Verify first, enroll second. For CNA and HHA programs, confirm the training provider through CDPH. For private career schools, also check BPPE. General caregiver training can be useful, but it does not automatically replace a state-regulated credential.

Types of training programs

  • Community colleges: often affordable, credit or noncredit, with student support and career services.
  • Adult schools and regional occupational programs: may offer short-term workforce training.
  • Private career schools: can offer frequent start dates but require careful cost and approval checks.
  • Healthcare employers and facilities: some operate approved programs or sponsor employees.
  • Online or hybrid providers: may deliver approved theory online, but skills and clinical requirements still apply.

How to verify a program

  1. Search the CDPH approved program list or training-provider verification tool.
  2. Match the exact school, location, and program—not just the company name.
  3. Confirm whether the program is CNA, 40-hour HHA, 120-hour HHA, or a general caregiver course.
  4. Check BPPE information if the school is a private postsecondary institution.
  5. Call the program and request the current catalog, total cost, refund policy, schedule, and clinical details.

Compare the total cost

Tuition is only one part of the price. Ask about application fees, books, uniforms, shoes, physical exams, TB testing, immunizations, CPR, Live Scan, state applications, testing, equipment, parking, and transportation to clinical sites.

Can caregiver training be online?

General education can be online, and CDPH lists approved online CNA theory providers. However, hands-on care skills and clinical practice cannot be learned only through videos. Confirm exactly which parts are online and where in-person training occurs.

Questions to ask a school

  • Is this exact program currently approved for the credential I want?
  • What is the total out-of-pocket cost from enrollment through certification?
  • Who arranges clinical placement?
  • What happens if I miss a clinical day?
  • Does the school publish completion, exam, and job-placement information?
  • What refund rights apply if the program is canceled or I withdraw?

Training red flags

  • Promises of a state credential without approved clinical training or application steps.
  • Pressure to pay immediately before receiving written costs and policies.
  • Claims that a generic online certificate is the same as CNA or HHA certification.
  • No clear answer about state approval, clinical sites, or exam eligibility.
  • Large loans for a short program when lower-cost public options may exist.

Official California resources

Use these official California sources to verify requirements and complete the next step.

Verify a CNA or HHA training providerUse CDPH’s active training-provider verification search.Find CDPH-approved CNA programsSearch California’s current approved nurse assistant training programs by county.Approved online CNA theory providersCDPH list of approved programs offering an online classroom component. Clinical training still requires approved hands-on instruction.Find approved 40-hour HHA programsFor applicants who already hold an active California CNA certificate.Find approved 120-hour HHA programsFor applicants entering the HHA pathway without an active CNA certificate.Verify a private career schoolCheck a California private postsecondary school’s approval status before enrolling.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find approved CNA programs?

Use CDPH’s official CNA program directory and active training-provider verification search.

Can I take CNA training fully online?

CDPH lists approved online CNA theory providers, but approved hands-on skills and clinical training are still part of the pathway.

How do I check a private career school?

Use the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education school-search tool and review the institution’s approval and available performance information.

Should I choose the fastest program?

Speed matters, but also compare approval status, total cost, clinical scheduling, completion support, exam preparation, and whether the schedule is realistic for you.

Free and low-cost caregiver training →California caregiver certifications →Become a CNA →Become an HHA →

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