Denver has a strong selection of programs for students who want to work in home health care.
Dedicated HHA courses are less common, so CNA training is one of the most practical routes.
Colorado CNA programs can be completed in as little as two weeks, and graduates can pursue work in home health, hospice, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, assisted living, and other healthcare settings.
1 Community College of Denver
Community College of Denver offers a Colorado-approved Nurse Aide certificate through its Health Sciences division.
The 5-credit program combines nursing-assistant skills instruction with supervised clinical experience.
Students learn:
- Personal care
- Activities of daily living
- Vital signs
- Infection prevention
- Transfers and mobility
- Patient safety
- Communication
- Observation and reporting
The program is offered in both English and Spanish.
Program Length
Students can complete the program in approximately 7.5 weeks when attending twice per week.
A slower option meets once per week and takes approximately 15 weeks.
Cost
A recent complete program estimate for a Colorado resident is approximately $1,532.
That estimate includes roughly:
- Tuition and college fees: $1,103
- Background screening: $77
- BLS certification: $70
- Scrubs: $64
- Gait belt: $8
- Textbook and workbook: $70
- Written CNA examination: $50
- Skills examination: $85
- Basic health requirements: approximately $5 in the published estimate
Actual 2026-2027 tuition may vary slightly based on current tuition rates and Colorado Opportunity Fund eligibility.
Admission Requirements
Students must complete the program’s health and clinical requirements.
These can include:
- Background screening
- BLS certification
- TB clearance
- Immunization documentation
- Appropriate clinical clothing
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Community College of Denver is a strong option for students who want a public-college program and more time to learn the material.
The English and Spanish options are another major advantage.
It also makes sense for someone who expects CNA work to be the first step toward a longer nursing career.
Address: 1070 Alton Way, Denver, CO 80230
2 Emily Griffith Technical College
Emily Griffith Technical College offers a state-approved Nurse Assisting program in central Denver.
Students learn how to provide basic care, assist with daily activities, take vital signs, and safely support patients under the supervision of nurses.
The program includes classroom education and clinical experience and prepares graduates for Colorado CNA certification.
Program Length
The daytime program takes approximately 2 months.
Day classes are offered two days per week from approximately 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
The evening program takes approximately 3 months.
Evening classes generally meet twice per week from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Cost
Current program cost is approximately $1,495.
Students should also plan for expenses such as:
- Scrubs
- Shoes
- Background screening
- Drug screening
- Health documentation
- Immunizations
Some of these requirements may already be incorporated into the published program cost, so students should request the current itemized total before enrollment.
Admission Requirements
Students need:
- Colorado identification or a U.S. passport
- Criminal background screening
- Drug screening
- TB clearance
- Tdap vaccination
- Varicella documentation
- Influenza vaccination
- Other required clinical health documentation
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Emily Griffith is particularly useful for students who want part-time training directly in Denver.
The evening schedule is well suited to someone who already works during the day.
It is also a public technical college rather than a small private CNA school, which may appeal to students planning additional healthcare training later.
Address: 1860 Lincoln Street, Denver, CO 80203
3 The Denver Hospice and Care Synergy
Care Synergy operates a Nursing Assistant Training Program through The Denver Hospice.
This program is especially relevant for someone interested in home health, hospice, or community-based care because the organization itself provides those services.
Students receive classroom instruction, simulation-lab preparation, and hands-on clinical experience.
Training covers:
- Basic nurse aide procedures
- Personal care
- Patient safety
- Restorative services
- Emergency care
- Mental-health needs
- Patient rights
- Communication with patients and families
Program Length
The complete course contains approximately 76 hours.
Students can finish in only 2 weeks.
The program includes two days of hands-on clinical experience in a skilled nursing facility.
Cost
Total tuition is approximately $1,260.
The published breakdown includes:
- Tuition: $1,050
- Textbook and workbook: $100
- Background check: $52
- Drug screening: $40
- Processing fee: $18
Students should budget separately for the Colorado certification examination if it is not covered through their particular enrollment or employment arrangement.
Admission Requirements
Students should be prepared to complete:
- Background screening
- Drug screening
- Health and clinical requirements
- Identification requirements
Students pursuing employment with Care Synergy may go through additional hiring requirements.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
This is one of Denver’s fastest CNA programs and one of the most directly connected to home-based healthcare.
Care Synergy operates hospice and home-care organizations, so students are training within a healthcare network rather than at a school with no direct connection to home care.
Certain students hired into qualifying training positions may also be able to receive free tuition and paid training.
Address: 8289 East Lowry Boulevard, Denver, CO 80230
4 South Denver School of Nursing Arts
South Denver School of Nursing Arts offers a hybrid CNA program convenient for students throughout the Denver metro area.
Most classroom instruction takes place online, while students complete required skills laboratory and clinical training in person.
The curriculum covers:
- Activities of daily living
- Bathing and grooming
- Feeding
- Toileting
- Mobility
- Vital signs
- Infection control
- Safety
- Patient rights
- Communication and documentation
Program Length
The complete program takes approximately 4 weeks.
Students attend online classes Monday through Wednesday.
Morning and evening schedules are available.
Only four full days are normally required in person:
- Two skills-lab days
- Two clinical days
Cost
Standard tuition is $1,800.
The tuition package includes several expenses that other schools charge separately for, including:
- Textbook and workbook
- Background check
- Drug screening
- Gait belt
- At-home skills equipment
- State CNA examination fee
- Additional skills-practice opportunities
High school students currently pay approximately $1,600.
Some qualifying students can pay $0 through employer sponsorship, the Colorado CNA Parent Provider Program, workforce programs, or CrossPurpose.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must generally:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Have a valid Social Security number
- Pass the school’s admission assessment
- Pass a background check
- Pass a drug screening
- Provide negative TB documentation
- Meet clinical health requirements
- Have reliable internet and computer access
Students also need an at-home practice partner or an approved alternative arrangement.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
South Denver School of Nursing Arts offers one of the most flexible CNA formats in the Denver area.
Only four in-person days are normally required during the four-week program.
The $1,800 price is higher than several competitors, but it includes the state examination, books, background screening, drug screening, and training equipment.
The possibility of completely sponsored tuition is another major advantage.
Address: 7853 East Arapahoe Court, Suite 3300, Centennial, CO 80112
5 Ann Rose School of Nursing Arts
Ann Rose School of Nursing Arts offers accelerated and part-time CNA training north of Denver.
Classes are completely in person and are offered in both English and Spanish.
The school is also an approved CNA examination site, allowing graduates to take their certification testing in the same environment where they trained.
Program Length
The Fast Track program includes 8 classroom days plus 2 eight-hour clinical days.
That allows students to complete training in approximately 2 weeks.
The part-time program includes approximately 15 weekdays plus two clinical days, producing a total length of around 3 weeks.
The Spanish-language program takes approximately 4 weeks.
Cost
English-language tuition is $1,300.
That includes:
- Tuition
- Books
- Background check
The state examination costs an additional $145.
Total basic cost is therefore approximately $1,445.
The Spanish-language program costs approximately $1,400 plus the $145 examination fee.
Payment plans are available.
Admission Requirements
Students need to complete the school’s enrollment process and meet Colorado’s requirements for nurse aide clinical training.
Applicants should also be prepared to satisfy health documentation and clinical eligibility requirements.
The minimum enrollment age is 16.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Ann Rose is particularly attractive for students who want completely in-person training.
The two-week Fast Track option is extremely quick, and students can take the state examination onsite after completing the program.
The Spanish-language CNA program also makes Ann Rose one of the more accessible Denver-area options for Spanish-speaking students.
Address: 7280 Irving Street, Suite B-205, Westminster, CO 80030
6 CrossPurpose CNA Training
CrossPurpose offers a free CNA career-training pathway for qualifying Denver-area students.
CNA education is provided through South Denver School of Nursing Arts, while CrossPurpose adds career coaching, employment preparation, and job-placement support.
Students learn the same core CNA skills needed for work in home health and other healthcare environments.
Program Length
The CNA portion includes approximately 4 weeks of training followed by required skills-lab and clinical days.
However, CrossPurpose’s complete Leader career-development program is much longer and can take approximately 6 months.
The additional time includes career preparation, coaching, professional development, and employment support.
Cost
Tuition is $0.
CrossPurpose provides its career training programs without charging students tuition.
That can save approximately $1,800 compared with paying the normal South Denver School of Nursing Arts tuition yourself.
Admission Requirements
Applicants complete a selection process that can include:
- Application
- Background check
- Reading assessment
- Math assessment
- Identification
- Social Security documentation
- Program-readiness review
Students also need to be available to participate in the required CrossPurpose schedule and actively pursue employment.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
For students who qualify and have the time to complete the broader career program, the cost is extremely difficult to beat.
Students receive CNA training without tuition while also getting career coaching and connections with Denver-area healthcare employers.
The tradeoff is that this is not simply a four-week CNA school. Students are joining a much broader employment and career-development program.
Address: 3050 Richard Allen Court, Denver, CO 80205
Schools Summary Table
Read the full guide: How to Become a Home Health Aide
