Skip to content
Job Description Tool

Certified Nursing Assistant Job Description Template

Nursing · On-site · Non-Exempt · Full-Time

A free, editable certified nursing assistant job description template — job summary, essential functions, required and preferred qualifications, and a pay-range example to replace with your own. Use it to prefill the generator, tailor it to your organization, and download a formatted Word doc or PDF.

Role snapshot

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this occupation as Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131), with about 1.4M workers nationally and median annual pay of $42,260. Pay data: BLS OEWS May 2025.

That’s the scale this template is built for: a full essential-functions list, separated required and preferred qualifications, and a pay-range placeholder for your actual range. The range stays a placeholder deliberately — posting requirements differ by state, so the finished pay language should reflect where you’re hiring, not just the national figures above.

Use the template to prefill the generator, or check it against your state’s pay-transparency law first.

Job Summary

Provides compassionate, hands-on care to patients or residents under the supervision of licensed nursing staff. Assists with daily living activities, monitors patient condition, and keeps accurate care records.

Essential Functions

  1. Assist patients or residents with bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and mobility
  2. Measure and record vital signs, including temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration
  3. Reposition and transfer patients safely using proper body mechanics and assistive equipment
  4. Observe patients for changes in condition and report concerns to the Charge Nurse promptly
  5. Document care provided, intake and output, and observations accurately and on time
  6. Answer call lights and respond to patient requests with patience and professionalism
  7. Maintain clean, safe patient rooms and common areas following infection-control procedures
  8. Aid licensed nurses with treatments, procedures, and admissions as directed
  9. Encourage patients' emotional well-being through respectful, attentive daily interaction
  10. Uphold HIPAA and facility policies to protect patient privacy and dignity

Qualifications

Required:

  • Active state nursing assistant certification (CNA license)
  • Current BLS (Basic Life Support) certification
  • Ability to work the assigned shift schedule, including weekends and holidays as needed
  • Compassionate bedside manner and clear communication skills

Preferred:

  • Experience in a hospital, long-term care, or home health setting
  • Dementia care or restorative aide training

Education & Certifications

State-approved nursing assistant training program and active CNA certification required; high school diploma or equivalent

Physical Requirements

Ability to stand and walk for most of a shift, assist with patient transfers and repositioning, and lift up to 50 lbs with or without assistive equipment.

Pay range example: $36,000–$46,000 per year (adjust to your market)

Pay transparency verdict for this template

15 states require a pay range

This template ships with a pay-range example — replace it with your approved range before posting. Here's what the states in our dataset require in the posting itself:

15

states require a pay range in the posting

7

also require a benefits description

1

also require an application deadline

Plus 2 states require pay information later in the process (on request or before an offer) rather than in the posting. Browse every state's requirements →

Run this template through the free checker →

Before you post this template

Licensing is state-specific: confirm the certification lines match the requirements of each state where the role will practice. Posting requirements vary by state and change over time: 15 of the jurisdictions in our state-by-state coverage require a pay range in job postings. This template ships with a pay-range example placeholder — replace it with your actual range, then run the finished posting through the free pay-transparency checker for each state you're hiring in.

Run this template through the free pay-transparency checker →

Certified Nursing Assistant template FAQs

Is a certified nursing assistant exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?

Certified nursing assistants are generally classified as non-exempt (hourly), which is how this template marks the role. Confirm the classification against the FLSA duties and salary tests before you post.

What certification must a CNA posting require?

An active state nursing assistant certification — CNAs must complete a state-approved program and pass the competency exam. Name the specific certification and whether you accept candidates certified in other states' registries.

What should a CNA pay range look like?

Post an hourly range that matches what the role actually pays, and spell out shift differentials separately — CNAs compare starting pay and differentials closely. Replace the template's pay-range placeholder with your real range rather than a wide teaser.

Should a CNA posting describe the schedule?

Yes — shift length, rotation, and weekend and holiday expectations matter enormously to CNAs. State them plainly alongside the work-type line; candidates evaluate schedules as closely as pay.

Check posting laws by state

Pay transparency requirements differ from state to state. Browse the requirements for every state we cover, or paste your finished posting into the pay-transparency checker for an instant read.

Need to write the whole job description, not just check one?

Our generator builds a formatted, consistent job description from a short intake form.

Build a Job Description →