CNA License Lookup: How to Verify Your Certification by State

A CNA license lookup is the fastest way to confirm whether a certified nursing assistant holds an active, valid credential. Whether you're an employer running a background check or a CNA making sure your own record is clean, the process matters more than most people realize. Every state maintains its own nurse aide registry, and the steps you'll follow depend entirely on where the license was issued.

Why bother with a CNA lookup at all? Facilities that skip verification risk hiring someone whose certification has lapsed or—worse—been revoked for patient abuse. For CNAs themselves, a quick search can reveal errors on your record before they cost you a job offer. It's not paperwork for the sake of paperwork; it's a safeguard that protects patients and careers alike.

This guide walks you through the entire verification process state by state. You'll find direct links to each registry, learn what information you need to have on hand, and discover common pitfalls that trip people up. We also cover how long results typically take, what to do if your name doesn't appear, and the difference between a state registry search and a federal exclusion check. If you've ever typed "CNA license lookup" into a search bar and felt overwhelmed by the results, this page gives you everything in one place.

Running a CNA lookup usually starts at your state's department of health or board of nursing website. Most states let you search by name, license number, or Social Security number—though privacy rules vary. A certified nursing assistant license lookup in one state won't automatically show credentials from another, so if you've worked across state lines, you'll need to check each registry separately.

The information returned typically includes the CNA's full name, certification number, issue date, expiration date, and any findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property. Some states also list the training program the aide completed. If a record shows a "substantiated finding," that's a red flag—it means the state investigated an allegation and found enough evidence to confirm it.

Don't confuse a state registry search with the federal OIG Exclusion List. The Office of Inspector General maintains a separate database of individuals barred from participating in Medicare or Medicaid programs. Employers should check both. A CNA might have a clean state record but still appear on the federal list, or vice versa. Running both searches takes less than five minutes and could save your facility from serious legal liability.

If you need a CNA license lookup VA, Virginia makes it relatively straightforward. The Virginia Board of Nursing hosts an online license verification tool where you can search by name or license number. Results display within seconds and include the certification status, issue date, and any disciplinary actions. Virginia also participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact—though that applies to RNs and LPNs, not CNAs—so don't assume your CNA credential transfers automatically.

For a CA CNA license lookup, California's process runs through the Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS) under the California Department of Public Health. You'll need either the aide's full name or certification number. California is one of the stricter states when it comes to background checks, requiring fingerprinting and a criminal records review before issuing or renewing a CNA certificate. Results from the CA lookup include certification status, expiration date, and any findings on the federal abuse registry.

Both states offer free online searches—no account creation required. However, if you need an official verification letter for employment or reciprocity purposes, you may have to submit a formal request and pay a small fee. Virginia charges around $10 for a written verification, while California's ATCS provides electronic verification at no cost for most purposes.

The Louisiana certified nursing assistant registry operates through the Louisiana Department of Health's Health Standards Section. You can search the registry online by entering the CNA's name or certification number. Louisiana requires nurse aides to complete at least 80 hours of state-approved training—higher than the federal minimum of 75 hours—and pass both a written and skills exam. The registry shows certification status, training completion date, and any substantiated findings.

New York's system works differently. The NY certified nursing assistant registry is maintained by the New York State Department of Health's Nurse Aide Registry. You can verify a CNA's status by calling the registry hotline or submitting a written request; New York doesn't offer a public-facing online search tool for nurse aides the way many other states do. This can be frustrating for employers who need quick answers, but the phone verification process typically returns results the same day.

Both Louisiana and New York require CNAs to work at least eight hours of paid nursing-related employment within the most recent 24-month period to maintain active status. If you can't find a CNA in either registry, the certification may have lapsed due to inactivity rather than any disciplinary issue. In that case, the aide would need to retake the competency exam—and in some cases, repeat the entire training program—before being reinstated.

For a WV CNA license lookup, West Virginia's Nurse Aide Registry is managed by the WV Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. The online search tool lets you verify a CNA's status by name or certification number. West Virginia requires 120 hours of training—well above the federal minimum—and the registry reflects both the training completion date and exam results. If you're searching for someone who trained in WV but moved, their record stays in the WV registry unless they formally transfer.

A CNA license lookup Indiana runs through the Indiana State Department of Health's Nurse Aide Registry. Indiana offers a straightforward online portal where you can search by first name, last name, or registry number. The state requires 105 hours of nurse aide training, and the registry shows certification status, any findings, and the expiration date. Indiana CNAs must renew every two years and provide proof of employment to maintain active status.

Both West Virginia and Indiana make their registries freely accessible online—no login or account creation needed. This is a big plus for hiring managers who need to verify credentials quickly. If you get a "no results found" message, double-check your spelling. Hyphenated names, name changes after marriage, and common misspellings are the top reasons searches come back empty when a valid certification actually exists.

When it comes to Florida certified nursing assistant license verification, the Sunshine State routes everything through the Florida Board of Nursing under the Department of Health. You can access their MQA (Medical Quality Assurance) Services portal to search by name, license number, or city. Florida's system is one of the more user-friendly options—results load quickly, and the interface is clean enough that even first-time users won't struggle. The record shows certification status, original issue date, expiration, and any disciplinary history.

A VA CNA license lookup (that's Virginia again, for those keeping track) uses the same Board of Nursing portal mentioned earlier. Virginia's system lets you filter by license type, so make sure you select "CNA" or "Nurse Aide" rather than the default RN option. One common mistake: people search for "certified nursing assistant" in the license type dropdown when the actual label is "Nurse Aide I" or "Nurse Aide II" depending on the level. Getting the filter wrong returns zero results even when the record exists.

Florida requires 120 hours of training and background screening through a Level 2 check, which includes FBI fingerprinting. Virginia requires 120 hours as well but uses a state-level background check unless the employer is a federal facility. Both states update their online registries within 7–10 business days of any status change, so if a CNA just passed their exam, there might be a short lag before the record appears online.

A CNA license lookup PA goes through the Pennsylvania Department of State's Nurse Aide Registry. Pennsylvania's online system is part of the PALS (Pennsylvania Licensing System) portal, and you can search by name or license number. One quirk with PA: their registry distinguishes between "Nurse Aide" and "Nurse Aide—Temporary," so make sure you're looking at the right credential type. Temporary permits are issued while background check results are pending and expire after 120 days.

For a CNA license lookup WV, you're heading back to the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. WV's online search tool is basic but functional—enter the name, hit search, and results appear in a simple table format. West Virginia is one of the states that lists the specific training program on the registry record, which can be useful for employers who prefer candidates from certain approved programs. The registry also flags whether the CNA completed additional specialty training, such as medication administration.

Pennsylvania and West Virginia both participate in reciprocity agreements, meaning a CNA certified in one state can apply to transfer their credential to the other without retaking the full exam. However, you still need to apply through the new state's registry, pass a background check, and sometimes complete additional training hours if the original state's requirements were lower. Reciprocity isn't automatic—it's a formal process that typically takes 4–8 weeks to complete.

A Maryland CNA license lookup uses the Maryland Board of Nursing's online verification system. Maryland's portal is integrated with their general nursing license lookup, so you'll need to filter specifically for "CNA" or "Geriatric Nursing Assistant" (GNA)—Maryland uses both designations depending on the work setting. The registry shows certification status, expiration date, original issue date, and any disciplinary actions. Maryland requires 100 hours of approved training, and CNAs must renew every two years.

The Georgia certified nursing assistant registry is maintained by the Georgia Department of Community Health. Georgia's system uses the GANAR (Georgia Nurse Aide Registry) portal, which is separate from the Board of Nursing's website. You can search by name, Social Security number (last four digits), or certification number. Georgia requires 85 hours of training and a competency evaluation. The registry clearly flags any findings and lists the date they were added, which helps employers understand the timeline of any issues.

Both Maryland and Georgia offer free online verification with no registration required. Georgia's portal is particularly well-designed—it returns comprehensive results on a single page, including training program information and employment verification dates. Maryland's system works well too, but the dual CNA/GNA designation confuses some users. If you can't find someone in the Maryland registry, try searching under both credential types before assuming the record doesn't exist.

If you're searching for a west virginia cna license lookup, remember that WV maintains a unified registry through the Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. The online portal at wvrnboard.wv.gov lets you search by last name, first name, or certification number. West Virginia's registry is updated in real time as new certifications are issued and old ones expire, which is a step ahead of states that batch-process updates weekly. You'll see the CNA's status, training program, certification dates, and any substantiated findings all on one results page.

A Virginia CNA license lookup can also be performed through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's (NCSBN) Nursys verification system, though this primarily covers RNs and LPNs. For CNA-specific searches in Virginia, stick with the Virginia Board of Nursing's direct portal at dhp.virginia.gov. Virginia's interface lets you search by license type, name, city, or license number—and unlike some states, it shows both active and inactive records. This is helpful when you're trying to determine whether someone's certification lapsed versus was formally revoked.

Both states take abuse findings seriously. West Virginia and Virginia are required by federal law to report any substantiated findings to the state registry within 10 working days of the investigation's conclusion. These findings remain on the record permanently—there's no appeals process that removes them, though some states allow CNAs to submit a written rebuttal that's attached to the file. If you see a finding on a record, contact the registry for the full investigation summary before making any employment decision.

Looking for a CNA license lookup MA? Massachusetts routes nurse aide verification through the Department of Public Health's Nurse Aide Registry. You can call the registry at (617) 753-8144 or submit a written request, but Massachusetts also offers limited online verification through their licensee database. The Massachusetts CNA license lookup process requires the aide's full name and, ideally, a certification number for faster results. Massachusetts mandates 100 hours of training and 75 hours of clinical experience—one of the more demanding requirements in the country.

Massachusetts is notable for requiring ongoing competency evaluations beyond the initial certification exam. Every two years, CNAs must demonstrate that they've maintained their skills through documented employment and, in some cases, additional in-service training. The registry reflects this by showing not just the certification status but also the date of the most recent competency evaluation. If that date is more than 24 months old and the CNA hasn't been employed, their certification may be listed as "lapsed" rather than "expired."

For employers in Massachusetts, the registry check is just one piece of the puzzle. The state also requires Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) checks and, for certain facilities, Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) screenings. These are separate from the nurse aide registry and must be completed independently. The combined process—registry check, CORI, and SORI—typically takes 1–3 weeks to complete, so factor that into your hiring timeline when bringing on new CNAs.