California CNA continuing-education requirements
Understand California CNA requirements before you count a single hour
Reviewed 07-13-2026
California Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) currently need documentation of 48 hours of in-service training or continuing education (CE) during a two-year certification period, with at least 12 hours completed in each year and no more than 24 hours obtained through an approved online program. Build your plan from the current California Department of Public Health (CDPH) instructions, not from an old checklist or a coworker's renewal.
Follow CNA CE California on the launch list
Put the four current limits on one planning page
The state renewal page and current renewal form describe several requirements that work together. Treating only the 48-hour total as the goal can create an avoidable gap.
| Current item | What CDPH says | Planning move |
|---|---|---|
| Total education | Document 48 hours during the two-year certification period. | Track every accepted hour against the correct period. |
| Yearly distribution | Complete at least 12 hours in each year of the certification period. | Label each course as first-year or second-year work. |
| Online learning | Use no more than 24 hours from a CDPH-approved online computer-training program. | Keep a separate online-hour subtotal. |
| Provider status | Continuing education must come from a CDPH-approved provider. | Verify approval before enrolling and keep the provider's Nurse Assistant Certification number. |
Source of truth: Read the current CDPH CNA renewal instructions and the latest CDPH 283C renewal application. Requirements and submission methods can change.
Divide the certification period before you schedule courses
California's current record form explains that an initial certification period is organized around birthdays rather than two simple calendar years. Copy the exact first-year and second-year dates from your own certification record or the state's calculator. This prevents a course completed near a birthday from landing in the wrong yearly total.
- Confirm the effective and expiration dates shown for your certificate.
- Use the current state guidance to identify the first and second certification years.
- Create separate first-year and second-year totals in your tracker.
- Reserve time before the expiration date for missing paperwork or corrections.
Keep online hours separate from the overall total
An online course can be legitimate and still push you past the current online-hour maximum. Record the delivery format for every course and maintain an online subtotal. Before enrolling, confirm that the provider appears on the state's current approved online continuing-education provider list.
A course completion screen, payment receipt, or provider marketing page does not replace the documentation required for renewal. Save the actual completion certificate and confirm the provider information is present.
Treat renewal as a package, not only an education total
The current state instructions identify the CDPH 283C renewal application and the CDPH 283A in-service training and continuing-education record. They also describe employment and other certification requirements beyond education. Review the complete current instructions early enough to resolve anything that is not an education-hour issue.
- Use the latest CDPH 283A and CDPH 283C forms.
- Keep certificates for online courses with the renewal record.
- Confirm every entry has a course title, provider, date, and hours.
- Review the state's current employment and certification requirements.
- Submit through a current state-approved method and monitor for correspondence.
Where CNA CE California fits
The current TestFlight build organizes a lesson catalog, search, saved material, quizzes, and visible progress in one mobile workspace. It also shows a clear no-renewal-credit notice. CNA CE California is not currently a CDPH-approved continuing-education provider, and work completed in the app does not currently count toward renewal.
Frequently asked questions
How many continuing-education hours does a California CNA need?
The California Department of Public Health currently requires documentation of 48 hours during the two-year certification period, with at least 12 hours completed in each year. Confirm the current rule on the official renewal page before acting.
Can all California CNA continuing education be completed online?
No. Current CDPH instructions allow a maximum of 24 of the 48 hours through an approved online computer-training program.
Which forms are used for California CNA renewal?
The current state instructions identify CDPH 283C as the renewal application and CDPH 283A as the in-service training and continuing-education record. Use the latest versions linked from the official renewal page.
Want to follow the mobile learning workspace as it develops?
Join the launch listIn TestFlight development. Joining the list does not enroll you in an approved course or award renewal credit.