Free CNA job description template
Fill in the [brackets] and cut anything that doesn’t fit your job. Unlock one-tap copy and PDF download free with your email.
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Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) job description template · Fill in the [brackets]
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
About the job
[Business name] is hiring a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) who provides hands-on daily care to patients or residents under the direction of nurses. [One or two sentences about your business and why someone would want to work there.]
What you’ll do
- Help residents bathe, dress, use the toilet and eat
- Turn, reposition and transfer residents safely
- Measure and record vital signs such as blood pressure and temperature
- Listen to residents' concerns and report them to the nurse
- Serve meals and record food and fluid intake
- Keep rooms clean and change linens
- Document care in [charting system]
What you need
- Active CNA certification in [state] and listing on the state nurse aide registry
- Current CPR or Basic Life Support certification [if required]
- Pass a background check
- Able to lift and move residents with proper technique
- Available for [shift: days, evenings, nights or weekends]
Nice to have
- Experience in [long-term care, rehab or hospital setting]
How to apply
[Apply link, email or phone], by [date].
[Business name] is an equal opportunity employer.
✓ Unlocked. Use the buttons above the template to copy it or save it as a PDF.
Example: the template filled in for a small business
Hypothetical example for Willow Creek Assisted Living, a 40-bed family-run community.
Willow Creek Assisted Living is hiring a full-time CNA for the evening shift (2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.). You'll care for 10 to 12 residents, help with meals and personal care, record vital signs and report changes to the charge nurse. Active state CNA certification required.
Notice what makes it work: real hours, the actual tools, who they report to, and one honest reason to want the job. That’s the difference between a blank template and a job description that gets the right applicants.
What a CNA does
A CNA provides hands-on daily care to patients or residents under the direction of nurses. Typical duties include:
- Help residents bathe, dress, use the toilet and eat
- Turn, reposition and transfer residents safely
- Measure and record vital signs such as blood pressure and temperature
- Listen to residents' concerns and report them to the nurse
- Serve meals and record food and fluid intake
- Keep rooms clean and change linens
Duties adapted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Requirements, training and licenses
Nursing assistants usually need a state license or certification, which generally means finishing a state-approved program and passing a competency exam. For nursing homes, federal rules require training programs of at least 75 clock hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training.
Training: A state-approved education program, plus a brief period of employer-specific training.
How much does a CNA make?
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. A median means half earned more and half earned less. Pay in your area may be higher or lower; check postings for similar jobs near you. A growing number of states and cities require a pay range in job postings, so check your local rules before you post.
Before you set the rate, run the free hiring cost calculator. It adds payroll taxes and other costs and shows how much work the hire needs to bring in to pay for itself.
Free template or written for you?
| Free template | Job Description $99 | Hiring Kit $349 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written for | Any business | Your business | Your business |
| Duties and schedule | Typical, with blanks | Yours, filled in | Yours, filled in |
| Pay | National figure | Set for your local market | Set for your local market |
| State rules | “Check your state” | Checked for your state | Checked for your state |
| Ready to post | No, you edit it | Yes | Yes, plus the job posting |
| Performance review form | — | Included free | Included |
| Interview guide and 30-60-90 day plan | — | — | Included |
| Use the template | Have us write it | Get the Hiring Kit |
Free template
- Typical duties with blanks to fill in
- National pay figure
- You edit it before posting
Job Description · $99
- Written for your business: your duties, schedule and pay
- Checked for your state’s rules
- Ready to post
- Free matching performance review form
Hiring Kit · $349
- Everything in the $99 job description
- The job posting
- Interview guide
- 30-60-90 day plan for the new hire
Fixed prices. See what’s included in Job Description Writing and the Hiring Kit.
Common questions
Can I hire someone who is still finishing CNA training?
Rules vary by setting and state. Federal nursing home rules limit how long a facility can use a nurse aide who hasn't completed an approved training and competency program, and states add their own rules. Check with your state's nurse aide registry or health department before scheduling an aide who isn't certified yet.
Can I use this template for free?
Yes. Copy it, edit it and post it. It's a starting point written for any business, so fill in the brackets and adjust the duties to your actual job. If you'd rather have it written for your business, ready to post, our Job Description service is $99.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is general information. Requirements for some roles, especially in healthcare, vary by state. Check your state's rules, and talk to an employment attorney if you're unsure.
Published by Groundwork Business Advisory. Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Pay data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage estimates.