Certified Nursing Assistants must have a current license with the Nursing Aid Registry in order to be employed by any institution in America. Most state nursing boards will send you notification when it’s time to renew your license; however, it’s up to you to take the necessary steps to keep your license active.
Most states typically require CNAs to renew their license every two years in order to stay actively employed, but there are many different circumstances that can affect the status of your license. Here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
Note: These answers are NOT definitive. The rules may vary depending on your state. Make sure you check with your state nursing board, DOH or CNA registry for the most accurate information. The guide below is simply there to give you a general idea of the regulations.
For State Specific Info, Please Select Your State Below:
Can You Transfer Your CNA License to Another State?
CNAs can transfer their licenses to other states by following the reciprocity process. The first step is to contact the Nurses Aide Registry in your current state of employment and request an application for enrollment by reciprocity.
Complete the application and send it to the nurse’s aide registry of the state that you are moving to. Sometimes, the state that you are applying to needs the information, while other times it’s your home registry that will retain the reciprocity application. Make sure you clarify which registry that needs the application. It’s also a good idea to always make copies of any information that you send to the registry for your files.
How Do I Renew My Expired CNA License?
Most states will send you a license renewal notification approximately every two years. It’s important to keep your current address information updated with your state’s CNA registry for this reason.
Prior to renewal, you have to pay a fee that differs from state to state.
The renewal notice is usually sent to you 60 days prior to your license expiration. In most states, the renewal process can be done online. CNAs must meet certain continuing education requirements each year prior to license renewal. Your state’s board of nursing will notify you of your specific states CE requirements.
Keep in mind that if your CNA license has been expired for more than five years, you will need to retake a CNA training program and successfully pass your states CNA examination.
Status of License if You Didn’t Meet CEU Requirements in the Past Two Years
CNAs must complete certain in-service training to meet continuing education requirements for renewal of certification. The CEU requirements can vary by state, and the necessary training can be found at your place of employment or online through your state’s registry.
CNAs must provide the licensing division with proof of the completed CEUs in order to keep their certification active. CNAs that allow their license to lapse longer than two years will have to complete a 75-hour training program and retest in order to measure their competency.
Status of License if You Haven’t Worked in the Past Two Years
In most states, CNAs that work at least eight hours within two years can renew their license by filling out the required paperwork and paying the necessary fees. The renewal process is different if you haven’t been actively employed as a CNA within the past two years.
If you have had a 24-month lapse in employment, you will be required to retake the certified nursing assistant training program and retake the test in many states. Because requirements may vary, inquire with your state nurse’s aid registry.
How do You Find the Status of Your License?
If you suspect that your license might be up for renewal, you can check on the status of your license by accessing your states CNA registry online. Conduct a search by your license number or name on the certification verification page.
Additionally, many states maintain toll-free numbers that you can call to check the status of your license.
Why Didn’t You Receive Your Renewal Notification in the Mail?
If you have moved and failed to provide your new address to your sate’s licensing authority, you may not receive the renewal notification in the mail. That’s why the burden rests on you to always update your information with the licensing authority.
Regardless of why you didn’t receive your renewal notification, you should call your nurse’s aide registry or inquire online about your current status. Additionally, know the rules and time frame of your state regarding the status of your license.
Can You Take the CNA Test in Another State?
Sometimes prospective CNAs want to take the nurse’s aide exam in a different state than they are receiving their current training. The CNA test varies from state to state; however, as long as your training program was certified in your state, you can generally take the CNA exam in any state.
Check with your state’s nursing board to confirm that your training program is certified. Keep in mind that in most states, training is valid for one year, so it’s important to take the exam within a year after completion of your training program.
Does Working as a Home Health Aid Count Toward Certification Renewal?
Many states have different regulations regarding the amount of hours you must work to qualify for recertification. Some states require only eight hours of work within a two-year duration, while others can require up to 40 hours of work as a CNA.
Home health aides and certified nurse’s assistants have different training requirements. An HHA works at the residence of the patient, while a CNA can work in a variety of settings to include a patient’s residence. CNAs are required to fulfill a training program and pass a state exam before they are eligible for employment. Because the requirements for an HHA are not always as stringent, this type of work does not count toward certification renewal.
Can I Obtain CNA Certification If I Have A Criminal Record?
You can take the CNA exam if you have a criminal record, but you may have issues finding employment. Your potential employment opportunities depend on the severity of the crime. If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor in the past, it will depend on the actual crime and the specific rules of your prospective employer.
Most employers conduct background checks, and if you have been convicted of a felony some employers will not allow you to work; however, there are employers who will consider the circumstances of the crime and the amount of time that has passed since the conviction. Check with your state’s licensing authority to make sure there are no issues prior to training.
Helpful Resource
The state of Missouri has a very long FAQ section for nursing assistants. You can access it here
While they are for Missouri only, a lot of the rules are similar across all states(Any answer that mentions “federal” applies to all states). Always make sure to contact the State nursing board/CNA registry for the most accurate information.
Hi , I need to find info about what i need to do to become a CNA , i have finished college in the united kingdom 11 years ago i am a us citizen i just dont know what steps i need to take please help.
Hi. You should be able to get your CNA training from any accredited provider. Just browse the CNA classes by state page above and select your state to get a list of training providers.
Hello- I am looking at taking a nursing assistant training program in Minnesota with the hopes of transferring to a two year rn program in Washington state. The rn program requires you have your nac. Two part question- is there any difference between cna and nac? And who would I contact concerning the my certification? As I want to train in Minnesota, but test in Washington?
Hi Olivia,
NAC – Nursing Assistant Certification. It is the same as a CNA. It would be really difficult to do your training in one state and certification in another. A lot of times states differ in their training requirements so unless Mn and Wa have the same training hours requirements it will be hard to do the test in Washington. I would suggest doing the training and test in Minnesota and then transferring your certification to Washington at a later date.
Hello I am a licensed caregiver and am interested in further my profession to and becoming a LPN. My question is do u need to have a CNA license first.
Not necessarily. You will need to check the requirements of the college where you want to get your LPN certification from. Having a CNA certification will however prepare you for a career in nursing as well as give you an edge over other candidates in a limited seats LPN program
I am going to be moving to another state very shortly and I have done my research on transferring my CNA license…there was only one question I was unable to find…I understand that it says it is a tedious and long process but my question is, typically how long does it take for the transfer?
It isn’t a long process if you have your paperwork in order. It normally takes less than six weeks.
I got certified through my employer in 2004. My registration expired in 2007 in Texas. I am wondering if I have to train and test again or if I can just test to recertify
no you just have to renew it..you dont have to take any test…are you still working for your employer? as long as you have worked there for the past year they will renew it even if you are not working there any longer..
I am very interested in becoming an RN. My question is the protocal needed to obtain this position. I already possess a B.S. in an unrelated field. I have heard that you could obtain a CNA, then after gaining it work to gain your RN. I was wonderring if this was accurate and could be explained in better detail.
if i took my cna training class in illinois and it was a accredited training program am i able to take my cerifacation test in the state of WA
I graduated high school back in may 2006 as a CNA and I haven’t worked as one since. Will I have to retake the course or if I can just take the test. I believe I am coming up on my five years I think. What can I do?
If I took CNA classes in Michigan but moved to Texas before I took the state exam, can I just test out in Texas or do I have to take the classes again?
Good news for you! Texas is one of the only states that will allow anyone from any other state to challange the CNA exam! God Bless Texas indeed!
I have been in nursing school for two years in florida. I have over 50 hours of clinical experience and over 50 hours of classroom instruction. Do I have to take a CNA class in WA or can I take a test to get my license?
When I was let go from the nursing home i worked at for 8 years in SC, I got the letter sent to me to renew my license. It stated if i didn’t work with a nursing home, i had to pay to renew it myself which i did. However, i got the letter back stating the employer part had not been filled out…i didn’t get my license renewed nor did i get my money back. What do i do now?
I received an reciprocity from Georgia in 2010 but it expired is it possible to re apply again or will i have to take a test ?
Hi, I’m a convicted felon who’s trying to better myself. So far I’ve asked questions and research to see if I can get my CNA tho the answer is yes base on my charge I wanted to know how long do I have to wait to start taking my classes?
I received my CNA & GNA in Maryland 2010 in 2011 I plead guilty to 2nd degree assault & was put on unsupervised probation it’s time to renew my license will it disqualify me from continuing to do Nursing Assistant ??
I got certified in 1994 work at this rehab and a veteran facility. But decided to go back to school for a backup plan. When I got my degree in 2000, I was still as a certified nursing assistant, workig in an offce and sitting with a mental challenger child at a school who need a person with nursing assistant background. When time to get my CNA renewed I couldn’t but would like to know the explanation of this situation. However, I’m still working with this mental challenged child and would like to get my certification reinstated.. I would like to know if I have to take the class all over again or could I just take the certification again.
Hi, I am currently attending school in Arizona, but I am from California. Would I be able to take a certified CNA class in California and then take the exam in Arizona? Or would it be better to take the exam in California and then transfer it to Arizona? I am hoping to work in a hospital where I attend school in Arizona after I complete the class and become certified.
I need to swicth from pa to md
I had my CNA in Florida but im about to move in North Dakota, what would I have to do to transfer up to North Dakota?
i finished and passed the course but i never took the exam its been a 1 year do i have to retake the course before i can take the exam
My sister received her NA license two years ago and was accused of neglecet and stealing a residents property her license expires in August does she have a second chance to take the NA test over n be certified again with out the past coming back to haunt her she says she didn’t do what she was accused for n still wants to work in the nursing field
If I worked in a state job as a mental health technical for 25 years,is my nurses aide certificate valid to go back to work in a nursing home?
can i become a cna with a operating while intoxicated charage on my record in michigan? i was under the age of 18 and it was 3 years ago.
i was arrested 3 yrs ago for assault but charges were dropped because i had alot of marks on me from my husband and they said in my case it was self defense how long before i can work at a nursing home again
I’m so confused on what I should do. I moved from California to South Carolina and my cna expired before I could get it transferred. So now I need to know my options but can’t seem to get a straight answer anywhere! Should I reinstate my cna in California then attempt to transfer it or would it be easier to do something in sc like take the state exam and would I then have my cna for here?? Please help!
I am working as a CNA in Washington State. My husband and I want to move to Hawaii, but don’t want to move tell I have a job lined up in Hawaii. My question is if I transfer my CNA license to Hawaii, can I still work in Washington State until I get a job offer in Hawaii. Thank you and any help will be greatly appreciated.