Hospitals Offering Free or Employer-Sponsored CNA Training in Nashville

While NHC operates more in the post-acute and senior care space, it’s a major healthcare employer in Middle Tennessee and an important option for aspiring CNAs. NHC runs free CNA training programs in many of its locations, including facilities in the Nashville metro area. Training is typically completed in about 2 weeks, making it one of the fastest pathways to certification.

Once certified, CNAs can work in NHC’s skilled nursing centers, where they provide direct care to residents while gaining valuable clinical experience. NHC also offers tuition reimbursement for LPN and RN programs, giving you a clear path to advance your nursing career without taking on student debt. The organization’s culture emphasizes teamwork, compassion, and long-term employee development.

If you’re looking for a fast start, stable employment, and a stepping stone into higher levels of nursing, NHC is worth exploring.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is one of the largest and most prestigious healthcare systems in Tennessee, with over 1,700 beds and more than 3 million patient visits annually. Known for its high-acuity services—including organ transplants, trauma care, pediatric specialty care, and groundbreaking research—VUMC offers an environment where CNAs are part of some of the most advanced medical teams in the country.

While VUMC doesn’t always advertise its training opportunities publicly, large academic medical centers like this often provide paid CNA training as part of employment for entry-level patient care roles. Once hired, CNAs may have access to tuition reimbursement for LPN or RN programs, extensive employee benefits, and opportunities to work across multiple specialties such as oncology, cardiology, and critical care.

For career-minded individuals, VUMC can be an exceptional launchpad—offering both the prestige of working at a nationally recognized institution and the ability to grow your clinical skills quickly in a fast-paced hospital setting.

Ascension Saint Thomas operates two of the largest non-profit hospitals in Nashville—Saint Thomas West (643 beds) and Saint Thomas Midtown (683 beds). Together, they form a robust healthcare network offering services in cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, oncology, and women’s health.

Because these hospitals operate under the Ascension healthcare system, they often sponsor CNA training for individuals hired into patient care roles. In many cases, this means you can start working in a support position while completing your training, with your tuition covered by the employer. CNAs at Ascension Saint Thomas benefit from a mission-driven, patient-centered culture, as well as access to national Ascension resources, training programs, and advancement opportunities.

This is an ideal environment for individuals who value a non-profit, community-focused healthcare mission while still gaining the resources and benefits of a large, multi-hospital system.

TriStar Centennial Medical Center is a 741-bed facility and part of HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Health network. As a comprehensive, full-service hospital, it offers services ranging from behavioral health and cardiac care to oncology, orthopedics, and advanced surgical procedures. The hospital’s size and diversity of services make it a strong training ground for CNAs who want varied clinical exposure.

Hospitals in the HCA Healthcare network, including TriStar Centennial, frequently provide employer-sponsored CNA training or help staff enroll in paid training programs. Once you’re part of their team, you can benefit from HCA’s national education and career advancement programs, which include tuition assistance for nursing degrees and certifications.

For those who want to work in a busy hospital setting with opportunities to explore different specialties over time, TriStar Centennial provides a strong combination of career stability, clinical variety, and growth potential.