You passed the CNA exam. Now you want to see your name on the list. That list is your state’s nurse aide registry, often called the CNA registry, and it matters more than the certificate you might frame for your wall. Employers check it before they hire you. Your certification lives there. If it lapses, the registry is where that shows up first.
This guide explains what the nurse aide registry is, how you get listed, how to do a CNA license lookup for yourself or someone else, what each registry status means, and how to keep your listing active for as long as you work as a nurse aide.
Bottom line: Every state keeps its own nurse aide registry. You are not certified until your name is on it, and every employer is required to check it. Look yourself up after you pass, and check again before every renewal.
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In This Article:
- What is the nurse aide registry?
- How you get listed on the registry
- How to do a CNA license lookup
- What your registry status means
- How employers use the registry
- How to keep your listing active
- Findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation
- If you move to another state
- Frequently asked questions
What Is the Nurse Aide Registry?
The nurse aide registry is the official state list of people who have completed a state-approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program, or who otherwise meet the state’s requirements to work as a nurse aide. Federal law requires every state to establish and maintain one. Depending on where you live, it may be run by the state department of health, the board of nursing, or a company the state contracts with.
You will hear it called several things: the nurse aide registry, the CNA registry, the CNA license lookup, or the state’s nurse aide I registry. In a few states the credential has its own name, such as STNA in Ohio or LNA in New Hampshire and Vermont, so the registry may use that title instead. Our guide to STNA vs. CNA explains why.
Under federal rules, each registry entry includes:
- Your full name
- Information that identifies you
- The date you became eligible to be placed on the registry
- Any findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property, along with a summary of the investigation and your statement if you dispute it
Note: CNAs are not listed in Nursys. Nursys is the national database for RN and LPN licenses. A nurse aide’s status is checked through the state nurse aide registry, or through the testing company that runs the registry for that state.
How You Get Listed on the Registry
In most states, the testing company places you on the state registry once you pass the certification exam. A few states, such as California and Florida, ask you to register yourself. You will not need to figure this out on your own. Training programs and state-approved testing companies provide state-specific candidate handbooks and registration instructions that tell you whether a separate state application is required, and they will walk you through each step.
Once you pass both the written (or oral) test and the skills test, your testing company or training program reports your results to the state, and the state adds you to the registry.
How fast that happens depends on your state and testing company. It can take anywhere from 72 hours to 6 weeks, depending on how quickly the state processes exam results, background checks, and verification of your training. Until you see your name on the registry, do not assume you are certified, and do not start a job that requires certification.
Important: Passing the exam is not the same as being certified. You are certified when your name appears on your state’s registry with an active status.
How to Do a CNA License Lookup
The steps are the same for checking your own status and for verifying someone else.
- Find the right state. Each state keeps its own registry, and there is no single national lookup for CNAs. Use our list of official CNA registry links for all 50 states to find yours.
- Open the lookup or verification tool. It may be called “Registry Search,” “License Lookup,” “Verify a Credential,” or something similar.
- Search by name or certification number. A certification number gives the most exact result. If you search by name, try your full legal name, and try any previous last names too.
- Check the details. Confirm the name, certification number, status, and expiration date. If something is wrong, contact the registry right away.
- Save a copy. Many registries let you print or download the result. Keep a copy with your training certificate and exam results.
If you have worked as a nurse aide in more than one state, look yourself up in each one. Each registry only shows what that state knows about you.
What Your Registry Status Means
States use different labels, but most statuses fall into one of these groups.
| Status | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Active | You are certified and eligible to work as a nurse aide in that state. | Note your expiration date and keep proof of your paid work hours. |
| Expired or lapsed | Your certification passed its renewal date without being renewed. | Contact the registry. Depending on how long it has lapsed, you may be able to renew, or you may need to retest or retrain. |
| Inactive | You are listed but not currently eligible to work, often because you have not worked as a nurse aide recently. | Ask the registry what you need to complete to become active again. |
| Finding on record | The state has a substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property. | Facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid cannot employ you as a nurse aide while the finding stands. |
Note: The exact wording varies by state. If a status on your record is unclear, call or email your state registry and ask what it means for your ability to work.
How Employers Use the Registry
The registry is not optional for employers. Under federal rules, before a nursing home that takes Medicare or Medicaid lets someone work as a nurse aide, it must get verification from the registry that the person has met the competency evaluation requirements. The facility must also check every state registry it believes may have information about that person.
That means your registry record is often the first thing a hiring manager looks at. A typo in your name, an old last name, or an expired status can slow down an otherwise easy hire. Look yourself up before you apply, so there are no surprises.
How to Keep Your Listing Active
Staying on the registry takes a little attention, but it is not hard if you keep track of a few things.
- Work as a nurse aide for pay. Federal law requires 8 paid working hours every 24 months. If you go 24 months in a row without providing nursing or nursing-related services for pay, the registry will remove your entry, and you will need to complete a new competency evaluation (and in some states, new training) to get back on.
- Complete your in-service education. Federal law requires at least 12 hours of in-service or continuing education a year. Some states require more, or specific topics such as dementia care or abuse prevention.
- Renew on time. Renewal periods and fees vary by state. Do not count on a reminder. Put your expiration date on your calendar.
- Keep your information current. If you change your name or address, update the registry. A renewal notice sent to an old address will not help you.
Our CNA license guide covers renewal in more detail.
Findings of Abuse, Neglect, or Misappropriation
The registry also protects residents. When a state investigates and substantiates a finding that a nurse aide abused or neglected a resident, or misappropriated a resident’s property, that finding goes on the registry. Federal rules require it to be added within 10 working days.
A finding stays on the registry permanently. It is removed only if the finding was made in error, the person is found not guilty in a court of law, or the state is notified of the person’s death. If a finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation is placed on your record, you will not be allowed to work as a nurse aide in any Medicare- or Medicaid-funded facility.
In some cases, a person with a single finding of neglect can petition the state to have it removed after at least one year. This applies only to neglect, never to abuse or misappropriation. Federal law is the floor that every state must follow, and states may add requirements. For example, California requires additional training on neglect and a period of supervised practice before you can work independently again. Findings are public, and the state must disclose them to anyone who asks.
Important: If you ever receive notice of an investigation, read it carefully and respond by the deadline. You have the right to a hearing and the right to have your statement disputing the finding included in the registry.
If You Move to Another State
Your listing on one state’s registry does not carry over to another. To work in a new state, you apply to be placed on that state’s registry, usually by endorsement, which some people call reciprocity. Many states accept an active, clean record from another state without retesting. Others ask for extra training hours or a new exam.
Start with the new state’s registry using our state-by-state links. For the full process, read our guides on how to transfer your CNA license to another state and holding a CNA license in more than one state.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the nurse aide registry the same as a CNA license?
Not exactly. Most states certify nurse aides rather than license them, and the registry is the official record of that certification. People still search for a “CNA license lookup,” and the registry is what that search should lead you to.
Is a CNA registry lookup free?
Yes. Every state provides free public online access to its nurse aide registry.
Does the registry show my home address?
No. Because of federal and state privacy laws, public lookups show only professional credential information: your name, certification number, status, and dates, along with any findings. They do not show your home address or Social Security number.
I passed my exam weeks ago and I am still not listed. What should I do?
Contact your testing company first to confirm your results were sent to the state. If they were, contact the state registry directly. Keep your exam results handy when you call.
If you are still preparing for the exam, a free CNA practice test is a good way to see where you stand. Once you pass, look yourself up, save a copy of your listing, and put your renewal date on the calendar. That small habit will save you a lot of trouble later.
