Alabama CNA Registry
Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry.
Visit Official Registry24 months
Renewal Period
At least 8 hours of paid nursing services for compensation under the supervision of a licensed nurse during every 24-month period
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your Alabama CNA License
Open the ADPH Nurse Aide Registry website
Navigate to the official Alabama Nurse Aide Registry search page at dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry. This is the only authoritative ADPH lookup — third-party verification sites are not the official record.
Enter the CNA's Social Security Number
Alabama uses the aide's full Social Security Number as the registry identifier. Enter the nine-digit SSN exactly as it appears on the aide's Social Security card and select Search. The system does not support name-only lookups, which protects against misidentification.
Review the Nurse Aide Status Report
The results page displays the aide's name, certification status, original certification date, renewal expiration, and any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. You can save or print the status report as a PDF for your records — Adobe Reader is required.
Confirm eligibility before hiring or for personal verification
Verify that the status reads 'Active' and that no findings appear. For employer pre-hire screening this is required by federal OBRA-87. For phone verification of unusual cases, call ADPH at (334) 206-5169 or email [email protected] during business hours.
About the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry
The Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry is the official record of all CNAs eligible to work in Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities in Alabama. It is maintained by the Division of Health Care Facilities at the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and serves as the federally required OBRA-87 nurse aide registry for the state. The registry records each aide's certification status, training history, employment eligibility, and any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property.
Unlike most states, Alabama does not issue a physical CNA certificate or assign a separate license number. Instead, your Social Security Number functions as your registry ID, and the public online registry at dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry is the authoritative proof of your active status. Employers in Alabama are required by federal regulation to verify each candidate's listing through this registry before allowing them to work as a nurse aide in any long-term care, hospital-based skilled, or ICF/IID setting.
The registry also tracks reciprocity applicants from other states and processes all CNA renewals on a 24-month cycle based on documented paid work. ADPH publishes the official Nurse Aide Registry Search FAQ at dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry/FAQ and the registry team can be reached at (334) 206-5169 or by email at [email protected] for verification, renewal, and abuse-finding inquiries.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/providerstandards/nurseaide.htmlPhone Number
(334) 206-5169Mailing Address
Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry\nAlabama Department of Public Health\nDivision of Health Care Facilities\nThe RSA Tower, Suite 700\n201 Monroe Street\nMontgomery, AL 36104
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM Central Time
Alabama CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
Alabama uses Prometric to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
Visit PrometricTraining Requirements
Alabama requires 75 hours minimum, including 16 hours of supervised clinical training. Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find Alabama CNA ClassesAlabama CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
Alabama CNA certification is valid for 24 months from the date of initial certification or last renewal.
Work Requirement
You must perform at least At least 8 hours of paid nursing services for compensation under the supervision of a licensed nurse during every 24-month period during your certification period to be eligible for renewal.
Employer Verification
Your employer verifies your work hours directly through the registry system. Keep your contact information current with your employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify someone is on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry?
Visit the official ADPH Alabama Nurse Aide Registry search page at dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry. Enter the aide's full Social Security Number (which serves as the certification number in Alabama) and click Search to review the registry listing, certification status, and any reported findings. The lookup is free, public, and available 24/7. You can also call ADPH at (334) 206-5169 during business hours for phone verification or email [email protected].
What information does the Alabama registry show?
The registry displays the CNA's name, current certification status (active, expired, or with findings), the date of original certification, the next renewal date, and any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property under federal OBRA-87 rules. A separate Abuse List PDF is also available for download from the registry website.
How is Alabama's registry different from other states?
Three things make Alabama distinctive: ADPH issues no physical certificate or paper card, no separate CNA number is assigned (your Social Security Number is your ID), and the entire verification system runs through ADPH's in-house database at dph1.adph.state.al.us rather than a vendor portal like Prometric, Credentia, or Headmaster. Prometric administers the exam but does not host the registry.
How often does the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry update?
Prometric reports passing exam scores to ADPH electronically, and most newly certified aides appear on the registry within a few business days. Renewal updates and work-history entries from employers are typically processed within 1-2 weeks. Findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation are added after ADPH's Division of Health Care Facilities completes its investigation.
What if my Alabama CNA certification has expired?
If you fail to document at least 8 hours of paid nursing services for compensation under the supervision of a licensed nurse during a 24-month period, your status moves to expired and you are no longer eligible to work as a CNA in Alabama. To return to work, you must complete a full 75-hour ADPH-approved Nurse Aide Training Program (NATCEP) and pass the Prometric exam again. There is no refresher-only pathway in Alabama.
Does Alabama accept out-of-state CNAs through reciprocity?
Yes. CNAs currently active and in good standing on another state's registry can apply for Alabama reciprocity by submitting ADPH's Reciprocity/Endorsement application with verification of out-of-state certification and proof of at least 8 hours of paid nurse aide work in the past 24 months. There must be no substantiated findings on any registry. ADPH typically adds approved reciprocity applicants to the Alabama registry within 2-4 weeks and no Prometric exam is required.
Alabama CNA Refresher Topics
Whether you are preparing to renew your Alabama certification, brushing up before returning to work, or studying for the Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry reinstatement exam, these free guides cover the topics most commonly tested:
Patient Rights & HIPAA
OBRA '87 resident rights, mandatory reporting, advance directives — essential for any Alabama CNA returning to active status.
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE protocols, and transmission-based precautions for Alabama nurse aides working with vulnerable residents.
Safety & Emergencies
Fall prevention, RACE/PASS fire response, choking, and CPR — heavily tested on Alabama CNA reinstatement exams.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, toileting, and incontinence management procedures used daily by Alabama CNAs in long-term care.
Dementia & Cognitive Care
Validation therapy, sundowning, and de-escalation techniques for working with cognitively impaired residents in Alabama.
Body Systems & Conditions
Recognizing strokes (FAST), hypoglycemia, pressure injuries, and CHF — essential clinical knowledge for active Alabama CNAs.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, negligence, mandatory reporting, and professional boundaries — review essentials for any Alabama CNA renewing certification.
Communication & SBAR
SBAR handoff, therapeutic responses, and adaptations for hearing- or vision-impaired residents — practical refreshers for Alabama CNAs.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective documentation, pain scales, and what to report immediately — refresh the rules used daily by Alabama CNAs.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, recognizing signs of approaching death, and postmortem care — for Alabama CNAs in long-term care settings.
Becoming a CNA in Alabama?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in Alabama, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.