How to Verify a CNA Certification: State Registry Lookup for Certified Nursing Assistants

Key takeaway

Every state maintains a Nurse Aide Registry that is publicly searchable and updated when a CNA is certified, decertified, or placed on the registry for abuse, neglect, or misappropriation findings. CNA verification is a two-step process: (1) check the state nurse aide registry in the state where the CNA currently works, and (2) check the OIG LEIE (federal exclusion list) for Medicare/Medicaid exclusions. For long-term care facilities, both checks are legally required.

What CNA certification means

Under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA '87), nursing homes receiving Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement must ensure that nursing assistants complete a state-approved training and competency evaluation program (NATCEP) before providing care. This created the state nurse aide registry system.

CNA certification is not a federal license — it is a state-level certification, maintained in each state's registry. The certification documents:

Successful completion of a state-approved NATCEP (typically 75+ hours of training)
Passing the state competency evaluation exam (written + skills)
Any findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property
Certification renewal status (most states require renewal every 2 years via active employment in nursing)

Important: registry listings are not just for good standing

The state nurse aide registry also lists CNAs with substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property. These individuals are prohibited from working in Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities. Always check for registry findings, not just certification status.

Step 1: Search the state nurse aide registry

The state where the CNA is currently employed or seeking employment is the primary registry to check. Each state's Department of Health (or equivalent agency) maintains the registry. Most registries are searchable by name and/or certification number.

Major state registry links

California: CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS) — ezverify.cdph.ca.gov
Texas: Texas DADS Nurse Aide Registry — hhs.texas.gov/nar
Florida: Florida AHCA CNA Verification — ahca.myflorida.com
New York: NYS DOH Nurse Aide Registry — health.ny.gov/facilities/nursing
Illinois: Illinois IDPH Healthcare Worker Registry — idfpr.illinois.gov
Pennsylvania: PA DOH Nurse Aide Registry — health.pa.gov
Ohio: Ohio Department of Health NATCEP Registry — healthspace.com/Clients/Ohio
Georgia: Georgia NATP Registry — ga-natp.com

For all 50 states: the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) maintains a directory of state nurse aide registries at ncsbn.org.

When reviewing registry results, confirm:

Certification status: Active/current vs. expired or inactive
Certification expiration: Most states require renewal every 24 months
Abuse/neglect findings: Any substantiated finding disqualifies from CMS-certified facilities
Name match: Verify the full name and date of birth where available

Step 2: Reciprocity and out-of-state CNAs

CNAs who move across state lines must transfer or re-register their certification in the new state. Most states offer reciprocity for out-of-state CNAs with a clean record, but the process is not automatic.

If a candidate recently moved from another state, verify both:

The original state's nurse aide registry (to confirm the certification is valid and has no findings)
The new state's registry (to confirm the transfer/re-registration is complete)

A CNA can legally work for up to 4 months in a new state while their reciprocity application is pending, provided they are in good standing in their original state. After 4 months, they must appear on the new state's registry.

Step 3: Check federal exclusion lists

For any position in a Medicare- or Medicaid-certified facility, employers are required to check whether a candidate or current employee has been excluded from federal healthcare programs. Two databases:

OIG LEIE — List of Excluded Individuals and Entities

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) maintains the LEIE, which lists individuals excluded from participating in Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare programs. Search at oig.hhs.gov/exclusions. OIG recommends checking the LEIE monthly for current employees in addition to pre-hire. Knowingly employing an excluded individual can result in civil monetary penalties of up to $10,000 per day of prohibited employment.

SAM.gov — System for Award Management

The General Services Administration's SAM.gov exclusion list covers federal contractors but also includes some healthcare-related exclusions that may not yet appear in the OIG LEIE. CMS-regulated facilities typically check both databases. Search at sam.gov/content/exclusions.

CNA vs. related designations

Several related titles are sometimes confused with CNA certification:

Title	What it means	Verify through
CNA	Certified Nursing Assistant — state NATCEP completion	State nurse aide registry
CNA-II / CNA Advanced	Higher-level CNA with additional skills (medication aide, restorative aide) — not all states use this designation	State nurse aide registry (may be separate tier)
HHA	Home Health Aide — often requires CNA or equivalent training; Medicare home health regulations require competency evaluation	State HHA registry or nurse aide registry (varies by state)
PCT	Patient Care Technician — hospital-based role, often requires CNA plus phlebotomy/EKG training. Not a licensed credential.	No separate registry; verify underlying CNA
NA-C / NRCMA	National Nurse Aide Assessment Program — national exam used by many states; not a separate registry	Pearson VUE (prometric.com/nur)

CNA verification checklist

Search the nurse aide registry in the state where the CNA currently works or is applying to work
Confirm certification status is Active and not expired
Check for any substantiated abuse, neglect, or misappropriation findings on the registry listing
For out-of-state candidates, also verify the original state's registry
Search OIG LEIE for federal exclusions (required for Medicare/Medicaid facilities)
Set a calendar reminder to re-verify OIG LEIE monthly for current employees (per CMS guidance)

Verify education credentials for healthcare hires

VerifyED helps confirm that the training programs and schools in a CNA's background are legitimate and accredited — a key part of a complete pre-hire credential check.

Search Schools and Programs