California CNA Registry
Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official California Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Registry.
Visit Official Registry2 years
Renewal Period
8 hours of paid nursing services under RN/LVN supervision over 2 years
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your California CNA License
Open the CDPH L&C Certification Verification tool
Go to the official California Department of Public Health verification site, which covers CNAs, Home Health Aides, Certified Hemodialysis Technicians, and Nursing Home Administrators.
Open CDPH VerificationSelect the certificate type
From the certificate type dropdown choose 'Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)' so the search is limited to the Nurse Aide Registry rather than other CDPH credentials.
Enter search criteria
Search by certificate/license number for an exact match, or by last name and first name. You can also enter just the first letter of the last name to browse a broader list. Submit the query to retrieve matching CNAs.
Review the certification status
Confirm the CNA's name, certificate number, issue and expiration dates, and current status. Only Active, Denied, Suspended, and Revoked statuses are displayed. For questions about a record contact CDPH ATCS at (916) 327-2445 or [email protected].
About the California Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Registry
California's Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) program is administered by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) through its Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS), which maintains the official Nurse Aide Registry and verifies that every CNA working in a skilled nursing or long-term care facility meets state standards. CDPH approves training programs, processes initial applications and reciprocity packages, and publishes active, denied, suspended, and revoked certification statuses through its online L&C Certification Verification tool at cvl.cdph.ca.gov.
California requires a minimum of 160 hours of state-approved Nurse Assistant Training Program (NATP) instruction before a candidate can sit for the competency examination. That total breaks down into at least 60 hours of classroom theory and at least 100 hours of supervised clinical training in a licensed healthcare facility, and is more than double the federal Nurse Aide Training Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) minimum of 75 hours required under OBRA. Applicants must also complete Live Scan fingerprinting for a Department of Justice and FBI background check before certification is issued.
Demand for CNAs in California is consistently strong. Nearly 60% of Californians live in a designated nursing shortage area, and the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) projects the state will need tens of thousands of additional nursing personnel by the mid-2030s to keep pace with an aging population. CNAs are a critical entry point into that workforce, staffing skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, and home-health agencies across the state's 58 counties under direct RN and LVN supervision.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/CNA.aspxPhone Number
(916) 327-2445Mailing Address
California Department of Public Health Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS) MS 3301 P.O. Box 997416 Sacramento, CA 95899-7416
California CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
California uses D&SDT-Headmaster and Credentia (CDPH-approved CNA testing vendors) to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
Visit D&SDT-Headmaster and Credentia (CDPH-approved CNA testing vendors)Training Requirements
California requires 160 hours (minimum 60 classroom + minimum 100 supervised clinical). Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find California CNA ClassesCalifornia CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
California CNA certification is valid for 2 years from the date of initial certification or last renewal.
Work Requirement
You must perform at least 8 hours of paid nursing services under RN/LVN supervision over 2 years 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 often must a California CNA renew, and is there a renewal fee?
California CNA certificates must be renewed every 2 years. CDPH does not charge a renewal fee for a standard CNA renewal. To renew you must complete 48 hours of CDPH-approved in-service training (with at least 12 hours each year) and have at least 8 hours of paid CNA work under RN or LVN supervision during the certification period.
What is Form CDPH 283C and how do I file it?
Form CDPH 283C is the California CNA Renewal Application. Submit it to the CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section before your certificate's expiration date, along with documentation of your 48 hours of CDPH-approved in-service training and 8 hours of paid CNA work over the 2-year cycle. Out-of-state CNAs seeking reciprocity instead file Form CDPH 283E with verification of their active out-of-state certification.
What in-service training must I complete during a renewal cycle?
California requires 48 hours of CDPH-approved in-service training during each 2-year renewal period, with at least 12 hours completed each year. Topics must include patient rights, communication, infection control, and other CDPH-mandated competencies. Your employer typically provides this training and reports completion to CDPH; keeping personal records of your in-service hours protects you if employer records are incomplete.
Does California require fingerprinting for renewal?
No additional Live Scan fingerprinting is required at each renewal cycle — the original Live Scan clearance you submitted during initial certification remains on file with CDPH. However, you must promptly self-report any new convictions or pending criminal charges to CDPH at renewal, and CDPH may run name-based criminal history checks. CNAs convicted of disqualifying offenses under California Health and Safety Code §1337 may have their certification suspended or revoked regardless of where they are in their renewal cycle.
Who administers the California CNA competency exam?
CDPH contracts with two approved vendors: D&SDT-Headmaster (HDMaster) and Credentia. Both administer the written/oral knowledge test and the manual skills evaluation based on the California Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook. Candidates schedule through the vendor assigned to their training program after CDPH places them in the testing database.
How can the public verify a California CNA's certification status?
CDPH publishes verification at cvl.cdph.ca.gov. Effective March 1, 2023, the online L&C Certification Verification tool displays only active, denied, suspended, and revoked statuses for CNAs, Home Health Aides (HHA), and Certified Hemodialysis Technicians (CHT). Users can search by certificate number, full name, or last-name letter.
Becoming a CNA in California?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in California, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.