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Nurse Aide / Patient Care in Arizona
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
Arizona students can earn the CNA in Nursing Services: 120 hours, practice age 16 in statute, and AZBN approval of the program and RN instructor before any recruiting.
State program: Nursing Services, CIP 51.3902.00
What a high school can deliver
The full credential in most cases: statute sets 16 to practice, so completers can test and be listed before graduating, pending AZBN confirmation.
Credentials students can earn
CNA (registry) or Licensed Nursing Assistant (adds fingerprints and fees); CPR/BLS; credential codes on 2026-27 ADE list ()
Age and hour requirements
Age 16 to practice (A.R.S. 32-1645(D)); the 18 on AZBN's page applies to medication assistants. 120 hours: 40 classroom, 20 lab, 40 clinical (20 in long-term care), 20 program-assigned (R4-19-802).
Other agencies involved
Arizona State Board of Nursing: approves each program, its RN instructor and RN coordinator (R4-19-802, -804); file at least 90 days before start, up to 120 days, site visit.
Who can teach it
ADE SCTHC or SSCTEHC certificate (Option C: 6,000 hours, no degree, 15 semester hours after issuance) plus RN with 1 year (1,500 hours) direct care and a teaching qualification; coordinator RN with 2 years incl. 1 in long-term care.
Child labor rules for work placements
No work permits; no state hour limits at 16-17; A.R.S. 23-235 exempts CTE students from the state list. Federal HO 7 powered patient lifts: assist only (FAB 2011-3). Sites may ask for a DPS fingerprint card (under-18 issuance: Confirm with the agency).
College credit after high school
No statewide agreement; CTED-community college IGAs (A.R.S. 15-1821.01); dual enrollment hours count only if they meet AZBN standards (which colleges: Confirm with the agency).
Where to go next
- The full Nurse Aide / Patient Care guide, showing Arizona
- The Arizona state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Nurse Aide / Patient Care in other states
Other pathways in Arizona
- EMT
- Electrical
- Welding
- Construction and Carpentry
- HVAC/R
- Cybersecurity / Networking
- Programming / Computer Science
- Automotive
- Medical and Dental Assisting
- Cosmetology
- Agriculture
- Early Childhood Education
- Culinary and Hospitality
- Machining and Mechatronics
- Engineering and Drafting
- Firefighting
- Law, Public Safety and Corrections
- Business Management and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
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