Florida CNA Registry
Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official Florida Board of Nursing - Certified Nursing Assistant Registry.
Visit Official Registry2 years (biennial)
Renewal Period
Paid nursing-related services within 24 months PLUS 24 hours of in-service training per biennium
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your Florida CNA License
Open the FL DOH MQA Search Portal
Navigate to the Florida Department of Health Medical Quality Assurance license verification portal. This is the official source maintained by the Florida Board of Nursing for verifying any CNA certification.
Open FL DOH MQA SearchSelect Board of Nursing and the CNA profession
In the Board/Council dropdown choose 'Board of Nursing,' then under Profession choose 'Certified Nursing Assistant.' If you are verifying a telehealth provider licensed under the Nurse Licensure Compact arrangement, pick 'Certified Nursing Assistant Out-of-State Telehealth Provider' instead.
Enter the CNA's name or license number
Enter the CNA's last name and first name, or enter the license number (no spaces, leading zeros, or colons). You can narrow results further with city, county, ZIP code, or license status. The portal recommends using fewer fields to widen the result set.
Review the license record
Click the matching result to see the certificate number, issue date, expiration date, current status (e.g., Clear/Active, Delinquent, Null & Void), and any disciplinary or public-complaint history on file with the Florida Board of Nursing. Results can be sorted in-browser or exported to a spreadsheet.
About the Florida Board of Nursing - Certified Nursing Assistant Registry
Florida is unique among U.S. states because it does not require formal training before a candidate can sit for the CNA competency examination. Under Chapter 464, Part II of the Florida Statutes, an applicant who is at least 18 years old (or who has a high school diploma or GED) may apply directly to Prometric and challenge both the written and clinical skills portions of the Nurse Aide exam without first completing a training course. This 'challenge exam' pathway, sometimes marketed as the E3 Challenger route, allows up to three attempts within a two-year window before a state-approved 120-hour training program becomes mandatory.
The CNA Registry is administered by the Florida Board of Nursing, which sits within the Florida Department of Health's Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) - not the Agency for Health Care Administration. The Board of Nursing maintains the official registry, processes initial certifications and endorsement applications, conducts the required Level II background screening (ORI# EDOH0380Z), and enforces disciplinary standards. All license verifications are performed through the FL DOH MQA Search Portal, where 'Certified Nursing Assistant' is a selectable profession option.
Florida renews CNA certificates on a two-year biennial cycle. Rather than tracking traditional continuing education units the way it does for RNs and LPNs, the Board requires every CNA to complete a minimum of 24 hours of in-service training each biennium, covering required topics such as resident rights, CPR skills, bloodborne pathogens, domestic violence, medical error prevention, and communication with cognitively impaired clients. CNAs must also have performed nursing-related services for pay within the previous 24 consecutive months to remain active on the registry.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://floridasnursing.gov/certified-nursing-assistant/Phone Number
(850) 488-0595Mailing Address
Department of Health Board of Nursing 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-02 Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET
Florida CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
Florida 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
Florida requires No mandatory training - Florida allows candidates to challenge the exam without a formal program. Optional state-approved programs are at least 120 hours.. Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find Florida CNA ClassesFlorida CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
Florida CNA certification is valid for 2 years (biennial) from the date of initial certification or last renewal.
Work Requirement
You must perform at least Paid nursing-related services within 24 months PLUS 24 hours of in-service training per biennium 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 update my name or address on the Florida Board of Nursing record?
Florida CNAs must report name and address changes to the Florida Board of Nursing within 60 days. Submit changes through your online account at floridasnursing.gov or by mail to the Board at 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-02, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252. Name changes require legal documentation such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Failure to update your address can result in missed renewal notices and penalty fees.
Who administers the Florida CNA exam and how much does it cost?
Prometric is the contracted testing vendor for the Florida Nurse Aide examination. The total exam fee is $155, broken down as $120 for the clinical skills portion and $35 for the written portion, paid directly to Prometric. Candidates apply, schedule, and check status through prometric.com/exams/nurseaide-fl/.
How often do I renew my Florida CNA certificate and what are the fees?
Florida CNAs renew every two years on a biennial cycle (Group 1 expires May 31 of odd years; Group 2 expires May 31 of even years). The on-time renewal fee is $55.00. Renewing after expiration costs $105.00, and renewing once delinquent (after 120 days) costs $160.00. All fees include the $5 unlicensed activity surcharge required by Florida Statute s. 456.065(3).
Does Florida require continuing education for CNAs?
Florida does not require traditional CEUs for CNAs, but it does require a minimum of 24 hours of in-service training each biennium. These hours must cover specified topics including bloodborne pathogens, CPR skills, resident rights, medical error prevention, domestic violence, medical record documentation, and communication with cognitively impaired clients. Training is typically delivered by employers or approved providers and tracked through CE Broker.
How does CNA reciprocity work in Florida?
Florida uses 'licensure by endorsement' rather than the word 'reciprocity.' Out-of-state CNAs apply directly to the Florida Board of Nursing using the CNA endorsement application, must hold an active and unencumbered certification in another state, must not have been found responsible for patient abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and must complete the Level II Livescan background screening. Endorsement processing typically takes about 2-4 weeks once a complete file is submitted.
Do I still have to work as a CNA to keep my Florida certification active?
Yes. To renew on the Florida CNA Registry you must have performed nursing-related services for monetary compensation within the last 24 consecutive months, in addition to completing the 24 hours of required in-service training. CNAs who do not meet the paid-work requirement during a biennium may have to retest with Prometric to return to active status.
Becoming a CNA in Florida?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in Florida, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.