How To Verify Your CNA Certification

As a Certified Nursing Assistant, your license must be current all the time. Companies that you work for expect you to update and renew your certification when the need arises. This is in compliance with your state’s registry of nurse aide regulations, that you keep your license active to stay in touch with the latest trend in the health care field.  Because CNAs who are holders of an active license can easily find work and are more likely to get a raise from their current jobs.

The renewal process may be done online if your state’s nurse aide registry allows it. With your own username and password, you can login to their website’s system to fill out pertinent information about your certification. You are then required to pay renewal fees online to complete processing. There are cases when you need to complete educational requirements to qualify for license renewal although such condition may vary from state to state.

Confirming a Valid CNA Certificate

Sometimes circumstances get in the way and cause a delay in your license renewal. If you’re in the process of finding a job but don’t know the current status of your CNA certification, there are still ways to confirm its validity.

1.    Contact the school where you receive your CNA training and certification. They can help you obtain a copy of your certificate or assist in retrieving information regarding dates when you attended classes and passed the certification exam so at least you know if your license still falls within the active range.

2.    Visit or call your local nurse aide registry. This state agency has all the files and monitoring systems to track records of CNA certificates. Provide them your certificate information so they can look up your records and see if your license is still valid. You can search their website online to look for contact information and phone numbers.

3.    If you want to obtain a hard copy of your certificate, you need to call your local nurse aide registry for details. They may require you to do a request in writing so they can send you the documents to fill out at once. Try to visit their official website and find out if this document can be downloaded or completed online and if it can be submitted via email upon completion. Having a copy of your certificate allows you to present it to potential employers.

4.    If your state’s nurse aide registry sends you CNA verification forms to complete through snail mail, make sure to fill out the required fields with black or blue ink legibly.  Check all the information you’ve provided thoroughly before sending it back to them. This will help ensure that nothing has been missed out. Enclose any payment required for processing, making certain that you send the right amount being asked. Processing time may vary from state to state so you need to wait for a copy of your certification to arrive via mail before you can verify your license status with your employer.

A CNA certificate may expire in cases of inactive period or lapses in renewal. This may require the person to retake the CNA course again or attend training in a medical facility, in the same manner as he or she did previously. To maintain an active license, you are required to work for a specified number of hours within the two year period. You can check with your state’s CNA licensing office to determine the number of hours you will need to complete in a given time frame. Your CNA license will become inactive if you don’t comply with regulations. After five years of inactivity, your certificate may be marked as expired. Click here for more information.