ℹ️Paid for training yourself? If a Medicare or Medicaid nursing home hires you within 12 months of finishing, it has to reimburse your training and testing costs.
⚡Keep every receipt.

South Carolina CNA Pay by Metro Area

South Carolina has about 21,760 nursing assistants. Spartanburg pays the most, and the Pee Dee region around Florence pays the least.

Area Median Hourly Median Annual CNAs Employed
Spartanburg$19.26$40,0501,630
Charleston-North Charleston$18.66$38,8102,800
Hilton Head-Bluffton$18.14$37,730770
Columbia$17.98$37,4005,420
Greenville-Anderson-Greer$17.90$37,2203,820
Myrtle Beach-Conway$17.56$36,520820
Florence$17.02$35,4001,320
South Carolina (statewide)$17.90$37,22021,760

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Nursing Assistants (31-1131). Medians exclude overtime and shift differentials.

What It Costs to Get Certified

With SC WINS or a nursing home job, most of this can be covered.

Tuition

$0 with SC WINS

Often $0 at technical colleges with SC WINS. Private schools set their own prices.

Written Test

~$45

Oral version costs the same. Paid to Credentia.

Skills Test

~$95

Five hands-on skills. Your nursing home employer must pay it.

Renewal

~$35

Every two years. Free if you work at a Medicaid-certified SC nursing home.

Moving to South Carolina? (Reciprocity)

Transferring is free, but there's a catch: South Carolina only accepts CNAs whose training program was at least 100 hours, with clinical.

Active CNA, 100+ Hour Program

Apply through the SC Nurse Aide Registry with proof of your training. Your certificate must not be expired, and you need a clean record.

Trained Under 100 Hours

Many states only require 75 hours. If that's you, call the registry before you move to ask what you'll need to do.

Trained Out of State, Never Tested

If you finished training in another state within the last two years, you may be able to test in South Carolina.

Questions? Call

(800) 475-8290

South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry

Email: scnar@scdhhs.gov

CNA Schools in South Carolina

62 state-approved nurse aide schools across South Carolina: technical colleges, private schools, and nonprofit programs you can enroll in on your own. Search by name, city, or county, or filter by county.

ProgramCityCountyPhone
Advantage Academy126 E Howe Springs Rd, Florence, SC 29505 Florence Florence (843) 664-8465
Agape Health Services7232 Broad River Rd, Irmo, SC 29063 Irmo Richland (803) 553-8322
Aiken Technical CollegePO Box 696, Aiken, SC 29801 Aiken Aiken (803) 508-7280
AllHeart Allied Health Education Center186 S Pike E, Sumter, SC 29150 Sumter Sumter (803) 773-1800
Antioch Educational Center7557 W Main St, Ridgeland, SC 29936 Ridgeland Jasper (843) 645-9400
Care Solutions408 N White St, Lancaster, SC 29720 Lancaster Lancaster Call school
Caring Hands6 Mill St, Inman, SC 29349 Inman Spartanburg (864) 285-7389
Carmichael Medical Training1501 Belle Isle Ave, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Mount Pleasant Charleston (843) 532-2492
Carolina Career Institute6615-B Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC 29223 Columbia Richland (803) 786-1120
Carolina Nursing Assistant Program Academy2712 Middleburg Dr, Suite 222, Columbia, SC 29204 Columbia Richland (803) 543-8349
Casanias Healthcare Academy1115 Bellview St, Columbia, SC 29201 Columbia Richland (864) 838-2936
Central Carolina Technical College506 N Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150 Sumter Sumter (803) 778-7837
Columbia Hands of Hope1812 Washington St, Columbia, SC 29201 Columbia Richland (803) 586-8499
Denmark Technical CollegePO Box 327, Denmark, SC 29042Also offered at the Barnwell site Denmark Bamberg (803) 793-5153
Essential Healthcare Services210 W Stone Ave, Greenville, SC 29609 Greenville Greenville (864) 434-4939
Excellence in Healthcare2601 Read St, Suite 1-10, Columbia, SC 29204 Columbia Richland Call school
Florence-Darlington Technical College2715 W Lucas St, Florence, SC 29502Also offered at the Hartsville site Florence Florence (843) 661-8221
Florence-Darlington Technical College (Mullins)109 S Main St, Mullins, SC 29574 Mullins Marion (843) 413-2724
Greenville Technical CollegePO Box 5616, Greenville, SC 29606 Greenville Greenville (864) 250-3639
Greenwood Medical Academy115-L Hampton Ave, Greenwood, SC 29649 Greenwood Greenwood (864) 538-0825
Hazel's Heart Health Care Academy1225 Laurel St, Columbia, SC 29201 Columbia Richland (803) 238-5193
Health Tech Nursing Assistant Training201 Branchester Ct, Greenville, SC Greenville Greenville (864) 607-8756
Hope Center Nurse Aide Program3 Hickman St, Graniteville, SC 29829 Graniteville Aiken (803) 507-2945
Horry-Georgetown Technical College743 Hemlock Ave, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 Myrtle Beach Horry (843) 349-7528
How to Be a Nurse Assistant261 S Herlong Ave, Rock Hill, SC 29732 Rock Hill York (803) 366-7133
Ignite Healthcare Institute348 Feaster Rd, Suite F, Greenville, SC 29615 Greenville Greenville (864) 458-3590
Inspire Health Medical Institute5001 N Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 Myrtle Beach Horry (843) 385-4020
Integrity Healthcare Training Center3294 Ashley Phosphate Rd, North Charleston, SC 29418 North Charleston Charleston (843) 737-3570
Intrepid Healthcare Training648 S Jones Ave, Rock Hill, SC 29730 Rock Hill York (803) 366-1122
Latrice D. Ferguson Healthcare Institute254 Green Pond Hwy, Walterboro, SC 29488 Walterboro Colleton (843) 782-4646
Legacy622-C Easley Hwy, Greenville, SC 29611 Greenville Greenville (864) 992-3883
Level Up Healthcare Academy110 12th St, Cayce, SC 29033 Cayce Lexington (980) 428-3319
Lexington District 3 Lifelong Learning Center101 W Columbia Ave, Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29006Adult education Batesburg-Leesville Lexington (803) 532-2147
Lowcountry Medical Training Center128 Hampton Ave, Kingstree, SC 29556 Kingstree Williamsburg (844) 401-4216
MedTech, Inc.3300-B Kay St, Columbia, SC 29210Also trains in Spartanburg Columbia Richland (803) 731-2824
Mid-Carolina AHEC1824 Hwy 9 Bypass W, Lancaster, SC 29721 Lancaster Lancaster (803) 286-4121
Midlands Technical College (Continuing Education)1674 US-321 Bus, Winnsboro, SC 29180Classes at several Midlands campuses Winnsboro Fairfield (803) 466-7914
Midlands Technical College (Nursing Division)1260 Lexington Dr, West Columbia, SC 29170 West Columbia Lexington (803) 822-4995
Next Level Healthcare Institute701 Anderson Rd N, Suite 101, Rock Hill, SC 29730 Rock Hill York (803) 205-0300
North Augusta (Initial Certification Approval)1200 Talisman Dr, North Augusta, SC 29841Name as shown on the state list. North Augusta Aiken (803) 278-2170
Northeastern Technical College1201 Chesterfield Hwy, Cheraw, SC 29520Also offered at the Dillon site Cheraw Chesterfield (843) 921-6925
Nursing Diversity Academy3297 Argent Blvd, Ridgeland, SC 29936 Ridgeland Jasper Call school
Nursing Unlimited Aide Training Center2638 Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC 29204 Columbia Richland (803) 556-0343
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College3250 St. Matthews Rd, Orangeburg, SC 29118 Orangeburg Orangeburg (803) 535-1359
PACS Nurse Aide Training777 Lowndes Hill Rd, Bldg 2, Suite 101, Greenville, SC 29607 Greenville Greenville (864) 436-6613
Patch Career Institute1818 Norwood St, North Charleston, SC 29405 North Charleston Charleston (843) 744-1249
Peachtree Nurse Aide Academy1434 N Limestone St, Gaffney, SC 29340 Gaffney Cherokee (864) 487-2717
Piedmont Technical CollegePO Box 1467, Greenwood, SC 29648Day, evening, weekend, and online options; also Newberry and Laurens Greenwood Greenwood (864) 941-8426
Professional Development & Training Services20 Townlee Ln, Suites D-F, Lugoff, SC 29078 Lugoff Kershaw (803) 572-0780
Professional Medical Training Center2229 S Irby St, Florence, SC 29505Also trains in Conway Florence Florence (843) 678-9135
Revived Medical Training Academy2724 W Palmetto St, Suite 5, Florence, SC 29501 Florence Florence (404) 551-6686
Spartanburg Community College523 Chesnee Hwy, Gaffney, SC 29341Also Downtown Spartanburg and Union campuses Gaffney Cherokee (864) 592-4497
Step It Up Medical Training121-C John Mark Dial Dr, Columbia, SC 29209 Columbia Richland (803) 873-2501
Superior Healthcare Training Center574 N Anderson Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730 Rock Hill York (843) 263-5736
Tarts CPR and Learning Center9003 Two Notch Rd, Suite 18, Columbia, SC 29223 Columbia Richland Call school
Technical College of the Lowcountry921 Ribaut Rd, Bldg 22, Beaufort, SC 29901Also Hampton and New River campuses Beaufort Beaufort (843) 525-8368
Tri-County Technical CollegePO Box 587, Hwy 76, Pendleton, SC 29670Also offered in Easley Pendleton Anderson (864) 646-1331
Trident Technical College (Continuing Education)7000 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29406 North Charleston Charleston (843) 574-6024
Unique Hands of Care29 Ridgeway Dr, Suite D11, Greenville, SC Greenville Greenville (864) 607-8756
Village Career Center NA Program110 Whitehall St, Abbeville, SC 29620 Abbeville Abbeville (864) 902-4433
Williamsburg Technical College601 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Kingstree, SC 29556 Kingstree Williamsburg (843) 355-4123
York Technical College452 S Anderson Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730Online classroom option Rock Hill York (803) 981-7732

No programs match. Try a nearby city or pick "All counties."

Before you call: At a technical college, ask whether the course qualifies for SC WINS, which can cover your tuition. At a private school, ask for the total price, including the Credentia exam.

Source: SCDHHS State Approved Nurse Aide Training Programs list (2025), as published by Credentia. High school and school-district career center programs are not included, and duplicate campus listings are combined. Know of a closed program or a wrong number? Report a correction.

South Carolina Nursing Homes and Health Systems That Train CNAs

These facilities are approved to run their own nurse aide classes. They usually train people they plan to hire, and Medicare and Medicaid nursing homes can't charge their own employees for training or testing. Search by name, city, or county, or filter by county.

ProgramCityCountyPhone
C.M. Tucker Jr. Nursing Care Center2200 Harden St, Columbia, SC 29201 Columbia Richland (803) 935-5715
Faith Healthcare CenterSpartanburg, SCTraining run from the Spartanburg office Spartanburg Spartanburg (864) 923-1870
Franklin Home Health Agency410 N Main St, Marion, SC 29571 Marion Marion (843) 765-3212
Heartland of Union709 Rice Ave, Union, SC 29379 Union Union (941) 993-2584
Honorage Nursing Center1207 N Cashua Dr, Florence, SC 29501 Florence Florence (843) 665-6173
Lancaster Health and RehabLancaster, SCTraining run from the Spartanburg office Lancaster Lancaster (864) 923-1870
Loris Rehab and Nursing Center3620 Stevens St, Loris, SC 29569 Loris Horry (843) 858-3916
Magnolia Manor of GreenvilleGreenville, SCTraining run from the Spartanburg office Greenville Greenville (864) 923-1870
Magnolia Manor of GreenwoodGreenwood, SCTraining run from the Spartanburg office Greenwood Greenwood (864) 923-1870
Magnolia Manor of Spartanburg500 Jeff Davis Dr, Spartanburg, SC 29303 Spartanburg Spartanburg (864) 923-1870
Martha Franks Retirement Community1 Martha Franks Dr, Laurens, SC 29360 Laurens Laurens (864) 984-4541
Medford Nursing Center105 Medford Dr, Darlington, SC 29532 Darlington Darlington (843) 858-3916
MUSC Health Pee Dee Division805 Pamplico Hwy, Florence, SC 29505 Florence Florence (843) 674-6987
NHC HealthCare Anderson1501 E Greenville St, Anderson, SC 29622 Anderson Anderson (864) 226-8356
NHC HealthCare Bluffton3039 Okatie Hwy, Bluffton, SC 29909 Bluffton Beaufort (843) 705-8220
NHC HealthCare Charleston2230 Ashley Crossing Dr, Charleston, SC 29414 Charleston Charleston (803) 222-5555
NHC HealthCare ClintonPO Box 727, Clinton, SC 29325 Clinton Laurens (864) 833-2550
NHC HealthCare Garden City9405 Hwy 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 Murrells Inlet Georgetown (843) 650-2213
NHC HealthCare Greenville1305 Boiling Springs Rd, Greer, SC 29650 Greer Greenville (864) 458-7566
NHC HealthCare Greenwood437 E Cambridge Ave, Greenwood, SC 29646 Greenwood Greenwood (864) 223-1950
NHC HealthCare Laurens379 Pinehaven St Ext, Laurens, SC 29360 Laurens Laurens (864) 984-6584
NHC HealthCare Mauldin850 E Butler Rd, Greenville, SC 29607 Greenville Greenville (864) 275-0372
NHC HealthCare North Augusta350 Austin Graybill Rd, North Augusta, SC 29860 North Augusta Aiken (803) 278-4272
Oakbrook Health and RehabilitationSpartanburg, SCTraining run from the Spartanburg office Spartanburg Spartanburg (864) 923-1870
Physical Rehab and Wellness CenterSpartanburg, SCTraining run from the Spartanburg office Spartanburg Spartanburg (864) 923-1870
PruittHealth BlythewoodHeather Green Dr, Columbia, SC 29229 Columbia Richland (803) 382-2300
PruittHealth Dillon413 Lakeside Ct, Dillon, SC 29536 Dillon Dillon (843) 774-2741
Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home4605 Belton Hwy, Anderson, SC 29621 Anderson Anderson (864) 261-6734
Spartanburg Medical Center101 E Wood St, Spartanburg, SC 29303 Spartanburg Spartanburg (864) 560-6874
Veterans Victory House2461 Sidneys Rd, Walterboro, SC 29488 Walterboro Colleton (843) 538-3000
White Oak Manor YorkPO Box 629, York, SC 29745 York York (803) 684-0035

No programs match. Try a nearby city or pick "All counties."

Before you call: Ask for staff development or HR and say you want to be hired as a nurse aide trainee. Ask when the next class starts, whether you're paid while you train, and how long you must work there after you certify.

Source: SCDHHS State Approved Nurse Aide Training Programs list (2025), as published by Credentia. High school and school-district career center programs are not included, and duplicate campus listings are combined. Know of a closed program or a wrong number? Report a correction.

South Carolina CNA Questions, Answered

Who certifies CNAs in South Carolina?

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) approves training programs and keeps the Nurse Aide Registry. Credentia gives the state exam.

How many hours of training does South Carolina require?

At least 100 hours, including supervised clinical training. That's 25 more than the federal minimum.

Can I get CNA training free in South Carolina?

Often, yes. SC residents can use the SC WINS scholarship at technical colleges, and nursing homes that hire you can't charge for training. They must also pay your exam fees.

I'm a nursing student. Can I skip CNA classes?

Yes, if you completed Fundamentals of Nursing with a C or better within the last two years. You can apply to take the CNA exam without a separate course.

What do I need to renew?

At least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work in the 24 months before your certificate expires, plus the renewal form and fee. If you work at a Medicaid-certified SC nursing home, the facility pays the fee.

Why can't I transfer my CNA from another state?

South Carolina only accepts transfers from CNAs who completed a training program of at least 100 hours with clinical. If yours was shorter, call the registry at (800) 475-8290.

Sources

Last verified: October 2026. Exam fees can change, so confirm with Credentia when you register. See something out of date? Report a correction.