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Resume Tips for New CNAs

For newly certified nursing assistants applying for a first CNA job.

By Resume Star · Updated October 2026

You finished your training and passed the state exam. Now every job post seems to ask for experience. The good news is that nursing homes, hospitals and home health agencies hire new CNAs all the time, and your certification is the most important thing they're looking for.

The tips below show you how to make your certification easy to find, turn your training clinicals into experience, and show the caregiving and work history you already have.

Start with the CNA template →

7 tips for a CNA resume with no experience

  1. Put your certification at the top. List "Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)" with your state's nurse aide registry and "active". Some states use other titles, such as STNA or LNA. Add BLS or CPR.
  2. Use your clinical hours as experience. List your training clinicals with the facility, the hours, and what you did: helping residents with ADLs, taking vital signs, safe transfers, and charting.
  3. Count caregiving. Caring for a grandparent, parent or family member with health needs is real experience. List it with what you did, for example help with bathing, mobility, meals and medication reminders.
  4. Show transferable work. Jobs in food service, retail, child care or cleaning show you are reliable, work well on your feet and can handle people who are upset. Pick 1 or 2 bullet points that matter in patient care.
  5. List the skills you were trained in. ADLs, vital signs, intake and output, transfers with a gait belt or Hoyer lift, infection control, fall prevention and dementia care.
  6. Write a short summary. "Newly certified nursing assistant with 100 hours of clinical training in long-term care. Patient, dependable and available for all shifts." Two sentences is enough.
  7. Mention your availability. If you can work nights, weekends or double shifts, say so. Many facilities hire for those shifts first.

Before and after

Before

Cashier. Rang up customers and stocked shelves.

After

Cashier, 2 years. Served 200+ customers per shift, calmed upset customers, and was trusted to open and close the store.

The second version shows what a nurse manager wants in a CNA: you can handle a busy shift, stay calm with people, and be trusted.

Example: CNA resume

This is the CNA template you will start with. If you don't have CNA work yet, rename "Professional Experience" to "Clinical Training and Experience" and put your clinicals first. Replace the sample details with your own. Every section can be renamed, reordered or removed.

Jasmine Reyes

3715 Hemphill St, Fort Worth, TX 76110

jasmine.reyes@email.com  •  (817)-555-2694

Summary

Compassionate Certified Nursing Assistant with 3+ years of experience in long-term care and short-term rehabilitation. Skilled in assisting residents with daily living activities, monitoring vital signs, and keeping accurate records. Known for patience, reliability and teamwork with nurses and therapists.

Licenses & Certifications

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Certified 2021

Texas Nurse Aide Registry, active

Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR)
Current

American Heart Association

Core Competencies

  • Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Vital Signs, Intake & Output, Safe Transfers & Hoyer Lift, Fall Prevention, Infection Control, Dementia Care, Electronic Charting (PointClickCare).

Professional Experience

Certified Nursing Assistant
Apr 2023 - Present

Westside Health & Rehabilitation, Fort Worth, TX
  • Provide daily care for 10-12 residents per shift, including bathing, dressing, feeding and toileting.
  • Take and record vital signs, weights and intake and output, and report changes to the charge nurse.
  • Reposition and transfer residents safely using gait belts and Hoyer lifts.
  • Chart care in PointClickCare and help orient new CNAs to the unit.

Nurse Aide
Jun 2021 - Mar 2023

Sunrise Senior Living, Arlington, TX
  • Assisted memory care residents with daily routines and activities.
  • Supported residents during meals and monitored nutrition and hydration.
  • Kept rooms clean and safe to prevent falls and infections.

Education

Nurse Aide Training Program
Completed 2021

Tarrant County College, Fort Worth, TX

High School Diploma
Graduated 2020

South Hills High School, Fort Worth, TX
Use this template

Checklist

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a CNA job with no experience?

Yes. Many long-term care facilities, hospitals and home health agencies hire newly certified CNAs and train them on the job. Your certification, your clinical training and a reliable work history are what they look for.

How do I list clinical hours on my resume?

Treat them like a job. Put the facility name, "Clinical Training" as the title, the dates and the hours. Then add 2 or 3 bullet points about the care you gave.

Can I apply before I get my certification?

Some employers hire nurse aides in training, and some will pay for your training. If you are waiting on exam results, write "Certified Nursing Assistant: state exam passed, registry listing pending" or the date you are scheduled to test.

Should I include jobs that have nothing to do with healthcare?

Yes. They show you can keep a job and show up on time, which matters a lot for CNA roles. Keep each to 1 or 2 bullet points about skills that also matter in patient care.

Is a one-page resume enough?

Yes. For a first CNA job, one page is right. Put your certification and clinical training near the top.

I want to become an LPN or RN later. Should I mention it?

Yes, briefly. Many employers help pay for nursing school, so a line like "Planning to start an LPN program in 2027" can help. When you get there, see resume tips for new LPNs.

Certification titles, training hours and registry rules vary by state. Check your state's nurse aide registry for what applies to you.

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